The 12 BEST Touring Bikes For 2020!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ต.ค. 2024
- After analysing more than 160 bikes in my buyer's guide, here are the best touring bikes for 2020!
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1. Cube Travel 3:46
2. Fuji Touring 4:19
3. Diamant 135 5:00
4. Vivente Anatolia 5:55
5. Kona Sutra 6:40
6. Diamondback Haanjo EXP 7:30
7. Salsa Journeyman Sora 8:19
8. Surly Bridge Club 8:53
9. Masi Giramando 9:37
10. Salsa Fargo Apex 10:00
11. Canyon Pathlite AL4 10:41
12. Koga World Traveller 11:11
Thank you for this.
No Cinelli lol
The best as Last Koga
Your amazing! 🤩
Vsf fahrradmanufaktur?
there is not one biker dude on youtube thats more detailed and incredibley useful to help anyone no matter their level of understanding bikes. your amazing and thank you.
I appreciate that!
100% agree with You. He make amazing content movies.
My wife and I have toured the world (from Japan to Cuba, Norway, Portugal, ...) using two KOGA WorldTravellers.
I think the key for touring is NOT weight: the bike must be strong and stiff to carry the full load safely. Our bikes are 17 kg.
I agree one must be ready to spend some money: cheaper is not better.
I agree that very short gears are necessary, as we will carry load, climb, and get tired at the end of the day, when the stop is still 20 km away.
Mudguards may not sound sexy but are very useful. We had a 2 weeks holiday in Norway with a couple of sunny spells only.....those mudguards helped keep the bike and us cleaner, and the chain and gears thanked me!
Schwalbe Marathon 37 mm are perfect in my opinion.
Hydraulic brakes are overrated. We came down in the rain from Norwegian passes with mechanically operated V brakes: we had a lot of braking power! Besides, hydraulics are more susceptible to failure/ malfunctions.
The side stands is undoubtedly useful, but comes at a price: weight.
Ortlieb bags are the way to go.Of course one must learn the art of taking only what one REALLY needs.
Happy cycling to all!
You can really tell when a designer loves the types of rides they're designing a bike for. Great choices and excellent video.
I love 3x drivetrains. Their a life saver to my R. bad knee when climbing hills. And i hate it when other You Tubers talk badly about them.
Best thing I've found for when my knees are acting up is an electric-assist bike.
I am in awe of the amount of information and knowledge this content creator is dishing out. Thank you
Thanks for watching! 😊
Nice to hear a clear, succinct rundown on these great bikes. The market is so saturated and the lines are really getting blurry with addition of “gravel” bikes. Great video and presentation.
Hi, thanks for the video. My personnel choice was the Fahrradmanufaktur tx400. Perfect for crossing Europe from west to east. Equiped with Shimano XT transmission, and Magura hydraulic brakes.
You know your bikes and specs 🤓 I am absolutely in love with my Santos 2.9 (and their other models too) Everything is highly customizable. They are a Dutch brand as well as Koga and in my opinion they both make superb touring bicycles. But the prices are well.... just as steep as climbing that hill in your video 🤪 Have a great day! ❤️
I just wanted to say, and hope you see this, that based on this video I ended up buying a Vivente Deccan (the drop bar model). So far I've put about 1700km on it and it has been great. :)
That's awesome! Congrats. 👍🏻
As an east German, growing up with Diamant bikes, I am giddy to see one featured, here.
The funky handlebar is a tribute to the old handlebars, and yes, it's awful 😅
It doesn't really matter what bike you ride. It's important why you ride. My wife and I rode from Europe to Australia on budget non-touring bikes, which cost 350 euros each .. And we were happy!
👍
I just bought a Disk Trucker to replace my Fargo. I enjoyed the Fargo but being 6"6' needed a larger frame. Got the Trucker in a 64cm. Wasn't on his list, hopeful I won't be disappointed.
You won't be disappointed. The Trucker is owned and loved by more people than any other touring bike. 👍🏻
I just rode a Disc Trucker from Alaska to Baja Mexico. You will not be disappointed in the bike.
‘For cheaper, buy older’ solid advice 👍
For better, buy older.....like the Miyata 1000. The best touring bike ever made. This is a bike that truly stands out and is timeless. The second hand market is awesome!
Why, thank you for the ❤️. 😊
boneshaker panniers: thanks for the heads up 👍
@@themoodyteam 8
The bonuses you get giant eyebrows
I tour on a Thorn Nomad with a Rohloff drivetrain (chain, not belt); Schmidt SON dynamo lighting and USB charging and XT rim brakes on CSS hardened rims. Apart from the absence of a kickstand, it's a lovely setup.
Thanks for your video. Lots to enjoy.
Safe travels.
Gears... you're right on the button. Wide slicks, yes. They must be super durable with "flat protection". I never buy new. Just grab excellent bikes that were new, "latest and greatest" say around 2000 days ago or so. Thanks!
Well... I bought a 2018 new on pretty much the day that the 2020s came out. 20% off an already reasonable price leaves me with a warranty, and free support from the retailer. (Which turned out to be necessary, as their initial assembly was merely adequate.)
I'm mechanical enough to buy used, but not everyone is capable of rotecting themselves...
Love my Giramondo 27.5. I ditched the aggressive tires for some Panaracer Gravel King slicks as I ride mostly paved roads. Just a fun and capable bike that is very comfortable. Very impressed by the mix of components, they are very well chosen and work as a coherent whole.
REI Co-Op ADV 1.1 (AKA Novara Randone). Fit is very important, so being able to try a bike before purchasing should be a key criteria.
But in the US, few shops carry touring bikes. REI seems to be the exception. So that's what I picked, and have ridden cross country 2 1/2 times. Comfortable, stable and strong.
Why is the weight limit on that bike 250 lbs though
That was a nice round up. I still think lower gears are needed. I got mine down to 16.5 inches using a combo of ultegra at the front and Deorre XT at the back. Any one of those bikes can have their gears extended with a wolf tooth and a stupidly large dinner plate on the back. I wouldn’t worry about gears as all of those would still need a mod. Comfort and wheels would be top of my list. Great round up.
16.5" is very low! Nice work. My next bike might be similar if I switch to a 50-24t Rohloff setup...
IMO, the Santos Travelmaster is a very well-engineered and thought-out tourer.
Flex of the year: “Bike designers often don’t tour themselves”
If you really want to build a custom bike, the Soma Wolverine frame can run anything from a single speed up to a Rohloff hub with a belt drive (my preference). It also handles 700c tires up to 47cm with fenders.
I love my Cannondale Topstone 105 alloy. I realize the drive train might not be beefy enough for crossing a continent, but given that half my riding is on pavement, I love the efficiency.
I think the best bike is one with a personal made frame which fits on you perfectly. The parts like Schmidt Dynamo Rohloff Hub and other parts like Tubus and you got the best bike
Almost half a million view fir this video in less than a year ! Congrats mate ! I really like your videos.
Thanks a lot!
I went with a Salsa Journeyman Apex 1. Origin 8 Batbars, Bontrager mudguards and lights, Racktime rack, Ergon saddle and grips. Panaracer tubeless setup and it's a dream to ride all day long.
Surly Bridge Club with 2.4" Super Moto? Jepp, that's what is standing in my garage. Drop in SKS 75U fenders, a Rohloff Speedhub and a good rack and you'll have a good allrounder. I drive every day to work with it and some touring in between. Once you get used to the Speedhub you'll never want to go back to "normal" shifting...😉😎👍
I bought a 2018 Kona Sutra last year. Pleased to see it on your list. 40mm Schwalbe Marathon Mondials, a nice wide flared bar, and bottle mounts on the fork tick enough gravel bike boxes to make it just the right thing for me. More than I expected and for a mere $1500 Canadian.
Thanks again, really enjoying your videos.
That sounds great! Thanks for dropping by.
Time after time I'm astonished by the quality of your content, and knowing that you do most of it all by yourself is truly magnificent. Keep it up, and hope to see you on the road someday!
Fat Recumbent Trike touring... Personally, I believe it's the ultimate touring cycle. Mine now has 11.8 to 93.5 gear inches so I can climb about ANYTHING. The amount of room I have for carrying camping gear is waaaay more room than I need. I just fell in love and 2 wheels are in the past for me now. I've started making videos with it, but only have 100 followers so far. Hopefully I can encourage others to give recumbent trikes a try.
I ride a Surly Troll with Marathon plus touring tires...26×1.75 this turns my bicycle into an All Terrain Bicycle...I am also using Lone Peak Panniers front and back a Rogue Panda frame bag...and a Carridice Super C Saddlebag as a Handle bar roller pack...I have Butterfly handlebars, with a tall stem riser, and a B17 brooks saddle and tall seat post...I am also using Surly Nice Racks...for the large top rack...
I am living in Melbourne and was considering the vivente. Great to see an Australian bike has made your shortlist. So hard to find a bike that comes standard with Rack, Hub Gear, Dynamo, Fenders and Belt Drive.
Go for it! Vivente are always tinkering with their spec, they get better by the year.
Great list Alee, some really interesting brands I hadn't heard of. I can attest to the DB Haanjo being a great bike; it's served me well on a couple of extended tours. Doesn't stop me from lusting after some of these other bikes though :)
Best touring bike is .... the one u got and have memories with :)
Too true!
Like my 1983 (?) Apollo Gran Tourissimo. Rocky Mountains (Jasper - Banff), Waterton Lakes, Quebec City to Charlottetown via Gaspé, Olympic Peninsula circle route. Fully loaded, it probably weighed in like a boxcar.
@Jony The Ogre is a 29" wheel. Bridge Club is a 27.5" I haven't looked lately - however the components on the Ogre possibly are a step up and has a different frame geometry from the BC. If you're choosing between the two, personally I'd go for the BC - It's a great rig for the $.
Hi, nice video :), you forgot Santos Bikes and IDworx :) I use my IDworx easy transport for over 13 years now and is still super stiff and comfortable, Idworx has also killer discbrakes, much better than the shimano's. Too bad i cant use them so I still use my magura rimbrakes:).
Santos has an option for Hope Discbrakes, at an extra price of €500....
I have a 2020 Diamondback Haanjo 5C Exp Carbon which I bought at $1700 after discount. I rode about 150 miles (241km) so far. A nice solid bike. I am coming from MTB so I am still adjusting my body to the lower height of drop-bar handles. I installed a rear rack, a saddle bag and a frame bag, and it is ready to grind gravels. It is lightweight and fast. It makes me want to ride so bad. The pretty brown color makes me want to drink coffee.
Derailleurs already need some truing though.
Have had a Thorn Raven Tour for 10y. It's a great bike. Lowest gear I have 18 inches. Rohloff brilliant. Rear wheel very strong. Bike is heavy but tank-like. V brakes with tungsten impregnated rims. So far have done 30,000 miles. 26in wheels.
Very belated thanks for this. On your recommendation I bought the Canyon Pathlite 4. I have since toured cycling from Aberdeen to the Shetlands on a section of the North Sea Coast Cycle Route - Eurovelo 12. The bike was amazing. As you advised I got a couple of Ortlieb panniers and a Kletscher kickstand. The bike was super comfortable on any terrain and I had no ill effects whatsoever. Note - this model is now discontinued and the entry level bike is now the Pathlite 5.
Great to hear! All the best.
This is perfect - it's the clearest, to the point and best bike guide I have every watched!
Cheers. Glad it helped!
I have a Fuji Touring series iv from the 80’s; buying older definitely works well!
it's very impressive how you're able to tour, make videos and answer question on all different platforms! And your content is really good as well!
It would be interesting if you could get your hands on the Alfine 11 speed since they have upgraded it 2019 for e-bikes, supposedly it's stronger.
Cheers! I've had an Alfine 11 before, didn't know they'd re-worked it. It'd be interesting to know what they did to make it stronger.
@@Cyclingabout i have no clue, did spend some time trying to figure out but all it says it's that they made it stronger for e-bikes. As far as i understand you're still not able to shift while pedaling. Like so many others I'd love to have a gear hub and maybe, just maybe Shimano had offered a less expensive option now.
I used an 8-speed Alfine for years and couldn't kill it. It was super easy to rebuild too. Definitely recommended if you want to try a low-cost option. Main downside is drive efficiency, which is around 90% on average compared to 96%+ on a derailleur drivetrain.
@@Cyclingabout great to hear it from a trusted source! I understand 8s is grease filled and 11s oil filled. I think i could live with the effect loss and get used to it. Thanks for the input.
That's right. You can see the efficiency graphs over here if you're interested: www.cyclingabout.com/speed-difference-testing-gearbox-systems/
I’ve had my eyes on the Kona Sutra for awhile but the idea of a kickstand is enticing. Thanks for giving me food for thought. Currently riding a cheap entry-level Motobecane Turino. I’ve already had to replace the disc brakes in first 3yrs.
It's really useful to get to know some bikes I haven't heard of before. Great video, thanks.
Nice video with a great pace of the commentary ... I would request you to kindly share your views about the Bergamont RD 7 please.
This is great. Somebody talking sense about bikes. Fantastic!
I'd put the Salsa marakesh in that list. With its 42mm stock tires, disk breaks, amazing geometry it can take all terrain like its a smooth road. Plus it comes with a back rack that can handle 60 pounds.
It was very close between the Marrakesh and Sutra! The Sutra ended up winning because of the spec and price, but I think the Marrakesh is the nicer frameset.
I'd favour the following bikes above most in the list:
- RodeoLabs FlaAnimal
- EvansCycles Pinnacle Arkose
- Cannondale TopStone
- Norco Search XR Steel
Although not strictly touring bikes (and in most cases, not touring bikes by any measure), My favourites would be gravel / adventure bikes like the:
- anything Bastion Cycles
- anything Métier Vélo
- Salsa WarBird 2019 / 2020
- Accent Feral
- Accent Freak
- Simplon Inissimo
- Simplon Pavo GranFondo
- Simplon Kiavo Disc
- Genesis Datum
- Merida Silex 7000 2020
- Merida Silex + 8000-E
- Norco Search XR Carbon
-…, etc.
P.S.: My compliments to @Simplon for having the guts to manufacture dedicated touring, trekking & commuting carbon bikes (i.e., the SilkRoad -series). While not the finest carbon bikes by any measure, it's good to know there are a couple of manufacturers who do not shun from introducing carbon into the touring segment.
Question from a newbie: when u multiply w front chainr. /divide by the rear cog what is the ring/cog that you use? The smallest / biggest? Thank u so much!
Great information,
What is your opinion of the 2021
Surly dic LHT, thinking of getting frame and doing a 1x 52 drive train if possible.
Thanks Craig
thanx for the vid! was the Giant TOUGHROAD SLR GX 1 not good enough to make your list? I don't know much about these bikes, but I'm trying to learn as much as I can before I buy one. thanx! Clay D
did you buy/find one? i am really keen on this bike but can't track one down for the life of me
Awesome content man, are those prices Aud ?
Good call on the Cube Travel !! I have an 2018 Cube Travel Exec 29er and it's been a fantastic touring bike. The Schwalbe 29er Balloon tires ride like a dream over all terrain. It's like riding a suspension bike. Bought it online for pick up in Germany at the beginning of a 3,500 km bike tour. Came with the rear rack, kickstand, lights and dynamo hub for a great price.
My Finna Landscape steel rigid fork flexes too much when braking downhill, even with no luggage. It is scary. An interesting topic for a video, imo. Thank you for the channel!!
I love my fuji touring, very good touring bike at great price
I have my fuji for two years, I am very happy, a great choice!
The Fuji Touring is available with disk brakes so you don't have to compromise on braking power. BTW it makes every touring bike top 10 list because it's a very good bike, is available in eveny market in the world and is so damn cheap (which is always a major consideration for bike tourers). No wonder it's been around almost unchanged for 40 years. Thumbs up on very good list of bikes overall!!!
Thanks! I probably should've mentioned it is available with disc brakes too. But I think the rim brake model is the particularly good value option.
Hi, What about Marin Four Corners. It seems like great value for money and it looks like a solid bike. Would you recommend it? Cheers.
Thank for your videos, they just give me a lot ideas and wanting to travel again.
Me and my partner just come back from doing the Carretera Austral and travelling Bolivia and Perù it’s was amazing.
Unfortunately due to the coronavirus pandemic we had to live our bicycle behind...
I found your video very interesting as we are looking to get ourselves new touring bikes.
Is there any printed copy of your guide on touring bikes? Especially we are interested in the companies easy to get in the U.K.
Thanks again for you video and help
Inspiring
Thanks for the kind words! I don't print my guides because they're constantly being updated with new bikes and tech, and I want people to have the best information possible.
late to the party and 1st view of amazing, detailed, and simple no-nonsense human reviews.
So good this video! Really really interesting and informative ! I have a Kona Splice and I intend to start touring with it this year as soon as the lockdown ends
Very nicely done, not too fast like some presenters. My price range is about £1000 and I have always fancied a Kona Sutra, but will more than likely buy a Genesis.
The Genesis touring range is great. Enjoy!
I went on a 7 month trip across Europe with a tent last year. I picked a VSF TX800 (VSF Fahrradmanufaktur is a German manufacturer). I have to say for the amount of kilometres this bike went through (I bought the bicycle end of Jan 2019, tested it for a month, did the trip (15000km) and then some more when I returned till the end of the year - all together more than 17500km) I can say the almost 2000EUR price was worth it. I packed a LOT of crap with me (prepared myself for 4 seasons travel + tech equipment incl. big laptop and a big DSLR camera XD) so during the trip my two poor wheels had to endure approx. 150kg weight.
These bikes are really nice. I would (for a next trip) do my own modifications and add/remove stuff though from basically all of these. Why? Because manufacturers, as you've mentioned in your video, often use the skills of bicycle designers with little to no experience in long distance traveling. Why do you need a kick stand on such a bicycle at all? Sure, if you travel lightly for just a few days, it's not a deal but if you are traveling with a lot of gear + several days of food and water supplies this thing will SNAP in a couple of weeks or even days. Mine did. From experienced touring cyclist I met on the road I learned the good old stick (for the frame) + band (for the front brake) trick to hold my bicycle in place even with all the stuff on it.
My advice is following:
- whatever bicycle you pick for a long travel (several months or even years) don't cheap out - if you expect to travel tens of thousands of kilometres with a second hand used bicycle you bought for 60EUR...Well, yeah...Might work...But it will be close to a miracle. XD
- never go with as few non-standard or too high tier components as possible - what is available on every corner in a major European city for example may not be available in some forsaken village in Asia, Africa or Central/South America. You break it, you are f@cked big time! And parts will fail. It is inevitable. No matter how good you take care of your bicycle components you will have to be replacing stuff - chain, cassette, crank set etc.
- spend the time investigating your route and modify your setup where necessary - you don't want to be swapping bicycle parts on the road just because these are not suitable for what you are doing...Trust me.
It sounds like you had a poorly engineered kickstand. I've never broken one and I use them dozens of times per day on my multiyear bike trips. Definitely a must have item IMO.
Excellent review and video. You have only forgotten to mention SANTOS, another Dutch brand building you from the ground another best bike called the Worldtraveller 3.
Love your comprehensive videos. What is your view on Thorn bikes? Seen a nice Raven with a Rohloff hub. Be interested in your views.
Awesome review! Thank you!
Any thoughts on the Trek Checkpoint? Ryan Van Duzer rode across the US last year. No major modifications that I am aware of.
I've been riding a Salsa Vaya Travel for 5yrs and love it. I just bought the frameset and built my own using Velocity Aileron wheels, Rohloff rear hub + CoMotion's twist shifter, Hope front hub, Exogram crank with a 46 ring, and some other goodies. The racks are the Salsa alternator rear, and Salsa lowrider fronts (the lightweight discontinued ones). Amazing bike, I started with a normal 2x10 drivetrain and replaced it with the Rohloff recently. I recommend investing in that hub/drivetrain if you can fork out the money, it's well worth it and should last the rest of your life. Not so sure I recommend anything with flat handlebars, they're the absolute worst for long distance touring.
Sounds like a great build! Agree with the Rohloff sentiments.
I've crossed multiple continents with both flat bars and drops! I won't be going back to the drops anytime soon. 👍🏻
@@Cyclingabout There's so many hand positions to use on drops though. Having the right tape is key, along with a frame geometry that raises the bars some. I love being able to take an aggressive position when it's windy as well, it really helps. Everyone is different though, to each their own lol
Awesome video! I appreciate the time and effort you put into your research.
My pleasure!
Thank you for all that great information.Ian just starting out in touring.
Bloody brilliant review and just what I needed, many thanks 😁 👍
Wish I had more money, would pick myself a nice dynamo hub cube or koga, also have to be able to afford it getting stolen aswell! Looks a great review list
I've never had a bike stolen! I think when you are really careful with your bike you can really minimise the risk. 😎
For me it's Santos 2.8 travel master. Together with IDworx an Koga, Santos is the absolute top of the Dutch Bike Market (IDworx is a German Company founded by a Dutchman). At Santos and IDworx every detail is looked at, and parts are hand made.
Love this video, but where is the Tout Terrain Silkroad? Could you perhaps talk about that sometime? You are awesome!
Excellent presentation, sir! Not a word wasted.
Thanks!
Thank you for this video! I hope to start touring next spring!
I was going to Cycle Beijing to Hong Kong in 2020. Covid came and spoiled that. I'm watching for next year.
Nice Video. By the way what is your opinion about Tout Terrain, Norwid, Velo, & Patria. Do you know any of the brands?
I picked up a Diamant 135 and love it. Those 29er tires are redic.. awesome roll over. I just monster truck right over everything.
It's awesome that touring bikes now have nice big wheels and tyres! And if you don't want them, you can also fit 40mm slicks. 😎
I love your videos... watching you two across different nations has just been some of the most enjoyable videos I've ever watched especially the one with Iran totally shot me with how misunderstood the Iranian people and Landscape are yes the government's crazy but we now know there's some of the most hospitable people in the world thumbs up keep traveling and your tutorial videos are amongst the best I just upgraded my old man trike it's a sun trike actually with a pinion gearbox. I had to weld in my own Bridge but I love it
I am a Surly fanboy myself, I love steel frames. But you can not beat a good recumbent in comfort. You can forget chafing, back, neck, wrist -and so on- pain. So I would put a recumbent on to the list. Azub Mini is a very good touring bike. For paved roads you can not beat this, and a simple dirt road is not a problem for it. But it is not suitable for really hard terrain, I mean mtb terrain.
One day I will cross a continent or two on a recumbent. But at the moment, I'm loving the MTB terrain I find myself on.
@@Cyclingabout I totally understand this. I have a 94 classic Diamondback, and I love to ride it. But I am not able to do more than 40km a day on it without pain.
The Simplon Inissimo shown on the right at 1:59 is a beauty!!! I'd love to have it!
I agree, it's a very well-proportioned bike!
For those who want to convert gear inches to the more commonly used 'progression meters' in Europe: Multiply gear inches by 0.08 or divide by 12.5
raleigh sojurn. It is a bit heavy, with a BIG down tube but I call it THE ROCK. it just don't break. I salute you by the way and follow you every where
It was sad to see the Sojourn not appear in the 2016 Raleigh catalogue. Those oversized Reynolds 631 tubes were great for a touring rig - and rarely seen in other bikes.
Kona sutra takes kick stand easily. Just choose a model that contacts rear triangle from two points...like ATRAN Stylo Uni
Absolutely love my Trek 920 (2019). Comfiest ride I’ve ever had. Handles most surface. Just wish it had a better selection of gears - it’s very, very slow on flat surfaces (which is okay when fully loaded, but not when lightly loaded and shorter rides).
I'm a big fan of the 920. The big gear shouldn't be too bad, that's 32KPH @ 60RPM cadence, and 48KPH @ 90RPM cadence! You must be a lightning fast rider to be averaging those kind of speeds on the flat on your 920. 💪🏼
CYCLINGABOUT I wish I was fast! I think I average 12mph on my trek (when going downhill with the wind behind me) 😂🚵♀️
Those bars on the Diamante may look funky but they are %100 better than straight or drop for touring
First and foremost, as a novice to touring, I really appreciate your thorough insights. I ended up with a Fuji Touring with rim brakes and would like to get a kickstand for it. I actually went for the pletscher multi as recommended in the video, but it doesn't look like it fits largely because of the lower mounting of the rear rack that comes with the Fuji Touring. Do you have other recommendations for a 25kg+ capacity kickstand?
Cube travel seem to be best value for money. And it's nice looking too.
Another great vid!! Ive done a few local trips local "Scotland" on my Trek 920 2019 like it so far and love getting the racks off and buzz around my local woods.
Sadly 2weeks today would be the start of our 10 day trip to Georgia "Russia" on my Ritchey Commando with its 29+ tyres and Jones bars.
I hope you get over to Georgia soon enough! Stunning part of the world, and an excellent destination if you love drinking alcohol (7AM roadside shots, anyone?). 😂
I find the handlebars on the Diamant rather cool.
You can't go past the Vivente for price and quality. I have the bike featured in the video. I'm 115kg on a good day. I load it and ride it up hill and down dale. It's stiff, comfortable for my long torso and very reliable. Paid $2500 AUD. Oh, it also came with 6(?) spare DT Swiss spokes, dynamo hub and Busch and Muller lights. Vivente have a comprehensive website with all the technical info you would want. Five stars from me.
I am retired now and so don't have a lot of spare cash. I am thinking of converting my old Specialised Rockhopper mountain bike to a touring bike. I would change the front suspension fork to an ordinary fork to reduce weight. Would love the belt drive pinion system on a Koga World Traveller if I could. What do you think of titanium? Enjoyed your video thanks.
Love the channel. In response to your question, what do you think of Jeff Jones' bikes? He has a video where he makes the case for his bikes being a great platform for so many different use cases and including touring. I'd love to hear your take on his designs. Have you ever tried one? I came across someone who had a company build up a Jones touring setup for them. They had to split the frame and insert a coupling to accommodate the belt drive. I can't remember where I saw that now but the customer was very happy with the result apparently.
Hey @CYCLINGABOUT; I am looking at the Canyon Pathlite AL 4.0 used... particularly, we will be doing a trip from southern to northern Germany. From what I am reading, it seems more suited for off-road. Do you think it also suits well on-road? Thanks a bunch and great review.
With the suspension lockout and a set of slick tyres fitted, it will be great on-road.
@@Cyclingabout Appreciate the feedback. And just in case I am unable to secure this bike --- I am seeing the 'Koga Miyata Globe Traveler S' (or without S) more often than the World Traveler. Would you also recommend it as a touring bike or does it fit a different niche? Thanks again for your feedback.
The MASI splatter paint job is the same as what Peugoet did on their Ventoux road bike in 1990... 😁
Nice review. Love my Trek 520. Thanks for the video. Take care and stay safe, Al
Thanks, you too!
I love Butterfly handle bars for all kinds of touring...
They'd be a great fit on many of these bikes.
Alee, thanks for the great videos and the excellently made touring bicycle buyers guide which I'm reading now! One question though: you hardly give any visibility to VSF Fahradmanufaktur, although the T-900 also uses Rohloff (and other great specs) and the whole TX series is well-liked by serious travellers. Any reason for this? I don't own one (yet) but was wondering what you thought of the brand and the T-900 in particular. Thanks!
The T-900 is great!
Rohloff bikes are normally a bit too expensive to make it onto my "best bike" lists, as value-for-performance is always a factor. Perhaps I'll put together a Rohloff-specific list at some point...
Some places where the T-900 loses points compared to other bikes - tyre clearance is pretty narrow for a heavily-laden bike, and it's only available in three sizes. If the tyre width and sizing works for you, it's a great bike for the price.
One more thing, the frame "stack" measurements are pretty low on VSF bikes compared to other brands. Depending on your body proportions, flexibility and core strength, you might find the bars a bit low. 👍🏻
@@Cyclingabout Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer, Alee. Tyre clearance is not a problem because my off-road experience is far less muddy than yours. I do use kevlar, though. Stack measurements worry me a bit more, I guess I'll just have to try the T-900 to figure it out. Right now, I'm using a Trek T-300. It's a very modest (and cheaper) bike but it does the trick because I don't carry more than 10-15 kg loads at a time. Stack measurements suit me, particularly because I have bullhorn handlebars that I placed in a way that suits me perfectly and offers many positions to avoid back pain. Perhaps bullhorn or butterfly handelbars on the VSF T-900 might compensate the low stack measurements (?). One thing is sure: I'm ready to splurge a little more to buy a sturdier bike for longer trips with heavier loads. And I do love the look of the VSF line. Thanks again!
Quite a surprise to see my Diamant 135 featured here :)
No longer is this great value bike a secret in international touring markets. 😊
Rui I am interested to hear from a owner of the Diamant 135. Love that bike look. Can you put fenders and how is the handlebar in actual use? Maybe one cam put grips on the original handlebar to give extra hand positions? Cheers
@@BromptonTraveler The 57 Schwalbe G-One stock tires are the biggest size you can put on this bike, so if you really want fenders like myself then you are going to have to get new tires - for reference, I got the 50 Schwalbe G-One. In regards to the handlebars, I think it is not about the hands position but the fact that you feel cramped and that the geometry sizes are too far apart - L is 52cm and XL is 61cm I believe - I got a raised flat handlebar and it feels much better to me.
Rui Brito thanks!
Thanks for the great video.
Very helpful for a touring beginner.
I'm in the uk. Any thoughts on the new mk3 Thorn nomad??
Thank you 🖒
The Nomad looks great! Oversized steel tubes, stable geometry, lots of touring features, won't break the bank.
You mention Koga from the Netherlands but you should check Santos and Idworx. Idworx is the best in the world!!! both with rohloff or pinion, with gates belt or chain...Not cheap, but just the best!
I know the bikes well! But this list factors in the price. 👍🏻
dunno much about bikes but the salsa marrakesh has me dreaming about riding in far away lands..