My Framed Minnesota fat bike is complete! So what took so long?

I thought buying a fat bike kit was a good idea, maybe not :-(
Find out why it took so long to complete this mountain bike build!
I purchased a Framed Minnesota Carbon fat bike as a kit rather than a completed build to save some money. It could have gone better. Watch this video to learn more and hopefully it will help you with your bike build.
Link to the right headset for this frame
amzn.to/3j5ePU9
Link to Orange Seal Sealant
alnk.to/44SwY8j
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[@SethJayson]

Nice video. Folks should keep in mind that Framed is pretty much just having these made and built up in China to their specs (not without some substitutions by the China crew that the company in MN may or may not know about.) Then they just ship them from a warehouse in St. Paul. It is what it is. We have half a dozen framed fatbikes (Minnesotas). They're aluminum and heavy, but we ride mostly flat stuff so that's fine by us. We each got one, and they migrated to the cabin (1000 miles away) for sand and snow riding. We miss them when we're home so when they got insanely cheap this month, we went nuts and got duplicates to ride the trails at home. It can sometimes be frustrating to reach them, but in my experience, they were great once the contact was made. That said, even the "built" bikes need significant work before they're rideable. That's fine by me at the normal price point, and with the Minnesota going for like $630 delivered right now, it's a steal. *On that bike, for the family's first 3, I had to remove all the front brake assemblies and true the tab (file the inside and/or bend gently, a little bit, with a wrench) which is possible there b/c it's an aluminum frame. * All the wheels needed to have the rotors removed and then the hubs properly adjusted, as they were way too tight. This is 100% normal as well for *parts* buys -- the shimano wheels I build with Deore XT hubs always come too tight from the factory as well. *Rotors needed trueing after install too, but this is typical. * Rear shifting on one was perfect out of the box. Shifting was fine on the 2 women's *except* for one cog drop which aways hung up. This took me a long time to figure out. I tried re-cabling, etc. Never got it right. Finally, I measured the cassette cog spacing and it was narrower in that one spot! This was a sunSHINE cassette, not the sunRACE specced on the bike. That was during parts supply chain chaos, and when I just could not get those to shift reliably, and could prove they worked absolutely fine with the sunRACE that came specced on one bike, I just spent $50 per bike on the same sunrace cassettes. When I told framed and sent them a copy of the receipt, they actually reimbursed me for the parts buys! I have the next 3 framed Minnesotas coming this weekend. If there's a hangup on those cassettes, I will first try to disassemble them (I think they're screwed together) and just 3-D print a slightly wider spacer for that problem spot, but maybe they'll all come with the sunraces. After the initial build, all the bikes have been trouble free for hundreds of miles. The only oddity was, for a while, it seemed like there was a clicking in the bottom bracket, but this was actually seat-post sound displaced by the tubes. Facing/squaring the top of the seat post and greasing under the clamp, and keeping it tight, took care of that. IMO, framed makes great bikes for the price, but they do require some care by above-average home wrenches.

[@fourutocone]

I have a Framed Minnesota on the way should be here Monday This is my first New bike in 40 years. I'll have to pay close attention when I build or should I say rebuild this bike out of the box .It was $620 .00..

[@BIIIKES]

@@fourutocone - just published a review of my Framed Minnesota I just received a couple of weeks ago. Would be flattered if you checked it out.

[@davidcrawford9421]

I purchased the deore bike in a box this year before frame went out of business it is the same frame as yours except for the color mine is a high gloss cyan and the fork is gloss black and it is a beauty. I also chose the pnw coast dropper for this build. Also shimano m5100 11speed 11-51. This is my winter project I haven't started it yet and it will be my first full build. I did go through everything that was in the box and there were parts that didn't match there website but I called them and they made everything right. Awesome customer service ! I'll miss them. When they started slashing prices and I saw the Minnesota LTD alloy fat bike with SLX drive train for $850 I called them to order one and they said it was the last one so, I have fat bike to ride this winter. Both bikes came with the same Alex Rims wheel set that you have. I'm Grateful that you took the time to record, edit, and post here. I know you have given me a head start and saved me some frustration ! So thanks for that, I'm now a subscriber ! All the best, David

[@teleotto]

Last year I got the same frame (open mold) from the White bicycles Scandinavian brand. It was a 2017 spare frame with fork for only 80$! From watching your video I feel lucky it included the parts in the front, and Ive moved the FSA BB spacer to the non drive side. Just put it together with Shimano Deore 12s and brakes. Cant get it in the 51 cog, but Ill figure it out before snow. First impression, its a perfect bike for snow, less technical terrain, fun and exhausting. Finding the right tru axles, the right narrow wide chain ring for 12s, fitting and adjusting it all together has been a pain, but its taught me basic basic bicycle mechanics, so its worth it because then I can better maintain and upgrade my other bicycles. Happy cycling

[@fatbikeymikey]

I bought a Framed Montana Carbon fattie a little over a year ago. It took a while from order to delivery because parts were still somewhat hung up in shipping (covid hangover). But it came mostly assembled and I had my LBS finish putting it together. The only issue I had was the derailleur hangar got bent in shipping. Framed sent another one quickly and then I was good to go. I've ridden it now over almost two summers (Utah trails, singletrack, dirt, some rock gardens) and one winter. It's been a blast to ride year round. I added a dropper post and switched out the round chainring for an oval; other than that it's pretty much stock. Just too much fun to ride, if that's possible!!

[@STILLPHENOM]

I’ve got the Minnesota 2.0. Didn’t have any of these problems for me. It was easy setup n go. For the price I thought it was a great value. Maybe cause I’ve never ridden a 5K or 10k priced bikes, I don’t know how they feel but I like how light it is and how much easier it is to go uphill compared to the regular bikes. Having said that I just messed up my cassette and bearings and I don’t have much idea on how or what to fix.

[@BoxComponentsOfficial]

Very nice! 👏

[@landonashby2029]

Merry Christmas! 🎅

[@joestella9181]

Glad you were able to get that headset figured out, good job…..See you in the snow 🌨👍

[@Dempsey222]

I needed a new headset for my Framed Fat Bike and they were great in helping me locate the right one.

[@BIIIKES]

- just published a review of my Framed Minnesota I just received a couple of weeks ago. Would be flattered if you checked it out.

[@Dempsey222]

@@BIIIKES they use to call that bike the Wolftrax. They changed the name to the Minnesota. great bike enjoy it.

[@Dempsey222]

@@BIIIKES I just looked. I can't find the video of the review.

[@BIIIKES]

@@Dempsey222 I published yesterday. New Bike Day- Fat Bike Edition. Latest video I put out.

[@Dempsey222]

@@BIIIKES thanks

[@BIIIKES]

Just published a review of my Framed Minnesota I just received a couple of weeks ago. Really enjoying the bike so far. Had one issue with the front caliper 3 rides in (immediately upgraded the brakes to Shimano MT400 hydraulics) and have loved it since. my size 18 aluminum version is 32.6 lbs (with tubes and stock wheels/tires)

[@vespageek326]

For every time he says 'kit', take a drink. - Would love a Framed bike.

[@BIIIKES]

- just published a review of my Framed Minnesota I just received a couple of weeks ago. Would be flattered if you checked it out.

[@kenny_kaos]

Kind of crazy they couldn’t answer you about the headset size, bike looks great though!

[@rgmtb]

Yeah I'm with you on that one. This should have really not been such a mystery for me to solve. Just glad the bike ended up so excellent!

[@mtbboy1993]

They defenitly need to improve their customer upport and add warnings and spec of headset to fit.

[@mtbboy1993]

With Nicolai, Geometron you can get best of both worlds, you can order a rolling chassis or partially assembled bike, and put on the rest. This also saves time taking off parts. Never tried it, but I got the frameset, but had to install the spring on the shock, install shock on the frame, but box it came in was for full bike. And most bubble wrap you probably ever seen. But I did not have any issues, but did have to use 4 X of the shims on Chris King Thread Fit 30 to not have loose cranks. But the BB came with that. Bike gas been flawless, problem free. Great internal routing for dropper post, just get it in and it comes out of the seat tube, no wiggling, vending or rotating, or news to use tools. I am keen to try the Nicolai Argon Fat. I know it's quality and I can run belt drive if I want to, as frame has a split, but I know there is a belt for bikes without that in the market now. But likwkt will run traditional drivetrain possibly gear hub, but need oval chain ring or my knees will hurt.

[@b.r.3232]

Custom build, yes!! Pick exactly what you want.....yes! I would likely never buy a kit or boxed bike....and I have the knowledge and tools for a custom project.

[@mtbboy1993]

Winter here is like: You need a fat bike now, defenitly build one, now, you don't need it it's rain and plus agian. But still think I might eventually build one. But it's been only few days this winter I needed one, ende dup rising in city centre and around it an Don path that were plowed well.

[@BIIIKES]

- just published a review of my Framed Minnesota I just received a couple of weeks ago. Would be flattered if you checked it out. Hasn't snowed here in 2+ years, and I'm still loving this fat bike.

[@JuggernautMTB]

Funny you mentioned the PNW Coast. I just put one on my SS to take the “sting” out of the random root/rock that inevitably jumps out at me 😊.

[@rgmtb]

Yeah man, I love this seat post! I have the same one on my Bone Shaker build for the same reasons. I just takes that solid hit out of the ride and all I was looking for. Not quite as good as one of those suspension seat posts but those do not offer a dropper so I find this one the best of both worlds right now.

[@330_Crew]

Can’t believe they didn’t know the proper headset size. That’s info that should be in their internal documentation. Those non-tubeless OEM Framed rims are heavy as hell. I have an older Wolftrax that I had a set of Mulfut rims laced to the OEM Framed hubs. The rims alone cut one pound off the bike, plus they were tubeless compatible.

[@teachestails]

I dont even see an option on their website for a kit. with you taking all the "fun" out of the build I imagine you could save some scratch...

[@mikieson]

its a good looking bike for sure..too bad the issues happened. BUT it gave you some serious experience for sure..

[@rgmtb]

Couldn't agree more!

[@jamesnelson5741]

Does anyone know the weight capacity of the Aluminum frame ones?

[@mtbboy1993]

I am curious what you think about the geometry, I want a fat bike, but I have almost zero experience with them, and those I've tried were just random bikes from locals, and did not measure the geometry, and they were too small for me. So curious about stem length reach, and what works best for a fat bike. I am 181cm, ride with around 490 effective reach, and 515mm reach frame, it's a Geometron G1, a enduro bike, I use a 33mm stem. But a fat bike is a different beast. My butt whole butt hurts from walking in the deep and tricky snow.

[@david78212]

Not knowing what headset used is part of the reason they’re out of business.

[@maureenrippin]

"Promosm" ☹️