The only steel Stooge R-Buckle fat bike in the world
Somehow I managed to get my hands on the only steel Stooge R-Buckle fat bike in the world. I’ve been wanting a Stooge fat bike forever, and I hear the tale of how the original was tanked by the fat bike bubble burst + Brexit. But a couple weeks ago my phone started lighting up with friends sending me a listing for a really good condition frame + Chris King headset + Thomson seat post clamp + KS dropper + Stooge Moto Bars. I could hardly believe it. Even shipped from the UK it was a great price. So I went for it.
The initial thought was that I’d just sell the REEB if it felt really good. But I just can’t seem to quit the Donk for some reason. Even though it’s only 177mm spacing it can still clear a very large tire out back— or at least as big as I’d want in Michigan without buying a Moonlander 2.0. By comparison, the R-Buckle seems like it’ll only clear a 26 x 4.3” max.
no double dip tube but that seat tube / seat stay junction sure is nice
That being said I’ve been following Taz Wadie’s experiments for years, namely his affection for giant front wheels. He’s said that the Duro Crux 29 x 3.25” has the same outside diameter as a Bontrager Barbegazi 27.5 x 4.5” on a 45mm rim. And after scouring Marketplace for used Barbegazis for a while (they’re rare, but not as rare as an R-Buckle), I finally found some and chucked them on this 45mm Pub Carbon wheelset I built up. I grabbed my calipers and was blown away that he was exactly right. After riding Stony Creek (Metro Detroit’s hottest flow trail zone, although I also rode the [much more fun IMO] legacy trails as well) on the double Barbegazi setup I was blown away. I really think there’s something to be said about that 770mm outer diameter wagon wheel. The Barbegazi had the same rollover as the Duro Crux on my Stooge MK4, but unsurprisingly had even more cushion. Me likey.
Taz’s one off titanium truss fork Stooge (I think they call it the Moto Bastard?) with a 29 × 3” rear and a 27.5 × 4.5” front is the true inspiration for this build.
So, the plan is to order some 170mm QR end caps and a skewer for this orphan Alex Rims MD50 29’er wheel I have laying around. It’s not light but it’s bombproof. I’m gonna chuck a WTB Ranger 29 x 3” light casing on there, and move the custom Surly fork over with the 27.5 x 4.5” Barbegazi. From there I’ll probably try these Stridsland Bullship bars for maximum old school ATB klunkin action. I suspect it will shred way too hard, but in a more ATB sort of way than the MK4, and will have a smaller wheelbase than the REEB. I hope to have it built up by the end of May, with some ride reports come June!
looking forward to running this narrower spindle 100mm square taper BB too for a more normal Q-factor too!