IB15: Coast Cycles Goes Fat for the Streets, Starts Wave of 26+?

Written by Zach Overholt October 05, 2015

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Every year at the show, there is one brand that we haven’t heard of, or heard little of, that really catches our eye. This year, for me that brand was Coast Cycles from Singapore. Not because any their bikes were necessarily groundbreaking in technology, but because every bike they brought had great design and looked like it would be a ton of fun to ride.

Some bikes, like the Ruckus above are really meant for nothing but fun. However, other bikes like their award-winning Quinn cargo bike manage to blend fun and utility in a package that has to be seen or ridden to believe…

Literally described as a “Fun Bike” by Coast, the Ruckus combines massive 20×4.25″ tires with a unique frame and one-piece fork/ handle bars. The long saddle can carry two people and the frame is compatible with many additions including racks, lights, trailers, Or even an electric motor that can be bolted to the frame. Like most of the Coast bikes, the Ruckus is available in multiple drivetrain options and starts at $918 for the single speed build.

As the winner of a 2015 red dot design award, the Quinn also pairs fat tires with a unique frame built for carrying cargo. Rolling on 20×3.0″ tires, the frame is built with specific cargo bags in mind that fit within the center tubes or behind the seat which still allow you to pedal. The bike is also available with optional racks and baskets in multiple drivetrains including Gates belt drive.

Somewhere between the Ruckus and the Quinn lies the Juggernaut – a 20″ fat bike with 4.25″ tires. While it may seem like all of the Coast bikes run fat tires, they also have the Coastliner Collection with city, Sport, and ebikes with more traditional sized wheels and tires.

Of course Coast has a number of more traditional fat bikes in their line up as well, including the Goliath Full suspension and SL belt drive compatible hard tail, as well as 20 and 24″ fat bikes.

And then there’s this: 26+. Yes, the size that many (including my own friends) have joked about is here. We’re guessing the 26×3.0″ tire has a similar circumference to that of a standard 27.5″ (non-plus) tire. Perhaps this will allow it to fit in some non + 27.5 frames, but in this case the Axis FS + is built specifically to accommodate the size. Built with adjustable geometry through a flip chip, the bike rolls on 40mm wide tubeless compatible rims with Boost spacing front and rear. Also available in a hard tail, the new tire size should give us plenty to talk about…

coastcycles.com

Zach Overholt

5,477 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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23 Comments

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fergus

7 years ago

“Some bikes, like the Ruckus above are really meant for nothing but fun” I had fun laughing at the price of that P.O.S

KingDevin

7 years ago

perhaps the 26+ runs more like a 27.5. I’m guessing 27.5 plus might be too big if its close to 29 inch size. I would like to see more of this.

Danny

7 years ago

26+ has been “here” for almost 2 years on the Surly Instigator 2.0 with their Dirt Wizzard and Knard tires.

Danny

7 years ago

26+ has been “here” for around two years. The Surly Instigator 2.0 comes with 26×2.75 Dirt Wizzards and they also make a 26×3 Knard.

Will

7 years ago

26+ already exists on the Surly Instigator 2.0…

pmurf

7 years ago

The Quinn looks awesome. Unique integration of bags. I feel like they should have taken advantage of the massive dead space on the Ruckus and developed a frame back for it too…

pmurf

7 years ago

^ Frame Bag*

MannyCalavera

7 years ago

26+, as in the Surly Instigator 2.0 that is being cleared out due to poor sales (and poor tire selection/durability)? What about 29+ on the Krampus or Salsa Deadwood – short runs on those too.

The industry seems to have settled on 26″x4-5″ Fat, 27.5″x3″mid fat (compatible w/ standard 29″), and then either 27.5″ or 29″ for standard mountain, depending on frame size and travel. Still a dizzying array of choices without adding more to the fray.

Juha

7 years ago

LOL. Ruckus reminds me of Suzuki PV 50cc moped from 80’s, just without the engine.

Richard

7 years ago

I wonder how Honda will feel about a bicycle called “Ruckus”.

Slow Joe Crow

7 years ago

The Ruckus is very amusing, because they basically put pedals on an old fashioned Briggs & Stratton minibike, however an engineless minibike seems like a pretty pointless thing. The cargo bike with th bag in the frame looks a lot more interesting and useful.

34685695

7 years ago

Wow, the ruckus is actually just a cheap mini-bike frame with a bb and crank added. I agree, the cargo looking bike looks better. Interesting that the rack is mounted to the head tube so the weight isn’t felt in steering.

Derek

7 years ago

The Ruckus looks like it could be fun, although I think I need to see 2 people on it to be sure. Looks a little cramped. I like the idea though.

RickyBob

7 years ago

That has to kill the knees.

nsp234

7 years ago

Go 26 plus!
27 plus is too big

Frank

7 years ago

Like a few here have said, I think 26+ would be better than 27.5+. If 29″ wheels have been deemed “too big” for most enduro/all-mountain bikes, and 27.5+ is about the same diameter as 29″, doesn’t it stand to reason that 27.5+ is also “too big” for those bikes?

Not to mention that I see a lot of potential for plus-size tires to make hardtails more awesome, and the low BB height of a hardtail means that with wheels that big, handlebars end up way too high on Small and Medium sized frames (as is the case with 29″ hardtails).

All that’s holding me back from buying a Surly Instigator is the lack of existing tire options–that and and the “market” has apparently chosen 27.5+, so there will likely be no new options (not to mention replacements) in the future.

Ol' Shel'

7 years ago

It won’t be too long before people start complaining about the drag and weight of the + sized wheels and tires. Luckily, smaller, faster wheels will fit, with some drawbacks.

I tried running non-DH-casing 2.5s years ago. They were awesome if you wanted to work harder than everyone else while pedaling. And remember that unless the compound becomes softer or the tread is resized, you may lose traction over smaller tires, as the tread floats atop loose surfaces, rather than biting into it.

David

7 years ago

I love that Ruckus! It looks exactly like the Ruttman mini-bike I had as a kid. The price doesn’t really seem to bad, but it really is just a toy. This is the first bike I would actually ever consider putting an electric motor on.

Allan

7 years ago

@Richard, that’s the first thing I thought of. The bike actually has the same look of the Honda Ruckus too.

Sevo

7 years ago

26+ is actually going to be more popular in 2016 when you’ll see tires from at least 3 major companies roll out (pun intended).

Surly has had it for a few years, Dirt Wizard in 26+ and quietly the Knard in a 3″ 26+ version came out in the last year.

Jared

7 years ago

Of all the life style centered brands I saw at IB, Coast impressed me with their fun and intelligently designed bikes. Each has a specific function which is obvious when looking at the models as a group. I rode the Ruckus around and it was really fun. It actually handles in tight spaces very well. The Quinn was also a fun bike to ride and I liked the cargo carrying format. To the initiated cyclist these bikes might seem a little pointless but I think they have mass appeal to those interested in commuting and having a fun riding experience in the urban setting. A concept store dropped into a major shopping area in an affluent, urban environment would do well with this line in my opinion.

Joe V

7 years ago

I waiting for a 28-….

iangillette

4 years ago

Horrible company. Please, please trust me when I tell you Coast Cycles is only interested in one thing. $$$$. I purchased a BuzzRaw fully loaded with all the extras. Spent well over $4500.00. Last week I almost killed myself flying over the handlebars going 25mph to 0mph from a faulty fender that broke loose and got caught in the wheel well. I explained this to customer service and was swiftly turned away with all other email being ignored. This fender was $50!!! Honestly it wasn’t at all about the money. It was about selling a faulty product and not offering or providing customer support that would help remedy a dangerous situation. This is likely to happen again. Luna Cycles offers the same bike for half the cost and has much better customer service not to mention parts that don’t kill you. Thank god I was wearing a helmet! Wear you helmet people! Especially if your riding one of their bikes.