Dude

The Dude is a more nimble and fun kind of fat bike. Progressive geometry lets you push the limits like any good trail bike. Adjustable chainstay length gives you the ability to fine tune the ride quality. “Snappy” and “responsive” are adjectives that reviewers consistently toss around when describing the Dude….and the Dude abides.

There are people who say that frame material doesn’t matter on fat bikes—that the big tires mask any ride quality you might perceive from the higher-grade stuff. We gave the Dude a full carbon frame and fork anyway. Why? Because going carbon cleaves weight from the frame and makes every ride that much more fun. And, in our book, fun always matters.

The new Dude gets a boost in the wheelsize department, going from 26-inch to 27.5-inch DT-Swiss hoops. There are obvious rollover and momentum-carry benefits here that improve your ride quality. What’s more, the jump to 27.5 ensures that you have greater tire choices in the future—a big plus over the long haul.

The Dude sports an outstanding parts package. SRAM’s SX Eagle 1x drivetrain gives you the gearing to tackle any terrain without the hassle of a front derailleur. Likewise, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes provide plenty of reliable stopping power and DT Swiss’ BR 2250 wheelset takes a serious beating. Add a dropper post, RaceFace cockpit and Maxxis tires to the mix and you’ve got one very well-built bike.