Charge Cooker Maxi 1 fat bike review
Getting this bike up to speed wasn’t always easy. But once the wheels are spinning the grinning began.
Editor’s Note: This article is part of the Mtbr Ultimate Guide to winter mountain biking, fat bikes, gear, apparel, lights and trainers. We are taking a deep dive into all manner of cold weather mountain bike gear, with round-ups and reviews of fat bikes, tires, wheels, apparel, trainers, lights and more. To see all the articles, head over to our Winter Guide Hub Page.
Lowdown: Charge Cooker Maxi 1 Fat Bike
You can make an argument that steeds such as the Charge Cooker Maxi 1 fat bike both encourage and discourage people from trying (and sticking with) riding on snowy winter trails. On the plus side, the barrier to entry is small, thanks to a sub-$1500 price tag. The primary negative, of course, is weight. Though the Maxi 1 has no suspension (and thus limited non-wintertime appeal) our size medium tester weighed a hefty 33.1 pounds. That’s nearly nine pounds more than the other fully rigid fat bike we tested this winter, the far more expensive Specialized Fat Boy Expert Carbon. So the question is when does it make sense to go the budget route when buying a fat bike? And is this the right budget bike? Read the full review below for our take.
| Frame: 6061 butted aluminum | Rotors: 180mm f/ 160mm r |
| Fork: Rigid triple butted cro-mo | Saddle: Charge Spoon |
| Crankset: FSA Comet 36/22 | Seatpost: Charge 15mm layback |
| Front derailleur: SRAM X5 | Grips: Charge square lock-on |
| Rear derailleur: SRAM X5 mid cage | Bars: Charge flat top riser 15° sweep |
| Shifters: SRAM X5 | Stem: Charge |
| Cassette: SRAM 11-36t | Chainstay length: 450mm |
| Chain: Nickel plated KMC x11 | Headtube angle: 71 degrees |
| Bottom bracket: FSA MegaExo | Sizes: S, M, L, XL |
| Rims: Charge Fat 26” 80mm wide | Color: Gloss red |
| Tires: Tubeless ready Maxxis Mammoth 26×4.0” | Weight: 33.1 pounds |
| Hubs: Charge disc | MSRP: $1200 |
| Brakes: Pro Max Render cable disc |
Rating:  3.5 out of 5 |
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Net weight for this size medium: 33.1 pounds.
Review: Charge Cooker Maxi 1 Fat Bike
I love the look of this bike. Sure it’s loud with its bright red frame and matching stem. But to me that pop of color equates fun. And for most of us that’s what fat biking is all about, having fun.
Indeed, except for a small minority who’ve caught the big wheeled racing bug, riding these goliaths on wheels is a conduit to wintertime miles and copious smiles. On days when snow on the ground used to mean butts on stationary trainers, you can now head outside and enjoy fresh air in the great outdoors. It doesn’t hurt that the Charge Cooker Maxi 1 doesn’t cost much more than one of those high end trainers either.
MSRP is $1200, making this a solid entry-level fat bike option.
The downside, as alluded to in the intro above, is that this big is a pig. Despite having no suspension, which would broaden its use beyond snowtrack and wintertime runs to the beer store, it tips the scales at a chunky 33.1 pounds. And that is for a size medium. Figure an extra pound or two as you climb the size scale. Clearly then this bike is geared toward the newbie fat bike rider — or someone not willing to fully commit to the burgeoning big wheeled genre. And that’s okay, as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Continue to page 2 for more of our Charge Cooker Maxi 1 fat bike review »
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