As a cyclist, there are several bike options available for you to choose from. However, you must always know how to make the best choice that suits your needs. One of such available models on the market are the best fat tire bikes.
If you’re hearing about them for the first time, here’s what they’re all about: A fat tire bike is designed with “fatter” tires that provide better traction on various terrains.
Best Inexpensive Fat Tire Bikes Under 1000
Just like other types of bikes on the market, fat-tire bikes also have their own unique advantages. Mostly, they work well for backpacking exercises, and they also ride smoothly over sand or snow-covered terrain.
Here are our top 5 picks of the best value fat tire bikes for the money:
1. Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Mountain Bike
When searching for the best cheap fat tire bikes, you cannot overlook this product. Its manufacturers have designed it to satisfy high standards. The bike is also sold at an affordable price and offers you the best features.
The width specification of its tires makes it a versatile bike that works excellently on different trails; you get all the traction needed to keep your bike balanced. Its bodywork is also made out of sturdy steel material that lasts long.
A bike’s pedals are also relevant to overall biking comfort. This product is equipped with pedals (beach cruiser pedals) that aren’t heavy, and also have an easy-to-engage design.
Also, if you need to climb a steep slope, you can conveniently switch between the available speeds that the bike’s Shimano-type derailleurs provide.
2. Mongoose Juneau Fat Tire Bike
If you’d like to buy a bike that’s worth the money, you should consider adding this one to your shopping list.
This Mongoose Juneau Fat Tire Bike is the best budget fat bike under 500 and has a sturdy design and aluminum-based bodywork that lasts long. It’s a versatile model that can be used conveniently on many different trails/terrains. The width specification of its tires provides you with all the traction needed to keep your bike balanced
Also, whenever you’re faced with a hilly/steep slope, you can conveniently switch between the 21 available speeds that the bike’s Shimano-type derailleurs provide.
There are adequately separated alloy rims, which boost cycling efficiency, and a customizable headset. If you need to suddenly bring your bike to a halt, you can rely on the crankset for assistance.
3. Mongoose Vinson Fat Tire Bike
Next in this review of the best top-rated fat-tire bikes is the Mongoose Vinson Bike. It’s a versatile piece of equipment that works well on several trails.
You can easily overcome muddy trials, snow-covered ones, and many more with the 4” tires specification. Its wide tires have a really firm grip on the soil – this keeps you adequately balanced while riding your bike.
When cycling, especially along undulating mountain slopes, or hilly paths, you’ll need to have sufficient gears to shift into; this will ensure that you have an easy time getting over obstacles.
With the back-positioned 24-speed SRAM X4 trigger shifters and Shimano derailleurs, climbing obstacles isn’t a problem. Its 3-piece alloy crank is strong and long-lasting.
4. Mongoose Malus Fat Tire Bike
This is a piece of equipment that works excellently on various biking trails. Its tires have a width that provides you with all the traction needed for good balance.
Its bodywork is also made out of strong steel material that lasts long. The bike is also designed in such a way that you can conveniently navigate bends and turnings. However, it’s too bulky – it has a 42-lbs weight specification.
If you ever need to bring the bike to a halt suddenly, the bike is equipped with quality disc brakes that will easily assist you.
Also, you can conveniently switch between the 7 available speeds that the bike’s Shimano-type derailleurs provide. Other reliable features on the bike include beach cruiser pedals, 3-piece cranks, and standard bodywork.
5. Mongoose Aztec Cheapest Fat Tire Bicycle
The Mongoose Aztec is a versatile piece of equipment that performs excellently on various biking trails.
The tires are larger and wider, than the average fat tire mountain bike’s tires, and they have a reliably firm grip on the soil. With this bike, you’ll experience more balance and a smoother ride across different terrains. If you have increased balance on your bikes, it will be easier to quickly navigate sharp bends.
You can easily overcome muddy terrains, and even snow-covered ones, with the 4” tires specification. Also, whenever you’re faced with a steep slope, you can switch between the seven available speeds.
If you need to suddenly bring the bike to a halt, you can rely on the pair of disc brakes (one at the back, and one in front) to assist you.
How to Find the Best Fat Tire Bikes
When you’re searching for quality bikes on the market, there are certain features to look out for.
For instance, if you want to buy the best fat tire electric bikes which are very different from cruiser bikes for women, you should be able to find one that has the right ratio of pros and cons.
These are some features to be noted before making a purchase:
Suspension
The first thing to observe is the bike’s suspension. The suspension affects how balanced and smooth your riding experience will be. If you want something that won’t hurt your budget, go for a hard-tail with a rigid fork.
Not only are they popular among bikers, but their tires also have width specifications and PSI ratings that make them excellent for rough terrains. The tire pressure for these rigid fork bikes is usually low.
There are also full-suspension bikes that have tires with a higher PSI rating. These bikes usually offer nicer navigation on rough trails and various terrains.
You can also replace your fat rims, while maintaining the fat tires, with mountain bike ones for increased comfort and efficiency.
Drivetrain
When buying the best cheap fat bike, you’ll be presented with two types of gearing structures. The first is the internal type and the second is the external type. The latter is found on most 10 speed bikes.
It’s better to go for the external type; unlike their counterpart, they are easier to make use of, preserve, and repair.
Brakes
If you need to bring your budget cyclocross bike to a halt quickly, you’ll need some quality brakes on your bike.
When you’re checking for good brakes, you’d be presented with two options: mechanical disc brakes and hydraulic types.
Disc Brakes
Disc brakes are a good choice; they have their associated advantages and disadvantages also. They have a simple installation process, and taking care of them isn’t stressful.
Disc brakes are more budget-friendly than hydraulic types. However, their design requires you to exert larger force when you’re engaging them. They do well in very cold weather because they don’t make use of liquids.
Hydraulic Brakes
Your second option is the hydraulic brake. Hydraulic brakes have a more fluid response when compared to disc brakes; they don’t require as much force when you’re engaging them.
If you’re going to be doing a more calculative biking exercise, you’ll need to use hydraulic brakes.
The disadvantage associated with these brakes is that they can’t be easily repaired when damaged. They also have a tougher installation process.
Size of Wheels
What wheel size is best for you? This is a question you must ask yourself before making a final purchase.
As you search through various fat bikes available on the market, you’ll discover that a lot have 26-inch wheel specifications – others have 27.5-inch.
The size of your bike’s wheel is directly proportional to the comfort and stability experienced when riding which will help you train your heart as well.
The width of the bike’s tire is also directly proportional to the width of its appropriate rim and can make it possible for you to install bike wheel lights on them as well.
Wheel Swapping
Naturally, you’d expect a fat bike to use a fat-tire rim. However, some fat bikes can also be equipped with 27.5/29-inch mountain bike rims.
This way, your fat bike has increased versatility. All you have to do when you want to explore different terrains is to swap the fat-tire rims with the slimmer rims.
Basically, all you have to do is to get a fat bike that has swappable rims. This will widen the options of trails/terrains you can venture on with your bike.
Tires
Tires are undeniably essential for all bikes. Your choice of tire affects how efficient your riding will be. In fact, what really differentiates fat bikes from other regular bikes is the size and width of their tires.
These bikes are made with a focus on their tire’s width which is different from commuter bike tires; wider tires have better traction and improved stability. The major disadvantage is that the bike gets slower as the tire’s size increases.
Also, fatter tires work well on loose and softer soils like sandy trails; snowy trails are also included. However if the terrain you’ll be riding on isn’t made of loose soil, but compact and hard soil, you should go for a slimmer tire. This way, you’ll be able to move at faster speeds across the ground.
Tire Pressure
You need to know how much air pressure to have in your tire if you want to enjoy a fast bike. There are 4-inch and 5-inch fat bike tires. The latter is best filled with low air pressure when you’re biking on smooth terrain.
However, on harsher trails, you’d need to increase the PSI rating; this will boost the overall stability of your road bike for women. Keep in mind that the required PSI is dependent on the trail’s degree of smoothness.
More importantly, you should be able to monitor the amount of air pressure in your tires; this should be detectable at any point in time. You can accurately achieve this with the use of a digital tire pressure gauge.
Price
Cost is definitely one of the important things that cannot be overlooked when making any purchase. Whatever you’re hoping to purchase must be within your available budget.
For instance, if you have about $1000 dollars to spare, you’d want to buy one of the best budget fat tire bikes under 1000. You should know that the fat tire bike price is usually affected by their quality and how much work they can withstand.
High-standard bikes can cost over $2000, and the basic ones that serve simple purposes can fall below $1000.
Size
Correct sizing affects how comfortable you’ll be when riding your bike. If your bike is too big or too small for you, you’ll have a hard time making use of it.
Some bikes usually come in different sizes that will suit a range of different height profiles Compared to other budget fat bike frames in the market, the aluminum-based ones are usually available in several sizes.
Take note that the “fat” nature of fat bike tires also increases their total size. Make sure that you pay attention to how the tire affects the general size of the bike before making your final purchase.
Weight
Weight is a key feature that you must not overlook when you want to purchase a bike. You should pick a bike’s weight based on the kind of cycling activity you’re into.
Unlike mountain or hybrid models, you won’t be moving at a fast cycling pace when you’re on a fat tire bike. This means that climbing over steep slopes won’t be as easy as it is with other bike types – you cannot afford to be riding a bulky fat tire bike at this point.
It wasn’t until recent times that companies started paying attention to how light-weight their cheap fat tire bicycles were. Initially, these bikes were primarily constructed to last long and to be versatile across different trails.
However, the focus has been shifted towards making these bikes less bulky. There are certain things that usually affect how heavy a bike is.
The material used in making the bike’s bodywork says a lot about its weight. If you need a lightweight bike, it’s advisable to go for the carbon fiber or aluminum-based types.
Advantages of Fat-Tire Bikes
Compared to when they just hit the market, fat bikes have become more popular among bikers today.
And just like any other bike in the market, these bikes also have their own advantages. Based on these advantages, you can decide if you actually want a fat bike, or you want something else.
Benefits of fat bikes include:
Comfort
Bumpy rides can cause painful impacts on your bottom area. However, because fat bikes are designed to move smoothly over all terrains, you get to experience improved comfort.
Low Maintenance
Not only are these bikes durable, but they also require minimal maintenance over time.
Versatility
One major advantage of fat bikes is their versatility. You can confidently ride them on any trail.
Great for Exercise
Just like many other bike models, riding the fat bike is also a good way to exercise your body.
Traction
Fat bike tires have width specifications that provide a firm grip on the ground, and boost your bike’s stability.
Balance
The tires on fat bikes are designed in such a way that they increase the balance on all trails.
Conclusion
Now that we have gone through the best affordable fat tire bikes, you should be able to make the best purchase with much ease.
However, among all the products reviewed in this article, the Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Men’s Mountain Bike makes our top pick.
The bike is also sold at an affordable price and offers you the best features. The width specification of its tires makes it a versatile bike that works excellently on different trails; you get all the traction needed to keep your bike balanced. Its bodywork is also made out of sturdy steel material that lasts long.
This product is equipped with pedals (beach cruiser pedals) that aren’t heavy, and also have an easy-to-engage design. It also comes with Shimano derailleurs.