Home > Feature Stories

Just In: Bontrager Jackalope Wheels and Hodag Tires Add Tubeless Fat Bike Options

15 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (3)

Just like your typical mountain bike, when it comes to fat bikes tubeless tires have a lot to offer. Eliminating (or close to) flats is a pretty big deal, especially given the fact that your typical fat bike inner tube will usually run at least double the cost of a standard tube. In many circumstances, dropping the tubes will also result in a significant weight loss – sometimes more than a pound. In our experience, the lack of an inner tube has also resulted in a better handling that will conform to the trail for improved traction.

In spite of all the advantages, going tubeless on a fattie still presents some challenges. Getting a large volume of sealant into a floppy tire and still being able to get that tire to seat on the rim can be tricky. That’s why products like Bontrager’s new fat bike TLR system get us excited. There are a number of tubeless systems available already from HED, Foundry/45NRTH, Turnagain, Sun Ringle, and more, but options are always good for the consumer. And while there are more than a few rims available, the choices for true tubeless fat bike tires are still fairly limited.

Like a lot of the big brands, Trek and Bontrager aren’t putting forth a huge product line for fat bikes, but what they do have looks promising. Get the details on the new Bontrager Jackalope wheels and Hodag fat bike tires next…

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (9)

We’ve heard of the mythical creature known as the Jackalope (a jack rabbit with antelope or deer antlers), but weren’t quite sure why the name was chosen for Bontrager’s wheels until we looked it up. According to folk lore one of the ways you can catch a Jackalope is by leaving out a bottle of whiskey. Add that to the fact that they supposedly only breed during winter electrical storms, and we’re thinking the name is spot on.

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (4)

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (5) Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (6)

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (7)

As Bontrager’s first fat bike wheelset, the company is liking testing the waters with a single model that features an 80mm wide (75mm internal) 6061 aluminum rim. The welded design features a stiffening double wall channel that is offset to one side of the rim. The idea being that the design allows for more even spoke tension with less dish without giving up stiffness at the rim. Each wheel uses 32 double butted 14/15 spokes that are threaded to the rim using locking nipples.

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (24)

At first we were curious what the OSB and offset valve hole would mean for running tubes, but we were able to mount up a tire with a tube without issue. Most of us will be running these tubeless, but the ability to throw a tube in during an emergency is a necessary feature.

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (12)

While the wheels carry the TLR moniker, this is one of the first Bontrager TLR rims that we know of that doesn’t use one of the plastic rim strips that snap into place. Instead, the wheels include a roll of fairly standard looking tubeless rim tape. The tape is installed only in the channel that holds the spokes and valve stem, and should be applied in two one layer (according to Bontrager, only one layer is needed but extra tape is provided). After making a hole for the valve with an awl the TLR valve is installed and you’re off to the races.

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (2)

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (8)

At the center of the wheels you’ll find Bontrager’s own hubs that are available in two combinations – 170/177 with a 135mm front, or 170/177 with a 150mm front. The front hubs are not adaptable through the use of end caps, and there is no 190/197 option for the rear. Sure, we’d like to see an adaptable version of the 135mm hub in case that user upgrades to a suspension fork in the future, but we’re happy to see the 150mm specific hub. Adding 15mm to the spacing of a hub through the use of a spacer on one side of the axle and dishing the wheel over works, but you can definitely feel through the front end of the bike that it’s not ideal.

And for those of you out there with 190/197 bikes? When asked about 190/197 hubs down the road we were told “they are always working on things” but more importantly, that Jackalope rims are available as replacement parts through Trek dealers. So technically there is nothing stopping you from buying a rim and your own 190/197 hub and building a wheel short of figuring out the spoke length.

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (11) Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (10)

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (25)

Otherwise the included hubs are compatible with 135 QR/142 front and 150×15 front as well as the QR or TA rear with Shimano or SRAM XD freehub bodies available.

Any mechanic who has ever struggled with removing press fit end caps from a hub will surely appreciate Bontrager’s new touch to the end caps. Instead of having to muscle off the end cap with brute strength, a hole is drilled through each side that allows an allen wrench or similar tool to be used for leverage.

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (1)

Inside the rear hub you’ll find a standard 3 pawl freehub with a 24t engagement ring.

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (15)

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (16)

If the Jackalope reference required a bit of clarification, the Hodag should need no introduction, especially if you’re from Trek’s home of Wisconsin. As the official symbol of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, the Hodag is another mythical creature known for its razor sharp claws. Fitting then, that it should be the name of a fat bike tire designed to claw into snow, ice, mud, and sand.

Given the heft of most fat bike tires, aggressive tread can be one of the first things to go when trying to make a lightweight tire. Fortunately, the Hodag keeps a meaty tread with widely spaced square lugs and plenty of siping on the blocks that provide extra gripping edges. The center knobs are still fairly close together for low rolling resistance, and the 3.8″ tire has a fairly round profile when inflated.

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (18) Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (17)

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (23)

Inside, along with the TLR bead, the Hodag uses Bontrager’s Inner Strength casing that provides a degree of sidewall protection in hopes of keeping the tire as supple as possible. Currently available in only a 60 tpi casing, the tire uses a folding aramid bead and soft 60a rubber compound for grip. Fully inflated at 10 psi, the tires measure in at 3.838″ or just over 97.5mm, so it seems they run true to size.

On the first go we were able to seat the tire on the rim with about 80 ml of Bontrager sealant using their Flash Charger floor pump. Not bad.

Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (14) Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (13) Bontrager Hodag Jackalope fat bike tubeless wheel tire system  (20)

The last question, how do they stack up in the weight department? The Hodag tires measured in at 1250g per tire which is just 6g over the claimed weight of 1244g. Not super light as far as fat bike tires go, but we would compare the Hodag most similarly to the 45NRTH Vanhelga which is over 100g heavier even with the 45NRTH running the higher end 120 tpi casing (though the Vanhelga has some monster tread).

Both of the wheels came in under claimed weight at 1540g for the rear and 1310g for the front (1552g and 1330g claimed. Wheels and tires are currently available through your local trek dealer with both front wheel models selling for $482.99 and the rear priced at $516.99 making the price for a set $999.98. Hodag tires run $149.99 a piece.

bontrager.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

15 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
mudrock
mudrock
9 years ago

God those things are heavy.

Bas
Bas
9 years ago

holes in end caps. nifty

Kovas
Kovas
9 years ago

These rims are a perfect match for this beast: http://38frameworks.com/jackalope.html

Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
9 years ago

RockShox has used Jackalopes on their damper settings for years.
I’m glad Bontrager is making hub service easier, because after replacing bearings on set of old Race Disc wheels, I was very mad at Keith Bontrager because it was way harder and needed way more tools than it should have.

booyah
booyah
9 years ago

“especially given the fact that your typical fat bike inner tube will usually run at least double the cost of a standard tube”

If you buy an actual fat bike tube, you are dumb. 26×2.4/3.0 tubes work fine and are half the weight and half the cost. They stretch to a 5″ tire with no issues.

tandellcycling
9 years ago

hookless version available?

tandellcycling
9 years ago

like the design of the alu fat bike rim spoke area

Emily
Emily
9 years ago

But they dont have the pretty color holes that are the only reason most people are fatting up.

Tad Dickman
Tad Dickman
9 years ago

(deleted)

Tad Dickman
Tad Dickman
9 years ago

(deleted)

Zachary Brown
Zachary Brown
9 years ago

I don’t fully understand the offset. Would someone please explain that further?

Justin Wash
9 years ago

@Zachary Brown:

An offset nipple bed allows for more even spoke tension between the two sides of a wheel. Since rear wheels and many disk front wheels have offset flanges, the center channel is moved closer to one side of the rim. This puts the area where the spokes connect to the rim more or less centered between the hub flanges.

Ideally this would mean the same size/tension of spokes on both sides of the wheel, causing it to deflect an equal amount in both directions when torqued from the side, improving cornering performance and overall stiffness.

In reality there are still differences and limitations on how far we can push this idea determined by lacing patter, rim material/strength, etc but it definitely makes a difference in the way a wheel feels to ride.

k
k
9 years ago

Just set up some other fat bike tubeless with Gorilla tape and hope. Key was to press the entire bead onto the rim bead area pretty firmly otherwise there was WAY too much gap. Fat bikes are still dumb 😉

Look forward to not having to 2003 it when tubelessing these things. The tubes are crazy money, and a stretched out 26×3″ tube will just flat easier.

Filip
Filip
8 years ago

The rear is specified as 170/177. Does it mean it comes with 2 sets of endcaps? Got a pair on order znd if not 2 pairs, hope they deliver the right one.

jiw71
jiw71
8 years ago

Great write-up! Very descriptive and technical. Thanks.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.