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Reader’s Ride(s) – Graham’s KTM Fat Rat

Graham, who lives in Queensland, Australia, sent us this info about his new KTM Fat Rat fat-bike. Graham reckons it is the first in Australia. Let’s have a look!

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Recently, I turned the big four zero and I asked my lovely wife if she could get me a present that I’d remember this big milestone moment in my life. Big screen TV or something cool, but then I remembered my love of cycling and that I already ride five times a week on the road with my ‘Cannondale Bad Boy Solo 8’.

However, the enjoyment of riding on the road was being dampened by stupid driver’s texting whilst driving, so after a few close calls this got me thinking about getting back into mountain biking, after a six year break from off-roading and only getting on the road as a form of exercise this helped me make that decision. So, in theory this would take me off the streets and into the Australian bush, with only trees to jump out in front of me, much safer right!

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I started looking at full suspension endurance style mountain bikes, carbon XC hard tails, but then I discovered ‘FAT bikes’, so after talking to Brad Alcock at ‘KTM Bike Industries Australia’, a deposit was put down and an order to KTM in Austria put in motion. At this stage the only fat bike I’d seen in person was a Norco Bigfoot which a kind person outside a bike shop let me have a go on after asking him about it. So, this was my only experience with riding a fat bike prior to ordering one, seeing there were no KTM fat bikes in the country at this stage. After a bit of a wait I finally got the first & only Australian delivered KTM fat bike – the ‘FAT RAT’.

The bike is stock at the moment except the JetBlack studded platform pedals and the addition of a KTM factory chain stay protector, once I spend some more time in the saddle I will look into going the tubeless route so I can get those air pressures down for more grip and to avoid the dreaded pinch flats.

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As you can see in the photos the bike comes with some nice KTM orange parts like the orange anodized quick release seat clamp, hand grip ends & handlebar clamp as well as the orange tubing, plus the orange rim tape. I was very happy to see these as the photos I’d seen online of the Fat Rat the rim tape was black.

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The KTM Fat Rat weighs in at 15 kilos / 33 lbs including pedals, which I thought I’d notice a difference going from a hybrid light weight bike to a fat-bike. But I find it tracks well on the trails and it climbs exceptionally well with all that contact patch from those four inch wide Schwalbe Jumbo Jims.

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Here in Queensland, Australia the weather is mainly warm all year round so riding for me will be either single track, open fire trails or beach riding. I am not too far from the ferry that goes to Stradbroke Island or Moreton Island, so hopefully one day I’ll be able to try some beach riding.

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When I decided to get a fat bike, the decision was made easier by the fact that I didn’t want to go fast through the trails or do big jumps, not that this bike couldn’t, I just wanted to explore and enjoy the scenery and have trips either on my own or with fellow fat bikers. After all, these bikes are referred to as the “four wheel drives of bikes” and I plan on using it as an adventure bike, I’ve even started a YouTube channel called FAT_BIKE_FUN to record my adventures to record and share the fun these bikes can offer.

Bike Information:

  • Frame Fat Rat 26” Alloy M: 5207 (21”)
  • Fork RockShox Bluto 26”, Remote – SA-80-15×150-T
  • Head Set KTM Team B303AM drop/in-tapered, +10
  • Stem KTM Team KT-5
  • Handlebar KTM Team HB-FB21L flat-720
  • Brake Shimano Deore M615 Hydraulic Disc
  • Shifter SRAM Trigger X.9
  • Rear Derailleur SRAM X.9
  • Front Derailleur SRAM X.7
  • Crank Set SRAM X.9 36-22
  • Bottom Bracket SRAM GXP TM-100
  • Cassette SRAM PG 1070 11-36
  • Pedals VP-539 MTB
  • Rims Weinmann 80mm x 26”
  • Hubs KTM Fat Team 150/15 TA 6 bolt
  • Tyres Schwalbe Jumbo Jim EVO TLE 100 Folding Snakeskin Tubeless ready
  • Saddle Selle Italia X1 Flow
  • Seat Post KTM 3D Forged 400/27.2

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5 Responses to Reader’s Ride(s) – Graham’s KTM Fat Rat

  1. Tony Karakashian June 22, 2015 at 4:08 pm #

    That’s a damn pretty bike!

  2. Damien P. March 11, 2016 at 3:59 am #

    Hi, looks like this bike comes in one size only, how tall are you and does it fit well? I’m considering this bike as well, I had a Surly Moonlander in the US before and they don’t have this brand in Europe, so this one could be a good choice. Thanks

    • Graham September 7, 2016 at 6:36 am #

      It comes in a multitude of sizes, mine was a 21″ & I’m 6’3″.

  3. Steve B June 8, 2016 at 9:07 am #

    Damien P.

    You can get them in 3 sizes, 17″, 19″ and 21″ but I think they’re pretty much out of stock in the UK

  4. Michele G. September 16, 2016 at 1:27 am #

    Hi, what is the really weight of the bike ? (from catalogue it seems 16,5 kg ..)

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