1989 Wicked Fat Chance

one piece crank · October 13th, 2014, 2:14 PM

I submit my 1989 Wicked Fat Chance

This is my all time favorite ride. Rigid and fun, climbs like nothing else, quick geometry - the perfect package. When I first switched from a Fat Chance to the Wicked, I found myself dropping into nose wheelies in the rolling stuff, it was that much more aggressive. I also had to up my front ring sizes cause it just felt like it had to go fast. I still can't get over that wonderful feeling when I ride it. How Chris Chance ever put this all together I'll never know... Ok, I know they're plasma welded, but you know what I mean...

>>>>>
1989 Wicked Specifications, from 1988 Fat City Catalog
Head Angle: 71
Seat Angle: 72
Chanstay Length: 17.125
Tubing: Custom drawn triple butted 4130 Chrome-Moly from True Temper USA
>>>>>

A New Winner Pro FW and DID Lanner chain. I found Suntour pretty tough back in the day, so no Shimano on this bike! The rest of the parts were chosen for simplicity and reliability. I think 25+ years says a lot for those parts. I ordered a Suntour XC9000 parts pick, but wound up only using the shifty bits, front canti's and seat QR.

Yeah, Magura shorty mo-cycle levers!

Having upgraded from a Fat Chance with the chainstay mounted rolllercam, I wanted the Wicked to have the same stopping modulation up on the seat stays. I opted for a WTB Speedmaster with my own custom stiffener plate.

More in next post...

Tom P.

one piece crank · October 13th, 2014, 2:18 PM

Steering control went through a WTB Greasegard (King) headset. As a tip-of-the-hat to Fat City, I had them paint a puff star on the head tube instead of a Fat City decal - the same way their early bikes rolled out the door!

You may have noticed the Yo fork. Well I have the original 531 box crown that came with the frame. That was the most supple fork I've ever ridden, but the gussets inside the fork legs really cut down on front rubber options. Once the Yo was finalized, Wendyl dispatched one, painted to match.

I had an IRD macaroni stem painted as well. The bar is 1st generation Ti to hit the market - Merlin if I remember correctly - and those ubiquitous ODI mushroom grips.

After a few years use, the original cooks brothers cranks cracked. They were replaced with a set of Kooka DH cranks. Yes, this is what passed for a DH crank back at the dawn of suspension.

The pedals are Suntour XC-Pro with WTB toe-flips!

Naturally I went with WTB Greasegard hubs - the best flange designs, ever. They are laced to Araya RM-17 rims with DT spokes and alloy nipples. I did built-up the Suntour hubs on a set of Ritchey hard-anno Vantage rims, but they've only accumulated <50 miles in the last 20 years(!), and sit comfortably on a Fisher Cronus I built for my wife.

I still love this bike. Although it is a far cry from modern rides, it never fails to elicit a smile or bring back memories of all the rides and places we've been...

Tom P.

mainlyfats · October 13th, 2014, 3:30 PM

Wow... Fantastic bike.

Retro Dude · October 13th, 2014, 4:05 PM

This should be Bike of the Year award winner!

Stingercut · October 13th, 2014, 4:59 PM

1989 ! My favourite year for Fat built bikes. Simply stunning.

chefmiguel · October 13th, 2014, 5:45 PM

Day-um!

rick · October 13th, 2014, 7:25 PM

wow, one of my favorite Fats ever

MikeyNYC · October 13th, 2014, 8:51 PM

A lot of good things going on with this one!

yo-Nate-y · October 13th, 2014, 9:51 PM

Absolutely gorgeous! Great paint, great parts, helluva fork. Deff a contender for Fat of the year

Zamfir · October 14th, 2014, 9:36 AM

Absolutely stunning bike front to back!

one piece crank · April 26th, 2018, 11:22 AM

Just added the 1988 catalog frame specifications. I'll try to find my posts' original photos and re-insert them...

one piece crank · August 16th, 2018, 9:53 AM

Re-inserted missing photos - ask if you want more!

Stingercut · August 21st, 2018, 6:31 AM

Great to see the pics restored. Hope some of the other cool threads on here with great bikes get the same treatment

one piece crank · November 7th, 2018, 8:08 AM

I found my original Hite-Rite - the shorter travel, race version, in black no less! With every bike running a dropper these days I guess I should re-install it, huh?

October 13th, 2014, 2:14 PM	#1
one piece crank Member Join Date: June 3rd, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 21	1989 Wicked Fat Chance I submit my 1989 Wicked Fat Chance This is my all time favorite ride. Rigid and fun, climbs like nothing else, quick geometry - the perfect package. When I first switched from a Fat Chance to the Wicked, I found myself dropping into nose wheelies in the rolling stuff, it was that much more aggressive. I also had to up my front ring sizes cause it just felt like it had to go fast. I still can't get over that wonderful feeling when I ride it. How Chris Chance ever put this all together I'll never know... Ok, I know they're plasma welded, but you know what I mean... >>>>> 1989 Wicked Specifications, from 1988 Fat City Catalog Head Angle: 71 Seat Angle: 72 Chanstay Length: 17.125 Tubing: Custom drawn triple butted 4130 Chrome-Moly from True Temper USA >>>>> A New Winner Pro FW and DID Lanner chain. I found Suntour pretty tough back in the day, so no Shimano on this bike! The rest of the parts were chosen for simplicity and reliability. I think 25+ years says a lot for those parts. I ordered a Suntour XC9000 parts pick, but wound up only using the shifty bits, front canti's and seat QR. Yeah, Magura shorty mo-cycle levers! Having upgraded from a Fat Chance with the chainstay mounted rolllercam, I wanted the Wicked to have the same stopping modulation up on the seat stays. I opted for a WTB Speedmaster with my own custom stiffener plate. More in next post... Tom P. Last edited by one piece crank; August 16th, 2018 at 9:49 AM. Reason: Re-inserted photos

October 13th, 2014, 2:18 PM	#2
one piece crank Member Join Date: June 3rd, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 21	1989 Wicked Fat Chance Steering control went through a WTB Greasegard (King) headset. As a tip-of-the-hat to Fat City, I had them paint a puff star on the head tube instead of a Fat City decal - the same way their early bikes rolled out the door! You may have noticed the Yo fork. Well I have the original 531 box crown that came with the frame. That was the most supple fork I've ever ridden, but the gussets inside the fork legs really cut down on front rubber options. Once the Yo was finalized, Wendyl dispatched one, painted to match. I had an IRD macaroni stem painted as well. The bar is 1st generation Ti to hit the market - Merlin if I remember correctly - and those ubiquitous ODI mushroom grips. After a few years use, the original cooks brothers cranks cracked. They were replaced with a set of Kooka DH cranks. Yes, this is what passed for a DH crank back at the dawn of suspension. The pedals are Suntour XC-Pro with WTB toe-flips! Naturally I went with WTB Greasegard hubs - the best flange designs, ever. They are laced to Araya RM-17 rims with DT spokes and alloy nipples. I did built-up the Suntour hubs on a set of Ritchey hard-anno Vantage rims, but they've only accumulated <50 miles in the last 20 years(!), and sit comfortably on a Fisher Cronus I built for my wife. I still love this bike. Although it is a far cry from modern rides, it never fails to elicit a smile or bring back memories of all the rides and places we've been... Tom P. Last edited by one piece crank; August 16th, 2018 at 9:49 AM. Reason: Re-inserted photos

October 13th, 2014, 4:05 PM	#4
Retro Dude Senior Member Join Date: September 5th, 2011 Location: Clay Posts: 512	This should be Bike of the Year award winner! __________________ inFATuated

October 13th, 2014, 7:25 PM	#7
rick Senior Member Join Date: July 16th, 2004 Location: north carolina Posts: 347	pink Fat wow, one of my favorite Fats ever

October 13th, 2014, 9:51 PM	#9
yo-Nate-y Global Moderator Join Date: March 12th, 2009 Location: Tucson Posts: 809	Absolutely gorgeous! Great paint, great parts, helluva fork. Deff a contender for Fat of the year __________________ 1975 Witcomb USA, 1981 Chris Chance; 1984 Fat Chance, 1987 Team Comp, 1991 Yo Eddy, Monster Fat, and Wicked ....happy to have finally found a clean 80s Fat Team Comp with a box crown fork

October 13th, 2014, 3:30 PM	#3
mainlyfats Senior Member Join Date: August 13th, 2004 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 768	Wow... Fantastic bike.

October 13th, 2014, 4:59 PM	#5
Stingercut Senior Member Join Date: July 2nd, 2013 Location: London Posts: 606	1989 ! My favourite year for Fat built bikes. Simply stunning.

October 13th, 2014, 5:45 PM	#6
chefmiguel Senior Member Join Date: June 12th, 2011 Location: NYC Posts: 307	Day-um!

October 13th, 2014, 8:51 PM	#8
MikeyNYC Senior Member Join Date: August 8th, 2004 Location: NYC-NY Posts: 311	A lot of good things going on with this one!

October 14th, 2014, 9:36 AM	#10
Zamfir Senior Member Join Date: May 31st, 2011 Location: Spokane Posts: 248	Absolutely stunning bike front to back!

April 26th, 2018, 11:22 AM	#11
one piece crank Member Join Date: June 3rd, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 21	Just added the 1988 catalog frame specifications. I'll try to find my posts' original photos and re-insert them...

August 16th, 2018, 9:53 AM	#12
one piece crank Member Join Date: June 3rd, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 21	Re-inserted missing photos - ask if you want more!

August 21st, 2018, 6:31 AM	#13
Stingercut Senior Member Join Date: July 2nd, 2013 Location: London Posts: 606	Great to see the pics restored. Hope some of the other cool threads on here with great bikes get the same treatment

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