We didn’t invent the fat bike…we reinvented it.

In earlier designs, the rear triangle of the frame had to be bent outward to the right side, along with using an extra wide spindle on the cranks to move the chain rings outward and provide more chain clearance for wider tires. This moved the rear wheel off center, necessitating the need for offset drilled rims, where all the spokes were on one side to re-center the wheel. Many riders said they could feel this offset when riding.

In 2007, Greg set out to produce the most advanced fatbike ever made. The wide, symmetrical hub design solved all of these problems associated with offset designs, and was soon adopted by all frame manufacturers, and would remain the standard until 2012, when we developed an even wider symmetrical hub to allow use of 5” wide tires. The mighty Fatback 197mm hub has remained the standard ever since.

In virtually all hubs, spoke lengths and tension are not equal. Symmetrically designed hub flanges keep all spoke lengths and tension equal, building the ultimate wheel.

In 2006, only the Surly Pugsley was commercially available (there were also a couple of custom steel builders doing one-off frames using the 135mm offset rear hub design, such as Wildfire Designs and John Evingson, both local Alaskans), and great as it was, we had other ideas on design and geometry, and produced the first symmetrically designed fatbike, years ahead of our nearest competitors.

Our original Ti frames had more stand over clearance, more tire clearance, better cable routing, slacker and taller head tubes, longer top tubes, lower bottom brackets, and shorter chainstays, all working in sync to provide the best handling, most confidence inspiring fat bike on the market to this day. Our bikes have more winter endurance wins than ALL other brands combined!

We developed more than just frames, forks, and industry drive train standards. We made the first fat, single wall aluminum rims, and, working with Stan’s Notubes, we introduced tubeless fat to the world in 2009 with our Uma II rims, capable of running pressures as low as 2psi.

Our carbon rims set the standard for lightweight tubeless performance, and are capable of year-round use. Not the lightest, nor the least expensive, but no other rim comes close to weight, price, and durability.

Our original bikes were made of titanium. We loved the ride quality, but they are expensive, so we started producing aluminum frames in 2009, and steel frames made of True Temper OX Platinum in 2010. Our first carbon bike, the award winning, record setting Corvus came along in 2014 and once again took the world by storm with it’s fantastic handling, lightweight, and beautiful lines. The Corvus holds the records in virtually every winter endurance event.

In 2015 we developed our first “trail” inspired fatbike, the Skookum, with long, low, and slack geometry, suspension corrected for a 120mm travel suspension fork. This bike brought fat to an entirely new crowd, the shredders! We often receive emails from customers saying it’s the most fun bike they have ridden, summer or winter!

Find out for yourself why racers and adventurers alike chose Fatback.

History

2007: Founding and Pioneering Fatbike Innovation

  • Founder: Greg Matyas, a lifelong Alaskan cyclist, founded Fatback Bikes (later Corvus Cycles).
  • Key Achievement: Greg designed the first symmetrical 170mm wide rear hub, eliminating the need for a bent rear triangle to gain tire clearance (See figure 1 showing drive-side offset vs. Fatback’s symmetrical design). This innovative design allowed for the use of 4″–5″ wide tires with proper chainline and clearance, becoming the industry standard for many years.
  • First to Market: Corvus was the first company to mass-produce and sell a complete fatbike.

2008: Tubeless Fat Tires Innovation

  • Key Achievement: Greg introduced tubeless fat tires to the market, enabling tire pressures as low as 2 psi, which reduced rotational weight and rolling resistance, improving performance.

2009: Carbon Forks and Aluminum Frames

  • Key Achievement: Corvus became the first brand to produce a carbon fork for fatbikes, enhancing ride quality and reducing weight.
  • Expansion: Corvus introduced aluminum frames, offering a lighter, more affordable alternative to titanium.

2011: Steel Frames with Premium Tubing

  • Key Achievement: Corvus produced a run of steel frames using True Temper OX Platinum tubing, appealing to enthusiasts who preferred the durability and feel of steel.

2012: The 197mm Symmetrical Rear Hub

  • Key Achievement: Corvus launched the 197mm symmetrical rear hub, which accommodates 5″ fat tires, setting a new industry standard still used in fatbikes today.

2013: Carbon Frame and Record-Breaking Success

  • Key Achievement: The release of the revolutionary Corvus carbon frame, instrumental in setting nearly every record in winter ultra-races across the nation, demonstrating superior design and performance.
  • Ultra-Light Carbon Rims: Corvus introduced Footprint carbon rims, ultra-light, single-wall tubeless fatbike rims that reduced rotational weight and improved performance and handling.

2015: The Skookum and the Rhino

  • Key Achievement: The Skookum was released as a purpose-built carbon fiber trail bike for riders who love to rip descents, equipped with a 120mm suspension fork. It set the standard for “rowdy” fatbikers.
  • Introduced the Rhino: Corvus launched the Rhino, a versatile “Swiss Army Knife” fatbike designed to handle whatever you could dream up, from beach trips, to trail rips, the Rhino endures to this day.

2016: The G2 Corvus

  • Key Achievement: The G2 Corvus was unveiled with new geometry and ergonomics, quickly becoming the most successful fatbike in winter ultra-races, holding virtually every race record across both male and female categories.
  • Awards: The G2 Corvus was selected Fatbike of the Year by multiple publications, several years in a row.

2021: Transition to Corvus Cycles

  • Rebranding: Fatback Bikes rebranded to Corvus Cycles to reflect its evolution. The brand expanded its offerings to include non-fat models like the Titanium Crow Pass bikepacking bike, designed for multi-day adventures in the backcountry.
  • The carbon Corvus frame was renamed the Akio (Awk-ee-o).

2022: The G2 SkookumAF

  • Key Achievement: Released the G2 SkookumAF, an aluminum version of the suspension-corrected trail slayer, with even more progressive geometry for the modern trail slayer.

2024: The G2 Akio – The Most Advanced Fatbike Ever

  • Key Achievement: Launched the G2 Akio, a culmination of 17 years of research and development, the pinnacle in fatbike design and technology, marking it as the most advanced fatbike ever produced.  Purpose built around 27.5 wheels, with a low BB,  downtube storage, a portage handle, and geometry that puts a smile on your face!

Through these innovations, Corvus Cycles has consistently advanced fatbike technology and design, maintaining its reputation as the trailblazing leader in the fatbike industry.