2019 Salsa Beargrease Fat Bike Test Review 26 vs 27.5 Fat Bike Shootout

2019 Salsa Beargrease Fat Bike Test Review 26 vs 27.5 Fat Bike Shootout
For 2019 the Salsa Beargrease continues to evolve with the latest trends in trail bike design. After switching from 26” to larger 27.5” wheels in 2018, the Beargrease gets a totally redesigned frame for 2019. It’s a bit longer overall thanks to an increase in the length of the front center. It’s also a bit lower allowing for the addition of an extra small model. Other updates were designed to improve the bike’s versatility and serviceability.
For comparison to our 2019 Beargrease Deore 1X we have a 2016 Beargrease Carbon X7, which features 26” wheels and a 2x Sram drivetrain. Although our 2019 retails for a few hundred dollars less, its 2.7lbs lighter, and is arguably better specked.
For a fair assessment of how far the Beargrease performance has come, we swapped out both bikes OEM tires for a pair of 45NRTH Vanhelga, 26x4” for the 2016 and 27.5x4” for the 2019. Both bikes use Sunringle Mulefut SL, 80mm wide, aluminum rims. The Vanhelga feature one of the tallest most widely spaced tread patterns of any fat bike tire on the market for superior performance in loose snow or mud. They also offer adequate knob surface for predictable grip on hard dirt and the shoulder knobs are triple-siped for additional biting edges in ice. A dual tread compound provides longer lasting, faster rolling center knobs while softer compound shoulder knobs add cornering grip. Vanhelga are capable of handling any type of trail condition Mother Nature can dish out, which can be rather unpredictable where we ride.
We used the lighter 120tpi versions which we set up at 6 lbs front and 7 lbs rear. We found them surprisingly light for such an aggressive tread design.
New Frame Design
Comparing the two size large frames, the 2019 has a 5.7mm longer wheelbase of 1151mm, retaining a chainstay length of 440mm. The added length comes from a 5.8mm increase in reach to 444.7mm and effective top-tube length increased by 8mm to 633mm. To match the slower steering 27.5” wheels, the head tube angle was slightly steepened from 68.4 to 68.56 degrees. Seat tube angle remains unchanged at 73 degrees. A stand over of 774.8mm is 6.4mm lower.
The Beargrease is now a 1X drivetrain specific design allowing up to a 32 tooth front chain ring. With a 12mm axle, rear wheel spacing was increased from 177mm to 192mm.
To ease maintenance and improve shifting performance, the Beargrease drivetrain now features fully internal, sleeved cable routing. Meeting customer demands there’s now internal routing for a dropper post and an easily serviceable threaded bottom bracket.
Salsa has undoubtedly improved the performance of the Beargrease. The superior rollover of the larger wheels and tires, geometry tweaks and revised cockpit have made the Beargrease a smoother, more stable bike with little sacrifice in agility. Compared to our 2016, Salsa has delivered a lighter, better performing bike for less money. If you’ve been thinking it might be time for a new fat bike, the updated 2019 Salsa Beargrease could be all the excuse you need to pull the trigger.
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[@OldManFatBike]

Fantastic review and comparison!

[@mountainbikeondemand]

Thank you. Fat bikes are a lot of fun. The segment doesn't get enough attention. Only problem is now I want to trade in my 2016 for a 2019.

[@mountainbikeondemand]

Thanks for commenting by the way. It helped us find your Channel.

[@hughsnyder891]

Can you run 29+ tires and wheels on this ?

[@77rockcity]

Just ordered mine from LBS, $1,599 for complete bike. Thank you Salsa Anniversary sale!!!

[@mountainbikeondemand]

Congratulations on the new ride. Once you get to take it for a spin stop back by and let us know how you like it.

[@77rockcity]

@@mountainbikeondemand Thanks, excited to have my face hurt from fat tire smiles.

[@77rockcity]

@@mountainbikeondemand Wow! It rips and just wants to go fast. It'll be hitting trail center in the a.m. #skrt

[@mountainbikeondemand]

@@77rockcity Sweet! Glad to hear you like it. Riding the 2019 definitely has us wanting to upgrade our 2016. Keep the rubber side down.

[@michiganstate149]

It's great looking back at this and realizing the frame only is more $ than the full Deore model in 2019

[@daytondbMF]

This bike is so much fun. Will put front suspension on it someday. Despite people saying you don’t need front suspension with a fat bike i found it would be helpful at some places (Devou, Great Seal).

[@mountainbikeondemand]

Went back and looked at this video and saw a lot of comments we missed. For warmer dryer months where we wanted to ride more aggressively we would definitely like a suspension Fork.

[@harveyhollandsworth8527]

You should check out the Atrium Medical Center Bike Park in Lebanon. It has very good single track and beginner double track with optional features for beginners to progress on. They have a black diamond jump trail two pump tracks 9 green and blue trails. Most notable and popular are the Gemini loop (right next to the skills area) and both Apollo Loops (In the middle of the Park). Notable of areas are the skill tracks. There are many technical features including, a log skinny and A frame 4 skinnies ending in a rock garden. My favorite addition is the advanced pump track because of the three big table tops. I think that this would be a great addition to the channel’s content due to the fact that this place is really cool and not many people know about it. I go every Saturday at noon so I could show you guys around the park! Thank you!

[@mountainbikeondemand]

My wife and I ride out there from time to time. We love that place. We have three Trails we have to finish filming at devou Park. After that, Lebanon is next on our list to film. Shoot us a message on our Facebook page and we will hit you up the next time we're headed out that way for a ride. Liked your Haro bike check and subscribed to your Channel. Thanks for reaching out!

[@harveyhollandsworth8527]

MTB Cincinnati Thanks for the response but that Haro bike changed a lot. New rockshox ergon grips carbon rims and some battle marks from crashing at windrock.

[@mountainbikeondemand]

@@harveyhollandsworth8527 Carbon wheels, that's probably one of the nicest Haros out there. Congratulations on the upgrades.

[@podcast1517]

I have a somewhat embarrassing question? I'm just getting back into MTBiking and I live in covington Ky and want to take devou park bit my bike hardly shifts and breaks just are plain junk, I don't feel safe descending on it, the bike is a 2001 mongoose MGX ds7000 (cheap bike but all I can afford) is there and CHRAP upgrades I can do to get it up to par?? THANK you so much my name is David Flanagan PLEASE HELP

[@mountainbikeondemand]

Hi Dave, regardless of whatever type of components are on your bike, if it barely shifts in the brakes aren't working it sounds like you would benefit from a tune-up first and foremost. If you do not feel qualified as a mechanic we would suggest contacting a local bike shop. Reser Bicycles in Newport Kentucky can look it over and give you a quote for a tune-up or whatever Parts need to be replaced. Just in case your bike is a basket case and you are low on funds as we are at times you can often find a decent deal on a used bike on Cincinnati bike Market on Facebook. If you really prefer to go new the guys at the shop can sometimes get you hooked up with a 0% financing deal. Either way, there are a few options. Hope this helps. Keep us posted.

[@podcast1517]

thank you for the reply, I will definitely ride out there this weekend, I'm a coffee drinker as well,, my bike will most likely be a basket case LOL,, that's why I mainly ride the parks on the river in cincinnati and cross rubling bridge and purple people bridge,, but as an outdoorsman and looking for it as a new hobby I rather hit the trails and get off the asphalt, again I'll stay in touch and stay tuned to your channel,, oh one more thing, there is a prankster You Tuber (Dennis Roady) who which has another channel for children and has a cool puppet show called PILY PALS he has had you tubers like roman Atwood on there, he lives in Cincinnati it would be cool if he could make a episode about mountain biking

[@mountainbikeondemand]

@@podcast1517 we hope they're able to get you back in good operating order soon. The coffee there is great. Tell the guys at the shop we said hi.

[@Milesobrian]

What do you have for 800 bucks?

[@mountainbikeondemand]

The bike shop we worked with can probably get you hooked up with something for around that price. Give Reser Bicycles a Shout.

[@ofeghahati]

You can buy the frame for now!

[@darthpotassiums1fan20]

I love your videos! But if I can offer some constructive criticism, I think you should just have a brief summary of the video in the description, instead of the script. Can’t wait for the next vid!

[@mountainbikeondemand]

Thanks for watching and for your input. We have a couple of Powersports channels where we usually post most of our script as the description so there are more words for Google to search. Perhaps you're right though.

[@joebourgoin6554]

I like the script in there. Because why not lol. Or instead you could post it as a pinned comment

[@Noop-Noop56]

"I prefer in my opinion the 2019 model's paint job because of the wheeeeeels"

[@mountainbikeondemand]

The wheels certainly make it nice.

[@mtbboy1993]

3:02 that won't do much on ice, you need studded tyres forr ice.

[@mountainbikeondemand]

For sure.