As a 2016 Mukluk owner like you I had a different approach, I kept her. Mine benefitted from trickle down brakes and 1x12 setup from an enduro bike that allowed me to go to 4.8" tires. Add a Dropper and some big riser bars and I ended up with a beast that feels like a short travel BMX bike even on ice. She turned out to he a way-back machine. I like riding trails like a little kid. Those winter snow rides are celebrations of freedom. Fat bikes make them possible and enjoyable. Especially at night with lights. My Wifer will even join me on her fat bike, together is much better. She ended up with a '16 16" Beargrease with a fully pimped out trickle down effect build as well.
The phrase is actually "a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one." But that certainly still describes the Mukluk! And now I will remove my insufferable pedant hat.
I just got a used 2020 Salsa Mukluk carbon and I absolutely love it. I previously has a 2016 Specialized Fat Boy and the Mukluk has a much better geometry. I am a, I mostly ride my fat bike in the snow, type of rider. I have a couple of other bikes I ride in the summer so I rarely ride my fat bike on dirt. If I want the pure no suspension feeling I ride my Surly Lowside. A few things to add about the Mukluk. With 26" wheels you can run up to a 5.0 tire, that is important if you ride in the snow. I run Surly Bud and Lou tires and in the looser snow I go down to about 3 PSI. On harder pack I run 5 to 8 PSI. The geometry is spot on for these big tires and being in snow. You don't want too slack of a fat bike or it won't track very well, it will just always want to go straight. I love the shorter rear end because snow or not, I like to jump and ride technical stuff. The short rear end makes pulling up the front wheel a lot easier. Keep in mind, I am in Minnesota (where the bike was designed) and we don't have mountains here. Sure, a few hills but climbing here is pretty short and often times short and punchy. So that's why the bike is the way it is. For the riding I do, it's one of the best fat bikes out there. Well, there is OTSO (also a Minnesota company) but they cost more. If I want to make my Mukluk more versatile or race oriented a set of 27.5 x 4.0 wheels and tires will fit perfectly.
I have a 2021 aluminum in the green colour. Upgraded to Bluto fork, carbon wheels, XT drivetrain, deore 4 piston brakes, one-up dropper. It’s just stupid fun, love it! It’s actually pretty damn fast on my local xc trails during summer.
I had the Pugsley 2.0. It's dropouts are complete trash. Slipping horizontal dropouts that are awful with derailleur too. I had it set up as year round commuter with di2 alfine hub and mudguards and a rack. Those made everything even worse. Wheel was hard to remove because of the mudguard and I also needed to remove the di2 motor from the hub to free the wheel. Now I have a good allround commuter so there could be a place for just a fun bike. I started with a single speed bike so I'd like to own one again. Seems like salsa has made a way better fatbike than surly. Also I like the more old school geometry. The long low slack frames make it impossible for me to ride. Kona unit is a prime example. S has too short seattube and m is way too long.
Looking at the Mukluk, for 2023. The alloy Deore, which I'll update with SRAM SX 12-speed. Want to add the 29x2.8 tires using Syntace 40mm rims and the Wren inverted fork which I purchased long ago & have not used. Appears to be a brute of a frame for heavyweight riders wanting to commute daily to work. For me, that's twelve miles of uphill hell, roundtrip.
Just bought my first fatbike: a Mukluk. As a bike nerd that’s done everything else bike-related, I already have a bunch of extras to throw on it when it gets here (should be in tomorrow!!). AXS drivetrain, Deity pedals and grips, a carbon crank, etc. I can’t wait to get it out on the trails and forest roads!
I just ordered one aswell the Advent X model, will be a while before it gets here in Holland :D Good thing i stumbled upon the video and ur comment. Totally forgot about Deity brand !
Hi! I've been riding a Salsa Mukluk bike for several years. Great model! I had others: Norco BigFoot, Jamis Roughneck. Autonomous hiking Bike rides, riding trails in winter and summer, a universal model.
I’ve had my 2014 for a few years and just love it. You are accurate calling it the jack of all trades. I’ve used to on the road. On the trails. In the snow. It is just…..fun.
I have the carbon version 2021 with 2 7.5 bontrager wampa carbon rims 4.5 tires. Love it the fit it superb and use it among 27.5 plus pony rustler and a Kona process111 all year long.
Nice, I've got a Blackborrow which is basically the model before the Mukluk. It's the only bike I ride now, and I've got a shed full of the bloody things. Just about to stick some 27.5 x 4.5 Gnarwhals on the beastie, combined with my clonking Wren forks, and I reckon I'll be the slowest thing on two wheels. lol
l like the Mukluk very much.. We have lots of snow and l been riding 29 plus tires, 3 inch.. Never think l would need a fat bike untill l moved to Montana and now l need a Fat Bike.. plus tires ok but not better than fat tires for snow... Bro can the Mukluk use 29 plus as a summer tire?
Yep, still here! I've slowed down to 1-2 videos per month, so make sure you haven't missed any from the last month or two. I hope to ramp back up over the next few months.
I haven't had the chance to ride a fatbike, but I hope to some day. Closest I have gotten is my current plus hardtail w/ 27.5 x 2.8's. I don't see many riders on fatbikes on my local trails here in Oklahoma, but during some of our XC races there tends to be several.
@@RideYearRound Any other bike purchases will have to wait until after I get my kids through college. Then my first bike will be a custom Ti Plus Hardtail.
Check out the Tumbleweed Prospector. Just bought one a month ago and it is a beast, go anywhere, 29 x 3 tires, rigid frame, 14 speed Rohloff internally geared hub. No more cassette / derailleur problems off road etc. Frame will accommodate 29 x 3, 27.5 x 3.8 and 26 x 4. XL frame fits and supports my 6'5" frame / 240 pounder body super well. Simplicity, durability, and confidence when 20 miles from nowhere in the rugged mountains, wet squishy trails, and snow covered surfaces on the Olympic Peninsula. Dial in the tire air pressure for the trail conditions and it's a solid ride.
I know Salsa doesn't have 27.5x4.5" on their official frame spec, but I've seen (in person and online) more than a few Mukluk frames running the size no problem.
@@RideYearRound weird because a buddy of mine has 27.5x4 in his and I can promise you'll be hard pressed to fit a 4.5 on there. I know damn well a cake eater and gnarwhals would not fit by any means
How does this Mukluk compare specifically to your Ice Cream Truck??? That would be really good to know as I've seen quite a few of your videos on the Ice Cream Truck. Is the Ice Cream Truck still good for slower speed exploring? Thanks...
If you remember that scale from the video, I'd probably put the ICT right in the middle. It's a VERY good all rounder that is better during the non-snow season than the Mukluk.
I'd rather have quicker steering in slow speed/flatter/twistier terrain and slower steering for faster/steeper trails so it really depends on what kind of snow riding you'll be doing. I like my Mayor a lot in the snow, but when it's really slow and flat, I sometimes wish I didn't have to put as much effort into steering.
