Just when you thought Fat couldn't get any Fatter, in rolls the 2012 Surly Moonlander Complete Fat Bike.
Years ago, the Surly Pugsley's 3.8 inch Endomorph tires and 65mm-wide Large Marge rims introduced the cycling world to new riding possibilities. Those big tires, run at low pressures, get you over terrain that is difficult or impossible to ride on a 'regular' bike. That original Pugsley tire/rim format certainly changed the game, but there are places and conditions that beg for a larger tire footprint. So, to satisfy people's cravings for increased traction action, Surly introduced the 82mm-wide Rolling Darryl rim. Darryl spreads out the tire more than Marge does, effectively presenting more tread to the trail and adding traction potential. Bigger can be better.
Not wanting to be limited to using the 82mm rim/3.8 inch tire combo (the largest recommended for the Pugsley), Surly decided that it was time to raise the bar and develop higher-volume tires, wider rims and a frame to accommodate them. So, this year, Surly offers you 2012 Surly Moonlander Complete. Built up with the Big Fat Larry 4.7 inch tire, the 100mm-wide Clown Shoe rim and, of course, the Moonlander frameset. Like all of Surly's framesets, the Moonlander is made of Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. It features 135mm-spaced, 28mm-offset, rear-loading Surly horizontal dropouts (track ends) with a derailleur hanger. meaning you can set it up as a singlespeed or geared bike, derailleured or internally geared. The bottom bracket height gives you clearance for bushwhacking and monster-trucking. The dropped and gusseted top tube maximizes standover height. And the tallish headtube allows you to set your rig up with a comfortable riding position for those long days grinding out miles in the saddle.
Moonlander's fork measures 447mm axle-to-crown... same as the Pug, so all of our fat forks are interchangeable between the two models. The disc mount allows you to use a front disc brake caliper with a 135mm O.L.D. rear hub. or with a 135mm-spaced Surly front hub. Mid-blade thru-eyelets and lower rack barrels are included for installing fenders and racks. The complete bike components were chosen for their durability and their suitability to the task at hand. Surly chose thumbshifters because they allow you to shift even when wearing mittens. To accommodate the Clown Shoe rim/Big Fat Larry tire spec, the frame design pushes the chainline even farther outboard than that of the Pugsley. So the Moonlander is specced with the new MWOD crank system. The MWOD (Mr. Whirly Offset Double) ditches the big ring and moves the middle and granny ring outboard. The 2 x 9 drivetrain offers the gear ratios most applicable to a bike of this type while avoiding chain/tire interference. Works like a charm.
If you've ever wanted a little more float and traction to get you over the hills and through the woods to Grandmother's House of Ill Repute and Freestyle Taxidermy, consider the 2012 Surly Moonlander Fat Bike.
- Tubing: Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. Main triangle double-butted. TIG-welded
- Rear Dropouts: Surly horizontal rear load, with derailleur hanger; 135mm O.L.D.; offset 28.0mm
- Brake Compatibility: 51mm IS disc mounts frame and fork. NOTE: Unlike Pugsley, Moonlander uses front caliper adapters for the front brake and rear caliper adapters for the rear brake
- Braze-ons: Dual water bottle mounts, Surly Trip Guide full line guides for brake and derailleurs, fender and rack eyelets
- Seatpost Diameter: 27.2mm
- Seatpost Clamp: 30.0mm (Surly Stainless included)
- Headset: 1-1/8 inch Threadless
- Front Derailleur Clamp: Direct Mount 28.6mm diameter (adapter included)
- Bottom Bracket Shell: 100mm wide, Standard English Threaded
- Chainring Clearance: 22/36t (NOTE: this is this specific to using a Surly Mr. Whirly offset double crank use of other cranks may limit number and size of rings and may cause tire/chain rub!)
- Tire Clearance: 4.7 inch tires on 100mm rims. Hells yes.
- Fork: Tapered straight blade 4130 CroMoly. 51mm IS front disc mount. 135mm-spaced dropouts. Suspension corrected for 100mm travel forks, but why would you need to do that?
- Color: Space Black with white decals
| Frame | Surly Moonlander, Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. Main triangle double butted. TIG-welded |
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| Fork | Surly Moonlander, 135mm O.L.D. Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. TIG-welded. 1-1/8 inch threadless steer tube, uncut |
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| Shifters | Microshift Thumb Shifters, Model SA-109. 3 x 9 |
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| Front Derailleur | Shimano SLX, M661 direct mount via Problem Solvers adapter. Top pull. Black |
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| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore, M591-SGS. Black |
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| Brakes | Avid BB7, Cable actuated. 160mm rotors front & rear |
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| Brake Levers | Avid SD-7, Black |
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| Cranks | Surly Mr. Whirly Offset Double, 22/36t |
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| Cassette | Shimano HG-61, 9-speed 11-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-34t |
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| Chain | SRAM PC-971, Silver |
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| Hubs | (f) Surly New Disc 135mm, New model HU0207. Disc. 32-hole. Black (r) Shimano XT 135mm, M756. Disc. 32-hole. Black |
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| Spokes | 14g DT Swiss spokes |
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| Rims | Surly Clown Shoes, Single wall aluminum. Welded seam. 100mm width. Black. With cutouts |
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| Tires | Surly Big Fat Larry, 26 x 4.7 inch. Larry tread. 120tpi. Ginormous |
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| Headset | Cane Creek 40, 1-1/8 inch threadless. Black |
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| Stem | Kalloy AS-008, 25.4mm bar clamp. 7 degree rise. 4-bolt face. Aluminum. Black |
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| Handlebars | Salsa MotoAce, 17 degree bend. Black |
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| Saddle | WTB SST Comp, Steel rails. Black vinyl. Feels pretty o.k |
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| Seat Post | Kalloy SP-342, 27.2mm. 350mm. Black |
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| Seat Binder | Surly stainless steel post clamp, Black |
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*Specifications are subject to change without notice