Fat Boy Bike: Is It Right For You?

Choosing a Bike

February 12, 2019

Fat Boy Bikes Mean Big Tires

Fat boy bike. It's time to talk about it. This is an interesting topic that has become popular in the past few years. So what's the purpose of fat tire bikes?

You’ll see fat bike tires featured across all different styles of bikes, especially on mountain and cruiser bikes. They offer a different type of ride and add a fun, beefy element to your riding. The wider tires make it possible to take your bike off-road, making it possible to take a cruiser bike on a wider range of terrain than would be possible with standard-sized cruiser tires. Read on to learn more about the advantages of riding on fat boy tires.

What Is a Fat Boy Bike?

Fat boy bikes have big tires. We’re not talking about 2-inch or 3-inch tires. Oh no, we’re talking about 3-inch, 4-inch or even 4.5-inch tires. That’s about twice as wide as the typical mountain bike tire and nearly four times the width of a road bike tire. These are big tires, hence the name “fat bike” or “fat boy bike.”

Are Fat Tire Bikes Hard to Ride?

Fat tire bikes are intended for riding on rougher surfaces. They’re ideal for taking on rides in the sand or rocky landscapes. Fat tires also handle well for winter riding in colder climates that get a lot of snow and ice. The wider tire gives additional tread that prevents slipping on frozen surfaces. If your plan is to take on difficult terrain, a fat tire can help you handle the challenge.

Wider tires do tend to be heavier and work best with lower air pressure inside the tire. Because of those factors, fat tires require more effort when you’re pedaling. If you’re heading out onto a paved surface, choose a fat tire with a slick tread to reduce resistance.

When you’re getting into this genre of bike tires, you want to pay attention to the tread. Like normal bikes, there are different tread types on fat boy bikes. If you're going to be riding on rocky terrain, make sure you're not getting a slick tread. Instead, you will want a more rugged, industrial looking tread. This way you'll be certain your tires can withstand mountainous terrain.

What Is the Advantage of a Fat Tire Bike?

Fat tires bikes can take on bumpy terrain that wouldn’t be possible on regular-width tires. The width of the tire means you can tackle large gaps and crevices with ease. That’s because the wider tire cruises right over those obstacles, rather than falling into them. The additional tire width also disperses the rider’s weight over a larger surface area, making it possible to get across soft surfaces. In the same way that it’s easier to walk across a field of soft snow strapped into snowshoes rather than post-holing your way across in boots, it’s easier to ride on soft surfaces with wider bike tires.

At sixthreezero, we offer fat boy version of our "In the Barrel" bike. It's different from the existing model because it sports 4-inch tires, which allow you to take the bike both on- and off-road. If you’re looking to take your cruiser out on off-road trails or want to ride through the sand during a beach cruise, this could be the perfect fit for you.

Many of our other offerings come with tires up to 2.25 inches wide. That width standard for the cruiser style and would be considered relatively wide for much of the cycling world.

Ultimately, the decision to try out fat boy tires comes down to the rider’s preference for aesthetics and the type of surface they’re planning to ride on. If you like the look of an extra-wide tire or are planning extensive riding through sand, snow or rocky trails, a fat boy bike might be the right choice for you.

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