My wife and I rode our 600’s from Hope Mills NC to Rapid City SD, they are great for touring. Plus for gravel and some single track. We were both 69:making that trip, planning another long one for this coming spring and summer.
While Ryan Van Duzer is probably better known for his 600X videos, he does also ride a 600 as well. He rode it in RAGBRAI 2019 and also rode his 600 from Boulder to the start of RAGBRAI (~600 miles) as well. Playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PLQntYl1jtMXv1xjjHhG_FDA9_dDXzS1M4.html As our fearless narrator mentioned, the lack of good attachment points up front is really the only weak point to the 600 as a touring platform. Perhaps a slightly longer chainstay length would be preferable as well, but that is nitpicking. So, for one doing fully loaded touring, with four packed large panniers in every corner, it might be a little less than ideal. However, lots of options exist for carrying a sizable amount of stuff, such as coupling rear panniers with a full frame bag, using the front forks for water (or camping gear) storage, and coupling either a larger handlebar or randonneur bag. Something like a VO flatpack rack would fit nicely on here for either the randonneur or even "basketpacking" with a Wald basket and large basket bag. Or, you could just run front panniers anyway the way Old Man does it. What Priority has done with this bike is really created a unique snowflake in the biking world. Pinions really are absolutely premium drivetrains and, as a result, are rarely found on bikes that are also not premium (such as the Co-Motions that he mentioned). Priority has instead taken a Pinion and slapped it on what is otherwise, bells and whistles like the dynamo hub and lights aside, a relatively inexpensive city/hybrid bike that might otherwise only sell for $850 or so. The thing is, every other component on the bike is fairly cheaply replaced as wanted/needed (if at all) except the frame. So, as long as the frame holds up, and we have zero reason to think that it won't, the bike is a fantastic bargain if you are looking to get into a Pinion on the cheap. The only other somewhat comparable bike I can even think of is made by Stevens out of Germany ("C12 Lite" or something like that) and they don't have any U.S. dealers at all last I checked. Personally, I have had my 600 for almost a year and am quite fond of it. My Surly Disc Trucker has been almost entirely unridden since bought the 600. I also don't think I will ever buy another bike without a Pinion (or comparable internal gear drive) on it. The lack of gear overlap, the ease of shifting, being able to shift multiple gears at once easily, being able to shift while at a dead stop or while coasting, and the absolutely insane gear range (with the lowest gear being under 18 gear inches), the almost complete lack of maintenance, and the lack of a chain or a vulnerable rear derailleur is totally worth it if you can find the $$.
I have a Priority 600 that I bought last week. It has 4 braze-ons on each front fork leg. They didn’t have that feature on the model year of the one in the video. So, this is no longer relevant. (Odd thing is, Priority doesn’t even show this at their website..)
I am also Pinion C1.12 user in my european Stevens C12 Lite touring bike. I almost fall in love with it 😉. Respect for your smile and riding attitude, keeping 🤞 for many miles of rides on nature landscapes and sincere regards from Ciechocinek, Poland, Europe 🙋♂️.
Thanks for the review - I'm 72, well, I guess I was 71 when you published this video. Watch some of Ryan Van Duzer's videos, and he's a big advocate of Priority bikes, particularly the 600 series. My main concern in purchasing such a bicycle would be in getting repairs done when something goes wrong, as most local bike shops wouldn't work on such a bicycle. You addressed some of those issues in your video. Best wishes, and hope you are still enjoying your bicycle rides. I ride around 100 miles per week, mostly on my crank forward RANS semi-recumbent and my mountain bikes. I no longer ride road bikes, as I can't tolerate the drop bar position anymore. So far, I'm still riding my human powered bikes and hope to continue doing that as long as possible. Cycling is good for both body and soul, especially as I've gotten into old territory.
I love the 600 for touring. However, after breaking quite a few spokes I realized the rims are too lightweight (and I'm a fairly light packer). I upgraded to a more touring friendly rim with a greater spoke count. We also tend to transport our bikes in a rack we designed for the back of our pickup and by train - each requiring the removal of the front wheel. The constant plugging and unplugging of the dyno hub finally ruined the connection. Frankly, it doesn't really accomplish much and I still bring a couple of rechargeable lights with me anyway. I decided to build another wheel without the dyno hub so I'm not lugging around the weight of the dyno everywhere. I also upgraded the tires to something with more grip. I had a devil of a time getting out of the old locks on the C&O Canal Trail with the relatively tread-less stock WTB's. The fenders have been removed because I needed a replacement front fender and the new ones that come from Priority are too narrow and catch on the tread (even with the stock tires). It's basically a mountain bike frame and I've bike packed for years without fenders. The rear rack essentially accomplishes the same mission.
I am so tempted to get a 600. I only started biking again last year, after a two-decade drought, and I want to get more serious about it. My current bike was a gift from my dad, who decided that he was too old to ride. It's certainly decent, but I'd love to have something nicer. Maybe I'll wait until next year, though. Gotta work more on my physical conditioning, to make sure I feel that I deserve it. Then I can semi-permanently turn my current bike into a stationary trainer for indoor workouts during inclement days and winter.
Thanks so much about the info for Gates being the Pinion US distributor. I wasn't concerned about that much, but it's nice to know who to reach out to if needed. I've had my 600 for 3 years as well, but I've only done 1 oil change on it. Didn't ride it much during COVID shutdown since most my riding is commuting. Great vid as always!
The process I followed, as the Pinion Gear box was under warranty, was to contact Priority first. They then provided the Point of contact at Gates. I believe Priority is the first gate to go through before you can get to Gates (no pun intended). Thanks for watching!
Great review! Thanks for sharing your various configurations too. I hope to get in both some "credit card" as well as some camping tours in the upcoming year on my 600. I love seeing the sights around your area as you talk.
Thanks for the video. I just finished the East coast in August on my 600 X. I think I am going to get the 600 for next summer for the West Coast. It’s mostly roads. It should work better being lighter. My Aero spider rack should workout fine. Thank you for the infos. (I am 68)
Thank so much for you open reviews and , been studying the pinion drive train and priority for cost reasons and American company. I ordered a 600 this week , should be here next , excited it this new bike adventure I currently riding a Salsa Fargo , I love that bike , just looking for a long haul rider , and the 600 checks all the boxs . Also be in my 60s , I mostly ride rail trail and such , no single tracking for me , hurts too much on them crashes, lol. Hope you doing well !
Thanks for the great video! I’ve been intrigued by the 600 since I’m planning a transcontinental bicycle tour after I retire next year. As great as it sounds as a commuter, I think you convinced me it’s not the right choice for something that long-distance.
Wow, I sure am impressed, no, really impressed. I'm 78 and don't ride like you do, I'm guessing about 5% of what you do. I still try MTB, but know the day will come when I crash and don't bounce. Your setup is very cool, and I sure enjoy your video. Well done and although I enjoy my Jamis Renegade gravel grinder, it sure is worth checking out the Priority 600.
Thanks for your kind words. Physical issues are slowly creeping up on me so I need to squeeze in all that I can. Tomorrow I am going to conquer a small mountain in Meriden, CT. I have a Specialized Roubaix as well as the Priority 600 and I take it out occasionally and it is fun… but more and more my first choice is to jump on the Priority. And, for the record, I would not go Mountain Biking under any circumstances. The reflexes are not what they were and all I can envision is me flying of a cliff like Thelma & Louise or missing a turn and smacking into a tree. 😉
If You are serious about checking out the Priority lineup, look also at the 600X which is a Bike Packing version of the Priority 600… a bit more money by more than what I am willing to pay.
I took a ride on one while cycling in Canada and it is a great bike for single track and unimproved roads. The same drive train as my 600 so that fell familiar. Even with that bike available, believe my rides on rail trails and pavement would have me still going with the plain old 600… especially with the increase in connection points on the fork. Great feedback… thanks!
Thanks! I have attachment capability for my small Ortlieb fork Bags that are solid but I want to put my Tubus front rack on and it is very jerry rigged with only a single attachment point. The good news, I found out last week that Priority now sells a fork with braze-ons designed to fit the Priority 600. I am looking at that as the sleekest option. I will also look into your suggestion of the Surly fork… thanks so much!
Great video! Im 70 and ride a standup elliptical called StreetStrider which I have taken from Davis, CA 2 major points destination, ie -Monterey, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and down the CA coast Ive been using this trike as my main driver since 2011 gives me a great lower &upper body wkout Took a long time 2 get my upper up 2 speed 2 tour, drawback is its slow,,,if that is a drawback? I did add a mid drive tsdz2 and has been great 4 the hills -tahoe &CA Coast
I just purchased a 600 but I'm unsure as to whether I'm going to keep it. Out of the 12 gears it has, only two seem capable of hill climbing (max 13%). The rest seem tailored to mostly flatland touring. Also, the shifter seems intolerably stiff -- so much so that I seem to have bruised the fiingers/palm of my shifting hand while trying to rotate the shifting mechanism. I much prefer the Enviolo shifting mechanism for its smooth and comfortable operation. If I could find an Enviolo with the same gear range as the 600, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I appreciate your video on how to install the Jones bar, but I can't remember all the steps. Would you have a transcript of the steps you took to install it?
My only comment on your initial impressions of the Priority 600 you are right… gear index 1 and 2 are the ones that get you up steep hills. Those gears got me up some of Vermont’s steepest climbs. And I actually have the opposite impression of the gearing. Once I am on the flat or going downhill, I always wish I had two more gears in order to gain more top speed. As for the shifter, it took me time to get used to as well but I settled in. Regarding the stiffness, mine is butter smooth. Recommend you call Priority as it is likely a simple adjustment. And now for a transcript, most videos come with them. Under the title below the video’s thumbnail, click on “more“ - this is where you go to read my video description but there is also a link to the transcript.
Not many bike brands in the US carry Piñon and I am not sure why it hasn’t caught on. I did look at some European Pinion bikes but the shipping and warranty support made it an impossible buy. In the states some custom bike builders are offering them. Priority was close to my home, the price was right, and I figured I could transition it to a light touring bike. It all worked out.
Thanks for the video. Info on people who tour with the Priority 600 is scarce. The lack of fork braze-on's is an issue. Do you credit card tour or camp when touring?
When I got the Priority 600 back in 2019, I did a Credit Card Tour from CT to VT to visit my sister. COVID put a damper on my tour schedule but in 2020 I did a 600 mile tour in Maine and camped all but one night. Thanks for watching!
There are options and whatever gets you down the road with a smile on our respective faces is all good. Did you modify the Mtn bike? Do you use it for off road bike packing? I only ask because I’m thinking building up an off road rig for some chunky trail riding in Vermont.
@@cc103acs The MB is a rigid Miyata 400 over the years, I up graded components as they wore out. I have a front and rear rack, I use the Tourist handlebar from Velo Orange. I have not single track bike packed, I have rail trail, gravel road camped.
Here is a good video on the Pinion Drive - th-cam.com/video/y9e6lpVF02U/w-d-xo.htmlsi=1K7hlKXePDvOj8wg As for using any bike for touring, I was trying to adapt my carbon fiber 2017 Specialized Roubaix for touring and it simply was not able to handle the load so I began my search for used bikes, frames to build out into a touring bike, and then I saw a few videos of this bike in action and was sold - primarily the maintenance free drive train. I was not in the market for a new bike but couldn’t resist the potential of turning this commuter bike into a touring rig. Still tweaking it but it is doing the job.
@cc103acs My current tourer is a Pan World, Olympian--a department store bike. I've slowly replaced all components with aluminum items for touring, 3 sprocket, 180m, crank, better brakes, seat and post, added racks, lightweight wheelset, almost everything but bearings. It's an old German machine brought over by a Air Force service man. Everything was steel. The bike is great and it's been to a lot of places in the western states. I mostly own cheap end bikes that I build up to be lighter and more nimble.
First off… as an “old man” my hearing may not be as sharp as yours. I have not heard that from others before and I have not noticed any unusually loud clicking sounds from the rear hub while coasting except the normal clicking of the pawls in the free hub. The next time I go out for a ride or have the bike on the work stand I will try to record the rear hub sounds.
Priority put out a video on how to pack the rear hub with grease to quiet the pawl noise. It's easy and works like a charm. Only required the purchase of two special wrenches and some hub grease.
@@chrissteiner9693 Is "Installing your Gates CDX Single Speed Fixed Rear Cog" what you are referring to or if not what is the link/title of the video you mention?
The handlebar is as follows - Jones H-Bar® Butted 2.5 Loop Aluminum - and I bought it on-line. Here is a link - jonesbikes.com/jones-h-bar-butted-2-5-loop-aluminum/. The current cost is $149.00 US. I also have a couple of videos on the Jones H-Bar installation.
Question. I,ve read the comments, but going up difficult hills is there a significant difference between the pinion gearbox and a standard chain? Will you be able to get up hills easier?
Absolutely 100% yes and when going downhill or riding on “the flats” you might be wishing you had a couple more gears on that end. I ride flat pedals (not clipped in) and had no issues in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
@@davex5424 Understand… when I said 100% I was thinking about my two road bikes. I live at the top of a steep hill and always need to ride it when I depart from my home. All 3 of my bikes know this climb well - an older Trek (2004) and a newer Specialized Roubaix (11-32t / 2017) and even this heavier bike allows me to spin up the hill and not feel as wiped out on the climb. I try to climb a steep mountain at the start of each cycling season - Whiteface Mountain 2 years ago and Mount Greylock last year… no issues for an old man.
That is something that is very difficult to get specific about as I would need to measure the grade of the hill and I really don’t have anything that will do that for us. So… here are some guidelines and, may I say upfront, the 12 speed Pinion drive climbs hills easier that my two road bikes. What I will give you here are some general guidelines so assume 12 clicks on the shifter with #1 beings the easily gear for going up steep inclines and #12 the hardest gear for going downhill. Downhill - Steep: Coast I shift to 12 but do not pedal. Downhill - More Gradual: I go downhill at 11 or 12. Gentle Rollers: I keep the shifter between 5 and 10 and adjust as I go up or down. Flatland: I try to stay at 7 and adjust to 6 and 8 as necessary. Uphill - Gradual: I climb a hill in 5 and then downshift to 4. Very Steep: I usually start at #3 and quickly shift to 2 and 1 as required. As an example… I climbed Whiteface Mountain in New York State and during the first mile I stayed pretty much in #3 while the grade was at about 6%. The grade on Whiteface is consistent after the first few miles and very steep at 8-10%. I just gave up and went to 1 at the extreme grades and back down to #2 or 3 if it dipped below 7%. If you have any qualms about getting up hills on the unloaded Priority 600… don’t. If you are a fit older guy you should have no problem. And if you are not as fit as you might like and do not have ugly steep mountains, you will be fine. If you live near someone who owns a Priority, you can also go for.a test ride. I live in southern Connecticut so if you are in my area, you can stop by for a ride.
@@cc103acs Thank you for your reply. I didn’t mean to make my question a technical one. When I am viewing your ascents I get an idea of how steep they are, so I am curious as to what gear you are in- if you are breathing hard on hill that doesn’t look very steep and if you said you were in first gear it may encourage me to stay with a derailleur bike. I just turned 76, so your channel is of great interest to me, and I really like your 600 (I am a sucker for German engineering). Look forward to your next adventure.
I have a Specialized Roubaix road bike and I can tell you that I get up hills so much easier on the Priority. As for the breathing, that is an audio issue that I need to deal with. You might notice my microphone with the “dead car” is clipped right near my wind pipe and it makes my breathing seem way louder than it really is. On my next ride, I am going to test out new locations for the mic. My one frustration with the 600 is that the gearing is ideal for hills but I need a couple more gears to get me down the road faster on the flats. So…to end this novel I am now writing, if you are just using the bike for riding around town (not loaded with camping gear) and day rides for exercise then the Priority 600 is ideal for those of us in our 70s.
@@cc103acs Thanks again for your reply. Your guess as to how I plan to use the 600 is spot on. I live where it is primarily flat. I am getting too sedentary and having a nice bike would encourage me to take longer and more frequent rides. Many people I know are buying eBikes, but I prefer to rely on my legs and a Pinion gear box. You’ve convinced me.
Recommendation… get a rack for the back and a basket or grocery box and, if your roads are safe, use your bike to do errands. Also, try to find a rail trail or something similar so you can ride for exercise without cars bothering you.
Great video. Thank you. How long did it take to get used to shifting? I understand you have to stop pedalling to shift. I have been going uphill many times where I quickly have to downshift or lose balance. What is your experience with some steep uphills and having to downshift?
Actually you get used to it. There was a day when that was the case with derailleurs as well. Rather than stop you just let up on the pressure a bit during the downstroke… very subtle. I have climbed Whiteface Mountain in NY State and Mount Greylock in Massachusetts no issues. The good news, unlike a derailleur, instead of falling off simply stop and take a rest. While stopped you can then downshift to gear #1 and continue your ascent. And on the steepest of grades you eventually get into gear #1 and just stay there. All of this implies I am not carrying a load. While touring in Maine my gear weighed me down and when my Garmin indicated 13% it was time to get off and “hike-a-bike.”
Honestly, it takes very little time to get used to it. One advantage is that very few people will be transitioning to a 600 (or other IGH bike with a twist shifter) from a non-Pinion bike with a twist shifter, so you are getting used to a twist shifter at the same time you are getting used to the Pinion. This keeps muscle memory out of the equation. I think I was completely used to it in just a few rides. Also, you don't really have to "stop" pedaling so much as pause the load on the pedals for a split second and your shifts will get faster and faster as you use it more. Being able to shift at a dead stop or while coasting, even 3-4 gears at a time, more than makes up for it.
You can get a knack for doing an ultra-quick shift during the low pressure point of the pedalling cycle, i.e. midway between each foot's power stroke, such that you don't really interrupt your cadence. Trouble is, as you get used to doing it like that, you can get a bit complacent and sometimes forget that you can't do it at any point of the pedalling cycle - and the gearbox definitely doesn't like changing when the pedals are under pressure. Anyway, it is a bit fussier than the more forgiving derailleur, but then it is simpler and more reliable.
Why not swap out for a good steel fork with bosses for front panniers and rake for better touring performance? It would be a relatively inexpensive and mechanically easy upgrade. Has anyone you know gone that route?
@@cc103acs I have a Surly Disc Trucker and have been thinking to convert it to Rohloff/VEER belt drive…. but the conversion is $3K and fixing a rear flat would require removing cranks!! Like you, I don’t want to drop $8K+ on a Co-Motion so am looking to Priority as my last (I’m 70, life-long cyclist) touring/Swiss Army Knife bike. I also am wondering if a steel tubus rear rack will mount on the 600…. I like the stronger steel rack for hanging my rear panniers. Finally, do you know if Priority will upgrade to the 18 gear Pinion box? I am a bit concerned about the space between 12 gears with the wide 600+ gear range. Have you ever felt the need for a smaller gap between gears?
@@stevenself554 When you only have what you have (C-12) it is difficult to answer your question. I am guessing that Priority will not offer a different Pinion Gear Box but they are very open to calls or e-mails. The gear spacing has never entered my mind - it seems fine to me. I am, however, missing those big gears for going a bit faster down hill or on the flat. That said, this bike goes up mountains like a goat and when you are weighed down with gear that is key. As far as the rear rack I have a Topeak Disk brake aluminum beam rack - bought it years ago for a previous bike. No way to tell if your preferred rack will fit but I see no reason why it shouldn’t.
Yes i have had a rear flat and it is like any other bike except you don’t get all greasy from fiddling with the chain. Reinstalling assumes the belt tension reverts to what it was. If it, for some reason, seems too tight or too loose you need to check and adjust the tension. This is accomplished with a Gates belt app that measures the sound of the belt when “strummed” - here is a TH-cam video - th-cam.com/video/ujfRnqfVoUY/w-d-xo.html. I have only had to use this a couple of times - once when I installed a new belt.
Thanks for watching. I have two videos that walk through my change of the stock flat bar to the Jones Bar. I simply used the shifter that the Priority 600 came with. It is a rotating shifter.
Smiling - I spent 33 years in the USAF with close hair then retired pretty bald so it was a choice - shave the head bald or just let it go. With head “symmetry” issues I decided a pony tail would do - 16 years of no haircuts.
Hello… in my video description I mentioned the 600X. It is more suitable for off road bike packing. It has the same Pinion Gearing, brakes, and an aluminum frame, but is basically a mountain bike. Search on TH-cam for Ryan Van Duzer. He helped design it and has done a review or two. He also did a series of videos on riding “The Great Divide” trail and took his 600X. I try not to ride “chunky” off road trails and single track. If that was my thing I would be on the 600X for sure. My Priority 600 is a road bike version of the 600X. I would only consider it if most of my riding were off of asphalt or gravel roads
600 x. Also has more mounting points as well as a good suspension fork which would even for road riding help with the vibration and keep my wore out shoulder more comfortable
I am guessing but YES. But as a former roadie I can’t imagine either bike being fast. Also, I have never ridden a 600x but both bikes basically have the same gearing. So it gets down to weight and tires. The OEM tires on my 600 are slick road/rail trail tires and the 600x has knobby tires for tough terrain. The 600 has better rolling resistance. The best I can tell is the 600x is about 4 pounds heavier than the 600. So, by a whisker, suspect the 600 will go a bit quicker. What it really gets down to is how you will use it.
Looks like you have all the attachments you need for a rando or porter rack. Maybe a tubus grand expedition front rack but can't see the front fork well at the axle in photos
I have a Tubus Tara that I took on my tour in Maine. It was bolted to the existing attachment point on the fork and the upper rack connection point was secured with a connector provided by Tubus… kind of like a hose clamp. The Tubus allows me to carry full sized panniers on the front if needed.
I have toured over 50 000km with bicycles...never bought a touring bike...never broke a spoke...never got stuck because of mechanical failure.Yes my longest trip was 16 000km where had to cary sometimes up to 25lt of water alone.Get away from social media...do your homework...buildt yoyr own strong wheels and go !!! Yes you will be stupid if you hop on a carbon fibre roadbike and think you are going to be sucessful...but $7 000 touring bikes...not nessesary !!!
Impressive! I actually am a recreational road cyclist and only had a carbon fiber Specialized Roubaix. It would be okay for “credit card touring” but not the camping that I wanted to do. I tried hard to make that work but was unsuccessful. So I was in a position where I needed a bike, loved the internal Pinion gearing concept, and bought the Priority 600 (on sale) to see if I could make this non-touring bike work… and it did!
My wife and I rode our 600’s from Hope Mills NC to Rapid City SD, they are great for touring. Plus for gravel and some single track. We were both 69:making that trip, planning another long one for this coming spring and summer.
61 and last aging for retirement. This gives me much hope!😉
While Ryan Van Duzer is probably better known for his 600X videos, he does also ride a 600 as well. He rode it in RAGBRAI 2019 and also rode his 600 from Boulder to the start of RAGBRAI (~600 miles) as well. Playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PLQntYl1jtMXv1xjjHhG_FDA9_dDXzS1M4.html
As our fearless narrator mentioned, the lack of good attachment points up front is really the only weak point to the 600 as a touring platform. Perhaps a slightly longer chainstay length would be preferable as well, but that is nitpicking. So, for one doing fully loaded touring, with four packed large panniers in every corner, it might be a little less than ideal. However, lots of options exist for carrying a sizable amount of stuff, such as coupling rear panniers with a full frame bag, using the front forks for water (or camping gear) storage, and coupling either a larger handlebar or randonneur bag. Something like a VO flatpack rack would fit nicely on here for either the randonneur or even "basketpacking" with a Wald basket and large basket bag. Or, you could just run front panniers anyway the way Old Man does it.
What Priority has done with this bike is really created a unique snowflake in the biking world. Pinions really are absolutely premium drivetrains and, as a result, are rarely found on bikes that are also not premium (such as the Co-Motions that he mentioned). Priority has instead taken a Pinion and slapped it on what is otherwise, bells and whistles like the dynamo hub and lights aside, a relatively inexpensive city/hybrid bike that might otherwise only sell for $850 or so. The thing is, every other component on the bike is fairly cheaply replaced as wanted/needed (if at all) except the frame. So, as long as the frame holds up, and we have zero reason to think that it won't, the bike is a fantastic bargain if you are looking to get into a Pinion on the cheap. The only other somewhat comparable bike I can even think of is made by Stevens out of Germany ("C12 Lite" or something like that) and they don't have any U.S. dealers at all last I checked.
Personally, I have had my 600 for almost a year and am quite fond of it. My Surly Disc Trucker has been almost entirely unridden since bought the 600. I also don't think I will ever buy another bike without a Pinion (or comparable internal gear drive) on it. The lack of gear overlap, the ease of shifting, being able to shift multiple gears at once easily, being able to shift while at a dead stop or while coasting, and the absolutely insane gear range (with the lowest gear being under 18 gear inches), the almost complete lack of maintenance, and the lack of a chain or a vulnerable rear derailleur is totally worth it if you can find the $$.
Very well written and agree with all. But an update - he gave his 600 away after this year’s Iowa party ride. I was shocked!
@@cc103acs Thanks. I am not surprised. Ryan has a long history of giving bikes away.
I have a Priority 600 that I bought last week. It has 4 braze-ons on each front fork leg. They didn’t have that feature on the model year of the one in the video. So, this is no longer relevant. (Odd thing is, Priority doesn’t even show this at their website..)
@@michellejae67 Glad to hear they finally updated the design for this.
I am also Pinion C1.12 user in my european Stevens C12 Lite touring bike. I almost fall in love with it 😉.
Respect for your smile and riding attitude, keeping 🤞 for many miles of rides on nature landscapes and sincere regards from Ciechocinek, Poland, Europe 🙋♂️.
Thanks for the review - I'm 72, well, I guess I was 71 when you published this video. Watch some of Ryan Van Duzer's videos, and he's a big advocate of Priority bikes, particularly the 600 series. My main concern in purchasing such a bicycle would be in getting repairs done when something goes wrong, as most local bike shops wouldn't work on such a bicycle. You addressed some of those issues in your video. Best wishes, and hope you are still enjoying your bicycle rides. I ride around 100 miles per week, mostly on my crank forward RANS semi-recumbent and my mountain bikes. I no longer ride road bikes, as I can't tolerate the drop bar position anymore. So far, I'm still riding my human powered bikes and hope to continue doing that as long as possible. Cycling is good for both body and soul, especially as I've gotten into old territory.
I love the 600 for touring. However, after breaking quite a few spokes I realized the rims are too lightweight (and I'm a fairly light packer). I upgraded to a more touring friendly rim with a greater spoke count. We also tend to transport our bikes in a rack we designed for the back of our pickup and by train - each requiring the removal of the front wheel. The constant plugging and unplugging of the dyno hub finally ruined the connection. Frankly, it doesn't really accomplish much and I still bring a couple of rechargeable lights with me anyway. I decided to build another wheel without the dyno hub so I'm not lugging around the weight of the dyno everywhere. I also upgraded the tires to something with more grip. I had a devil of a time getting out of the old locks on the C&O Canal Trail with the relatively tread-less stock WTB's. The fenders have been removed because I needed a replacement front fender and the new ones that come from Priority are too narrow and catch on the tread (even with the stock tires). It's basically a mountain bike frame and I've bike packed for years without fenders. The rear rack essentially accomplishes the same mission.
I am so tempted to get a 600. I only started biking again last year, after a two-decade drought, and I want to get more serious about it. My current bike was a gift from my dad, who decided that he was too old to ride. It's certainly decent, but I'd love to have something nicer. Maybe I'll wait until next year, though. Gotta work more on my physical conditioning, to make sure I feel that I deserve it. Then I can semi-permanently turn my current bike into a stationary trainer for indoor workouts during inclement days and winter.
Outstanding review. I am also in my 70's riding. Keeps your blood circulating.
Blood circulation for sure! Especially when you hit the hills.
Thanks so much about the info for Gates being the Pinion US distributor. I wasn't concerned about that much, but it's nice to know who to reach out to if needed. I've had my 600 for 3 years as well, but I've only done 1 oil change on it. Didn't ride it much during COVID shutdown since most my riding is commuting.
Great vid as always!
The process I followed, as the Pinion Gear box was under warranty, was to contact Priority first. They then provided the Point of contact at Gates. I believe Priority is the first gate to go through before you can get to Gates (no pun intended). Thanks for watching!
I did the katy trail and nice and when it rained I had no problem with grit in the chain. Just like as advertised. Very smooth riding while loaded.
Great review! Thanks for sharing your various configurations too. I hope to get in both some "credit card" as well as some camping tours in the upcoming year on my 600. I love seeing the sights around your area as you talk.
Thank you so much for you comments. Right now suffering through freezing temps and snow but will get out there every chance I get.
Thanks for the video. I just finished the East coast in August on my 600 X. I think I am going to get the 600 for next summer for the West Coast. It’s mostly roads. It should work better being lighter. My Aero spider rack should workout fine. Thank you for the infos. (I am 68)
Thank so much for you open reviews and , been studying the pinion drive train and priority for cost reasons and American company. I ordered a 600 this week , should be here next , excited it this new bike adventure I currently riding a Salsa Fargo , I love that bike , just looking for a long haul rider , and the 600 checks all the boxs . Also be in my 60s , I mostly ride rail trail and such , no single tracking for me , hurts too much on them crashes, lol. Hope you doing well !
Thanks for the great video! I’ve been intrigued by the 600 since I’m planning a transcontinental bicycle tour after I retire next year. As great as it sounds as a commuter, I think you convinced me it’s not the right choice for something that long-distance.
Wow, I sure am impressed, no, really impressed. I'm 78 and don't ride like you do, I'm guessing about 5% of what you do. I still try MTB, but know the day will come when I crash and don't bounce. Your setup is very cool, and I sure enjoy your video. Well done and although I enjoy my Jamis Renegade gravel grinder, it sure is worth checking out the Priority 600.
Thanks for your kind words. Physical issues are slowly creeping up on me so I need to squeeze in all that I can. Tomorrow I am going to conquer a small mountain in Meriden, CT. I have a Specialized Roubaix as well as the Priority 600 and I take it out occasionally and it is fun… but more and more my first choice is to jump on the Priority. And, for the record, I would not go Mountain Biking under any circumstances. The reflexes are not what they were and all I can envision is me flying of a cliff like Thelma & Louise or missing a turn and smacking into a tree. 😉
If You are serious about checking out the Priority lineup, look also at the 600X which is a Bike Packing version of the Priority 600… a bit more money by more than what I am willing to pay.
Thank you for sharing your insight! Been looking at the 600 for some time now. Beautiful ride.
Thanks for watching!
Great video! I ordered a 600 lastnight
That is good news! The transition from a road / gravel bike should be interesting. Let me know how it goes.
i want one! my birthday is coming right up!
I saw a lot of guys on the GDMBR WITH THE 600x. They all seemed to love them
I took a ride on one while cycling in Canada and it is a great bike for single track and unimproved roads. The same drive train as my 600 so that fell familiar. Even with that bike available, believe my rides on rail trails and pavement would have me still going with the plain old 600… especially with the increase in connection points on the fork. Great feedback… thanks!
Keep them coming! Thanks
Lack of braze ons might be solved by Velo Orange hinged water bottle cage clamps. It may be possible to add a Surly Bridge Club fork for braze ons.
Thanks! I have attachment capability for my small Ortlieb fork Bags that are solid but I want to put my Tubus front rack on and it is very jerry rigged with only a single attachment point. The good news, I found out last week that Priority now sells a fork with braze-ons designed to fit the Priority 600. I am looking at that as the sleekest option. I will also look into your suggestion of the Surly fork… thanks so much!
Great review. Thanks.
Great video! Well done! 😀
Another nice vid. Thanks.
I appreciate you watching… thanks!
subsribed, great video keep it up im looking at doing some touring myself when I get my stuff together, have an excellent day
Thanks for watching! Feel to reach out if you have any questions.
Great video!
Im 70 and ride a standup elliptical called StreetStrider which I have taken from Davis, CA 2 major points destination, ie -Monterey, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and down the CA coast
Ive been using this trike as my main driver since 2011 gives me a great lower &upper body wkout
Took a long time 2 get my upper up 2 speed 2 tour, drawback is its slow,,,if that is a drawback?
I did add a mid drive tsdz2 and has been great 4 the hills -tahoe &CA Coast
I just purchased a 600 but I'm unsure as to whether I'm going to keep it. Out of the 12 gears it has, only two seem capable of hill climbing (max 13%). The rest seem tailored to mostly flatland touring. Also, the shifter seems intolerably stiff -- so much so that I seem to have bruised the fiingers/palm of my shifting hand while trying to rotate the shifting mechanism. I much prefer the Enviolo shifting mechanism for its smooth and comfortable operation. If I could find an Enviolo with the same gear range as the 600, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
I appreciate your video on how to install the Jones bar, but I can't remember all the steps. Would you have a transcript of the steps you took to install it?
My only comment on your initial impressions of the Priority 600 you are right… gear index 1 and 2 are the ones that get you up steep hills. Those gears got me up some of Vermont’s steepest climbs. And I actually have the opposite impression of the gearing. Once I am on the flat or going downhill, I always wish I had two more gears in order to gain more top speed. As for the shifter, it took me time to get used to as well but I settled in. Regarding the stiffness, mine is butter smooth. Recommend you call Priority as it is likely a simple adjustment. And now for a transcript, most videos come with them. Under the title below the video’s thumbnail, click on “more“ - this is where you go to read my video description but there is also a link to the transcript.
Plenty of Pinion bicycles in Europe: Tout Terrain, VSF, Stevens, Böttcher etc.
Not many bike brands in the US carry Piñon and I am not sure why it hasn’t caught on. I did look at some European Pinion bikes but the shipping and warranty support made it an impossible buy. In the states some custom bike builders are offering them. Priority was close to my home, the price was right, and I figured I could transition it to a light touring bike. It all worked out.
Thanks for the video. Info on people who tour with the Priority 600 is scarce. The lack of fork braze-on's is an issue. Do you credit card tour or camp when touring?
When I got the Priority 600 back in 2019, I did a Credit Card Tour from CT to VT to visit my sister. COVID put a damper on my tour schedule but in 2020 I did a 600 mile tour in Maine and camped all but one night. Thanks for watching!
People tour on 30 year old mountain bikes. You can on a 600. Lots of options these days.
@@cjohnson3836 I tour on a 30 year old mb.
There are options and whatever gets you down the road with a smile on our respective faces is all good. Did you modify the Mtn bike? Do you use it for off road bike packing? I only ask because I’m thinking building up an off road rig for some chunky trail riding in Vermont.
@@cc103acs The MB is a rigid Miyata 400 over the years, I up graded components as they wore out. I have a front and rear rack, I use the Tourist handlebar from Velo Orange. I have not single track bike packed, I have rail trail, gravel road camped.
I've heard about these gear boxes. Very stout and bomb proof. You can use any bike for touring. You just have to want to.
Here is a good video on the Pinion Drive - th-cam.com/video/y9e6lpVF02U/w-d-xo.htmlsi=1K7hlKXePDvOj8wg
As for using any bike for touring, I was trying to adapt my carbon fiber 2017 Specialized Roubaix for touring and it simply was not able to handle the load so I began my search for used bikes, frames to build out into a touring bike, and then I saw a few videos of this bike in action and was sold - primarily the maintenance free drive train. I was not in the market for a new bike but couldn’t resist the potential of turning this commuter bike into a touring rig. Still tweaking it but it is doing the job.
@cc103acs My current tourer is a Pan World, Olympian--a department store bike. I've slowly replaced all components with aluminum items for touring, 3 sprocket, 180m, crank, better brakes, seat and post, added racks, lightweight wheelset, almost everything but bearings. It's an old German machine brought over by a Air Force service man. Everything was steel. The bike is great and it's been to a lot of places in the western states. I mostly own cheap end bikes that I build up to be lighter and more nimble.
Great video, I've heard the rear hub is loud when coasting. Would love to hear your thoughts.
First off… as an “old man” my hearing may not be as sharp as yours. I have not heard that from others before and I have not noticed any unusually loud clicking sounds from the rear hub while coasting except the normal clicking of the pawls in the free hub. The next time I go out for a ride or have the bike on the work stand I will try to record the rear hub sounds.
Priority put out a video on how to pack the rear hub with grease to quiet the pawl noise. It's easy and works like a charm. Only required the purchase of two special wrenches and some hub grease.
@@chrissteiner9693 Is "Installing your Gates CDX Single Speed Fixed Rear Cog" what you are referring to or if not what is the link/title of the video you mention?
Please tell us the model name for the handlebars and where you purchased? I may copy or look for similar models.
The handlebar is as follows - Jones H-Bar® Butted 2.5 Loop Aluminum - and I bought it on-line. Here is a link - jonesbikes.com/jones-h-bar-butted-2-5-loop-aluminum/. The current cost is $149.00 US. I also have a couple of videos on the Jones H-Bar installation.
Question. I,ve read the comments, but going up difficult hills is there a significant difference between the pinion gearbox and a standard chain? Will you be able to get up hills easier?
Absolutely 100% yes and when going downhill or riding on “the flats” you might be wishing you had a couple more gears on that end. I ride flat pedals (not clipped in) and had no issues in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
@@cc103acs y
@@cc103acs you didn’t compare it to chain and cassette
Only interested going uphill
@@davex5424 Understand… when I said 100% I was thinking about my two road bikes. I live at the top of a steep hill and always need to ride it when I depart from my home. All 3 of my bikes know this climb well - an older Trek (2004) and a newer Specialized Roubaix (11-32t / 2017) and even this heavier bike allows me to spin up the hill and not feel as wiped out on the climb. I try to climb a steep mountain at the start of each cycling season - Whiteface Mountain 2 years ago and Mount Greylock last year… no issues for an old man.
Please say what gear you in when climbing hills. I’m also an old man who would like to know how much grade the C1.12 can comfortably climb.
That is something that is very difficult to get specific about as I would need to measure the grade of the hill and I really don’t have anything that will do that for us. So… here are some guidelines and, may I say upfront, the 12 speed Pinion drive climbs hills easier that my two road bikes. What I will give you here are some general guidelines so assume 12 clicks on the shifter with #1 beings the easily gear for going up steep inclines and #12 the hardest gear for going downhill.
Downhill - Steep: Coast I shift to 12 but do not pedal.
Downhill - More Gradual: I go downhill at 11 or 12.
Gentle Rollers: I keep the shifter between 5 and 10 and adjust as I go up or down.
Flatland: I try to stay at 7 and adjust to 6 and 8 as necessary.
Uphill - Gradual: I climb a hill in 5 and then downshift to 4.
Very Steep: I usually start at #3 and quickly shift to 2 and 1 as required.
As an example… I climbed Whiteface Mountain in New York State and during the first mile I stayed pretty much in #3 while the grade was at about 6%. The grade on Whiteface is consistent after the first few miles and very steep at 8-10%. I just gave up and went to 1 at the extreme grades and back down to #2 or 3 if it dipped below 7%. If you have any qualms about getting up hills on the unloaded Priority 600… don’t. If you are a fit older guy you should have no problem. And if you are not as fit as you might like and do not have ugly steep mountains, you will be fine. If you live near someone who owns a Priority, you can also go for.a test ride. I live in southern Connecticut so if you are in my area, you can stop by for a ride.
@@cc103acs
Thank you for your reply. I didn’t mean to make my question a technical one. When I am viewing your ascents I get an idea of how steep they are, so I am curious as to what gear you are in- if you are breathing hard on hill that doesn’t look very steep and if you said you were in first gear it may encourage me to stay with a derailleur bike. I just turned 76, so your channel is of great interest to me, and I really like your 600 (I am a sucker for German engineering). Look forward to your next adventure.
I have a Specialized Roubaix road bike and I can tell you that I get up hills so much easier on the Priority. As for the breathing, that is an audio issue that I need to deal with. You might notice my microphone with the “dead car” is clipped right near my wind pipe and it makes my breathing seem way louder than it really is. On my next ride, I am going to test out new locations for the mic.
My one frustration with the 600 is that the gearing is ideal for hills but I need a couple more gears to get me down the road faster on the flats. So…to end this novel I am now writing, if you are just using the bike for riding around town (not loaded with camping gear) and day rides for exercise then the Priority 600 is ideal for those of us in our 70s.
@@cc103acs Thanks again for your reply. Your guess as to how I plan to use the 600 is spot on. I live where it is primarily flat. I am getting too sedentary and having a nice bike would encourage me to take longer and more frequent rides. Many people I know are buying eBikes, but I prefer to rely on my legs and a Pinion gear box. You’ve convinced me.
Recommendation… get a rack for the back and a basket or grocery box and, if your roads are safe, use your bike to do errands. Also, try to find a rail trail or something similar so you can ride for exercise without cars bothering you.
Great video. Thank you. How long did it take to get used to shifting? I understand you have to stop pedalling to shift. I have been going uphill many times where I quickly have to downshift or lose balance. What is your experience with some steep uphills and having to downshift?
Actually you get used to it. There was a day when that was the case with derailleurs as well. Rather than stop you just let up on the pressure a bit during the downstroke… very subtle. I have climbed Whiteface Mountain in NY State and Mount Greylock in Massachusetts no issues. The good news, unlike a derailleur, instead of falling off simply stop and take a rest. While stopped you can then downshift to gear #1 and continue your ascent. And on the steepest of grades you eventually get into gear #1 and just stay there. All of this implies I am not carrying a load. While touring in Maine my gear weighed me down and when my Garmin indicated 13% it was time to get off and “hike-a-bike.”
Honestly, it takes very little time to get used to it. One advantage is that very few people will be transitioning to a 600 (or other IGH bike with a twist shifter) from a non-Pinion bike with a twist shifter, so you are getting used to a twist shifter at the same time you are getting used to the Pinion. This keeps muscle memory out of the equation. I think I was completely used to it in just a few rides. Also, you don't really have to "stop" pedaling so much as pause the load on the pedals for a split second and your shifts will get faster and faster as you use it more. Being able to shift at a dead stop or while coasting, even 3-4 gears at a time, more than makes up for it.
You can get a knack for doing an ultra-quick shift during the low pressure point of the pedalling cycle, i.e. midway between each foot's power stroke, such that you don't really interrupt your cadence. Trouble is, as you get used to doing it like that, you can get a bit complacent and sometimes forget that you can't do it at any point of the pedalling cycle - and the gearbox definitely doesn't like changing when the pedals are under pressure. Anyway, it is a bit fussier than the more forgiving derailleur, but then it is simpler and more reliable.
Why not swap out for a good steel fork with bosses for front panniers and rake for better touring performance? It would be a relatively inexpensive and mechanically easy upgrade. Has anyone you know gone that route?
No one I know has gone down the road of fork replacement. But you have me thinking and I will explore this as an option. Thanks so much.
@@cc103acs I have a Surly Disc Trucker and have been thinking to convert it to Rohloff/VEER belt drive…. but the conversion is $3K and fixing a rear flat would require removing cranks!! Like you, I don’t want to drop $8K+ on a Co-Motion so am looking to Priority as my last (I’m 70, life-long cyclist) touring/Swiss Army Knife bike. I also am wondering if a steel tubus rear rack will mount on the 600…. I like the stronger steel rack for hanging my rear panniers. Finally, do you know if Priority will upgrade to the 18 gear Pinion box? I am a bit concerned about the space between 12 gears with the wide 600+ gear range. Have you ever felt the need for a smaller gap between gears?
@@stevenself554 When you only have what you have (C-12) it is difficult to answer your question. I am guessing that Priority will not offer a different Pinion Gear Box but they are very open to calls or e-mails. The gear spacing has never entered my mind - it seems fine to me. I am, however, missing those big gears for going a bit faster down hill or on the flat. That said, this bike goes up mountains like a goat and when you are weighed down with gear that is key. As far as the rear rack I have a Topeak Disk brake aluminum beam rack - bought it years ago for a previous bike. No way to tell if your preferred rack will fit but I see no reason why it shouldn’t.
Have you had a rear flat and if so what is the procedure to remove and reinstall the wheel
Yes i have had a rear flat and it is like any other bike except you don’t get all greasy from fiddling with the chain. Reinstalling assumes the belt tension reverts to what it was. If it, for some reason, seems too tight or too loose you need to check and adjust the tension. This is accomplished with a Gates belt app that measures the sound of the belt when “strummed” - here is a TH-cam video - th-cam.com/video/ujfRnqfVoUY/w-d-xo.html. I have only had to use this a couple of times - once when I installed a new belt.
What did you add to change gears since you added the Jones Bar? Thanks
Thanks for watching. I have two videos that walk through my change of the stock flat bar to the Jones Bar. I simply used the shifter that the Priority 600 came with. It is a rotating shifter.
Can the priority 600 give haircuts?
Smiling - I spent 33 years in the USAF with close hair then retired pretty bald so it was a choice - shave the head bald or just let it go. With head “symmetry” issues I decided a pony tail would do - 16 years of no haircuts.
3:10 could you please tell which great were you on?
Hello, nice video. Priority has a 600X Adventure model for like a $1000 more. Do you know anything about it? Thanks.
Hello… in my video description I mentioned the 600X. It is more suitable for off road bike packing. It has the same Pinion Gearing, brakes, and an aluminum frame, but is basically a mountain bike. Search on TH-cam for Ryan Van Duzer. He helped design it and has done a review or two. He also did a series of videos on riding “The Great Divide” trail and took his 600X. I try not to ride “chunky” off road trails and single track. If that was my thing I would be on the 600X for sure. My Priority 600 is a road bike version of the 600X. I would only consider it if most of my riding were off of asphalt or gravel roads
@@cc103acs makes perfect sense
600 x. Also has more mounting points as well as a good suspension fork which would even for road riding help with the vibration and keep my wore out shoulder more comfortable
Is the 600 faster on the pavement road than the 600x?
I am guessing but YES. But as a former roadie I can’t imagine either bike being fast. Also, I have never ridden a 600x but both bikes basically have the same gearing. So it gets down to weight and tires. The OEM tires on my 600 are slick road/rail trail tires and the 600x has knobby tires for tough terrain. The 600 has better rolling resistance.
The best I can tell is the 600x is about 4 pounds heavier than the 600. So, by a whisker, suspect the 600 will go a bit quicker. What it really gets down to is how you will use it.
Here is Ryan Van Duzer unboxing the Priority 600X; th-cam.com/video/n3Thn8-lmIk/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the link and thank you so much for watching.
Love it, 😀
Oil change every 1000 miles? 😁
No Sir,
A simple oil change is recommended for your Pinion Gearbox every 10,000 km (62,000 mi) or each year.
Thanks… you are correct! I left off a zero and never noticed the 10,000 was km and not miles. Looks like I changed my oil prematurely ☺️.
I wish they did not ship with a seat or handlebars...two thing you almost always change out ...
I don’t disagree but I believe I lucked out with the seat and find it very comfortable on long days in the saddle.
600 means 600 gear ratio.
Only the robber baron bicycle manufacturers say that the 600 will not work. That way they can sell you another bike.
A 2300 dollar better do everything lol!!
Looks like you have all the attachments you need for a rando or porter rack. Maybe a tubus grand expedition front rack but can't see the front fork well at the axle in photos
I have a Tubus Tara that I took on my tour in Maine. It was bolted to the existing attachment point on the fork and the upper rack connection point was secured with a connector provided by Tubus… kind of like a hose clamp. The Tubus allows me to carry full sized panniers on the front if needed.
I have toured over 50 000km with bicycles...never bought a touring bike...never broke a spoke...never got stuck because of mechanical failure.Yes my longest trip was 16 000km where had to cary sometimes up to 25lt of water alone.Get away from social media...do your homework...buildt yoyr own strong wheels and go !!! Yes you will be stupid if you hop on a carbon fibre roadbike and think you are going to be sucessful...but $7 000 touring bikes...not nessesary !!!
Impressive! I actually am a recreational road cyclist and only had a carbon fiber Specialized Roubaix. It would be okay for “credit card touring” but not the camping that I wanted to do. I tried hard to make that work but was unsuccessful. So I was in a position where I needed a bike, loved the internal Pinion gearing concept, and bought the Priority 600 (on sale) to see if I could make this non-touring bike work… and it did!
I agrée That à $7,000 bike is not necessary and paid nowhere near that for my current bike.