Surly has been credited with pioneering plus sized wheels and tires with the birth of the Krampus 29er. Surly followed upon the immediate success of the Krampus with a smaller, lighter-weight 26-inch-wheel plus-size hardtail called the Instigator, which was reportedly the most popular choice among Dirt Demo test riders this year. With most subscribers to the emerging plus movement opting for either 29 plus, like Trek and Specialized, or 27.5 plus, like Rocky Mountain (and most everyone else), we were curious why Surly chose the 26-inch wheel route. We asked Global Sales Manager John Fleck to give us the back story on Surly's evolution from full-width fat bikes to their popular plus-width ranges. What motivated Surly to explore a smaller width version of your original fat bikes?Fat bikes are very popular in many areas of the world, in fact, out latest market is Dubai, which was almost all road bikes until riders there discovered that they could ride the sandy desert there on our five-inch-tire bikes. But, fat bikes are overkill in many places, so we made the 29-plus Krampus with modern geometry to offer trail riders the traction, climbing capability and stability of our fat bikes, but in a much lighter package.
Surly was an early adopter of the 29er. The outer diameter of 27.5-inch plus wheels is very close to that of a standard 29er, so why did you downsize to 26 inches when you re-introduced the Instigator? We had the Instigator in our line for a long time. We brought it back with wider stays to fit plus tires. By using 26-inch plus wheels, Instigator frames will also fit regular 27.5-inch wheels and tires, so it gives their owners another option.Surly is in the upper mid-west, where our trails are fast and on rolling terrain, where the 29-plus wheels carry momentum and roll faster. The 26 plus is much lighter at the same tire width and offers similar cornering and climbing traction, and stability, and it's maneuverability makes for a great all-around trailbike. The Instigator fits what we are about. Surlys allow riders do as much as possible with the same bike.
How do you think plus bikes will affect mountain bike development in the near future?I really haven't thought of that. I know that plus bikes are good for intermediate riders. I am one, and when I started riding my Krampus, I found I could ride faster and harder. I can actually say now that I can rip a trail. Most people preach that skinnier and lighter is faster, but plus-sized wheels prove that is not necessarily true. Most trail riders could ride better and go faster on wider tires.
Is it not a universal thing, that we all want to keep improving on our riding?
So plus bikes are like stabalisers for middle aged men?
Better riders tend to prefer thinner tires because they want more precision and have the technique to compensate for the lower grip of 2.35 tires (eg better line choice on the climbs, getting out of the saddle at the right time, gear ratio choice, etc.)
Whether or not you agree is another matter but this is what the brands thinking is. The problem is they don't know how to say it in a way the doesn't offend//or put off potential buyers (eg you're not good enough to make the most of our latest race inspired bike so why don't you buy our plus size bike in the mean time).
Maybe in theory, but imo, this beginner will be more tired of carrying these big tires over the hill so he will lose his power faster, and then he will fail to climb technical stuff
Couldn't agree more.
Rode a Surly ice cream truck the other day. Expected it to be a cumbersome pig of a bike. It was, but my god does it grip. Went round loose off camber gravelly corners like my dh bike goes round a hardpacked berm. Really surprised me how much you could just lay off the brakes on the downhills. Lean it in and turn the bars and it will pretty much go round any corner at any speed. So much fun. But my god you pay of it in thigh burn when things level off a bit. Or even worse, point uphill. God forbid...
Even at higher pressures, there is still some added compliance, extending the useful range of a HT into chunkier terrain, providing a stable jumping platform, even on sketchy and rutted lips, and is less likely to flat on square edge hits IME.
Bottom line is that I send it more and ride closer to the edge than on my AM hardtail, even though it has 20mm more travel and more ideal geo, because those tires don't need manicured lips and are less susceptible to the minutia.
I did chat with a Schwalbe rep about filling fatbike tyres with some sort of foam (eg cafelatex), in the hope that the foam would impart some form of damping to the tyre carcass. Could work. Would weigh several tonnes tho.
surlybikes.com/blog/post
You hear that? Sounds like barriers being broken down.
I ride my krampus from almost sea level to the top of Galbraith. i am 6'4" 250# and I break anything with regular sized tires. 3 fargo's! plus for ever!
If any one wants to clown on plus sized bikes specialized is making the six fattie with less than 30 spokes on the rear wheel! WTF! 24 on the front. Not gonna do it my kids ride spechies but thats cause no one makes a better kids frame. Now my boy can keep up with me on the climbs when I have the 2.4 tires on my krampus.
Not only does the new size grow the sport we have more choices. I love the different bikes in my quiver. Always room for more Surly's at my house I always say.
But unless you have tried them, they work better & inspire confidence when riding as well as being fun
Which is what riding bikes is about right?
LOL. Thats a bit of a desperate lie.
something to edit: Specialized does 650+ just like most of the others, yes? the Fuse/Ruse hardtails and the Stumpy/Rhyme FSR bikes are all 650+. Unless there's something the Big Red S is revealing this weekend......?
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