[Closed] Salsa Fargo - anyone had one or ridden one?

The magazine did a review a few months ago - Chipps took it across the Pyrenees. Try a search?

Yeah I had a ride on one at a demo day earlier in the year. I enjoyed it, but I'm not convinced it's any better than a 29er like the Swift (for example) for touring. Sure you get all the millions of bottle & rack bosses, but there are ways around that. It's also a bit hefty and not very versatile from a setup point of view (not suspension corrected, drop bar), and it's not going to be as much fun on short blasts imho if you want to use it as a multi-purpose bike. I've built up my Pegasus as a do-it-all bike, great fun on evening singletrack blasts, but still super comfy on long rides. Got some Revelate bags on the way, will be a great combo I reckon (same should also apply to the Swift).

A few people on here have one, Gravitysucks was talking about his on a thread yesterday. I have one on order which should hopefully be here in the next couple of weeks.

Never ridden or even seen one but it was bought on a whim after i lost out to one on ebay.

not ridden a fargo - but just yesterday I had a Kona Sutra delivered, which is quite similar.
First impressions are good.

I was looking ast one a year ago, saw a kona sutra too but its real heavy, and was more touring based

I liked the fact I could swap thick and thin tyres into the fargeo and started getting parts together to build one up

But then went with a leftfield choice of a pugsley and swap tyres between 2,5 hookworms and 3,7 endos' Ive fitted front and rear rack and titiec h bars and it make a great kinda adventure tourer and all round bike

so I'd have a good look around and see as many options as you can

I've ordered a Vaya which sounds quite similar but a bit more road based.

Rode one at a test day on the Ridgeway. Great fun. Most surprised how well it handled stoney tracks. Did feel a touch heavy but I was comparing it to my SS cross bike. Climbed easier than the lightish full suss mtb I got off. if I had the money I'd buy a frame. Not a great fan of bar end shifters despite having at least 1 set on the go for many years. I'd buy a frame I think and set it up with Campag stuff.
There must be other stuff out there similar. The Vaya looks even nicer and lighter. but I think I would prefer a wider tyre option.

is there anywhere near Sheffield that stocks them?

mattsccm - I run STI shifters on mine - I got some NOS Ultegra nine speed STIs, an XT 'trekking' chainset (48,32,24 or something) and an 11-32 cassette... And now that you can get 10sp MTB stuff, I'd have thought it'd be even easier to set up to run road STIs (and Avid BB7s)

chipps - got an pics to share?

I'm torn between brakes levers and bar end shifters or STI levers at the moment to go with the BB7's. Would probably have to be 9 speed though if i can grab some off ebay. This is assuming the frame ever shows up....

You can see a picture of Chipps' one on the Salsa website if you go to the reviews section on the Fargo page.

I can't believe there's much difference in the weight of a Sutra and a Fargo or Vaya.