This Dune fat bike from Calibre could soon be responsible for a bicycle obesity epidemic in the UK. You see, unlike most bikes of its kind on the market, the Dune is both cheap and light.
Take a look at this bike's competition and you'll fine plenty of lighter and even some cheaper options but none that we've seen can match its 31.9lb (14.46kg) complete weight for the 'worth a punt' price of £579.99 (with a Go Outdoors discount card – £5 p/a).
Related: Calibre Bossnut review
Yep, thanks to several clever spec choices and an alloy frame and fork, the Dune tips the scales at the same as or even better than some regular hardtails at this price. Most fat bikes are designed primarily for use on snow or sand and have geometry to reflect this, not so for the Dune, which was designed specifically to tackle regular UK trails. Should the white stuff arrive or you fancy a beach raid then it should work just fine, though.
Plenty of room for UK mud, despite the mammoth 4in treads
So, just how has Calibre saved all this weight, and what does that low price translate to from a spec perspective? Well, those 4in Schwalbe Jumbo Jim tyres are actually a lot lighter than they look, and thanks to the use of Schwalbe’s Liteskin sidewalls they actually total in at sub-1kg each. The rims that these tyres sit on are also extensively drilled, reducing rolling weight further again.
The alloy frame and fork of the Dune is finished in a yellow so bright that it sent our camera into meltdown, and sorry to all the Mr and Miss Subtles out there but this is the only finish available. It's great to see thru-axles at the front and rear, and rack and bottle mounts will please the more adventurous of buyers. The transmission pairs rugged but proven eight-speed Shimano parts with a double fat bike-specific chainset from Lasco, while an 11-34t cassette should mean there's an ample range for most terrain.
Tektro's simple Auriga mechanical discs aren't the most desirable of items but the fact they're fitted means a hydraulic upgrade should be straightforward and relatively cheap. In fact, the entire bike seems quite a good base to upgrade, and we wouldn't be surprised to see a few of these sporting some costly upgrades over the next few months. Fuss-free own-brand finishing kit includes a 700mm handlebar, 70mm stem, and seatpost/saddle combo.
There's only one obvious disappointment with this bike for us, and that's with its sizing. The Dune is only available in one size, and it's pretty small – the seat tube measures in at 16in. Smaller riders will feel right at home but taller folk are going to have real fit issues.
If there's one brand we trust to build a bike at a budget then it is Calibre, and so this one holds much promise. We've passed it over to our resident fat bike expert Matt Orton who'll soon be clocking up the miles on this one – we'll keep you posted on how he gets on with it.
