Salsa Bucksaw X01 Review - Part I

The lines of modern bikes continue to blur as we evolve from a few clearly defined categories toward bicycles that cross and expand functionality. Road bikes with wider tires now enable occasional rambles on gravel roads. While we're a long way from the "one bike quiver" (the holy grail of skis), some surprising new offerings truly expand functionality.

My Salsa Bucksaw X01 is just such a whip. Described by Salsa as "blurring the lines between a fatbike and a full suspension mountain bike" the Bucksaw was designed around 4" tires and nimble performance in a wide range of situations. This is not just marketing BS, it truly does.

But first, some context. This Summer I decided that after 51 trips around the sun, my body was feeling a bit beat up by hardtails. My Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Carbon World Cup is superlight, fast, and handles pretty well, but the hardtail really forces me to choose lines carefully, and often leaves me sore the next day. Plus, I'd been reading a lot about 27.5+ full suspension bikes and they looked mighty appealing.

On a visit to Traverse City, MI, I decided to go out and look around. TC has a collection of solid shops. Specifically, I was interested in the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp 6 Fattie, and the Salsa Pony Rustler GX1.

I really wanted to like the Specialized - good price, dealer had some end-of-season deals, well equipped. But... I just didn't. I found the suspension to be typical of what I've experienced with Specialized. It's as though the front and rear just aren't working in-sync. It had some of the same 'pogo stick' as my buddy's five-year-old FSR. Nope. That's not going to work.

After this, I headed over to Einstein Cycles hoping to check out a Pony Rustler. I had the good fortune to get connected to owner Jason Lowetz (more about Jason and his shop later). I quickly learned he didn't have any Pony Rustler's in stock, and with the new model year coming, wouldn't have one for several months. But, he quickly moved into solution selling mode (I'm a sales and marketing guy, so I get it) and asked me what I planned to do with it and why I wanted to make a switch.

I shared that I wanted to ride places like Glacial Hills up North and Potowatami in SE Michigan, as well as my usual haunts of the DTE Energy Trail and the VASA Trail. What I was looking for was comfort, greater confidence in choosing lines and dealing with rocks, roots, and other obstacles. Here's how the conversation went from there:

Jason: "Dude, you want a Salsa Bucksaw with a second set of 27.5+ wheels!"

Me: "Ummm, but that's a fat bike. I already have a fat bike..."

Jason: "Better still. Get a Bucksaw, sell your fat bike and we'll get you on some SWEET carbon 27.5+ wheels!"

Damn. You got me, Jason. Bike consolidation has been a theme in my stable. Owning, riding, and maintaining multiple bicycles is a hassle. I already had things on my Salsa Beargrease X5 that I felt came up short -- the lack of front suspension, the 2x drivetrain, the mechanical discs. He had me.

But, it got better. Salsa had a few 2015/2016 Bucksaw X01's left that they were blowing out at a ridiculous price. For the same price as a current Bucksaw GX1, I got a bike with a Thomson Elite X4 stem, carbon bars, a RockShox Reverb dropper post, and other component upgrades. Literally $2,000 off.

Quick test ride on a current model to determine if I liked it (I did) and to check size (Large), and the trigger was pulled. Over the next few days, Jason and I arrived at a build for the wheelset. Bearclaw Bicycles Co. carbon rims (Bearclaw is Einstein's own brand of mighty sweet bikes), DT Swiss spokes, and Industry Nine Torch hubs. He cautioned me that I9 fat bike hubs get "mighty loud". Bring it. I love a screaming drivetrain. Saves me needing a bell on the trail!

To say I was excited is a polite understatement. "F_ _k yeah!" would be more like it. I knew I could sell my Beargrease for nearly what I'd paid (I did -- within a day of listing it). And now I'd have one bike that could be my plush, fast trail bike, AND with a quick wheel swap be a fat bike for Winter riding.

Do I like it? What's it ride like? Any shortcomings? Well, now you're going to need to wait for Part II of this review. Yeah, call me a tease. I'm good with that. Good writing is about building anticipation...

One final note on this whole process - Einstein Cycles is AWESOME! Finding a first-rate bike shop for sales and service is a true gem. I still haven't found a downstate shop that combines a great selection of products with a great repair shop. I've found one or the other, but not both in one place. In addition to Jason, shop guys Dan and Dustin are solid sales types, as well as ace mechanics (Dan builds the wheels). The shop has a friendly, mellow vibe, but they take customer service and satisfaction incredibly seriously. This initial impression has been reinforced on every interaction. I wouldn't hesitate to send anyone, at any level, to them. In fact, after hearing about and riding my bike, a buddy ended up buying nearly the same ride and wheels!~

Fattie Fun Follow-Up

"Why didn't I buy one of these a long time ago?"

That's been about the only burning issue with my Salsa Beargrease X5 Aluminum. After a nice local run on urban trails, as well as a long weekend in Northern Michigan, I just love this fat beast!

For the local urban trails, I turned to friend and tour guide, John. I follow John on Strava and I'm always seeing these goofy, loopy routes. It never looks like he gets far from home base and he's practically always in the City limits. Turns our he's found a collection of trails on park lands that link up and lead to a blast of a ride! For these trails, the Beargrease offers some nice flotation through loose gravel or muck. And, it bounces over nearly anything. But the big advantage? GEARS! While I love my single-speed 29er, it only has one gear. Usually the wrong one. Now I can shift to get in the right place and chug up climbs and slither down hills.

But Northern Michigan was where she shined! The trails I rode included a lot of loose sand. On a standard 2"ish tire these would have been a pain. With the 4" 45nrth Husker Du tires you just float through! And hill climbing is no big deal with the gigantic contact patch.

What continues to surprise me is how nimble this big beast is. I would have thought that between the gargantuan wheels and the added weight, she'd ride like a pig. Not so.

Looking forward to many, many more adventures with this special ride!

-Sean-

Fat for Fun - Salsa Beargrease X5 Initial Review

Been resisting the lure of the fat tire mountain bike for a while. I knew what a blast they looked like. And how much fun being able to ride in snow all Winter, or UP sand in the Summer was really appealing.

So, that didn't last...

On a visit to Tree Fort Bikes in Ypsilanti a couple of weeks back, I inquired about deals on fat bikes. Turns out they've got a couple of Salsa Beargrease X5's demos that they want to move. After sleeping on it, I decide to pull the trigger. A pair of AtomLab Pimp flat pedals and I'm ready to rock!

The Beargrease is Salsa's race bike line, and the aluminum X5 is the entry level model. I've long liked this strategy. It lets you buy a high-performance frameset, with more affordable components. Then you can upgrade as-needed. That's not to say the X5 is lacking -- SunRingle Mulefut rims, Novatec sealed bearing hubs, a Cane Creek headset, 45nrth Husker Du tires. Pretty good stuff. And seriously, Husker Du is among my favorite bands. How could I not buy a bike with Husker Du tires.

Last Sunday, it's windy, cold, and spitting snowflakes. This squashed my thoughts of getting in some road miles. So, I grab the Beargrease and head for Island Lake Recreation Area to hide in the trees and play on the dirt. Island Lake is one of my favorite local rides. With both a 9.8 mile and a 5 mile loop, it's perfect to put together a "just the right length" ride. It's got a little technical stuff, but nothing major. And the climbs are manageable. I've ridden it a fair bit on the singlespeed 29er.

First discovery: The fat bike is just big. The tires are twice the width of my other mountain bike. So, just sticking it in the Jeep is a pain. Eventually I get it wedge in there. Note to self: probably time for a bike rack. Breaking down bikes, folding down seats, and then stuffing them in there is getting old.

Second discovery: I should have gotten one of these a long time ago. It's just a blast to ride! The huge tires absorb bumps, ruts, and roots like a full suspension. And the contact patch of the rear tire is MASSIVE; so it climbs like a goat. I've described it to friends as the "cartoon character of bikes". It's fat and goofy, but it's also a great ride.

I'd expected it to be a bit bulky to maneuver, but that proves not to be the case. For a big bike, the Beargrease is surprisingly nimble. You're not going to see Danny Macaskill's next video shot on one of these, but you're also not going to be hammering trees because you couldn't turn.

Also, gears are cool. I love the simplicity and ruggedness of my singlespeed. But this is a really cool alternative. Big hill? No problem; click it down a notch and motor up! The SRAM X5 drivetrain shifts cleanly and quietly. In the future, I may swap to an X9 rear and convert to a 1x, just for simplicity. But I want to get in some miles first.

My only complaint is the stock WTB saddle. Ouch! Not comfortable! I run the SQ Labs 611 Race on both my road and cyclocross bikes, so I think one will be finding it's way onto the fat boy soon.

All in all -- I'm really happy with my purchase! Even at full list, the Beargrease X5 is a solid deal. If you're looking for an entry-level fattie, this is a significant step up over the glut of $1,000 bikes with inferior components, poor frame geometries, and questionable warranty.  Highly recommended! Now to put some more miles on it!

-Sean-