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IB15: Up Close with the Fatback Skookum Carbon and Rhino Aluminum Fat Bikes

Written by Zach Overholt
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fatback rhino aluminum skookum carbon fat bike(19)

When we first got wind of the new Fatback Skookum and Rhino fat bikes, the announcement was shown with computer renderings. Just a few weeks later at Interbike though, Fatback’s latest fat bikes were the real deal.

Offering a carbon fat bike that is suspension compatible as well as an aluminum model with a sliding dropout, Fatback is gearing up for winter with some cool new rides…

fatback rhino aluminum skookum carbon fat bike(18)

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Shown in two colors, up close we get to see a lot of the little details including an integrated downtube protector.

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fatback rhino aluminum skookum carbon fat bike(22) fatback rhino aluminum skookum carbon fat bike(23)

Tire clearance with a Schwalbe Jumbo Jim 4.8 on a DT Swiss BR710 rim is tight, but adequate. Built with a 197×12 rear thru axle, the frame sticks with a threaded bottom bracket.

fatback rhino aluminum skookum carbon fat bike(26)

fatback rhino aluminum skookum carbon fat bike(17) fatback rhino aluminum skookum carbon fat bike(31)

If green and blue isn’t your thing, the second color option of red black and white was looking classy.

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fatback rhino aluminum skookum carbon fat bike(28) fatback rhino aluminum skookum carbon fat bike(29)

Rhino, the second bike on display, is Fatback’s new aluminum workhorse that is also suspension corrected. The frame is built with a sliding dropout which will allow for adjustments in chain stay length or single speed use, but the frame is not belt drive compatible.

For more details including geometry check out our original post, or Fatback’s site for pricing and availability.
Zach Overholt
5,781 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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haromania
haromania
9 years ago

Skookum is a very cool bike. If I were buying a high end fatty in the near future, this would be at the top of my list and I LOVE the threaded bottom brkt. Kudos for that. If I HAD to nitpick, I’d like to see a little bit more tire clearance in the rear. However, not a deal breaker for me but a little puzzling. Having said that, sweet bike and I am sure it’s a total blast to ride and I wished it was hanging in my garage.

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ACwithFT
ACwithFT
9 years ago

I got to shoot Pat Smage at Outdoor Demo for half of a run on the Skookum – we were waiting around for a while for him to get out on it – it was a popular bike there! Anyway, he seemed to have a good time on it!

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Fatback
Fatback
9 years ago

haromania-the tight clearance on a 4.8 is because we are able to run narrow Q factor cranks-the same Q factor for a 170 rear spacing even though this frame uses 197. This saves close to an inch in width which is very noticeable. We also figured most of the riders on this bike would use 4-4.5″ tires.

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