dinneR ★ Posted January 15, 2021 Share #1 Posted January 15, 2021 Thinking about buying one. This is way more than I have ever spent on a bike. The q-factor is the key. Thoughts? https://otsocycles.com/products/voytek-custom-bike-configurator 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted January 15, 2021 Share #2 Posted January 15, 2021 Will it make you happy? Can you afford it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted January 15, 2021 2 minutes ago, Square Wheels said: Will it make you happy? Can you afford it? I think it will make my knees happy and yes, I can afford it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge ★ Posted January 15, 2021 Share #4 Posted January 15, 2021 I never really thought about Q factor until I got the Hei Hei. Then I realized how much more comfortable I was pedaling with the narrower Q factor. If they can offer a fattie with a decent Q, I say go for it. YOU are the engine; gotta keep you in good working order too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted January 15, 2021 Share #5 Posted January 15, 2021 15 minutes ago, dennis said: I think it will make my knees happy and yes, I can afford it. I think you are required to buy it, may I suggest purple and watermelon? 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share #6 Posted January 15, 2021 4 minutes ago, Square Wheels said: I think you are required to buy it, may I suggest purple and watermelon? I like the purple and watermelon, but I think blue is the only option unless I want to wait until April. I think the price is going up in April. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted January 15, 2021 Share #7 Posted January 15, 2021 The blue is pretty awesome too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeman564™ Posted January 15, 2021 Share #8 Posted January 15, 2021 that's dang nice my fatso has those taars, I like 'em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeman564™ Posted January 15, 2021 Share #9 Posted January 15, 2021 15 minutes ago, Square Wheels said: may I suggest purple and watermelon? I like it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisL Posted January 15, 2021 Share #10 Posted January 15, 2021 49 minutes ago, dennis said: Thinking about buying one. This is way more than I have ever spent on a bike. The q-factor is the key. Thoughts? https://otsocycles.com/products/voytek-custom-bike-configurator Trying to wrap my ahead around the Q factor issue. Is it because the tire clearance in the chainstays forces a wider BB? Sweet fattie, I’d say pull the trigger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zealot Posted January 15, 2021 Share #11 Posted January 15, 2021 Nice looking ride. Very clean lines, I like that. Pretty penny... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share #12 Posted January 15, 2021 22 minutes ago, ChrisL said: Trying to wrap my ahead around the Q factor issue. Is it because the tire clearance in the chainstays forces a wider BB? Sweet fattie, I’d say pull the trigger! Yes. The rear hub spacing went from 135 to 177 to 197 now on most fatbikes. That allows more tire clearance and bigger tires. In order for the chain to clear the tire you push out the bb which widens the pedaling stance or q-factor. The Otso has a 177 rear hub. It limits the bike to a narrower tire. 4.6 is the max in the rear and 5.0 up front. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share #13 Posted January 15, 2021 14 hours ago, ChrisL said: Trying to wrap my ahead around the Q factor issue. Is it because the tire clearance in the chainstays forces a wider BB? Sweet fattie, I’d say pull the trigger! This explains it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razors Edge ★ Posted January 15, 2021 Share #14 Posted January 15, 2021 15 hours ago, dennis said: The q-factor is the key. Thoughts? Most single speeds ought to have a "better" q factor to begin with, but fat bikes definitely made that tougher to minimize. If I was riding a fattie regularly and longer distances, I'd prefer a narrow q factor for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share #15 Posted January 15, 2021 6 minutes ago, Razors Edge said: Most single speeds ought to have a "better" q factor to begin with, but fat bikes definitely made that tougher to minimize. If I was riding a fattie regularly and longer distances, I'd prefer a narrow q factor for sure. You can feel it on every ride, but during longer rides of 2 hrs or more it becomes really pronounced. I wish more companies made a narrow q-factor fatbke. I think Otso and the Borealis Telluride are the only options. Rocky Mountain made the Suzi-Q for a couple of seasons, but they dropped it. I've scoured the web for used bikes and can't find any with a narrow q-factor. None. Otso sold out before they shipped a single bike. I thought my local dealer would have some, so I stopped in and they dropped Otso. I found one yesterday in a shop within driving distance. I met the owner a couple of years ago at a race. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted January 15, 2021 Share #16 Posted January 15, 2021 10-51 12 speed? What is shifting that like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted January 15, 2021 Share #17 Posted January 15, 2021 10 minutes ago, jsharr said: 10-51 12 speed? What is shifting that like? Quick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted January 15, 2021 Share #18 Posted January 15, 2021 Just ask 'you know hoo' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share #19 Posted January 15, 2021 18 minutes ago, jsharr said: 10-51 12 speed? What is shifting that like? 1x is awesome. I've never owned a 12 spd. This is a 30t with a 10-52 cassette. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razors Edge ★ Posted January 15, 2021 Share #20 Posted January 15, 2021 20 minutes ago, dennis said: I wish more companies made a narrow q-factor fatbke. I imagine it gets complicated balancing chain line, chain stay length, size, & shape, and tire clearance - especially as the cassette gets wider. The bb naturally would be wider to get a straighter chain line across 12(!) gears, but on the flip side, these bike developers can likely get creative with designs and materials IF they choose to work to reduce q factor. I definitely notice it switching between my road and old school MTB, and even that MTB isn't horribly wide, but just enough to notice. I guess cranks can also be reworked (thinner) to some extent - probably mostly with carbon fiber - to pull them closer overall to the BB. Fat bikes are still in the "teenage" years of bike development, so manufacturers can continue to figure it all out. Some are more "mature" for their age and already on the right track, so maybe the rest will pay attention? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share #21 Posted January 15, 2021 11 minutes ago, Razors Edge said: I imagine it gets complicated balancing chain line, chain stay length, size, & shape, and tire clearance - especially as the cassette gets wider. The bb naturally would be wider to get a straighter chain line across 12(!) gears, but on the flip side, these bike developers can likely get creative with designs and materials IF they choose to work to reduce q factor. I definitely notice it switching between my road and old school MTB, and even that MTB isn't horribly wide, but just enough to notice. I guess cranks can also be reworked (thinner) to some extent - probably mostly with carbon fiber - to pull them closer overall to the BB. Fat bikes are still in the "teenage" years of bike development, so manufacturers can continue to figure it all out. Some are more "mature" for their age and already on the right track, so maybe the rest will pay attention? So true. It's a fine line balancing chain line, tire clearance etc. The push was to fit bigger tires in the frame. That led to the 190/197 rear hub. That hub spacing is the crux of the wide q-factor. I've been waiting for a few years for more narrow q-factor options. It hasn't happened. I can only find two now. I asked two local shops and they both said it's Borealis or Otso. Otso offers carbon cranks that are 5 mm narrower than alloy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted January 16, 2021 Share #22 Posted January 16, 2021 On 1/14/2021 at 7:06 PM, Square Wheels said: Will it make you happy? Can you afford it? Wisdom. These are two of the most important points to consider. But if it makes your decision any easier, I'd suggest you don't get too hung up on the second one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted January 16, 2021 Author Share #23 Posted January 16, 2021 6 minutes ago, Thaddeus Kosciuszko said: Wisdom. These are two of the most important points to consider. But if it makes your decision any easier, I'd suggest you don't get too hung up on the second one. I have an appt tomorrow to visit the bike and make a decision. My GF is the smart one. She keeps saying "You can replace your knees but do you really want to? Get the bike." She also talked me into selling my singlespeeds. Same problem, knees. She just looked at me and said there's a solution and you know what it is. It's called a derailleur. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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