Boy howdy, does time fly. I actually finished my Bearclaw Bruno Titanium Fat Bike build the day before heading up to Cable, WI, for the Fat Bike Birkie—but I’m just now getting around to letting you all in on how I put it together.
What is the Bearclaw Bruno?
Here’s a quick recap of what you can expect when you get a Bruno of your own from Bearclaw.
Some Things to Know
The Bruno is made from 3AL-2.5V double-butted titanium, offering an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance. We do a lot of riding in wet conditions, and that corrosion resistance is a big deal—especially since we’ve got some coastal, saltwater rides planned. Titanium is about 25% lighter than a comparable steel frame, and carbon just doesn’t appeal to me for this kind of bike. I want durability, not ultimate light weight. My Medium Bruno frame weighs in at about 4 pounds, 15 ounces.
The head tube and dropouts are made from 6AL-4V billet titanium, enhancing structural integrity.
The bottom bracket is a standard threaded 100mm BSA shell—reliable and proven. No need to reinvent something that works!
Rear thru-axle spacing is 197x12mm, which accommodates wide tires and ensures stability. The Bruno supports a range of tire sizes: 26×4.8″, 27.5×4.5″, and 29×3.0″, allowing you to customize based on terrain and preference.
The frame features a post-mount setup for a 160mm rear brake.
Multiple bottle cage mounts and provisions for racks and fenders make the Bruno ideal for bikepacking and long-distance touring.
The geometry (68° head tube and 74° seat tube angles) balances stability and agility—perfect for snow, sand, and rugged trails. Evan Simula of Sports Rack in Marquette, MI helped with the design, so it’s got trail cred!
The ride quality of titanium is well known—it offers a smooth, responsive ride that absorbs vibration and reduces fatigue on long outings.
This isn’t my first titanium fat-bike rodeo. I still have (although the frame is for sale) a Chumba Ursa Major, which has been a fantastic ride since I got it in 2017. That said, Chumba no longer offers the Ursa Major—or any fat-bike, for that matter. I wanted a currently available titanium fat-bike, and the Bearclaw Bruno fit the bill.
Why Not Just Stick with the Chumba?
Having already dialed in the Chumba with the components I liked—and having recently replaced the wheels, tires, and drivetrain—it made the most sense to move those parts over to the Bruno. These are tried-and-true fat-bike components, so let’s dig in.
The Build
The wheels are DT 350 fat bike hubs laced to Surly Other Brother Darryl rims. I like the silver rims and they compliment the titanium frame nicely. Tires are 26 x 4.8 45NRTH Husker Dus. I like the Husker Dus for the beach, urban riding and bikepacking. They roll well and have enough grip for most situations.
The crank is a Race Face Turbine with a compatible Race Face bottom bracket. No need to go fancy on the BB. It will need to get replaced yearly anyway!
Putting the foot to the pedal, I use VP AIM pedals for almost all riding. Once the snow and ice return you will probably see iNVRS platform pedals with appropriate studs in my winter boots.
I went with the 9-speed Box drivetrain for reliability and a wide range. The 9-speed chain is wider and more durable than the SRAM 12-speed gruppo that I used in the past and is less finicky when it comes to sand, salt and muck.
Up in the cockpit area the Pro Taper 2020 bar has been my go to for most bike builds these days. The 20-degree back sweep agrees with my aging wrists. A Thomson 70mm X4 stem connects the carbon bar to the carbon steerer of the Whisky No. 9 Fat Fork and the whole shebang rotates on a Cane Creek 40 Series headset. Purple PNW Loam Grips keep my hands happy.
Brakes are another area where I had just switched out the parts on the Chumba. I had previously used Paul Klampers but found that they really don’t like sand and, really, they are just too pretty to beat up on the beach and in the salty, urban conditions we have around Milwaukee. I was tempted to go with tried and true TRP Spykes but I had a new set of Magura dual piston MT-5s so those got the call.
In an homage to bling I installed purple Wolf Tooth stem spacers and seat clamp. I am Mr. Purple after all!
Rounding out the cockpit is a Whisky No. 7 carbon seat post and a WTB Valcon saddle.
In the Snow and on the Beach
I’ve had the Bruno out on the Beach at Port Washington, WI and on the snow in Cable, WI. All signs point to a super fat bike experience with the Bearclaw Bruno! I’ll have more ride posts using this bike. We have a trip to Michigan sand in July and several other rides in the works.
What’s Next?
Am I finished with the build? Not quite!
I just received a Salsa Kingpin fork to replace the Whisky carbon fork. The Kingpin offers multiple mounting points—something the Whisky lacks. I’m also working with Bo from Baily Works Bags to get a custom frame bag made.
So stay tuned—more stories are on the way!
Pricing & Availability
- Frame-Only Price: $2,490
- Build Options: Bearclaw offers full custom build options so you can tailor your Bruno to your exact needs.
