As one of the original purveyors of fatbikes, Salsa knows a thing or two about these balloon-tired steeds. So, it makes sense that they would be one of the first to offer a full-suspension fatbike. The Salsa Bucksaw 1 represents the pinnacle of fatbike-ness and lays claim to the first production full-suspension fatbike on the market.
Built around the Dave Weagle’s Split Pivot suspension design, the Bucksaw 1 goes right for the jugular with a solid package that leaves no question where Salsa stands on fatbikes — they want them to be your ONLY bike. With a package like the Bucksaw 1, the price and the promised performance may just lay out a solid argument as the only MTB in your garage.
Featuring 3.8″ tires, the Bucksaw 1 offers wide enough girth to make for a versatile ride. All conditions and trails should prove no match for these tires, but they aren’t so big as to make things unwieldy in fast singletrack. Surprisingly, this bike is not actually aimed at being a snow bike. While the wide tires will certainly be snow-capable, Salsa really hopes people will ride this bike year-round on any type of adventure they want.
Initial reports indicate that the Bucksaw 1 just might be one of the most capable ascenders on the market. With a huge contact patch and active suspension, cleaning that technical climb might finally be a reality.
I will say that getting the right tire pressure for the conditions is a challenge with all fatbikes and with the added complexity of getting shock pressures right, the proper setup could be challenging.
Salsa Bucksaw 1 Features:
- Geometry built for all-day riding in rough terrain
- Aluminum front triangle and chain stays with carbon seat stay
- Split Pivot rear suspension
- 100mm front and rear travel via RockShox Bluto and Monarch
- Mix of SRAM X01 and X1 drivetrain
- RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post
- Weight: 32 lbs 6 oz. (medium)
- Price: $4999
Bucksaw Intro Video
The Bottom Line
As the first full-suspension fatbike on the market, the Salsa Bucksaw 1 is hoping to become your only mountain bike. The overall weight is competitive and the promise of sure-footed traction should appeal to many riders, but I’m not going to ditch the Santa Cruz Tallboy C anytime soon.