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This is a Joke, Right? A FATBIKE for Trail Use! Corvus Skookum AF Review - It's a Fattail Party

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The Corvus Skookum AF is a fatbike designed for trail riding. I've seen Pat Smage, one of my riding heroes, crushing it on one of these and I decided to try one for review. Boy am I glad I did! This bike sparks so much joy. What do you think, have you ever ridden a fatbike on the trails? What did you think? Do you need more joy in your riding?

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20 Comments

@CorvusScott 1 year ago Pinned

Thanks for taking this for a rip, Steve! Enjoy. Couple of quick notes, only the 16' size doesn't have the seat tube water bottle cage. We wanted to maximize dropper insertion and length, so we excluded it from that smaller size. The 18-22 all have two cages. Also, reading the comments, when you are ready to try a 29+ wheelset as a second summer option, we have our 29+ Passhunter wheelset that is built around our hubset for a direct swap.

@DAMN55117 1 year ago

I have not heard you giggle like that on a bike in a long time. We can tell you are smiling when riding/talking.

@ajdgx2 1 year ago (edited)

Fat bikes are quickly becoming my favorite. If my wife ever limits me to one bike it would be a fat bike with a suspension fork (maybe with some alternate wheelsets)!

@notice_fpv 1 year ago

A low pressure gauge that only goes up to say, 15psi, is clutch for fatbike life. You really learn what the tires need and what provides the best performance. 1-2 psi makes such a huge difference!

@HeadwatersKayak 1 year ago

My every day bike!

@tobymcnicol922 1 year ago

good to see you enjoying your new trails 👍

@zenofthemoment 1 year ago

My fat bike is my favorite bike, no questions asked!

@hunteruu_ 1 year ago (edited)

Beautiful bike, and awesome review.

I sold all my other bikes for a single Surly Wednesday because it was just so fun as a, "do whatever, wherever" bike. I'm not trying to end up in the hospital doing crazy things, so a slightly slower, more enjoyable pace suits me.

Steel frame, plenty of mounting points, frame corrected for a suspension fork if you want it... you can't really go wrong if you are okay with it's bit of heft.

Keep up the awesome reviews!

@navsnipe 1 year ago (edited)

I love my fatbike, a Farley 7 that I bought three years ago after it passed through two other people who couldn't find the love. It is my go to bike and my SC Tallboy is jealous. This year I got some 29+ wheels for it and made it even more purpose flexible. I like that Corvus gave the Skookum more trail oriented geometry, it may be on my list of "next bike".

Steve, it is good to see you riding more. I hope you are healing and adapting in your ME/CFS journey. Positive thoughts to you and your family!

@JS-sy8mo 1 year ago

Funny how Steve has to "make the case" that it's okay to like something just because it's fun...we let "performance" get way out of hand in our hobby!! Thanks Steve, you haven't steered me wrong yet, loving every suggestion you mad for me and my bike!

@rokklym 1 year ago

Welcome to the darkside! My riding group up here in Wisconsin ride fat bikes all the time. We have other bikes too or course, but we love to ride fat bikes year round. They are such fun bikes!

@shannonwade9933 1 year ago

Great review. So happy to see you riding, feeling better.

@n.v.b.3616 1 year ago

Exactly why I own a fatbike ( rigid for now) and always smiling when I ride it. Would love to try to get a suspension fork in it and make it somewhat easier on trails/ jumps. Thats a wish for the near future 😊

@martinschwartz7342 1 year ago

I like the tall stack height.

@Coover90210 1 year ago

Fat bikes are not the dark side! My fattie lets me keep riding in snow and mud season. And it is fun in that "stop competing/comparing to others" way like you said.
If you want to talk dark side, remember what Kevin Spacey said in The Usual Suspects: "the greatest trick the e-bike ever pulled was convincing the world it wasn't a motorbike"

@davelier9572 1 year ago

Love it! I ride an old school 2012 Fatback (later became Corvus) and have lived every minute of it since buying it second hand 8 years ago. Geometry is perfect for me, it's light, and always makes me smile. A few years ago I added a Bluto and made it even better as a year round bike here in MN.

@chrisvasey71 1 year ago

I have had the Carbon Skookum for almost 4 years. It's my favorite bike! Super versatile and just plain fun all around.

@pauls3616 1 year ago

Great review. I have watched Pat Smage’s videos where he absolutely does everything possible on this bike and it never looks clunky or awkward. The way you were laughing and enjoying the ride is why I have kept riding for 30+ years, out fooling around with friends just having fun. I just checked out where to find Corvus bikes in Canada and it turns out the same place I bought my fishing kayak is also a Corvus dealer. Thanks for the review HP!

@scottaw 1 year ago

Fat Bikes are great! I mostly ride mine in the winter, as we groom the snow on our single track trails and have a ton of fun. But, it is just as much fun in the spring, fall, and summer…. It’s like driving a monster truck vs. a sports car on the trails. Totally different ride, and just a blast…and as you said, like being a kid again.