Gravity Bullseye Monster Fat Bike - First Ride

Come along for the ride as I shake-down my new Gravity Fat Tire Bike. Let's find out what it's like to ride, how far we can push it, and what I might want to change after the first ride. Maybe we'll also find out what all this Fat Tire fuss is about!?

[@darwinrides1688]

Featured Bike: Gravity Bullseye Monster Aluminum Fat Bike with 26" x 4" tires: amzn.to/2wvhs6J

[@chaboi7]

What size bike should I get? I'm 5'9 325 pound I want one just like this one

[@danwilliams9606]

I have been riding my GBEM for about 3 years now. I have made a number of modifications to make the bike work better for beach riding and for SoCal mountain bike trails. I went down to a 20T front chain ring (from stock 22T). That still didn't give me what I wanted for super steep climbs so I busted the cassette apart, lost the 11T and 13T cogs, added a 38T stainless steel cog off eBay, and replaced the 11T with a first position 13T and new lock ring. The bike will now climb just about anything. I added an inexpensive 100mm dropper post. Don't leave home without one. I also replaced the stock Tektro mechanical brakes with bottom end Shimano hydraulics which are baseline but work just as good as the Deore XTs on my full sus mtb. One finger braking vs. two. But the truly transformative upgrade was to get rid of the worn out Mission Command tires and tubes and replace them with Jumbo Jims that I managed to install tubeless on the stock non-tubeless compatible rims using a method I devised myself. The JJs are light, and this modification reduced the weight of the bike by an incredible 3.5 pounds! However, the weight reduction was absolutely the least of the benefits of the tire swap. Rolling resistance was reduced by so much that I found myself riding anywhere from one to a stupefying three gears higher than I rode on the stock tires. That nasty Mission autosteer disappeared. Steering and traction generally were greatly improved. The improvement almost defies belief. But the bike ain't quite where it needs to go yet. At full sus mtb speeds on gnarly trails the GBEM will pound you senseless before it starts to get really dangerous due to tires out of contact with the trail. I am designing a classic leading link fork that will increase wheelbase and trail, decrease steering head angle, and be adjustable in increments from 80mm to 140mm of travel. A labor of love, astonishingly complex to get it all right, but I just want to do it. It is a science project that should have real world payoff. I really like my GBEM. I have pounded the living crap out of it for 3 years and nothing has ever broken. It has to be the stupidly best $500 I ever spent, and I still like riding it, especially on the beach at -1.5 low tides or greater. I am sure you have figured it out by now, but you need tires at around 5 psi for soft sand to get a float. In the soft sand it is like riding a 10-12% grade, and any beach gradient is added to that, so recreational it is not and never will be. But on SoCal beaches the low tide, smooth, wet sand is the best bike path you can get. Thanks for your vids. The GBEM is a really solid platform that lends itself to inexpensive improvements if you know what you want and use even a small % of your brain.

[@darwinrides1688]

I've recently been experimenting with metal pads on the Monster. The feel is a little stiffer, and I'm not sure that I like it yet, however, they don't fade on long downhill runs, which can be a problem with resin pads on these heavy bikes. Thanks for the input!

[@mullergyula4174]

I am amazed by the quality of your work especially the narration.

[@Bicyclefarms]

The self-steering is from the low tire pressure on pavement. Pump the tires to near max and it disappears.

[@warkingdread2383]

Great video! I’m a Fatbike nut job. Self steering on pavement isn’t an issue at high tire pressure, I’ve done two centuries on pavement riding my Farley with 4.5” tires at 18lbs (tubeless) Drop that tire pressure to 4-5 lbs (tubeless) on the beach and you’ll float, we all float.

[@darwinrides1688]

I'm a low pressure junkie - i ride mostly single track, so I prefer the suspension effect.

[@OldManFatBike]

That was informative! I like the turtle graphics at the end how it appears to swim up the screen leaving behind fat tire tracks , nice touch!!

[@PoliticusRex632]

I just rode the Hotter N Hell Hundred for the 2nd year in a row on my Gravity Deadeye Monster single speed. Fat bikes can do anything you want them to.

[@love.ccreid]

great review. I love bikes direct

[@gregors1422]

I've found if you want to ride in soft, dry sand, you need at least a 5" on your fat bike. I upgraded my fatbike (SE F@R) from 4" to 5" and now it can do dry beach sand (with some effort) and wet sand is EASY. There is now a 6" tire set available but it won't fit my bike.

[@KIckAssPinball]

thanks for the info!

[@josephryan5949]

It seems to me that we need a button to automatically decrease or increase the tyre pressures on these fat bikes !

[@locuscades1906]

Id go anywhere....

[@warkingdread2383]

Joseph Ryan like on a military Humvee! That would be sick

[@RT2Do]

Is the size guide accurate for this bike? Nice video and thank you for posting it!

[@darwinrides1688]

The size guide was accurate when I bought mine (several years ago). I bought the XL which is a lot to bike. I'm 6'1" with a long body. I like a lot of room to move around the frame. The XL was perfect for me, but some find it too much.

[@myownlane8409]

Thank you! What’s the weight limit on this bike?

[@darwinrides1688]

Its a truck! I don't know that there is a published maximum weight, and it would depend how the bike was used. For simple trail riding, 300lbs would be no problem. I weigh between 200-210 (depending on the season...:); I ride this bike hard. I have never had any concern about its structural integrity. The low pressure, wide tires are perfect for larger riders. Hope that helps...good luck!

[@pauldc779]

You have a Disco! 👍

[@pop4725]

did the Gravity size chart work for you ? I am trying to choose frame size

[@darwinrides1688]

I can't speak for the other frames, but the XL frame did not disappoint. I am 6'1" with shorter legs, and a longer body, so I like a long top-tube, with plenty of room to move. It's a heavy bike, so you don't want to go too large, or you'll have trouble getting the front wheel off the ground (if you need to). If anything, my XL is slightly smaller than my other XL framed bikes, so if you're on the fence between frame sizes, go larger.

[@darwinrides1688]

​@FatBikeBoy The Gravity Monster XL frame has a 20" Seat Tube and a 24.5" top tube

[@MabrysDad]

I’m 6’2”, what size Gravity should I get?

[@darwinrides1688]

I'm 6'1". The XL is big. If you are wanting to throw it around, then you might consider the Large frame. However, if you'r looking for a stable platform with lots of room to move around the frame, go with the XL. Good Luck!

[@MabrysDad]

Darwin Rides where’s a good place to buy a used Gravity? Can’t seem to find one.

[@darwinrides1688]

@@MabrysDad I've never shopped for a used Gravity, nor have I ever seen one advertised. The 'new' price is so low that the resale value is probably not there.

[@Jovenmecanico01]

Is it possible to wheelie it?

[@darwinrides1688]

Wheelie, yes. Manual...Not so much.

[@FACup-eu2dt]

Did you really drive off, to find somewhere to cycle? Why can't you cycle from your house, like everyone else?

[@darwinrides1688]

Yes. When one lives in a flat concrete paradise, one must drive to find some dirt (or in this case, a Florida swamp with an Atlantic beach.) Besides, the Rover is all part of the adventure. Thanks for watching!