You can custom order a KOGA WorldTraveller-S online! You would just need to get the Redshift stem, Cane Creek seatpost and Ergon grips separately, everything else is available in the configurator: www.koga.com/en/koga-signature
@@hamburger-fries If you are in the U.S. there is a KOGA dealer in Santa Barbara , California. The website isn't updated very often so there isn't much to it. Commuter Bicycles is the name
@@Cyclingabout Thank you! I will contact Koga and see how I can get this arranged for Japan. One issue I have is that Japan has some of the steepest roads in the world so I will need to get a different gearing system from what I can see. How does your bike handle extremely steep inclines?
@@charliekendall4288 Thanks Charlie!!! I will contact Koga directly. I am based in Japan which has been a challenge to say the least when it comes to importing bikes. I had a horrible time getting a Specialized touring bike into Japan.
I work at Koga, very helpful to see your unbiased opinion! You are helping out a lot of people getting into over the world cycling, my job is to provide a good setup for these people, and I love my job, everyone is different, and therefore every bike is different, Thanks!
This is bizarre, I just picked my Koga up on Saturday morning. 😁 Wheeled it out the shop, threw my leg over it and rode the 200km home. Single track, cycle trails, several miles on a mountain bike trail getting funny looks. The bike ate it all up and I've gotta say, it was very easy to ride. Never felt out of control or unstable.
@@frederik0014 I ordered mine in early November, got it in late December instead of February as originally thought. They seem to be faster than anticipated.
The only cyclist whose word I take as Gospel. If Alee approves, don't question it. Because unlike others who ride 30 kms and read out of company brochure, Alee just circumnavigates the earth before a long term review. :) I want to order the Denham bars for my Marin Four Corners. I turned it into a flat bar bike after your video and have never been happier!
I could watch and listen to Alee Denham for hours. Very smart guy and talks very well. If I owned a bike company he would be riding for me. Alee can also haul ass on a road bike. Alee needs to bring his mountain bike to BC ( Nelson BC for the goods ) Thanks for all your amazing info and of course thx for the massive amount of time you put into all your great videos.
Another really handy review by someone who has experience the bike for long distances in all conditions. The details of the bikes in Alee books are well worth a read and supports him too.
Thanks Alee. Another great video. I agree completely with your comments about your handlebars. However, I've only been on the road for 3 weeks with my new world traveller. Also, contrary to some commenters here, I've found Aloys at Koga to be super responsive and helpful. Thanks again
Very happy to see Koga again! I am not a mountainbiker or bikepacker so those topicks aren't very interesting to me. Glad to see the belt is doing so high mileage! Clearly the Koga is a premium product built to last.
There has been several attempts to make handlebars more suitable than conventional handlebars for bikepacking, similar to that of this Koga. I would love to see a handlebar comparison video comparing all the latest handlebars for long bikepacking journeys (from surly, redshift etc)
I am still riding my hand made koga world touring bike 25 years on and its never let me down, replaced the front 3 drive sprocket s and tyres over the 25 year period and it's done to many miles to remember ❤️👍
That orange is such a nice colour, would love to ride a bike like that one day if I ever get the money.Thanks for this content and I wish you a lot of fun on your travels! Greetings from the Netherlands
I am using the Schwalbe Super Moto-X too. Now over 30000 km with my bike and not a single flat. I have replaced my back tire a few times with a new one, prior to big trips (North cape, Turkey) and the put the used back-tire on the front wheel. I am 100% happy with my Super Moto-X. But if this Pick-up is said to have better protection, I would like to give it a try next year! Thanks for your video!
I have replicated your Koga handlebar with various bars and bar ends and figured out that it is by far the best if the bar ends are BETWEEN the grip and shifter/brakes, which is not possible with your Denham bar since it is a one-piece design. That way you can use the bar ends like road bars but have immediate access to brakes and shifters at the same time. Would be great if Koga would offer special inner bar ends that have a screw and can be adjusted.
Whole heartedly suggest a Brooks Cambium saddle like the C15/17, as the weight bearing portion of the saddle is suspended by the rails, without a hard plastic shell. I have one on 3 of my bikes, including a gravel bike which has a Redshift Shockstem. Because of these suspended saddles, I have had no need for a shock seatpost, and although the brooks saddles are heavier, they eliminate the additional weight of a shock post. Thx for the vid. Brent
i must realy say, you are by far the best touring-biker on youtube, can you make a video about how you set up and plan your TOURS, including map planning, gear set up, money planning etc.
Thanks for the idea! I usually try to create information that is unique or doesn't already exist online, but I might be able to work some of that stuff into my travel videos.
I use a fully customized Bergamont Sweep MGN with Alfine 11 on 32mm Grand Prix 5000 tubeless tires. Pricewise I am - even with all changes that I made - a lot under 6000€. The bike itself was 1200€ and most of my changes were not necessary but just nice to have. Of course I am unable to ride gravel roads - i need to stay on tarmac - but I ride it hard and considering I already put 50k on it, it is still a great and fast bike to travel! I would not want to give it away ever, I am completely in love with my bike. For my next bike travel I think I will try my Bullitt EP8 Cargo Bike.
Great bike, but as we are talking about a $6000 bike I'm not surprised it's good quality. In fact, I am mostly surprised by the poor construction of the USB port...
Great video and good to learn about your experiences. I noticed in an early part of the video a shot of you carrying your bike across the stream. It can be hard to carry a fully laden bike holding it by the top tube and lifting. Have you ever tried lifting and carrying the bike by grabbing the right chain stay behind the crank? I find it way more efficient and easier for carrying up and down stairs or for a longer distance. Much less effort and strain on the arms and back. Even for a bike fully laden bike with panniers.
Love your Content! This is spectacularly timed as well since I'm considering purchase of an Koga World Traveller-S . I was also considering the Kona Sutra but the company is having major supply chain issues at least as it seemingly pertains to my area of the world.
Great video, very informative. Thinking it would be fun to see a vid by someone going to their local bike shop buy everything all at once including bike and do a cross continent ride, using all what’s available at that moment.
Those Ergon grips are getting near the end. The padding will melt under hot sun and stick to your palm. I wrapped a pair of them with bar tape when this happened and it worked out great.
Wow, nice to see how well your bike handled all the 'abuse'. That mud looked absolutely shocking!! I am a little jealous of the fat tires your frame fits. I'm totally into the 27.5" format but my frame barely fits 2.15er tires. Fat rubber rules!
I know you're attached to the orange, but that viper green is baller. I'm already looking forward to a photo in front of some tropical forest waterfall.
Good to hear, that you are also driving with the Schwalbe PickUp. Today I also received my PickUp in size 55-559 (2,15x26''). Looking forward to spring time for my personal test. I also have some Continental Contact Plus Travel to test against my previous Marathon Mondial DD. I hope the Continental or the PickUp will be more efficient on smooth surfaced than my Mondial DD
@@tobygreenwood5036 I ordered them approx 2 months ago in a bike parts shop in Germany. Unfortunately they are out of stock right now - like many good tyres. I also like the Continental Contact Plus Travel.
I'm really going to miss the orange, but I have a feeling the green will grow on me! 💚 You definitely won't be disappointed with a belt drive, gearbox drivetrain. Just make sure the frame you choose is built super stiff, so the belt cannot walk off the rear cog. This is a bigger problem on mountain bikes due to the higher torque going through the drivetrain. 👍🏻
@@Cyclingabout I'm looking at a small frame builder out of Texas and they do steel and titanium frames. I'm planning on getting the titanium frame. They do offer their builds with a Rolhoff and belt drive so I think I should be good. Yeah the orange is a real looker for sure. I am a big fan of the green though or a super deep blue.
Great! Make sure to ask for the largest diameter tandem-spec chainstays and seatstays possible. I cannot emphasise the importance of stiffness enough for getting the most out of belt drivetrains - many belt bikes are not built properly.
@@Cyclingabout the chainstay is super short which is something I like. The bike can be run as short as 420mm. From what I've seen they have their titanium chainstays 3d printed and it's only one type. Now as for the tubing I can ask for thicker tubes and so one. I'll definitely have a long talk with them about the belt drive setup then. I'm sold on their bike because I can do custom geo so I can have a steeper seat tube and slacker head tube.
If you're buying an MTB to ride off road without cargo, I'd recommend staying away from hub gears. I ran an Alfine 11 on a not particularly light steel hardtail for a while, and the difference how lively the bike became when I swapped to a 3x10 drivetrain was literally night and day. I got rid of the Alfine because it was unusably spongy in 1st and especially 2nd gear though, so it's no substitute for a Rohloff in performance terms anyway. The extra weight a geared hub adds to the back axle makes the rear wheel hang up harder on every ridge on the trail than a derailleur setup. The weight of a hub gear is irrelevant once you're loaded for touring though. I'd go for a pinion gearbox if I wanted a gates drive on a MTB, but nothing has caught my eye yet. With a belt drive you'll need a frame with a rear triangle that can be opened to fit the belt through too, so most MTB frames can't run a Gates drive without serious modification. There are other belt drives that can be opened and closed like a bike chain, but I have no idea whether they're up with Gates in longevity.
Alee, For the Quadlock I'd recommend the vibration damper not only to protect your phone's camera and IBIS but it may prevent the mount from cracking every so often. It's not that expensive. Just a thought.
Hello Alex, I also mounted the vibration damper on my Koga, but I encounter more vibrating and shaking than without, so the screen of the phone is harder to read while cycling. I also used a tablet on my Quadlock, but then the vibration damper is too much, although the tablet with a standard '3M glue-mount' stays in the holder and doesn't fall off.
This one is around 17kg, but yes, the newest model is 20kg. There is a marked increase in frame and rack stiffness with the new one, as well as a 180kg load rating, and 2.8" tyre clearance. If you're loading your bike up with a lot of gear, the stiffer frame and wider tyres are undoubtedly an improvement!
Nice review! To add my experience so far with my World Traveller-S (received it in Sept 2020 by mail directly from the Koga factory) with 8,000km on it now. Overall its been a grreat bike but a few things to watch out for. - Within the 1st month, I found that the cap for the crank bolt fell out and the crank arm bolt was loose. Had to order a new cap, apply thread locker to the bolt, retighten and its been fine ever since. - The rear brake calliper came loose on me when on tour. Had to retighten the calliper bolts. Been keeping an eye on it since. - The front brake hose is running too close to the front tyre for my liking. The hose braclet closet to the tyre should be repositioned or redesigned to maximise the gap between the hose and the tyre. It would be nice if you can specify the rear cog size you want on the Rohloff. Wasn't possible for me at the time.
@@Cyclingabout I own a Koga grandtourer and in my case the calliper of the front hydraulic disk brake is very close to the spokes of the front wheel. It is less than 1mm but so far the spokes did not run against the calliper. Is this also the case on the worldtraveller?
Great to see the Koga is holding up so well after all the abuse you put it through ;) Interesting plan to tweak the Denham bars. Less back sweep and the angled up bullhorns sound perfect. Will this come to fruition anytime soon? All the Best!
I have no idea. I have submitted my ideas to KOGA and if they like them, they will get some samples, safety test them rigorously, send them to multiple riders to test out, and then bring them to market. It's a pretty slow process, so I wouldn't expect anything soon.
@@Cyclingabout I can see why that will take it's sweet time! My current handlebar setup is pretty spot on with a 23 deg back sweep Moon Bar and the, too short, SQLab inner bar ends. Would be great to have that in one package including dedicated bullhorns. I'd be curious to give the new Denham Bars a spin if they become available! Not too sure about the upsweep though as I like too keep my shoulder blades low and tucked in.
Hi, what size chain ring would you pair with an 11sp. 11/51 cassette and 700 tires, To give you great climbing, and max speed on flat is around 17mph. for full bike touring. Doing a surly LHT build, with flat bars and Shimano XT parts? Only have frame. Your thoughts please Thanks Craig.
Cool, but you didn't tell us about your hub dynamo or lights? You also omitted your likes and dislikes about your bike. I see you have the Edelux front light. I didn't think much of it so bought a Supernova E2 Pro 2 instead with rear light which are both very bright much brighter than the Edelux. Interesting that you have the belt tension so low, flapping around like a skipping rope. I have set the belt tension quite low as well on my Cube Rohloff hybrid bike, but no way as loose as yours. A looser belt is less strain on the Rohloff hub bearings.
Hi Alex, which Cube model are you riding? As far as I know the only bikes from Cube which allow a belt drive are the Travel and Hyde/Editor models, but they do not offer Rohloff as an option. I myself ride the Travel Pro with a Nexus 8, but I am considering to a switch to a Rohloff in the future.
@@varez93 I fitted the Rohloff hub myself soon after I got it as the Shimano Alfine hub it came with was terrible. It think it is a Travel Expedition/Trekking model, three years old now. Very happy with it. Like Alee I have had zero problems with the Rohloff hub and Gates belt. They are very reliable and pretty much zero maintenance.
I don't have anything new to add about the hub dynamo or lights. They work as well as ever, nothing to maintain - I've been using Schmidt stuff since I started touring when I was a teen. I included lots of things I liked in the video. And notably, I didn't like the tyres or waterproofing of the Cinq charger.
@@Cyclingabout Oh sorry I thought you were going to conclude with a list of dislikes and likes. Yes you did cover good and bad points of your bike and the various accessories as the video progressed. My bad. Yeah I too bought the Edelux 2 light, didn't think it was that bright or the spread of light that good so I wasted £150. I recently bought a Supernova E3 Pro 2 dynamo front light, a bit cheaper and it is much better - brighter, a better spread of light and better quality. I have SON, SP and Shimano dynamo hubs. They are all good. None have developed issues yet.
Buddy, that is petrified wood! Where were you? Also, I have a nearly stock early 2ks long haul (no disks) with drops. Done A LOT of miles. Isn't biking amazing!!! Your videos are very informative! I get the wobbles. I thought Surly was stiff. :( I did not know shock absorption on the bars was possible! I wondered about that charger. I just use a battery and man things are heavy! You videos are great!!!
The bike is holding up well -we're very pleased to hear that. Now, how about your knee joints? How much cartilage have you left? What about the hip joints? There is an excellent chance your Koga frame will outlast them all...
@@Cyclingabout If you think I am joking, think again. Human joints are biological structures, and (unlike mechanical structures) have the ability to self-regenerate. However, the mileage you do is so grotesquely high that it may outpace the self-repairing ability of your joints. With time, you'll be looking for new knees. In the end, it depends on the genetic lottery you've been dealt, but if you got a bad hand, you'll learn too late. A reasonable precaution would be to x-ray your knees and ask an orthopedist for an evaluation. If all looks good now, repeat regularly for comparison purposes. PS This advice you are getting from someone currently recovering after 2 hips replacement surgery ( and former sport and exercise addict)
I don't consider 1000km per month to be excessive at all. From what I understand, cycling is very easy on your joints compared to almost every other form of movement - hence why cycling is used for so many forms of rehabilitation. But shoot through some medical studies and I'll certainly take a read (I take my health quite seriously).
Hey, the 50/22 combination is not original. The original is 50/19 teeth, isn't it? Why did you choose this gear ratio? Is it allowed for a Rohloff gear ? And how many teeth does your Gates belt have ? Have a good trip !
I love your videos! One thing I was curious about, do you bring a few cycling bibs with you when you travel? Do you reuse the same ones the next day? How many days would you go before washing them? Thanks!
Hi Alee, another great video thanks. I suppose you had to change the entire wheel set to switch to those new Schwalbe Pick-Up tyres as they only exist in 27.5"?
Hi, we bought the world traveller last year (the e-version): the stems you mention (Redshift and Vecnum) and your handlebar were not available then. Would such a stem (one of the two that you mention) help or improve our bikes when use at the Koga Riser handlebar (with now 'only' the Justers (a little bit) adjustable stem)? They changed the available items of the bike a lot since a year!
I'd recommend the Vecnum or Kinekt stem more for the KOGA riser. The Redshift feels a bit strange on that handlebar, kind of like the bar is rolling forward when it deflects.
How did the drivetrain with the low gear inch setup hold up? Asking because I’m a heavier rider and getting out of the saddle while hill climbing would put quite a strain on it. Thanks in advance.
Hey, really like your review. Did you notice the added weight on the wheels? Its quite a bit! Why are you not trying the SQ Labs Series as shown? Or the Ergon Core Prime. They´re absolut fantastic. Especially the SQ Lab if you have pressure. Why arent you using the Hebie Fix kickstand? It got a big outside spring and will hold the stand in place! One of my customers broke his ribs cause the esge got worn out and fliped him of his bike...
Oh, and I don't notice the added weight at all. If anything, I just notice improvements to the rolling resistance compared to what I had on the bike previously.
Just wondering. I've been on the Koga configurator (Signature) and seen that the material for the World-Traveller S is aluminium. Isn't steel preferable for long term travel, in terms of comfort? I am suspecting you might have taken the eeSilk seatpost to compensate the rigidity of aluminium. Is that so ?
Actually, frame comfort is a myth. There is essentially zero difference in vertical deflection between steel and aluminium frames, and once a bike has fat tyres and luggage, there is no difference in vibration attenuation either. I have a video explaining the science around this here: th-cam.com/video/Lb4ktAbmr_4/w-d-xo.html I would use a Cane Creek eeSilk seatpost on a carbon, steel or titanium bike too - the difference they make in terms of comfort is instantly noticeable, and easily measured using an accelerometer.
Interested in the make and model of water bottle cage you use, the ones that adjusts to the size of bottle you’re using. If you or someone in the comments community could give me the brand name I would really appreciate it.
What wheel/spoke combination do you have o your bike? Amazing durability. How should a wheel be built to achieve that result? I want some of that! Thanks :-)
Really nice bike! But what is the rider and gear weight limit? Of course, nothing is listed on website. I want/need a bike with a minimum 350-pound limit, as I weigh 250-pounds. Any other bikepacking bicycle recommendations is appreciated!!
Weight limits are an interesting one. Until very recently, bike companies could only certify their frames to 136kg/300lb. So that's why 5.5kg road bikes and 17kg touring bikes often have the same advertised weight limit. But these numbers are a floor, not a ceiling. Most touring bikes are tested in-house to handle MUCH more weight than the ISO 4210 frame test, whereas a road bike frame is usually only be designed to handle close to the minimum (to keep its weight low). Last year, certification up to 180kg/400lb became available, so we will see advertised weight limits increase quite a bit over the next few years. This doesn't mean the frames will get stronger necessarily, but they will be certified for a higher weight. The official KOGA weight limit is 136kg/300lb. But unofficially, KOGA have told me they make exceptions for their customers with system weights over 160kg/350lb - one thing they often do is request that you use 27.5" wheels instead of 700C.
Great video, To be honest I've bought a bicycle on a Pinion and with carbon belt drive lately, and I have a huuuge problem with the brakes. They're good but I feel like braking speed is too slow. Right now I have mechanical disc brakes and I'm a bit afraid of using hydraulic ones. Do you recommend me to switch to hydraulic ones for around the world trip? I'm afraid that I won't be able to fix hydraulic ones while being in a desolate place.
I've used Shimano XT hydro brakes for all my travels since 2017. In my experience, as long as you bleed the brakes when they get a bit spongy, they will work without fuss. I won't be going back to mechanical brakes...
My Rohloff has a 203 disc and cable TRP Spyre, with a long compressionless housing and resin pads. It can grip solid INSTANTLY, any and every time. And it has a mount and adapter I made myself. Only 4,000 miles so far. I have Sturmey Archer levers set to long pull. I see ZERO reason for finicky hydro. My front hub is a SA XL-FDD dyno DRUM brake, actually have two now. The first one went 28,000 miles and it's now on it's 3rd bike. ZERO fuss ever in any weather. IMO, the BEST bike part ever made.... and yet I might be the only one who sees this. LOL. Even the cable did both tours and over 22,000 miles. New wheel now on my custom steel tour bike.
Thanks for sharing , this is a super bike with it’s amazing gear and configurations. Where can I custom order this bike with the gear and specs as in your video please?
FULL SPECS (+ a few affiliate links):
Frame: KOGA WorldTraveller-S (60cm/orange, 63cm/green - I'm 198cm/6ft6)
Fork: KOGA WorldTraveller-S
Paint: Jaguar Madagascar Orange (new frame is Viper Green)
Headset: KOGA Sealed Bearing Steering Limiter
Stem: Redshift ShockStop 120mm and +6 degrees - amzn.to/3qVwtM5
Handlebars: KOGA Denham Bar
Grips: Ergon GC1 cut down and KOGA double bartape - amzn.to/3DIWL7J
Seatpost: Cane Creek eeSilk 20mm - amzn.to/3nHvo8o
Saddle: Selle Italia MAN Gel Flow - amzn.to/3nHpLaE
Gears: Rohloff Speedhub 14-speed Internal Gearbox Hub
Shifter: Rohloff Grip Shifter
Front Hub: Schmidt SON28 Dynamo
Rims: Ryde Bull 27.5" 36 hole
Spokes: Sapim Race double-butted and Rohloff-specific
Tyres: Schwalbe Pick-Up 2.6" - amzn.to/3kZr0QC
Brake Levers: Shimano XT Hydraulic
Brakes: Shimano XT Hydraulic
Crankset: Gates S550
Chainring: Gates Carbon Drive Centertrack 50T
Cog: Gates Carbon Drive Centertrack 22T
Belt: Gates Carbon Drive Centertrack 122T
Pedals: Shimano XT T8000
Fenders: SKS P65 Chromoplastics
Charger: Cinq Plug5 Plus (warranty replacement)
Lights: Schmidt SON Edelux II and SON Tail Light
Bidon Cages: BBB Fuel Tank XL
Phone Mount: Quadlock
Front Panniers: Ortlieb SportRoller Plus
Rear Panniers: Ortlieb BackRoller Plus
Front Rack: Tubus Duo - amzn.to/3nDM9kR
Rear Rack: Tubus Logo 29 - amzn.to/3CFyXAr
Kickstand: Pletcher Comp - amzn.to/3CA1RBW
Weight: 17KG or 37LB
Do you know anyone or company who could put this exact bike together?
You can custom order a KOGA WorldTraveller-S online! You would just need to get the Redshift stem, Cane Creek seatpost and Ergon grips separately, everything else is available in the configurator: www.koga.com/en/koga-signature
@@hamburger-fries If you are in the U.S. there is a KOGA dealer in Santa Barbara , California. The website isn't updated very often so there isn't much to it. Commuter Bicycles is the name
@@Cyclingabout Thank you! I will contact Koga and see how I can get this arranged for Japan. One issue I have is that Japan has some of the steepest roads in the world so I will need to get a different gearing system from what I can see. How does your bike handle extremely steep inclines?
@@charliekendall4288 Thanks Charlie!!! I will contact Koga directly. I am based in Japan which has been a challenge to say the least when it comes to importing bikes. I had a horrible time getting a Specialized touring bike into Japan.
Whilst maintenance maybe be ‘minimal’, you still do it on a regular basis. This has obvs helped your bike remain so reliable.
Great breakdown! 😊
I work at Koga, very helpful to see your unbiased opinion! You are helping out a lot of people getting into over the world cycling, my job is to provide a good setup for these people, and I love my job, everyone is different, and therefore every bike is different, Thanks!
Thanks! Well, I am biased, but I'm trying to keep my comments as objective as possible. 😉
Thanks, love what you are doing, great source of inspiration
@elachichai Likely not possibly with Rohloff hubs. They need to be pulled for both upshifting and downshifting.
@@CyclingaboutWe don’t have such bicycles in Kazakhstan, it’s a pity...😢
@@NoName-nd6ihкупите что то в России😂
This is bizarre, I just picked my Koga up on Saturday morning. 😁
Wheeled it out the shop, threw my leg over it and rode the 200km home. Single track, cycle trails, several miles on a mountain bike trail getting funny looks. The bike ate it all up and I've gotta say, it was very easy to ride. Never felt out of control or unstable.
Congratulations!
Nice! Just ordered mine 2 weeks ago, gotta wait another 3 months before it's ready unfortunately..
@@frederik0014 I ordered mine in early November, got it in late December instead of February as originally thought. They seem to be faster than anticipated.
The only cyclist whose word I take as Gospel. If Alee approves, don't question it. Because unlike others who ride 30 kms and read out of company brochure, Alee just circumnavigates the earth before a long term review. :) I want to order the Denham bars for my Marin Four Corners. I turned it into a flat bar bike after your video and have never been happier!
You should still be critical of me! I can be wrong about things and I rely on my audience to tell me. 😉
Your videos are incredibly good mate. You are very detail oriented, knowledgeable and professional. Keep up the good work man.
Much appreciated!
I could watch and listen to Alee Denham for hours. Very smart guy and talks very well. If I owned a bike company he would be riding for me. Alee can also haul ass on a road bike. Alee needs to bring his mountain bike to BC ( Nelson BC for the goods ) Thanks for all your amazing info and of course thx for the massive amount of time you put into all your great videos.
Another really handy review by someone who has experience the bike for long distances in all conditions. The details of the bikes in Alee books are well worth a read and supports him too.
Thanks Alee. Another great video. I agree completely with your comments about your handlebars. However, I've only been on the road for 3 weeks with my new world traveller.
Also, contrary to some commenters here, I've found Aloys at Koga to be super responsive and helpful.
Thanks again
Enjoy the new bike!
Very happy to see Koga again! I am not a mountainbiker or bikepacker so those topicks aren't very interesting to me. Glad to see the belt is doing so high mileage! Clearly the Koga is a premium product built to last.
Hey, I was missing some new content related to the Worldtraveller. Nice to see you talking about it again. Regards.
I'm hitting the road again in January, can't wait! 🎉
There has been several attempts to make handlebars more suitable than conventional handlebars for bikepacking, similar to that of this Koga. I would love to see a handlebar comparison video comparing all the latest handlebars for long bikepacking journeys (from surly, redshift etc)
There are such videos. Including this guy.
I am still riding my hand made koga world touring bike 25 years on and its never let me down, replaced the front 3 drive sprocket s and tyres over the 25 year period and it's done to many miles to remember ❤️👍
Great to hear!
That orange is such a nice colour, would love to ride a bike like that one day if I ever get the money.Thanks for this content and I wish you a lot of fun on your travels! Greetings from the Netherlands
I am using the Schwalbe Super Moto-X too. Now over 30000 km with my bike and not a single flat. I have replaced my back tire a few times with a new one, prior to big trips (North cape, Turkey) and the put the used back-tire on the front wheel. I am 100% happy with my Super Moto-X. But if this Pick-up is said to have better protection, I would like to give it a try next year! Thanks for your video!
I have replicated your Koga handlebar with various bars and bar ends and figured out that it is by far the best if the bar ends are BETWEEN the grip and shifter/brakes, which is not possible with your Denham bar since it is a one-piece design. That way you can use the bar ends like road bars but have immediate access to brakes and shifters at the same time. Would be great if Koga would offer special inner bar ends that have a screw and can be adjusted.
As usual, your review is extensive and skips nothing. Fantastic job, mate.
Much appreciated!
Whole heartedly suggest a Brooks Cambium saddle like the C15/17, as the weight bearing portion of the saddle is suspended by the rails, without a hard plastic shell. I have one on 3 of my bikes, including a gravel bike which has a Redshift Shockstem. Because of these suspended saddles, I have had no need for a shock seatpost, and although the brooks saddles are heavier, they eliminate the additional weight of a shock post. Thx for the vid. Brent
I've tried the C17, but I just don't find it comfortable compared to the Selle Italia Gel Flow.
i must realy say, you are by far the best touring-biker on youtube, can you make a video about how you set up and plan your TOURS, including map planning, gear set up, money planning etc.
Thanks for the idea! I usually try to create information that is unique or doesn't already exist online, but I might be able to work some of that stuff into my travel videos.
I LOVE that green color...looking forward to seeing that fully built
Building it up as we speak!
Loving your content, Alee. Very informative and useful. Thanks for sharing!
My pleasure!
idk if you have done it before, but a video on route planning for long term tours would be great, including how you navigate in ride
Appreciating your video content, it is always at a high professional level. Always looking forward to your videos
I use a fully customized Bergamont Sweep MGN with Alfine 11 on 32mm Grand Prix 5000 tubeless tires. Pricewise I am - even with all changes that I made - a lot under 6000€. The bike itself was 1200€ and most of my changes were not necessary but just nice to have. Of course I am unable to ride gravel roads - i need to stay on tarmac - but I ride it hard and considering I already put 50k on it, it is still a great and fast bike to travel! I would not want to give it away ever, I am completely in love with my bike. For my next bike travel I think I will try my Bullitt EP8 Cargo Bike.
awesome review and the outcome of Koga quality gets me excited about trying this machine.
Great bike, but as we are talking about a $6000 bike I'm not surprised it's good quality. In fact, I am mostly surprised by the poor construction of the USB port...
That yellow-green is called "Jin-green"..
Great video and good to learn about your experiences. I noticed in an early part of the video a shot of you carrying your bike across the stream. It can be hard to carry a fully laden bike holding it by the top tube and lifting. Have you ever tried lifting and carrying the bike by grabbing the right chain stay behind the crank? I find it way more efficient and easier for carrying up and down stairs or for a longer distance. Much less effort and strain on the arms and back. Even for a bike fully laden bike with panniers.
“Keeping an eye on the crack for a year now” brave man.
In regards to quad lock I don't have a phone which fits their cases. So I purchased their stick on mounts none have ever broken 😁.
Maybe that's the ticket! 😎
Love your Content! This is spectacularly timed as well since I'm considering purchase of an Koga World Traveller-S . I was also considering the Kona Sutra but the company is having major supply chain issues at least as it seemingly pertains to my area of the world.
Great to hear! I'm not sure of the current lead time on custom WorldTravellers, but it used to be 6-weeks including shipping anywhere in the world. 😎
@@Cyclingabout I am thinking about a rohloff for my wife’s new gravel bike Should I look at a koga without the bike packing features
The current lead time (from mid-October) was 13 weeks. The wait is harder than dishing out the funds.
@@jacobgalle4297 Good to know, thanks!
@@jacobgalle4297 Did you get yours in Europe? In the U.S. there is a dealer in Southern California but I'm in Maine.
Great video, very informative. Thinking it would be fun to see a vid by someone going to their local bike shop buy everything all at once including bike and do a cross continent ride, using all what’s available at that moment.
Those Ergon grips are getting near the end. The padding will melt under hot sun and stick to your palm. I wrapped a pair of them with bar tape when this happened and it worked out great.
They're sticky but doesn't bother me as I wear gloves. I might try your bar tape trick, thanks.
Another thorough awesome video got me wanting a Rohloff and belt drive
Oh yeah, sorry 'bout that.
Wow, nice to see how well your bike handled all the 'abuse'. That mud looked absolutely shocking!!
I am a little jealous of the fat tires your frame fits. I'm totally into the 27.5" format but my frame barely fits 2.15er tires. Fat rubber rules!
Agree, there are almost no downsides to a bike that can fit fat tyres. 😎
from down India I envy most accessories to be made available,
I know you're attached to the orange, but that viper green is baller. I'm already looking forward to a photo in front of some tropical forest waterfall.
It is 80% built now and looks pretty cool!
Good to hear, that you are also driving with the Schwalbe PickUp. Today I also received my PickUp in size 55-559 (2,15x26''). Looking forward to spring time for my personal test. I also have some Continental Contact Plus Travel to test against my previous Marathon Mondial DD. I hope the Continental or the PickUp will be more efficient on smooth surfaced than my Mondial DD
How have you been finding them? I'm interested in buying a pair
@@tobygreenwood5036 I ordered them approx 2 months ago in a bike parts shop in Germany. Unfortunately they are out of stock right now - like many good tyres. I also like the Continental Contact Plus Travel.
Good stuff. Makes me want to get a couple vertebrae fused so I can go on long rides like this. Right now, it's 20 miles and I'm shot for a week.
Edit: A couple months later, and I did 44.4 miles today. 😁
Good feedback. Thank you. Happy travels ❤
Love this bike, some day I'll get one, still traveling with a trek
Really liking that green 😍.
Great to see a nice long term review. A Rolhoff hub and gates carbon belt drive is on my list for my next Mtb bike.
I'm really going to miss the orange, but I have a feeling the green will grow on me! 💚 You definitely won't be disappointed with a belt drive, gearbox drivetrain. Just make sure the frame you choose is built super stiff, so the belt cannot walk off the rear cog. This is a bigger problem on mountain bikes due to the higher torque going through the drivetrain. 👍🏻
@@Cyclingabout I'm looking at a small frame builder out of Texas and they do steel and titanium frames. I'm planning on getting the titanium frame. They do offer their builds with a Rolhoff and belt drive so I think I should be good.
Yeah the orange is a real looker for sure. I am a big fan of the green though or a super deep blue.
Great! Make sure to ask for the largest diameter tandem-spec chainstays and seatstays possible. I cannot emphasise the importance of stiffness enough for getting the most out of belt drivetrains - many belt bikes are not built properly.
@@Cyclingabout the chainstay is super short which is something I like. The bike can be run as short as 420mm. From what I've seen they have their titanium chainstays 3d printed and it's only one type. Now as for the tubing I can ask for thicker tubes and so one. I'll definitely have a long talk with them about the belt drive setup then. I'm sold on their bike because I can do custom geo so I can have a steeper seat tube and slacker head tube.
If you're buying an MTB to ride off road without cargo, I'd recommend staying away from hub gears. I ran an Alfine 11 on a not particularly light steel hardtail for a while, and the difference how lively the bike became when I swapped to a 3x10 drivetrain was literally night and day.
I got rid of the Alfine because it was unusably spongy in 1st and especially 2nd gear though, so it's no substitute for a Rohloff in performance terms anyway. The extra weight a geared hub adds to the back axle makes the rear wheel hang up harder on every ridge on the trail than a derailleur setup. The weight of a hub gear is irrelevant once you're loaded for touring though.
I'd go for a pinion gearbox if I wanted a gates drive on a MTB, but nothing has caught my eye yet. With a belt drive you'll need a frame with a rear triangle that can be opened to fit the belt through too, so most MTB frames can't run a Gates drive without serious modification. There are other belt drives that can be opened and closed like a bike chain, but I have no idea whether they're up with Gates in longevity.
Alee, For the Quadlock I'd recommend the vibration damper not only to protect your phone's camera and IBIS but it may prevent the mount from cracking every so often. It's not that expensive. Just a thought.
Hello Alex, I also mounted the vibration damper on my Koga, but I encounter more vibrating and shaking than without, so the screen of the phone is harder to read while cycling. I also used a tablet on my Quadlock, but then the vibration damper is too much, although the tablet with a standard '3M glue-mount' stays in the holder and doesn't fall off.
@@maarteneswart Interesting reading your experiences.
Useful detailed information. Thanks and hope to see you touting again soon! :-)
Website suggested the World traveler is 20kg which is a bit of a heft to move around with luggage attached
This one is around 17kg, but yes, the newest model is 20kg. There is a marked increase in frame and rack stiffness with the new one, as well as a 180kg load rating, and 2.8" tyre clearance. If you're loading your bike up with a lot of gear, the stiffer frame and wider tyres are undoubtedly an improvement!
Thanks for this outstanding summary. Very interesting and informative!
Glad it was helpful!
Nice review!
To add my experience so far with my World Traveller-S (received it in Sept 2020 by mail directly from the Koga factory) with 8,000km on it now. Overall its been a grreat bike but a few things to watch out for.
- Within the 1st month, I found that the cap for the crank bolt fell out and the crank arm bolt was loose. Had to order a new cap, apply thread locker to the bolt, retighten and its been fine ever since.
- The rear brake calliper came loose on me when on tour. Had to retighten the calliper bolts. Been keeping an eye on it since.
- The front brake hose is running too close to the front tyre for my liking. The hose braclet closet to the tyre should be repositioned or redesigned to maximise the gap between the hose and the tyre.
It would be nice if you can specify the rear cog size you want on the Rohloff. Wasn't possible for me at the time.
I agree the front brake hose is too close to the tyre. I think I might run my front brake line on the outside of the fork for my new build.
@@Cyclingabout I own a Koga grandtourer and in my case the calliper of the front hydraulic disk brake is very close to the spokes of the front wheel. It is less than 1mm but so far the spokes did not run against the calliper. Is this also the case on the worldtraveller?
Great to see the Koga is holding up so well after all the abuse you put it through ;) Interesting plan to tweak the Denham bars. Less back sweep and the angled up bullhorns sound perfect. Will this come to fruition anytime soon? All the Best!
I have no idea. I have submitted my ideas to KOGA and if they like them, they will get some samples, safety test them rigorously, send them to multiple riders to test out, and then bring them to market. It's a pretty slow process, so I wouldn't expect anything soon.
@@Cyclingabout I can see why that will take it's sweet time! My current handlebar setup is pretty spot on with a 23 deg back sweep Moon Bar and the, too short, SQLab inner bar ends. Would be great to have that in one package including dedicated bullhorns. I'd be curious to give the new Denham Bars a spin if they become available! Not too sure about the upsweep though as I like too keep my shoulder blades low and tucked in.
Never knew there are steering stems like that with suspension in it! Oh my god! Have to get that
Hi, what size chain ring would you pair with an 11sp. 11/51 cassette and 700 tires,
To give you great climbing, and max speed on flat is around 17mph. for full bike touring.
Doing a surly LHT build, with flat bars and Shimano XT parts?
Only have frame.
Your thoughts please
Thanks Craig.
Cool, but you didn't tell us about your hub dynamo or lights? You also omitted your likes and dislikes about your bike. I see you have the Edelux front light. I didn't think much of it so bought a Supernova E2 Pro 2 instead with rear light which are both very bright much brighter than the Edelux.
Interesting that you have the belt tension so low, flapping around like a skipping rope. I have set the belt tension quite low as well on my Cube Rohloff hybrid bike, but no way as loose as yours. A looser belt is less strain on the Rohloff hub bearings.
Hi Alex, which Cube model are you riding? As far as I know the only bikes from Cube which allow a belt drive are the Travel and Hyde/Editor models, but they do not offer Rohloff as an option. I myself ride the Travel Pro with a Nexus 8, but I am considering to a switch to a Rohloff in the future.
@@varez93 I fitted the Rohloff hub myself soon after I got it as the Shimano Alfine hub it came with was terrible. It think it is a Travel Expedition/Trekking model, three years old now. Very happy with it. Like Alee I have had zero problems with the Rohloff hub and Gates belt. They are very reliable and pretty much zero maintenance.
I don't have anything new to add about the hub dynamo or lights. They work as well as ever, nothing to maintain - I've been using Schmidt stuff since I started touring when I was a teen.
I included lots of things I liked in the video. And notably, I didn't like the tyres or waterproofing of the Cinq charger.
@@Cyclingabout Oh sorry I thought you were going to conclude with a list of dislikes and likes. Yes you did cover good and bad points of your bike and the various accessories as the video progressed. My bad.
Yeah I too bought the Edelux 2 light, didn't think it was that bright or the spread of light that good so I wasted £150. I recently bought a Supernova E3 Pro 2 dynamo front light, a bit cheaper and it is much better - brighter, a better spread of light and better quality. I have SON, SP and Shimano dynamo hubs. They are all good. None have developed issues yet.
@@alexmorgan3435 Interesting. I have a Supernova E3 Pro 2 on my tandem and prefer the Edelux II beam and brightness. 😅
Buddy, that is petrified wood! Where were you?
Also, I have a nearly stock early 2ks long haul (no disks) with drops. Done A LOT of miles. Isn't biking amazing!!!
Your videos are very informative!
I get the wobbles. I thought Surly was stiff. :(
I did not know shock absorption on the bars was possible!
I wondered about that charger. I just use a battery and man things are heavy!
You videos are great!!!
Nice 1 mine is only 4,500km since I bought my cyclometer for 10 months not a long rider here
for the charging replacement, do you need to pay shipping fee? or they will ship to where ever you are? Thanks
Are you touring in clipless pedals always on long tours and how does this work? I guess you also need clipless sandals for hot weather?
Very nice stuff and very nice explanations.
The bike is holding up well -we're very pleased to hear that.
Now, how about your knee joints? How much cartilage have you left?
What about the hip joints? There is an excellent chance your Koga frame
will outlast them all...
How do I measure cartilage and joint wear?! I'm just a lowly touring cyclist who usually lives in a tent, and knows a little too much about bikes. 😅
@@Cyclingabout If you think I am joking, think again.
Human joints are biological structures, and (unlike mechanical structures) have the ability to self-regenerate.
However, the mileage you do is so grotesquely high that it may outpace the self-repairing ability of your joints. With time, you'll be looking for new knees.
In the end, it depends on the genetic lottery you've been dealt, but if you got a bad hand, you'll learn too late.
A reasonable precaution would be to x-ray your knees and ask an orthopedist for an evaluation. If all looks good now, repeat regularly for comparison purposes.
PS
This advice you are getting from someone currently recovering after 2 hips replacement surgery ( and former sport and exercise addict)
I don't consider 1000km per month to be excessive at all. From what I understand, cycling is very easy on your joints compared to almost every other form of movement - hence why cycling is used for so many forms of rehabilitation.
But shoot through some medical studies and I'll certainly take a read (I take my health quite seriously).
@@Cyclingabout Indeed -- pro racers like Annemiek Van Vleuten routinely do 1000k a week just in training.
Much safer to sit at home, on the porch, in my rocking chair, reading travel books. Yep, that's the safest way through life.
Hey, the 50/22 combination is not original. The original is 50/19 teeth, isn't it? Why did you choose this gear ratio? Is it allowed for a Rohloff gear ? And how many teeth does your Gates belt have ? Have a good trip !
I swapped the 19t for a 22t so I could ride up steeper hills. Currently, I'm using 46x22t. Both are permissible by Rohloff.
Interesting, why KOGA decided to make the frame of this bike out of 6061, not CrMo.
Are you designing for release another version of your handlebars? I very much like the changes you suggested.
I've submitted my plans to KOGA but they have the final word on whether they implement any changes.
Thanks I want one and have been looking into purchasing one. cheers
very nice presentation do you recommend a bike with shock absorbers on the fork or without ??? thank you very much
Are you going to sell the old bike?
is full suspension mountain bike not good long distant travel rider like you?
Hi, this frame still using QR axle how often your disc brake rubbing?
Are those images from Iztaccihuatl and Popocatépetl?
Really interesting! Any thoughts on this versus the tout terrain you covered in a video a while back?
I love your videos! One thing I was curious about, do you bring a few cycling bibs with you when you travel? Do you reuse the same ones the next day? How many days would you go before washing them? Thanks!
On this seat/seatpost combination I do not need padded shorts. 👍🏻
@@Cyclingabout do you experience any chaffing otherwise? Maybe use cream in the morning?
@@shadyyyyVR Nope.
Bro, were you in northern peru when you found that petrified wood?
What is the weight of the bike with racks, bottle cage minus gear?
I'm more interested in the size of your quads. Have a closer look if you don't mind.
Looking forward to another video! Many thanks
Hi Alee, another great video thanks.
I suppose you had to change the entire wheel set to switch to those new Schwalbe Pick-Up tyres as they only exist in 27.5"?
Do you use dynamo to charge your built-in battery?
Hi, we bought the world traveller last year (the e-version): the stems you mention (Redshift and Vecnum) and your handlebar were not available then.
Would such a stem (one of the two that you mention) help or improve our bikes when use at the Koga Riser handlebar (with now 'only' the Justers (a little bit) adjustable stem)?
They changed the available items of the bike a lot since a year!
I'd recommend the Vecnum or Kinekt stem more for the KOGA riser. The Redshift feels a bit strange on that handlebar, kind of like the bar is rolling forward when it deflects.
@@Cyclingabout what is the difference between the Vecnum / Kinekt and the now at Koga available Koga adjustable Low OS en Koga Adjustable High OS?
@@maarteneswart The Vecnum has 30mm suspension travel, the Kinekt 20mm and the KOGA stems 0mm travel.
Thanks for the great videos. What is your strategy to reduce flat tyres while riding? Also how suitable is this setup for riding on asphalt roads?
perfect set up and bicycle, but I have a question, you use the fenders, but are they really indispensable? Thank you for your experience
For me they are. But it really just depends how much rain or mud you see.
How did the drivetrain with the low gear inch setup hold up? Asking because I’m a heavier rider and getting out of the saddle while hill climbing would put quite a strain on it. Thanks in advance.
Outrageous price.
Are the bullhorns separate or attached to the handle bar..
They're attached.
Six thousand,I'll rather buy a motorcycle and don't struggle as much 😊
on second thoughts i'm only 5'9" i would need a ladder!!
Thanks for the video, would like to hear your opinion on Koga World traveller E version with Rohloff hub.
How did you handle/dodge the cartels?
Again a very informative video.
Keep it up.
Thanks, will do!
Hi, where can I get the handlebar. nice handlebar🙏👍🏻
Try JustPedal, Vakantiefietser or CycleSense
Hey, really like your review. Did you notice the added weight on the wheels? Its quite a bit!
Why are you not trying the SQ Labs Series as shown? Or the Ergon Core Prime. They´re absolut fantastic. Especially the SQ Lab if you have pressure.
Why arent you using the Hebie Fix kickstand? It got a big outside spring and will hold the stand in place! One of my customers broke his ribs cause the esge got worn out and fliped him of his bike...
Thanks for the recommendations. I might see if I can test some new products next time I'm in Europe.
Oh, and I don't notice the added weight at all. If anything, I just notice improvements to the rolling resistance compared to what I had on the bike previously.
What is your opinion about priority 600 and 600x with pinion gearbox and gates carbon belt drive?
This bike and setup is wet dream ;) only wandering why you don't use brooks saddle ? did you try it and didn't like it ? will you try it ?
Yes, I don't like them.
Just wondering. I've been on the Koga configurator (Signature) and seen that the material for the World-Traveller S is aluminium. Isn't steel preferable for long term travel, in terms of comfort? I am suspecting you might have taken the eeSilk seatpost to compensate the rigidity of aluminium. Is that so ?
Actually, frame comfort is a myth. There is essentially zero difference in vertical deflection between steel and aluminium frames, and once a bike has fat tyres and luggage, there is no difference in vibration attenuation either. I have a video explaining the science around this here: th-cam.com/video/Lb4ktAbmr_4/w-d-xo.html
I would use a Cane Creek eeSilk seatpost on a carbon, steel or titanium bike too - the difference they make in terms of comfort is instantly noticeable, and easily measured using an accelerometer.
Interested in the make and model of water bottle cage you use, the ones that adjusts to the size of bottle you’re using. If you or someone in the comments community could give me the brand name I would really appreciate it.
They're a discontinued model called the BBB Fueltank XL.
What wheel/spoke combination do you have o your bike? Amazing durability. How should a wheel be built to achieve that result? I want some of that! Thanks :-)
А фиксы не делают на ремне?
Really nice bike!
But what is the rider and gear weight limit? Of course, nothing is listed on website.
I want/need a bike with a minimum 350-pound limit, as I weigh 250-pounds.
Any other bikepacking bicycle recommendations is appreciated!!
Weight limits are an interesting one. Until very recently, bike companies could only certify their frames to 136kg/300lb. So that's why 5.5kg road bikes and 17kg touring bikes often have the same advertised weight limit.
But these numbers are a floor, not a ceiling. Most touring bikes are tested in-house to handle MUCH more weight than the ISO 4210 frame test, whereas a road bike frame is usually only be designed to handle close to the minimum (to keep its weight low).
Last year, certification up to 180kg/400lb became available, so we will see advertised weight limits increase quite a bit over the next few years. This doesn't mean the frames will get stronger necessarily, but they will be certified for a higher weight.
The official KOGA weight limit is 136kg/300lb. But unofficially, KOGA have told me they make exceptions for their customers with system weights over 160kg/350lb - one thing they often do is request that you use 27.5" wheels instead of 700C.
Great video, To be honest I've bought a bicycle on a Pinion and with carbon belt drive lately, and I have a huuuge problem with the brakes. They're good but I feel like braking speed is too slow. Right now I have mechanical disc brakes and I'm a bit afraid of using hydraulic ones. Do you recommend me to switch to hydraulic ones for around the world trip? I'm afraid that I won't be able to fix hydraulic ones while being in a desolate place.
I've used Shimano XT hydro brakes for all my travels since 2017. In my experience, as long as you bleed the brakes when they get a bit spongy, they will work without fuss. I won't be going back to mechanical brakes...
My Rohloff has a 203 disc and cable TRP Spyre, with a long compressionless housing and resin pads. It can grip solid INSTANTLY, any and every time. And it has a mount and adapter I made myself.
Only 4,000 miles so far. I have Sturmey Archer levers set to long pull. I see ZERO reason for finicky hydro.
My front hub is a SA XL-FDD dyno DRUM brake, actually have two now. The first one went 28,000 miles and it's now on it's 3rd bike. ZERO fuss ever in any weather. IMO, the BEST bike part ever made.... and yet I might be the only one who sees this. LOL. Even the cable did both tours and over 22,000 miles. New wheel now on my custom steel tour bike.
If you are still using the SKS P65 fenders, how well do they cover the 2.6 Pick-Ups?
Good thing you bought one back when it was still possible to buy them!
What do you mean? You can custom order a KOGA right now and have it in 13 weeks.
@@Cyclingabout lucky for you...but not where I live.
why don't U add a clear plastic chain cover to protect belt drive system?
I could but I don't think it's necessary. The belt components wear from use, not damage.
Thanks for sharing , this is a super bike with it’s amazing gear and configurations. Where can I custom order this bike with the gear and specs as in your video please?
www.koga.com/en/koga-signature
i could be wrong but i think your "sausage rock" is actually a piece of fosilized wood :o
Bike looks awesome. I just want a set of those handlebars.