FARLEY 9.8 CARBON FAT BIKE
Fat-tire race rocket
Fat bikes have permeated the bike market, and if we were to hazard a guess, we’d say they’re here to stay; however, these tires, which look like they’re more capable of handling a moon landing than a trail ride, haven’t quite made it past the snow-covered tundra of the Midwest—that is, until recently. Tires, components and frame construction are quickly catching up with the growing demand for the mountain bike equivalent of a monster truck. The question most riders ask is, “What can I do with these huge tires?” Well, Trek set out to build a fat bike that could be versatile and surprisingly fast. Enter the Farley—the fat bike that showed us even a big fatty can be fast on the trail.
WHO IS IT MADE FOR?
The Farley 9.8 is the Ferrari of fat bikes, with its long list of carbon parts that contribute to its super-low weight. The Farley has a quick and nimble feel, but also sports larger-than-normal 27.5-inch fat tires. With its big tires and lightweight components, the Trek Farley 9.8 is a force to be reckoned with.
Carbon everything: The Farley 9.8 has all of Bontrager’s lightest carbon parts. The handlebars, seatpost and even the rims attest to its all-carbon theme.
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?
The Farley 9.8 build spares no expense and utilizes Trek’s OCLV (Optimized Compaction Low Void) carbon. Along with the carbon frame are internal cable and dropper post routing, a Stranglehold 197-millimeter adjustable thru-axle, and a carbon fork built around supporting the 27.5-inch fat tires. If for some reason you wish to run 26×5-inch-wide fat tires, then you are more than welcome to swap them out with no modifications.
Ridge suspension: Trek’s carbon fork offered our testers a rigid feel that excelled on out-of-the-saddle climbs but beat us up a bit on rough descents.
WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?
The Farley’s rims don’t have the cutouts we normally see on other fat bike wheels. This is because the rims use 80-millimeter carbon hoops that can easily be converted to tubeless. The other standout feature is on the rear end of the Farley’s frame. A sliding 197-millimeter rear axle allows the Farley to run 26×5-inch-wide tires, as well as the 27.5×3.8-inch tires already on the bike.
Carbon cranks: Just to add to the carbon theme of the Farley 9.8 is a lightweight Race Face Next crankset.
Sliding dropouts: Trek’s Stranglehold dropout system allows riders to swap the Farley’s 27.5×3.8-inch fat tires to 26×5-inch tires.
HOW DOES IT PERFORM?
Setup: The lack of suspension can make the Farley 9.8 a little harsh, but running the tires around 8 psi will take most of the small-bump hits out of the equation. The fat tires can be run tubeless to achieve lower pressures, but letting out too much air could cause the tire to roll around, resulting in slower handling.
Confidence boost: Large, ground-hugging tires and powerful SRAM brakes allowed our testers to tackle any steep descents with a smile.
Moving out: When we hopped aboard the Farley 9.8, we couldn’t help but notice the huge tires. We have tested other fat bikes before, but this was the first time we had ever ridden 27.5- inch fat tires. The ability to run things over like a monster truck brought a smile to our faces—and the fun didn’t stop there. The Farley showed us a playful side that validated it as a worthy trail- bike.
Lightweight champ: The Farley’s featherweight build allowed our testers to blast up their favorite climbs.
Climbing: The large footprint of the Bontrager Hodag tires loved to hug the dirt and propel us up the mountain. These tires main- tained traction well, and we were confident that we could conquer just about any trail condition we faced. The 30-tooth chainring and 10-42 rear cassette allowed us to sit down and spin the cranks uphill with ease. Super-fit cross-country riders can shift down a few gears, hop out of the saddle and lay down some serious power. The Farley’s stiff and lightweight platform will excel with any riding style.
Lean it over: Bontrager Hodag tires allowed us to dive hard into the corners without any fear of sliding out.
Cornering: The Farley requires some body-weight shifting to get its large tires pointed in the desired direction, but after a few turns we found ourselves charging every corner at full speed. On days when the trails were loose and dusty, the Farley turned our sketchiest corners into “that was great; let’s do it again” sections.
Descending: The Trek Farley has a playful side but really loves chasing the fastest time down the mountain. The fully rigid chassis is a tad bit harsh on big hits; however, the large air-volume tires soak up the small hits with ease. Smooth singletrack trails are ideal for the Farley 9.8, but, if you are feeling tough, the Farley will happily take a gnarlier line.
Braking: SRAM Guide brakes coupled with loads of tire traction work wonders together. The Guide RS system keeps the wild side of the Farley tame, like a junkyard dog on a tight chain. When it’s time to stop, the Guides will slow you down fast. We were even a bit surprised, knowing the front and rear rotors were only 160 millimeters, but hey, why question what works well?
TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?
Setting the Trek Wampa carbon rims up tubeless was a smart upgrade. The tubeless setup allowed the Farley to run lower tire pressures, resulting in a smoother ride with more traction. Another upgrade we would highly recommend is a dropper seatpost. The Farley’s playful side really shined when the saddle height was lowered.
BUYING ADVICE
If you like the idea of riding a fat bike but don’t want your buddies blowing past you on the trails, then the Farley 9.8 could be a great option for you. This bike is just as light as a similar cross-country bike in its price range and sports tons of high-end carbon accessories. The Farley 9.8 is a seriously fast bike. Riders from cross-country or trail-riding backgrounds will love the smooth and fast-rolling 27.5-inch fat tires.
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