Fezzari Kings Peak Comp Review

Despite having a name that gives most people the impression it is European, Fezzari is a Utah-based consumer-direct brand that produces a wide range of models from road bikes, gravel bikes, trail and enduro mountain bikes to the Kings Peak Comp fat bike reviewed here. This bike boasts a fancy carbon frame, massive tire clearance, a wealth of accessory and bottle mount points, a relatively nice build, and a reasonable price. We found it to be an impressively comfortable, well-rounded, and highly versatile fat bike that would make an excellent snow or adventure bike or a great addition to anyone's bike quiver.

Performance Comparison

Downhill Performance

Unlike regular mountain bikes, fat bikes are generally intended for lower speeds and less aggressive terrain, so downhill performance isn't exactly a high priority in the design process. Regardless, the Kings Peak does quite well when pointed downhill when kept within its limits of speed and terrain, of course. The geometry is refreshingly up to date, providing more stability and composure on the descents than most of the competition. A well-sorted component specification also comes together to back up its downhill capabilities.

Shredding rough and steep descents isn't the norm on fat bikes, but when you encounter the inevitable downhill sections on your rides, the Kings Peak is well suited to handle them with confidence and composure. Since this is a rigid-framed bike, there's no suspension trickery at play here; it all comes down to the geometry. Fezzari didn't go to extremes with the Kings Peak's numbers, but it is refreshingly modern compared to the more conservative geometries found on most of the other bikes we've tested. While most fat bikes have a head angle in the 68.5 to 69-degree range, the Kings Peak is more relaxed at 67 degrees, moving the front axle out a little further in front of the rider. It also has a 1,208mm wheelbase (size large) that is roughly 30-50mm longer than all but one other model in our review. That wheelbase combines with the 450mm chainstays and slacker head angle to create a bike that is notably more stable at speed, confidence-inspiring, and simply calmer and more composed when riding downhill than bikes with steeper head tube angles. Our six-foot-tall tester found the 470mm reach on our size large test bike to be very comfortable, with a nicely balanced, between-the-wheels feel compared to the shorter and steeper bikes we tested. The tradeoff for the slacker head tube angle and added length of the Kings Peak is a slight reduction in agility, though we never found a situation where that mattered enough to cause complaint.

The relatively stiff carbon frame of the Kings Peak transfers a bit of feedback when ridden over rough surfaces, but we were pleasantly surprised by how comfortable it actually was. When riding on packed snow that was pockmarked from boot and snowshoe tracks, it dampened vibration better than expected. This is likely due to the thinner seat stays to an extent, and the huge 4.5-inch wide Terrene Cake Eater tires certainly don't hurt either. The massive air volume of these tires eats up bumps and surface imperfections, especially when run at the super-low pressures they allow. There's also an impressive amount of grip provided by the relatively aggressive tread design, making cornering and braking a relatively predictable experience. Speaking of braking, the relatively uncommon Clarks M2 hydraulic disc brakes work just fine for controlling Kings Peak and the moderate speeds you hit while fat biking. The cockpit is also well sorted, with a modern 780mm handlebar that is comfortable and provides ample steering leverage. The rigid seatpost is just fine and will suit most fat bikers' needs perfectly; Fezzari offers a dropper post as an option (for an additional fee) when configuring your bike through their website, along with other upgrades for the front suspension, wheels, tubeless tires, and more.

Uphill Performance

The majority of fat bike riding takes place on relatively flat or gradually rolling terrain on snow or mixed surface conditions, so how they perform in those situations is very important. Similar to its downhill performance, the Kings Peak shines when pointed uphill thanks to its geometry and smart component specification that make it a competent and comfortable climber.

As mentioned previously, the Kings Peak has a geometry that more closely resembles a modern trail bike than most of its fat bike competitors. This includes a longer wheelbase and slacker head tube angle, as well as a steeper seat tube angle. At 75 degrees, the seat tube angle is about 2 degrees steeper than any of the other bikes we tested. This puts the rider more directly above the cranks in a position that lends itself well to great power transfer down into the pedals and a more centered body position that keeps the rider's weight from being too far back over the rear wheel. This helps keep more weight on the front wheel when climbing and, when combined with the 450mm chainstays, prevents the front end from feeling too light or wandering if/when the trail gets steep. The steeper seat tube angle also helps to keep the longer 470mm reach (size Large) from feeling too stretched out. It feels quite comfortable, still roomy, but shorter than that number suggests. The longer 1,208mm wheelbase length and 67-degree head tube angle don't make the Kings Peak the most nimble bike around. It can feel a little sluggish in its handling in tight technical sections and uphill switchbacks when compared to shorter and steeper bikes. Since our testers don't really ride tight or technical terrain on their fat bikes, we didn't find that to be much of an issue, but it is noteworthy for those who do.

While it isn't a featherweight, our size large Kings Peak test bike tipped the scales at 31 pounds without pedals. We found this particularly impressive given the massive 27.5 x 4.5-inch Terrene Cake Eater tires, and this bike definitely doesn't feel as heavy as it might look. When climbing or out on a long ride, it doesn't feel portly or like it's slowing you down in any way. In fact, it feels snappy and responsive under pedaling power, though there is a bit of drag from the massive tires in certain conditions. That said, those tires do have a huge contact patch that allows them to float over soft snow or sand better than skinnier options, and the somewhat aggressive tread hooks up well on a variety of surfaces and provides excellent pedaling traction. The rest of the build is well-sorted. The SX Eagle drivetrain provides an ample range whether you're grinding up a steep and slippery climb or hammering a groomed trail in the flats with a 30-tooth chainring paired with an 11-50-tooth cassette. The Selle Italia Model X Superflow saddle is also quite comfortable, although we found the synthetic cover material to cling to clothes a bit more than others.

Versatility

Fezzari markets the Kings Peak as an adventure bike in addition to a snow-riding rig. Their website depicts riders in far-off places with their bikes loaded down with racks and frame bags while tackling snow, sand, rocks, and roads in what appears to be an arctic environment. In addition to their marketing, Fezzari has done a great job of designing the frame to be ready for anything with lots of bottle and accessory mounts so that you can choose to load it up however you like for the adventure at hand. It definitely performs well in the snow, but it isn't a one-trick pony.

Fezzari didn't hold back when they were adding mount points to the frame of the Kings Peak. The frame has a 3-pack mount on the top of the top tube, a 4-pack mount on top of the down tube, a standard bottle mount at the base of the seat tube, and another bottle mount on the underside of the down tube. The rear triangle also has mounts at the bottom of the seat stays to accommodate rear racks, and the carbon fork features 3-pack mounts to add even more carrying capacity. Of course, you can also strap a handlebar bag up front, and the traditionally shaped frame can fit a huge range of bags that strap within the front triangle. You've really got lots of options when it comes to carrying gear on this bike.

One nice thing about Fezzari's consumer-direct sales approach is that they provide a number of options for customization when you are configuring your bike through their website. For an additional fee, you can upgrade a number of components, including the wheels, fork, seatpost, and more, meaning you can get the bike set up for your specific needs. Gonna ride some dirt and steeper terrain? Upgrade to a suspension fork and dropper seatpost. We think it's great to have these options available.

Build

The Kings Peak is a great-looking bike with a sleek carbon frame and fork and a relatively traditional frame design. The carbon tubing has a distinctive look with angles and shapes that are quite similar to Fezzari's current mountain bike frames. It has internal cable routing, molded rubber chainstay protection, and a wealth of mounts on the top tube, seat tube, down tube, fork, and seat stays to accommodate water bottles, frame bags, accessories, and racks to load it up however you like. It uses a 10mm English threaded bottom bracket and has 197 x 12mm rear axle spacing and 150 x 15mm at the front axle. The frame easily clears the 4.5-inch wide tires that come stock with room to go even wider if you choose. It comes in 4 sizes, S-XL, and is available in 2 colors, White Amber (tested) and Ash Gray. The Comp build we tested is the least expensive option, and the Elite build will set you back a few hundred extra bucks for upgrades to the drivetrain and brakes, plus Fezzari provides several options to upgrade components like a suspension fork, dropper post, wheels, tubeless setup, etc. while purchasing. Their unique 23-point custom setup program ensures that each bike comes custom fit to the individual. Fezzari also sells the Kings Peak as a frame only if you want to build up your own dream bike.

The Kings Peak Comp comes with a full SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain. This 12-speed drivetrain offers a massive gear range with a 30-tooth chainring and 12 gears spread over the 11-50-tooth cassette. While SX is far from our favorite drivetrain, it honestly works well enough for non-competitive fat biking purposes. Our main gripes are the weight of the cassette and the ergonomics of the shifter. Since the shifter does not mate with any brake levers, we always struggle to get it positioned perfectly. It's too far from the thumb when mounted outside of the brake lever, and it's too close when mounted inside. Slowing and stopping the Kings Peak Comp has been tasked to a set of Clarks M2 hydraulic disc brakes with 180/160mm rotors front/rear. These 2-piston brakes aren't all that common, but they've proven to work well enough to handle the moderate speed and terrain that this bike is made for. The Kings Peak Elite build comes with upgrades like a GX drivetrain and SRAM G2 R brakes for those who seek a little higher shifting and braking performance.

Sun Ringle is by far the most popular brand of fat bike rims you'll find on complete builds, and the Kings Peak Comp comes with a set of 27.5-inch diameter Mulefut SL 80mm rims laced to a set of Bear Pawls Alloy hubs. These rims have a 74.4mm inner rim width that works well for high-volume fat bike tires like the 4.5-inch wide Terrene Cake Eaters that come on the Kings Peak. These massive tires are excellent for snow and other extreme conditions riding with tons of air volume and a huge contact patch that provides excellent floatation and damping. The tread pattern is fairly aggressive, and they have impressive cornering, braking, and pedaling traction. The center and intermediate tread knobs feature lots of siping like a car snow tire for enhanced grip, plus they are stud-able for those who may need extra traction on icy surfaces. The tires come with tubes installed, and you could certainly shave some grams by setting them up tubeless (this is also an option when purchasing).

The Kings Peak Comp comes with a nice cockpit setup that is comprised primarily of house-brand components. The specs call for a Fezzari-branded 31.8mm diameter 780mm wide alloy flat bar that is clamped to a Fezzari alloy stem. Stem length and handlebar width vary based on the custom 23-point setup. That said, our bike came with a Whisky No.7 MTN stem and a 35mm diameter handlebar with a 20mm or so rise. We aren't complaining as this has proven to be a perfect fit. A set of slip-on Velo MTB grips are fairly comfortable, but we typically prefer lock-on grips for their ease of installation and removal. It comes with a rigid alloy seatpost with a relatively standard two-bolt clamp. Mounted to that is a Selle Italia Model X Superflow saddle that is surprisingly comfortable. Dropper seat posts are available for an additional fee when configuring your bike through the Fezzari website.

Should You Buy the Fezzari Kings Peak Comp?

This is an excellent fat bike that performs well across the board, and we feel it is a great option for people seeking a dedicated snow bike or adventure riding rig. The modern geometry hits a sweet spot for any type of riding, and the wealth of bottle and accessory mounts make it well suited for loading up with all kinds of gear for bike packing and off-the-beaten-path adventures. It also comes at a fair price, and we feel it is a great value for anyone seeking a quality fat bike to add to their quiver.

What Other Fat Bikes Should You Consider?

We would recommend the Kings Peak to most people given its impressive all-around performance, but if you're looking for enhanced capabilities, the Trek Farley 7 retails for a few hundred dollars more and performs admirably. It doesn't have quite as many frame and fork mounts, but as a general-purpose fat bike, it's a good deal. If you are interested in something that handles the rough stuff a little better, the Trek Farley 7 is worth a look. The suspension fork and dropper seatpost do wonders to enhance its performance over bumpy or chunky terrain and expand its versatility beyond smooth snow riding.