Salsa Beargrease 18 month Review and Mods | Fat Bike

Here is my long term review of my 2021 Salsa Beargrease, including details on my custom build. After 18 months of ownership and many miles and hours on the bike, here are my views on how it has performed overall, what I think about it as a platform, and how it has impressed me beyond its stock fat bike setup. I firmly believe it is one of, if not THE best carbon fat bike on the market, especially if you value durability and versatility along with performance. Check out my series of videos below about the bike:
Salsa Beargrease Videos:
First Look: • Salsa Beargrease Carbo...
First Ride Stock: • Salsa Beargrease 2021 ...
Can It Climb?: • Salsa Beargrease 2021 ...
First Snow Ride: • Salsa Beargrease 2021 ...
Rocky Man Snow Ride: • Salsa Beargrease 2021 ...
Salsa VS Surly ICT: • Surly Ice Cream Truck ...
29+ Wheel Upgrade: • Custom 29 Plus Wheel B...
Alt Bar Setup Complete: • Surly Corner Bar | Dro...
Tacoma Adventure Basecamp: • Budget Tacoma Light We...
AMAZON LINKS:
Instagram: elevationeveryweekend
Facebook: Elevation Every Weekend
My Brother’s Instagram: dirteveryweekend
Marnie: marnie_doodle
BIKE GEAR:
Profile Designs Aero Bars (Carbon): amzn.to/2ZMH0xN
Profile Designs Aero Bars (AL): amzn.to/3BrkHus
Carbon Bottle Cage: amzn.to/2Ur5BW6
ESI Grips: amzn.to/2Y0wxxU
ESI Grip Tape: amzn.to/3jVWdDP
Race Face Chester Pedals: amzn.to/3lGdctl
Bike Bell: amzn.to/2QplxpP
Frame Protection Tape : amzn.to/3tFXtNC
Olight RN 1500 (front): amzn.to/3d6Tq6D
Olight SeeMee 30 (rear): amzn.to/3r87Tnw
Headlamp: amzn.to/3lC1ShZ
Rock N Roll Gold Chain Lube: amzn.to/3cTvYcG
Stans Notubes sealant: amzn.to/3vMHYFJ
BomberStrap: amzn.to/390IAO7
Fatbike Fork Mount: amzn.to/3tHA3HY
Water Bottle: amzn.to/3lA6Ag6
Mountainsmith Tour Pack: amzn.to/2OWzyeb
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Park Tool Chain Cleaning Kit: amzn.to/3sdBwoR
First Aid Kit: amzn.to/3fgs1lc amzn.to/3frTSz9
Nalgene First Aid Kit: amzn.to/3tVvXvO
Mongoose Dolomite Fatbike: amzn.to/3BHUgkB
TECH:
Garmin Instinct: amzn.to/390AkxA
Apple Watch Series 6: amzn.to/39hLgHt
Powerbeats Pro headphones: amzn.to/2Pg0TrK
TACOMA:
X-Bull Traction Boards: amzn.to/3r8kHdA
Tepui Roof Top Tent: amzn.to/3E3q9FV
Thule Rack (mid): amzn.to/3xJQEhz
Igloo Cooler: amzn.to/3xEl58M
K&N Air Filter: amzn.to/313iBBl
K&N Air Filter kit: amzn.to/3c9grpZ
Tacoma Tailgate Insert Emblem: amzn.to/313vNWV
Fisker Axe: amzn.to/2OOS3Bq
Thule Rack: amzn.to/3tKFoOq
Tepui RTT: amzn.to/3vNbET5
Dude wipes/shower: amzn.to/2OXRi8T amzn.to/2NG0Ogl
Mountain House Meal: amzn.to/3sb8KoJ
FILMING:
iPhone 12 Pro Max: amzn.to/2Qqzwvy
Apple Silicone Case: amzn.to/3lCLdee
Spigen screen protector: amzn.to/313i16G
GoPro: amzn.to/3eYAM37
Chest Mount Harness: amzn.to/3c6eQ48
Lapel Mic: amzn.to/3tCU4PI
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These links do not cost you any additional money, but really help support the channel.

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Here is a playlist of all of my fatbike content! kzbin.info/aero/PLZrEXKDmvWZV7xKrbDOHZPEvDTBfuewsh

[@hf5642]

Thanks for the playlist. Actually I have already viewed most of your videos and have enjoyed viewing all of them.

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

@@hf5642 much appreciated…more to come!

[@sherryhospodar2401]

This is a great video and so is that bike !! I love you ability to film while riding and your accuracy!! Keep them coming .

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Thanks for watching!!

[@thomashospodar9808]

That was a really good video especially about the rear hub keep up with the good info on these bikes and be waiting for your next video thumbs up on this one

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Thanks for watching!!

[@kristierundell8917]

Thanks for posting ! You definitely have a great bike there, and it was one I had my eye on. We wound up with Trek Farley 5’s mostly because it was in stock at our local bike shop, lol. Looking forward to your adventures. Be safe and have fun !

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Thanks!! The Farley is a great bike, I hope to own one some day! I’m excited to try out my build concept and see how it does. Cheers!

[@TheLankyCyclist]

Super thorough review. Such a versatile bike. I want one!

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Thanks for watching! It’ll be my go to for this years big adventures I think

[@TheLankyCyclist]

@@ElevationEveryWeekend with your upgrades, should be able to chew up the miles with that thing!

[@iAlfin]

Thanks for the review!

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Thanks for watching!

[@stevewalcott9546]

Great review!

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Thanks for watching!!

[@033biketrips]

Great bike! I was considering buying it a year ago but unfortunately there were no bikes in stock so had to go for a custom BOMBTRACK chromoly frame/ carbon fork build. I wish someday I would have a chance to get this beauty too 🙌🏻

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Thanks for stopping by! Yeah it’s been a great bike, excited to put my build to the test this summer. Love that Bombtrack of yours, 29+ is so good!

[@dakotafilms]

thxs again for the insightful videos. I like what you've done with your Beargrease....what are your thoughts on prep for adventure riding and backcountry...ie. bags, protection possibly towing etc? no dropper post? look forward to seeing more. all the best, dakota

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

For this year I don’t have any major overnight bikepacking plans. I will be trying to drive to and camp at cool locations, and then use the bike to explore on longer day trips. I probably won’t add too much to the bike this year on the bag side of things. I am looking at top tube bags now, but that’s a small convenience. Otherwise, will see how it goes and then add anything I feel I need. I would probably start with a rear rack but that’s just a guess. Maybe some anything mounts on the fork too. No dropper this year on this bike. I did just add one to my ICT but it will be more of a tech/trail bike. Thanks for watching!

[@TarmacSkin]

pund per pound Mukluk and Beagrease are top fatbikes on the market, I use the Beargrease as a superlight bike w Carbon everything and the Mukluk is my exploration bike goaled to bikepacking rides.

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Yep, great combo!

[@Accu53Mation]

What I am surprised about is the amount of men & women in the U.S. Armed Forces, that commute on base, with fat-tire bikes. It's literally Fat City, at Fort Drum, Fort Campbell, & Elmendorf AFB. Had a recent visit to Camp Lejeune. Yip An entire bike rack at a NCO barracks, was over-stuffed with Fat Bikes.

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

I love it!

[@XNick291X]

Very nice bike! Unrelated to the Salsa but I'm looking at getting a Trek Farley 5 as my first entry into fat biking! I feel like if Salsa made an AL version of the Beargrease, it would sell like hotcakes!

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

The Farley is excellent, can’t go wrong with that and I would love to own one of those some day. Salsa does make an AL version of the Mukluk, but I do like the 27.5” wheels on the Farley.

[@XNick291X]

@@ElevationEveryWeekend I'm quite lucky because my local Trek dealer has them in stock, and they're quite hard to get ahold of in the UK right now!

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

@@XNick291X They are, I saw a couple this weekend locally but they are going fast around here too.

[@XNick291X]

@@ElevationEveryWeekend Oof, I better get one soon then!

[@BikeRun596]

the only thing that stopped me from buying such a steering wheel was its weight, so I started producing copies of such steering wheels from aluminum weighing 380 grams

[@donalrides1508]

Hey Tommy, I just purchased a 2022 Salsa Deore Beargrease and have been riding it for about two weeks. On my past several rides I to have been experiencing the same problem with the free hub momentarily catching upon freewheeling and I’m wondering if you have investigated this with either Salsa or Sun-Ringle. There seem to be numerous videos here on KZbin showing the opposite problem wherein there is no engagement of the freehub when pedaling but our problem seems to be more unique. I’m curious about your thoughts or solution regarding this problem. Keep the vids coming!

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Congrats on the bike, it really is fantastic overall! I think it’s a hub issue, and probably not really even an issue just how it’s designed. I have the same hubs in my 29+ wheelset and it seems to act the same way. I am cognizant of it so try to avoid having it snap back. I have consistently had issues with the cassette coming loose too and I think that whiplash effect is the cause. It comes loose less frequently now because I am aware of the hub, but I did just have to tighten it to spec again recently. I would probably not use these hubs again. My wheel builder (who I trust) did say that these hubs are decent from a durability standpoint after some issues earlier on.

[@donalrides1508]

@@ElevationEveryWeekend I agree, it’s a fine bicycle. So far my only plan is to change the front rotor to 180mm due to the incredible traction of the 4” front tire. I’ve sent an inquiry into the freehub problem to Salsa and I’ll inform you of what I learn. For $3000 this bike should perform flawlessly while still brand new.

[@AaronVeluz]

What stem length and angle would you recommend for the corner bar? Mine is ±45° 90mm. Twitchy sometimes

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

I can only tell you what I am running. On this bike, I swapped the 35mm stem with my Ice Cream Truck (which was 31.8) because the Corner bar is not compatible with the 35 diameter. Not sure what the specs are on the ICT stem, but it had been extremely stable including in the aero bars.

[@machine7767]

You mentioned 4.5 wide tires. Where you talking 26 or 27.5? Do you think 27.5 x 4.5 would fit front and rear or just the front?

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

So, officially Salsa lists the 27.5x4” as the max tire size in the rear. Personally I think a 4.5” would fit, but I have not actually tested that and it’s possible there might be chain rub on the tire in the big rear gears. 26x4.6” would fit according to Salsa. Plenty of clearance in front for pretty much any size tire.

[@MrJFunkSanchez]

Curious of fat bikes, since I’ve had a hard tail and now own a full suspension. With the BearGrease and ICT in your arsenal, when do you ever ride or prefer a Full Suspension bike?

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Honestly, I literally JUST sold my full suspension (just posted a video about it too). I barely rode my FS bike the last couple years, as the ICT does everything I need on the gnarlier trails, and is more fun for me.

[@MrJFunkSanchez]

@@ElevationEveryWeekend Awesome, gonna try one out! Appreciate the videos.

[@fatbikeymikey]

Two questions if you have time: one, can you add a suspension fork to this bike? And two, would you? In the summer I'm riding mostly blue trails in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah (some rocks, some roots, lots of dirt and dust), but nothing super gnarly. Just wondering if a suspension fork would add some comfort and summer-riding performance.

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

I know the bike can take a 100mm front suspension fork. Personally one of the things I like about fat bikes is that they are rigid and simple, and the tire volume gives some “suspension”. Generally I probably wouldn’t do suspension, but maybe some day on my ICT. But I know a lot of people add it to fat bikes and seem to like it. I guess I would say try it without first, and then you’ll know if the added cost, weight, and complexity of suspension is worth it for your terrain.

[@fatbikeymikey]

@@ElevationEveryWeekend Thanks for your wisdom!!

[@garykean5547]

Try Trek Bontrager XR2 29 x 3.00 tires for your 29+ set up. I rode it for years, amazing grip and fast rolling. Also, lite.

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Yep those are on the list. They were hard to find during the pandemic so hopefully they are more available when the time comes.

[@hf5642]

Great informative video. Nice looking Bike you set-up for yourself. Just surprised you put Blue Pedals on this Rig. It doesn’t really blend in nicely. No big deal, but black, yellow or orange / red coloured flats would of been more suitable.

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

Thanks for watching! Actually the pedals match the Salsa logo on the underside of the downtube, it’s just not very obvious.

[@hf5642]

@@ElevationEveryWeekend okay, did not realize there was a little something blue to match the Flats. Nice.

[@kabuto9556]

How many teeth is your chainring?

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

I believe it is a 30t front ring. I may go bigger in the future

[@kabuto9556]

Thanks. How is it in a flat road?

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

@@kabuto9556 overall quite good. The tires are aggressive so a lighter better rolling set of tires and the larger front ring would make it really solid on pavement and hard-pack

[@kabuto9556]

@@ElevationEveryWeekend Thank you so much for the information! Have a great rest of your day!.