Surly Bikes Introduces Krampus 29+ Bike-by Guitar Ted
Surly Bikes has just announced a new 29″er, well…..they are calling it “29+”, and it has already created quite a buzz amongst fat bike aficionados and 29″er fans alike. Not much for details has been released yet, but here is what we do know right now.
Image courtesy of Surly Bikes
The Krampus is a bike with 700c wheels and three inch wide “Knard” tires on 50mm wide “Rabbit Hole” rims. While it may strike some as a 700c based “fat bike” idea, Surly is saying no. They are dubbing it “29+”, since the diameter of this wheel will certainly eclipse 29 inches. Here are some details on each component of this “new” platform.
Krampus Frame: 4130 steel construction, horizontal drop outs for single speed or geared use, and traditional 100mm front/135mm rear spacing. The Krampus uses a plate style yoke at the chain stay in conjunction with a 73mm wide traditional bottom bracket to allow for clearance on the Rabbit Hole/Knard rim/tire combo.
Rabbit Hole Rim: A single walled construction, likely similar to the Marge Lite rim, drilled with holes to lighten it up, and features a dual spoke bed. Presumably for offset wheel builds, but the Krampus doesn’t necessitate this. The rims are constructed from 7000 series T6 heat treated aluminum. Weight is a claimed 699 grams each.
Knard Tire: A 29 X 3.0 beast. This represents a new frontier for 700c bead interface tires. For years we at Twenty Nine Inches were told that really big 29 inch tires were not possible due to mold machine constraints in Asian factories. Obviously that issue has been overcome. Surly claims the Knard tire will be available in 27TPI wire beaded and 120TPI folding bead variants. Weight is claimed at 850 grams. (We’re assuming that is for the 120TPI folder)
Image courtesy of Surly Bikes
Surly has given no dates for availability or pricing on any of the components or complete bike as of this posting. That said, Saddle Drive, Quality Bicycle Products’ dealer show is happening now and Surly Bikes is a part of that. We expect to hear some details on the availability and prices as the weekend unfolds.
I bugged the Surly guys to make this tire (I think already at SSWC 2004), took them on in a derby to try and get them to make it. What do they do? They make it a splendid bike in stead, that might prove a long-lasting whole new breed of bike. I say it would be 31″, but 29+ seems much better. Lots of depth in that name.
Pretty much every 29″ rigid bike out there should fit this tire on the front, for rooty days, sandy days, or snowy days.
The Knard tires will fit existing fat bikes, and compared to 4.5″ tires barely affect ride height. Just lighter, and over certain surfaces, faster.
I feel Surly may have done something very special either in funds justification, or mold machine design/reworking, to make this tire happen.
As with 29″, 29+ starts with a single tire. Let’s see where we’ll take it. Just seems like SO much fun! All the more reason to build a light fat front wheel. Really hoping 35mm rims will suffice, although that Rabbit Hole is no-one fatty in weight terms.
I hope that even if we can’t justify a new bike, we’ll get some front wheels to do the fatter-front thing, the easy way. Think of how nicely a 3.0″ front tire would subtly slacken the angles on your playful rigid bike… Sure beats a supersized lower headset cup…
Folks, we’re looking at a fat bike that isn’t. 100/135mm hubs and 73mm BB? I’ve got that stuff laying around still!
Much lower threshold than fat bikes, if you ask me. I never got me one of those, but this one…differnt story alltogether.
Oh yeah, this also means it’s not allowed in UCI racing. the plus act as a middle finger here, I’m sure.
@Cloxxki: FYI: I know of another company planning on rolling a 700c X 45mm rim with tubeless as a feature. Looks like choices may come sooner than later.
A little birdy told me it has proprietary interchangeable dropout pieces for single or geared..
I also dreamed of such a tyre after riding the aussie alps with a fat bike riding friend 2 summers ago.
The 700c 2.4 i had was ok but even with a suspension fork couldnt match the rigid fat bike over the tussocky and very lumpy ground.
This looks a lot lighter, probably as fast rolling and at that weight definitely easier to steer and stop.
Im very interested if anyone gets the tyre to fit and balloon nicely on a lighter and more conventional 35mm gordo /P35 rim.
Looks like a winner to me…
Looks Fun…a fast(?)Fat bike
saw one of these at the lebanon hills parking lot in Eagan MN a couple of weeks ago. The guy drove away and said “you saw nothing!”
so want!
This is exactly the bike and the tyres I’ve been waiting for! My 47mm wide Kris Holms rims are waiting…
Will this tyre even fit any of the existing 29er carbon rigid forks out there ?
@Ojos Azules: Most likely it will. Surly stuck with a 100mm OLD for the Krampus’ front hub, and I am guessing that the 3″ tire clears the caliper easily when removing the front wheel, or you would think they would have gone with a 135mm front, which they have done in the past with the Pugsley.
If that prove to be true, I would think any rigid 29″er fork with a 468+ axle to crown measurement should work fine.
This might be just the ticket for my Nimble 9, as I want to raise the front end slightly…hmmm
This bike, nor tire, is for me but I love the name – the Krampus is not well known in the US, but it’s a great tradition in Europe. Search “Krampus lauf” on youtube.
Wonder if an Alfine can be used withg the Knard or if the tire obstructs the Alfine’s chainline?
Please sell the Knard now!
Wow, wow……..the two BIG breakthroughs are the 850 gram tires and the 699 gram rim. How’d they do that ?????
Reasonable weights for “regular” tires and rims. Tubeless? Are those tires 700c X 74? Will they fit on a 23mm ID wide rim?
What a wonderful addition to the big wheel family!
Cloxxki way to go…..
U Du mann…..if it really was you who was the initial inspiration.
Yogi, Blame me rather than thank me.
I more likely put them off from an idea they had in the first place. Delaying this to happen by a few years. Sick minds think alike, but usually don´t take suggestions from each other.
BTW, I found that a Big Fat Larry measures 762mm. A poster on MTBR deduced from the pictures the Knard to be around 765mm. A rim being 635mm, the tire being 65mm seems about right. Just over 2.5 inches that would be, but in the pic it´s not that tall looking above the rim either. I dare bet 29+ will fit fine in a Pugsley if the hubs and lacing is right.
BTW Yogi, you the guy I pretty much helped to cross the street in Amsterdam? Likely not.
Looks great ! ( but amidst all the drooling ) look at the weight of the rims and tires. Add a bit of mud or a lot of it and you will be rolling Heeeaaavy!
Wish the tires had been 650b because we’re not all six foot giants!
Should be a lot of fun for Shreck to ride!
I’m truly surprised that no one has comment on the fact the frame looks to have a ID44 head tube. Looks like Surly has come into the modern age.
@Anonymous
650B would have “helped” only 0.75″ in terms of minimum chain stay length (if so desired) and toe overlap (if an issue). Please realize the minimal effect the in-between rim size poses in practical terms. 1″ extra over regular 26″ is worth it, but 2.5″ more is WAAAAY too big? Come on, take a step back so you can see the whole bike, not just the rubber sticking out over the smallest wheel option on the market.
29″ bikes fit riders down to an under 5 foot flat. For shorter riders too scared of big wheels, there are still the 26×3.7″ tires. Those are heavier though, as are the rims they’re fitted to.
Really, if you build a custom frame and fork around these 29+ wheels, I see no reason for the entry level to be above 5 foot tall. That is for NO toe overlap. Surly may make a 16″ that fits a bit taller, but it doesn’t make the wheels TOO big. Only 36″ so far has shown it self as a possible “too big” contender. 29″ is what you will fit when you’ve grown out of 24″. 24×3.7″ exists also, I believe?
If Surly’s 29 X 3.0 tire weighs 850g I will eat a tire lever.
It will be awesome if so but somebody needs to check that number.
I just finished riding a Krampus and I have to say I had an absolute blast. I really didn’t want to give it back. It is a totally different bike than a Puglsy. It’s fast and wants to be pushed hard, especially in the corners. Honestly, I could see crazies out there saying it could be their only bike, I might not be that crazy but i could understand it. I would happily do a 2-3 hour ride on it. I only noticed the rotational weight on some steep sections but general trail blasting the weight wasn’t noticed.
Will I be getting one? Very likely so but I have a quiver of bikes and it would fit in well. It was just way too much fun.
when will it be available?
Oh! I am so excited to see this. (giggles and stamps feet.)
Just rode one today as well. So much fun. Long live the Krampus!
No tubeless and long stays? Is that what I gather? I would like to try one but haver reservations considering my above questions…anyone know the geo and tubeless-ability?
Did anyone notice the tree branch “kickstand” in the picture? gotta love Surly
frameset/tires/rims:
this fall!
Will “Fat Alberts” fit on the rims?
no fat alberts will fit. the fat albert is a 26″ tire, the rim is 28″.
Sorry I meant Big Apple…..
But I hear only black frame this fall…NOT that metallic green!!!…:( bummer.
@Grunkster: Yes, that’s correct, from the dealer info I have seen. Black only for frame only option, and that first run is being bundled in many cases with Rabbit Hole rims and Knard tires as a package deal costing over and above the published frame/fork pricing. (Probably not a big deal if you are getting the wheels and tires anyway.)
Oh…..and I am hearing December for delivery now as well.
Ahhh…..oh well I will wait on complete bike then!!!!
Finally found the replacement for my 1988 Panasonic Mountain Cat (MC) 7500.