[Closed] steel touring bike/allrounder

Would you consider Titanium?

not sure either of those would count as a world touring bike.

surly Long haul trucker?

CRC are selling off Kona Sutra frames. Not the lightest in the world, but it would do everything you're asking for. The early ones have slliding drop-outs too, for even more flexibility. I had one but wanted to go a bit lighter so bought a Van Nicholas Amazon frame and some Kinesis DC19 forks.

surly Long haul trucker?

i was going to say that.

or thorn.

LHTs are great but they're not really going to be suitable for "more technical paths". problem is, you want something snappy handling for technical stuff but very stable for carrying loads over long distances. I reckon you have to compromise somewhere.

Salsa Fargo, ticks all the boxes apart from the light weight one although it rides much nicer than its weight suggests. But then mine is an XXL which will be heavier than most. Lovely bike and designed as a go anywhere round the world offroad tourer.

Mine mostly does 11 mile commutes though the midlands though......

The Surly Long Haul Trucker is designed to be used with rim brakes. And the frame is a little bit on the heavy side, and the standover height is 32", even in size 56, which is the smallest frame... :S

Singular Peregrine or Gryphon?

There's a new LHT which takes disc brakes. Frame sizes go down to 42cm - it's just that you have to use 26" wheels below 56cm, but these are often recommended anyway as being stronger for off-road use and more easily replaceable if you're in the remoter parts of the world.

http://surlybikes.com/bikes/disc_trucker

I'd like 28" wheels, because of long-distance rides.

Most round-the-world cyclists use 26"....

.. but, as I said above, you'd find the LHT a bit of a liability on technical stuff anyway.

I can strongly recommend you buy a Roadrat. They are great frames and have the flexibility to be built into different styles of bike depending on what you want.

As if by chance I have one here for sale... [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-cotic-roadrat-frame-and-forks-165-posted-1 ]cheeky link to my add[/url]

[img] [/img]
http://mobro.co/alcole

I don't think any of your suggestions would be called "light" by many. Not sure how they'd fare with 4 heavy panniers on either - which IMO would be one way of defining a world tourer.

druidh - Member
LHTs are great but they're not really going to be suitable for "more technical paths". problem is, you want something snappy handling for technical stuff but very stable for carrying loads over long distances.

I don't buy this for a second either I'm afraid - as if a slack angled bike is unrideable or even slow on techie/twisty trails? My Heckler is 67 degrees or so at the head tube, I may be slow, but it's not the geometry that holds me back...

Anywhere properly off road (i.e. a bumpy surface) that you will ride a bike with <1.5" tyres you won't be going [i]that[/i] fast - unless you are one of the cx riding legend on here 😉 - geometry (within reason) won't be the limiting factor, if it is on any "techie" trail" (which I doubt).

You ridden an LHT Al? They just have a very "ponderous" feel to them. Hard to explain. Might be nothing to do with geometry, but that's how it rides.

Oh - none of the previous candidates have taken up my offer of a seat for Sunday. You still interested? We've to be there for 10, so need to leave (from genks's) about 8:00???

I've ridden plenty of bikes that feel that way - I don' believe that would slow one down off road in the slightest (with caveats above).

My 2ps worth:

Don't get a Roadrat for touring. As a fast commuter they are ace, but as a tourer? Err nope. Why? Too flexy under load/loaded up for a start. Secondly, the horizontal dropouts make it a REAL pain in the ass to get the back wheel out with rack and mudguards on. Those 2 reasons alone are 2/3 of the reason I sold mine.

But for a world-touring bike, I'd go with a steel MTB frame every time. 26in wheels are tougher, parts and tyres more easy to find, the frames are stronger, they're lower to the floor and more stable.... There's just loads of reasons why most serious tourers take MTBs. If I was doing it, I'd use my Inbred, no question

🙂

Oh so I am bottom of your list? 😉 probably - I'll confirm, when you thinking of heading back for?

Dunno. Whenever we've finished riding I guess. It'll be getting dark by 16:00 anyway, so back no later than 18:00. Would I be holding you back from a heavy date?

I've a steel Marin Team MTB, too... But I need sg faster. And I prefer drop bars. I like the slooping geometry of Cotic and Kona, because I have a relative short inseam length, so standover height is crucial, but need long top tube.

No, just wondered.

I am IN! 😡

Singular Gryphon is beautiful, but I don't like EBB, especially on touring frames.

Kinesis do a belter but cant remember its name at the moment

And... Could You help me to find out which is the lighter - and still reliable - frame among these? 🙂

no discs.. but nice bikes..

[b]Ridgeback - proper tourer[/b]

http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/panorama
[img] [/img]

[b]Thorn[/b]

Nice bikes, shame their website sucks - wnat to even take a quick look - need to download PDFs..

http://www.sjscycles.com/thornpdf/ThornModelOverviewLoRes.pdf

also stuff from
[b]Fahrrad Manufaktur, etc [/b]

Pete,

Secondly, the horizontal dropouts make it a REAL pain in the ass to get the back wheel out with rack and mudguards on. Those 2 reasons alone are 2/3 of the reason I sold mine.

On my Pearson I fitted the rear guard stays with SKS securiclips, then you can easily unclip the stays when pulling the wheel out backwards.

I have a 56cm Kona Sutra frame for sale it is the older type with really nice adjustable CNC'd dropouts at the rear so you can run hub gears, singlespeed or gears....not an inbred style sliding dropout, sliding disc mount nightmare. May have other bits for sale too if you're keen

Email me in profile for more info

drotos - Member
And... Could You help me to find out which is the lighter - and still reliable - frame among these?

Don't take the piss fella.

http://just****inggoogleit.com/

Don't take the piss fella.

http://just****inggoogleit.com/

Thanks, but I've not found too many informations. So... please, let me ask questions, mate! 🙂

How about the new Surly Orge? Its a touring/ utility version of the classic Karate Monkey. Its ugly obviously but you can fit drops no probs, I've got drop bars on my old style Karate Monkey.

Got to be singular...

Singular Gryphon is beautiful, but I don't like EBB, especially on touring frames.

Why? My EBB is rock solid in the singular, installed with a bit of copperslip it never moves, it never creaks and doesn't seize when I want to adjust it.

I bet you can fit drop bars to a KM...

...the fact that it's designed for flats and therefore always going to be a compromise is neither here nor there!

Sancho - Member
Kinesis do a belter but cant remember its name at the moment

I've just pulled the trigger on a Sutra frame from CRC. The Quidco cashback plus £50 off your next £100 spend clinched it for me. I don't think there is any bike that will do exactly what you want (I wanted the same but realised I'd have to sacrifice weight if I wanted a touring bike) the closest I could find would be the Honky Inc on CRC [url= http://http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=74572 ]HERE![/url] - I haven't looked at the sizes available though.
Oh and if any one has some P2 road forks for sale I'd be interested...

I bet you can fit drop bars to a KM...

...the fact that it's designed for flats and therefore always going to be a compromise is neither here nor there!

Drops on a Karate Monkey are fine, ugly but fine. Its no compromise at all, you just need to choose the stem you use with them carefully. To make sure I'm totally out of step with modern life I even run mine with bar end shifters and V brakes 😛

If you're serious about going round the world, take a look at the bikes they ride in 3rd world countries.

Basic, steel, and strong. Cheap readily available parts.

Me, I'd buy a bike specifically for the tour and for general purpose stuff, I'd get one of Sam's Gryphons. The EBB is a Phil Wood, and gives no problems.

For a world tour we did a few years back we used cheap old Kona smokes. They were absolutely great for lugging heavy loads over rough ground. The frames can be had for £100 on CRC at the moment too. They're a heavy load of pipe, but very well suited to the job. I also used mine as a commuter and an mtb for a while, so versatile enough.

cheap bikes are not always a good idea - they may not be that strong.

Big Dave - Member
Drops on a Karate Monkey are fine, ugly but fine. Its no compromise at all, you just need to choose the stem you use with them carefully.

Not ugly at all - but the handling will always be compromised, unless you go about 2-3 sizes smaller.

I've no experience of touring bikes, but I like the look of the Salsa Fargo, they do it in titanium too if you have the money. It seems to be pitched at the off-road touring scene, so might suit.

The Dawes Super Galaxy seems to be a touring classic.

For example:
Genesis Croix de Fer

not sure either of those would count as a world touring bike.

I have been looking for something similar, a sturdy touring machine with disc brakes able to cope with some unmade paths.

Have you looked at the Jamis Bosanova? Some good reviews and at a reasonable cost. A bit more sporty than a traditional tourer.

If you want to go more towards touring than sporty/offroad then the Aurora Elite looks a beautiful machine.

Anyone any experience of Jamis? It looks like they are only available via Evans in this country.

Have to say at those prices the Sutra is unbeatable, next up the Kaffenbak

I've got a Kona Sutra - yes its heavy,but it doesn't ride heavy.
It's great for long distances and more than capable of a bit of off-road riding. It's a proper touring bike so its built for stability etc, which means the BB is a bit lower, it's steel so it can be repaired easily, etc.
[img] [/img]
and loaded up
[img] [/img]

What about using a 29er as a touring bike? Or doesn't worth to overload that fancy tubes? 🙂

I've alu CX bike, too... but the chainstay is too short and that bike is isn't for touring, that's for racing! 🙂 I need a jack-of-all-trades bike which I could ride anywhere (and nowhere) for months.

Sutra then. Just get it done!

Sutra £1000 - good to go with both racks and mudguards straight out of the box - other than swapping saddle for a Brooks I've changed nothing on mine since new.

kona explosif

drotos - Member
What about using a 29er as a touring bike? Or doesn't worth to overload that fancy tubes?

I toured on a Big Kahunna this summer. Only 600 miles and as it's for flat bars the TT was a bit long, short stem didn't matter too much with front panniers on.

It's now my monstercross/cx bike and ROCKS 😡

Not ugly at all - but the handling will always be compromised, unless you go about 2-3 sizes smaller

I haven't found that but, horses for courses and all that.

I've got two Surly's, a Cross Check and the Monkey and they both handle beautifully.

Surly LHT Disc or perhaps the Ogre if you wanted something a bit more suited to rough trails. Both 700C wheels, disks and decent hauling capacity?

http://surlybikes.com/bikes/disc_trucker
/p>

http://surlybikes.com/bikes/ogre

I'd also advise against a Roadrat for touring - great bikes but as a previous poster said, bit too springy for heavy loads.

There are the 29er versions (I'd like drop bars):

Salsa Fargo
Singular Gryphon

Anything else? Why are these 29ers worse than any dedicated touring bike?

I think these frames are lighter than the Kona Sutra or the Genesis Croix de Fer...

Why are these 29ers worse than any dedicated touring bike?

I guess they have the potential to be a bit heavy because of the larger chunkier wheels, but then again I've got a Thorn Sherpa in the garage with 26" wheels and it weighs more than the moon.

That said it will probably outlast the moon...

They should work well but aren't light.

I've checked the frames and these 29ers are lighter... anything else depends on me. 🙂 Or... sg against these frames?

Probably light on paper due to no racks, mudguards etc. Also a lot of 29er will not have suitable rack mounts and with too much tyre clearance a pain to fit proper guards etc.

wot no surly troll?

Singular gryphon will do everything your looking for.

I have used mine with racks,various tyre comb'os and with cross tyres too it is the do everything bike that does everything brilliantly.

ebb is solid and trouble free.

thekingofsweden - What kind of rack have You used with Gryphon?

Salsa Vaya?

Just got one to use as a winter road bike as I don't like dual pivot rim brakes in wet weather. Only had a couple of rides on it so far but quietly impressed. Handles very nicely, very tidy welding / paint etc, and has full complement of eyelets for guards, front and rear racks and even a pump peg. The rear disc mounts on the chain stay to avoid any problems with it getting in the way of the rack / guard mounts.

Built up with my old Ultegra 6500 groupset, Avid BB7s (road), Thompson stem & post, EA70 drop bars, XT SPDs, Hope hubs with Mavic Open Pros and SKS full guards it weighs in at about 24lbs (which is a bit noticeable compared to my Merlin Extralight with DA at 15lbs!).

Somebody bought my Kona frame from CRC, so I have to find sg lighter, by all appearances. :S 😀