Fat Bikes are Amazing Fun! Diamondback El Oso Review

Today we’re taking a look at my new (used) fat bike; a 2016 Diamondback El Oso Grande that I’ve simply named “Commando Bear”. At $600 used on Ebay it’s definitely not a bike I ever really wanted or needed, but at this price I felt compelled to see what fat biking is all about. I used to think fat bikes were a silly novelty, but just after a couple rides my stance on them has done an endo 180. These things are rad! This particular model features a full rigid aluminum frame with mounting options literally everywhere, Sram X5 2 x 10 drivetrain which so far has worked well, massive 4.9” tires from China that I replaced quickly with Minion’s, pretty low end wheels that I found impossible to convert tubeless and tektro mechanical disc brakes which I think are a huge miss on this bike. Not nearly enough stopping power for this big bear. At $600 I’m happy with these components, but for the original retail price of nearly $1,800 it’s not the best option. Living in Texas, everyone’s perception of these bikes is that they are only good for snow and sand, but I quickly found out it can do so much more. It’s under 35 pounds and with no suspension it’s quick off the line and not an unbearable chore to maintain speed. With 26” wheels its surprisingly nimble even with the massive width. I mean look at me destroy this slalom with relative ease. This bike doesn’t feel as cumbersome on a trail as I thought it might. It climbs amazingly well. With a tiny 22 tooth chainring and the massive amount of grip from the minions, I was able to climb hills I’ve never been able to do on other bikes, and climbs I’ve found difficult in the past to accomplish were a breeze. What I also found shocking is how comfortable this bike is to jump. It has decent geometry and feels very confident off the ground, although I miss that fork when landing. Some harsher landings owned my wrists. As you may imagine, steep descents were not as confidence inspiring. The low air pressure provides decent cushion, but is by no means a replacement for suspension. With careful line choices I was able to send it down misery hill, and even endo valley in Austin which freaked me out a little on my full suspension. Commando Bear don’t care! Stairs, skinnies, and even small drops are possible on this bike even though it’s not intended for this type of riding. I look forward to seeing what else this thing can do. I’d love to go somewhere when It’s snowing and try that out. Maybe I’ll have a beach day with it or find some sand dunes. How about a bike packing trip? Who knows! For someone who used to laugh at these bikes, Commando Bear has shown me the fat biking light. It’s far more versatile than I ever imagined, and an absurd amount of fun. I’m looking into a few upgrades for this bike in the future, so we’ll be seeing more of commando bear. What do you guys think of fat bikes? Have you ever been on one or want to try it out? I hope this video showcases that they are more than snow mobiles, and you can enjoy one no matter where you live. Thanks so much for watching, and until next week stay rowdy within reason.