So, I received the frame and it is, in a word, GORGEOUS! Bare frame, with paint weighs 1340 grams. The workmanship looks great, including the hardware and the gloss white paint job. Very happy==Thank you Peter//Carbonspeed!

The only bummer is that my suspension fork crown does actually interfere with the downtube. I knew this would happen with a Bluto (at least for 15 & 17" frames), and I was hoping that my 19" frame and narrower Mekkem USD fork would evade this issue. Well, it doesn't. In fact, the fork needs 8mm between the crown race and the frame. To try to solve this, I've purchased an 8mm carbon headtube spacer that is 1.5" in ID ($2.59 on eBay). The plan is to cut one side and let it stretch to the 1.59" that it needs for the pressfit section of the steerer tube. I might also have to remove the nice anodized cap for covering the Schrader valve and lockout/damping knobs.

On another note, I tested the NASA decals I've received (without installing fully) to check placement and overall appeal. I think it is going to be great!

 I couldn't wait and installed the BB/crank to check clearance. Good to go.

On to the pics:

Quote from: MTNRCKT on October 15, 2015, 09:31:57 AM

... with the "Walmarty" effect....

Not to be confused with Walmarty McFly, the time-travelling bargain hunter. ^_^

 

My frame has arrived to the NYC sorting center after a 7 day journey from Xiamen! Fingers crossed it doesn't get detained for some reason.

I had to change my tactics a bit on sourcing the 45NRTH tires. Every single online retailer, including the one I ordered from (Erik's) is actually backordered on the Husker Du's. Disappointing news. I was about to order the Fat B Nimble when Google found a pair at my local REI, at the same price as listed online.  I was stunned! An hour later, I had them on my shelf. 1255 and 1270 grams each, good to go!

My pile shrine of future fb parts is growing nicely...

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the final result.

Really digging the NASA theme too. Have you considered having Peter paint the carbon rims? Maybe NASA blue. Just a thought.

Thanks man. I got the idea for the NASA bike when I was in Houston at the Rocket Park. They have a full Saturn V laying down indoors and the scale of it is simply astounding.

I thought about doing blue rims actually, but after seeing a few fatbikes with painted rims it looked a little Walmarty to me. I dunno. Here's a pic that Peter sent me as an example of a painted rim and a custom painted N010. (not mine)


 I ended up going with black spokes, silver nipples and Gloss 3K weave finish for that extra carbon jewelry effect. I'm pretty excited about it, even though it means waiting another 3 weeks to have them made.

Hey guys.

So, after much humming and hawing, I caved and placed an order with XM Carbon Speed for a N019 fatbike and the 80mm carbon rims.

I spent way-too-many hours on BikesDirect and Excel looking at the Boris and Lurch FS models, working the numbers every way possible, only to conclude that while a BD bike would get me on a fat bike faster, it probably wouldn't make me as happy long term. I think that there's just something about building a bike up yourself from scratch, the way you want. I'm more of a do-it-yourselfer anyway. The other big factor was that I was able to source a trick suspension fork at relatively low cost ($250), doing away with BikeDirect's price monopoly advantage with the Bluto. Big thanks goes there to RSD bikes in Canada for the deal on the fork (they're now sold-out I think, sorry).

I sourced these chiner goodies from Peter at XM Carbon Sports, and I have to say the guy has been pretty awesome so far. They're 12h ahead of my time zone, and he was repeatedly answering emails during the Chinese Holidays about 5 minutes after I sent a question. You can't beat that. I had originally gone to Bert at XMIplay, but he was on travel/vacation and when he eventually, responded my order was already placed.

So, without further ado, here's the build sheet with the costs and some really rough weight estimates:



Some of the philosophy on the build:
Frame - The N019 had everything I wanted, fully replaceable axle mounts, a huge straight downtube (I'm not much a fan of the dragon's-neck shape of most downtubes these days), internal cable routing, etc. The frame looks like a tank too, part of the whole fatbike theme I suppose. At $445, I think it is worth it to just buy the frame directly and have in the build everything fit the first time, versus buying a Motobecane Lurch FS, then trying to swap the frame with an IP-N0XX ( where you'd have to play with hub spacers, axles, cabling, selling a largely worthless Motobecane frame later, etc). YMMV

Fork - Not interested in a carbon or rigid fork, so the only options really were Bluto, Bluto, Bluto or... if you really dig, the "fork of many names". This is an upside down, inverted fork ( USD), similar to those found on sport motorcycles. The fork is made in China by Mekkem and has been rebranded by Carver/Bikeman and eleven9. By everything I could read on it, it seemed like a great, well adjustable fork. People seem a little worried about it flexing about... but after having held it in my hands, I just can't imagine it is a noodle. The uppers and stanchions are simply gigantic, and the axle mounts are completely reassuring. I'll let you know if it actually rides any differently. I managed to dig one up on Pinkbike for a steal, they are available from Bikeman.com and on eBay though.

Wheels & Tires - Fatbikes are all about the tire, so I decided that there was no way I was gonna do this with entry-level tires. It's like spending a bunch of money on a FS frame, and then putting a terrible rear shock on it. Why dampen the fun (pun intended)? This meant 45NRTH tires, and fortunately the 4" Husker Du's clear the "narrow" USD fork. Erik's had the best deal by far on these at $204 shipped for a pair.

On the wheels, I got to test ride a Specialized Fatboy with big, heavy, inner-tube boasting wheels. I loved the traction and cornering, but it just soaked up so much energy to get the thing going. Yes, I know that this part of the DNA of a fatbike... but I also was ever only interested in going carbon wheels because I truly believe you can feel a change of 250g in rotating mass. It's worth noting that the wheels on this build cost more than anything else.

Other points--oh yes the NASA thing.  I ordered mine in gloss white, and instead of adding or painting in graphics, I'm just going to put a couple NASA vinyl decals on it and theme it loosely around a Space Shuttle or Moon Rover. The space theme should go nicely with the Saturn V style fatness of the frame and carbon goodies sprinkled on the bike. We'll see if it turns out--if not, off they come.

The rest of the build is comprised of the best performance/value goodies I could afford (read: XT), and the only golden egg being the Raceface Turbine cranks which eBay helped out with. It isn't easy to find fat bike cranks+BB that fit a 197mm rear axle, are of any reasonable name brand, AND aren't $300.

Now, the wait! I'll keep you posted.

PS Big thanks to CMH on this forum--his info has been super helpful to me in the prep for this project.

Just to add this for the record--I have been in contact with Peter at XM Carbon Speed, and despite the Chinese Holiday the communication has been super professional and rapid! Very happy so far. I am about to place an order and build one of these N019's.

Any idea on pricing yet on the N019 frame?

I emailed Bert at XMI with no reply...