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KOGA Worldtraveller trekkingbikes

With the KOGA Worldtraveller, you will not only ride smoothly over asphalt, but this bike is also great for exploring unpaved (gravel) roads. Thanks to the many attachment points, you take everything you need with you on your journey.

The KOGA Worldtraveller is the world-famous ultimate trekking bike. It is not for nothing that you can come across the KOGA Worldtraveller all over the world. From the Camino de Santiago to the Andes mountains or the Outbacks in Australia. What stops you from discovering the world by bike?

The lowrider features an extra stand, so the bike remains stable even when fully loaden.

Wherever possible, the KOGA frame has perfectly smooth welds, creating beautifully clean lines throughout. Not only is this aesthetically pleasing, it also reduces the likelihood of corrosion around the welds, areas that are often highly prone to this.

The rear luggage rack is integrated into the frame creating a stiffer construction. This is especially noticeable when the bike is loaded. The KOGA WorldTraveller gives a more stable ride and tighter steering.

Frequently asked question

To explain about determing the right frame size we have written this article >

KOGA chooses the optimum geometry for each type of bike. If you take a comparative test ride at the KOGA dealer, you will feel the difference.

Regular cleaning of your chain is essential. Use a special chain cleaner or lukewarm water and a brush. Your KOGA dealer will also be able to recommend a number of tools.

It is important to lubricate the chain after cleaning. For example, Teflon-based lubricants penetrate the chains really well and do not attract a lot of dirt.

A hub dynamo always produces rolling resistance when the bike is in motion. However the resistance is so minimal that you don’t notice it when cycling. At constant five kilometres per hour or more, the hub’s resistance will be virtually negligible. When the speed is high enough, the magnets will hardly attract each other at all. This results in the cancelling of any resistance. The main advantage of a hub dynamo is that it can work in conjunction with a light sensor so the lights are switched on automatically. This boosts safety while offering ease of use.

Yes, your bike lights will stay on thanks to the battery’s reserve capacity.

The frame size on KOGA bikes is measured from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube. This distance in centimetres is the frame size. Your authorised KOGA dealer can calculate exactly which frame size fits you best.

With regard to the maintenance and safety of your bike, there are a number of things you can keep an eye on yourself.

For your own safety, you should check the following on a regular basis:

• Check all nuts and bolts - in particular quick-release mechanisms on wheels - are tightened securely.
• Check the handlebars and handlebar stem for signs of damage.
• Test the brake operation by checking whether you can stop within a few metres when cycling at a normal speed.
• Check that the tyre pressure does not exceed the maximum pressure marked on the tyre.
• Check the tyre tread and ask your dealer if the tyres look worn.
• Check that the lighting and indicators are working properly and are not obstructed. Wipe clean them regularly with a dry cloth.
• Check the handlebar grips for wear and make sure they are tight.
• For bikes with rear suspension, check that all screws on the suspension parts are tight. There must be no play in the bearings.

Checking these items and performing your own maintenance on them is not always straightforward. For this reason KOGA recommends arranging for your KOGA dealer to service your bike at least once a year.

You can also consult the instruction manual that came with your bike.

It is important to remove any sand, especially from the toothed side of your bike’s drive belt. This can be done with lukewarm water and some detergent if required. Although the belt can also be lubricated with dry silicon spray, it is not necessary.

Please refer your bike’s instruction manual for more information about storing your battery.

Only authorised dealers are allowed to sell KOGA bikes on their webshop. This way, the manufacturer’s warranty will also be valid on online orders.

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The Koga (Signature) WorldTraveller Bicycle: Reviewed

A few weeks ago a woman contacted me on social media and pointed out that her husband was holding back on buying a new bike until I published a review of the Koga WorldTraveller bicycle that I purchased back in the early summer of 2019. I have to admit that I have promised a review on several occasions but never actually got around to writing one. Well, finally, here it is. Much to the relief of the husband concerned… Let’s start with a video that will put the whole buying-a-new-touring-bike thing into perspective:

OK. I’ve now promised, so I’d better deliver. Here is the review…

As noted above, I’ve now been riding the Koga WorldTraveller called Wanda for just over two years. The initial motivation for investing a sizeable chunk of cash in the new bike (and it was sizeable – you’ll have to visit the Koga website to work out how much I shelled out…) was a planned trip to Japan in the summer of 2020. Well, that clearly never took place in 2020 and won’t take place in 2021 either. 2022? Perhaps… But that doesn’t mean the bike has been resting idle. Far from it. The first expedition with the Koga was along the EuroVelo 12 here in Yorkshire , followed by a trip around the Isle of Wight , a cycle from Santander, Spain to the end of the Douro Valley in Portugal , a four-capital tour of the United Kingdom in the coronavirus summer of 2020 and a jaunt around the Yorkshire Dales in early autumn of last year. Indeed if you’d like to see Wanda in action, that trip to the Dales might be a good place to start. Here’s a film I made about the three-day cycle:

There are more films of Wanda in action on the CyclingEurope.org YouTube channel .

Although you can purchase Koga ‘Signature’ bikes direct from Koga themselves, I would recommend going via a dealer as they will be able to advise you on what choices to make. And when it comes to Koga dealers in the UK, David Stainforth of CycleSense in Tadcaster is difficult to beat.

I’ll make some more general comments about the bike at the end of the review but I thought I’d use the following image from the initial video above to organise my comments:

Some areas merit more comment than others, as you will see, and some comments will no doubt see me veering off on a tangent that is not particularly specific to the Koga WorldTraveller bike itself. I will also give each component area of the bike a score out of ten. On with the show!

Aluminium Alloy (6061) Frame

One of the first things that people notice when they see the Koga WorldTraveller is just how robust the frame looks. And it is. In fact, over the past two years, many people have assumed that it is hiding a battery and that I must be riding an eBike. This is obviously not the case (although you can buy a Koga WorldTraveller eBike – more details here ) but, combined with the ‘look’ of the Rohloff hub (see below), it is an understandable mistake to make. This can be a little frustrating if I am passed by someone on a hill as they bask in their smugness at not only cycling more quickly than me, but cycling more quickly than someone on an eBike… Little do they know that they should only be smug on one of those counts. The frame’s chunkyness (if such a word exists) gives it strength. I think… Combined with the wide tires, it’s a very comfortable thing to ride. Lots of bounce, although I do suspect this has more to do with said tires. A point of vanity, as you may have noticed in the initial video above, is that I have my website, CyclingEurope.org, embossed on the upper bar. I’m not a fan of tattoos but in this case I’ll make an exception. The weldings are beautiful and merit comment and because the bike that I have comes with a belt rather than chain, the frame contains a little removable piece that allows for replacement of the belt when needed. Very neat!

Score: 9/10 (If it didn’t look like an eBike, it would score 10)

Brooks B17 Saddle

They are a Marmite topic of debate. I love them and they look so good. I don’t think people appreciate that in order to stop things rubbing (i.e. your back side), you need to reduce friction. Spongey saddles may keep you bouncing along but what you need is a bit of slide. A well-maintained Brooks saddle gives you plenty of slide and minimal friction. Don’t forget, however, that the wax they supply should be applied on the underside of the saddle with just a little on the top. Common mistake to make.

Score: 10/10 (Can’t be bettered)

Tubus Pannier Racks

Well made and, so far, have had no issues with the racks. They have plenty of places upon which to place your panniers, irrespective of which make of pannier you are using. The rear pannier has two upper bars so you can opt for either a higher or lower position for your pannier. As far as I’m aware, these are about as good as it gets with pannier racks. They have become a little discoloured after only two years but is that a big issue? I think not.

Score: 9/10 (I’ll knock off a point for the discolouring)

Ryde Andrea 28″ Wheels

I don’t really have much to say about the wheels aside from not having had any issues with them in the past two years. They look as good as they did upon delivery and, with a multitude of spokes, they are as strong as you can get I imagine. Having had issues with spokes before, I hope I’m not tempting fate by handing the wheels a maximum score. Fingers are crossed.

Score: 10/10

Rohloff 14-Speed Hub

Well if you ignore the vast expense, what’s not to like? I first saw a Rohloff hub up close and personal a few years ago at the Bike Show in Birmingham. The display model had been sliced in two and you could see all the internal workings. It blew my mind. I have no idea how you can possibly put everything that normally requires a chainset, cogs, derailleur etc… into such a small space. ( This chap does! ) But that’s why I’m a French teacher and not an engineer… It has worked perfectly for two years. Well, I say ‘perfectly’… It very occasionally misses a gear but a twist of the shifter gets things sorted within seconds. There is no maintenance required by me although when the bike went in for its annual service last year, I seem to remember that the oil was changed. The sound of the workings is sublime and the ability to grind to a halt and change gear whilst stationary (at traffic lights for example) is cool. It’s the the bit of the Koga that puts it in the same league as an Aston Marin. If James Bond were ever to ride a bike, he’d have one fitted with a Rohloff hub. No doubt whatsoever about that. I thought I might have had an issue with the hub last summer when I noticed that there was sometimes a pool of oil on the ground after the bike had been stood up overnight (apologies to the folk at the YHA hostel in London…). I wrongly assumed this was a leak from the Rohloff. Turned out it was water draining through the cable housing that is next to the hub. How could I have ever doubted it? ‘Reassuringly expensive’ is a term invented not just for Stella Artois but also for the Rohloff 14-Speed Hub.

Score: 10/10 (I’d happily score it higher)

Gates Carbon Belt

When I was talking to David Stainforth prior to buying the Koga, the carbon belt was something that got discussed at length. If truth were to be told, however, I think I was secretly hoping he would persuade me to include the carbon belt on the specification when we finally placed the order. As with the Rohloff hub, it wasn’t cheap but I think I got to the point where I thought ‘what the hell!’. When will I next buy such an expensive bike? Perhaps never. In for a penny, in for many pounds… The lack of required maintenance is, for someone who isn’t very interested in fiddling with the bike, a big plus. No oil is required. In fact, it’s prohibited! When I took the bike to Spain in 2019, I did experience some squeaking of the belt and I found that throwing some water on it sorted the problem, for a period at least. Since returning from Spain, I’ve lubricated the belt with silicon lubricant. A quick spray every few weeks and the squeaking isn’t an issue. Yes, it’s true that if the belt does break and you happen to be in the middle of nowhere, you are in trouble. If I ever were planning to go to the middle of nowhere I would probably carry a replacement belt. That said, Gates designed these belts for motorbikes originally. How often do they actually break without outside intervention of a sharp object? I hope never to find out.

Score: 9/10 (The squeaking was annoying)

Shimano PD-T8000 Pedals

Over the years I have dabbled with SPD’s but I think I have finally come to the conclusion that, when cycling, I prefer to wear a solid pair of trainers or, when it’s hot, my Merrell sandles. These are all incompatible with SPD pedals which isn’t a problem for the PD-T8000 pedals as they have a flat side for people like me who think that SPD’s are just an invention too far. I may change my mind at some point in the future, but I doubt it, especially when I remember the extent to which the metal plates on the shoe can so effectively transfer cold to my feet. I’ve had no issues with the pedals. They get a top score.

Shimano XT Hydraulic Discbrakes

I first used discbrakes on a Cannondale bike that I rode a few years ago ( remember ‘Dale’? ). My main criticism of the brakes was that when going downhill they could be painful on the hands on the drop handlebars. They used cables. The Koga’s brakes are hydraulic. What a difference! Wonderfully smooth… Very easy and not painful to apply even on the steepest of Pennine hills. Yes, the brake pads are not easy to replace; I’ve only done that myself once and it did take a while (I usually ask for the brake pads to be changed whenever the bike needs a service using the expression ‘ oh and while you are at it, could you… ‘ to casually hide my fear of anything technical) and all brake pads are not equal! Some can be very noisy. It’s also difficult to see if the pads are worn down and whether they need changing. But these are criticisms of the brake pads rather than the brakes themselves which are excellent.

Score: 9/10 (Would get a 10 if Shimano invented a way of easily changing the pads…)

Son 28 Dynamo Hub

This is one of the things on the Koga that is a bit of a luxury but it does make life easy. No more batteries to change in the lights (see below) and a drip, drip of energy via the USB connection into my iPhone. I don’t think the charge would ever be sufficient to recharge the iPhone from low charge to high charge, especially if you are using the phone during the day to track your ride, check directions, take photos or capture video etc… but it does a decent job of keeping it topped up. I dare say this is an area in which technology will continue to improve, but probably at the battery end rather than the hub end. This, I suppose, future proofs the device. It’s a very useful thing to have and as far as I’m aware, the Son 28 does as good a job as any available dynamo hub.

Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour Tires

When I bought the bike, I didn’t opt for the Marathon Plus tires and I can’t remember why that was the case. Was I mad? I’ve used Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires for many, many years. Indeed on the three long trips across Europe, I only ever suffered one puncture and I put this down to the Marathon Plus tires. So why did I opt for Schwalbe Almotion tires when I bought Wanda? I replaced the Almotion tires earlier this year as I thought the tread was wearing a little thin and I had a slow puncture on the rear wheel. The tires – both Almotion and Marathon – are very wide, and standard Marathon Plus tires don’t come in such a wide format. The Almotions were ever-so-slightly wider than the Marathon Plus Tour tires that replaced them but the tread on the Marathon Plus Tour tires is just gorgeous. (How often do you hear people refer to tire tread in such terms?) I’m never going back. They make for a super-comfy ride.

Score: 10/10 (Marathon Plus Tour), 8/10 (Almotion)

Busch & Muller Lights

Combined with the Son dynamo hub, they are great. Very bright and they do what it says on the tin. However, I can’t understand why the rear light cuts out when you stop cycling. The front light remains lit. Not so with the rear light. Bearing in mind that when you are stationary the rear light is probably more important than the front light, it’s a design fault that gives the lights the lowest of any of the scores on this page. When I have been cycling at night (which isn’t very often – usually on the commute home from work), I have always attached a battery rear light as well. Which is a pity.

Score: 7/10. (Due to that pesky rear light cutting out)

Koga ‘Denham’ Handlebars

I love the wideness of these bars. It’s difficult to appreciate just how wide they are so here’s a picture taken in Northern Ireland last year as I cycled north along the Antrim coast:

As you can see, they are almost as wide as the carriageway… OK, not quite but they are wide! And that’s what makes them so wonderfully comfortable. (I note that I have used the word ‘comfort’ or ‘comfortable’ several times so far – you can clearly see where my priorities are…) There’s also plenty of room for the accessories on the ‘dashboard’ so as to speak. The name ‘Denham’ comes from the fact that they were designed in cooperation with Alee Denham who is a brand ambassador for Koga (see comments below) and one of his main innovations with these handlebars are the small bars protruding forward from the main bar. To be honest, I rarely use them. The position of my wonderful Crane Bell on the left doesn’t help. They are, however, useful for hanging things on. I’m sure Alee didn’t have that in mind when he slaved over their design…

Score: 9/10

Alee Denham appeared on episode 008 of The Cycling Europe Podcast which was dedicated to the purchase of a new touring bicycle.. Here is the full description of that episode:

“The Cycling Europe Podcast returns with a new touring bike special. Andrew P. Sykes visits CycleSense in Tadcaster, Yorkshire to pick up his new Koga Signature WorldTraveller bicycle and chats to the owner David Stainthorpe about his purchase. We hear from Koga brand ambassador Alee Denham from the website  CyclingAbout.com  about his experiences of cycling across South America on a Koga WorldTraveller bike. Andrew also chats to the master frame builder Richard Hallett about his life as a bespoke bicycle manufacturer and to one of his very satisfied customers, Andy Johnson. We hear an extract from Andrew’s first book – Crossing Europe on a Bike Called Reggie – in which he wrote about buying his first touring bicycle, a Ridgeback Panorama. Finally, the author reflects upon his first ride on his new touring bicycle, a bike called Wanda.”

Nothing beats referring to yourself in the third person…

So there you have my thoughts after riding the Koga Signature WorldTraveller bicycle for the past two years. It’s a great bike to ride. Expensive, yes, but worth every penny.

What was the overall score?

Out of ten, I give it… 9.3

Would I recommend it?

Of course I would .

Since 2009, CyclingEurope.org has established itself as a valued, FREE cycle touring resource. There’s now even a podcast, The Cycling Europe Podcast . If you enjoy the website and the podcast, please consider supporting the work of CyclingEurope.org with a donation. More information can be found here . Thanks if you do!

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Categories: Adventure , Cycling , Travel , Video

2 replies »

Thanks for the review, Andrew.

Looking at your rear light (Toplight Line Plus?) the spec. says “Standlight deactivates automatically after 4 minutes, or manually by push button when parked”. Might be a fault to get checked by supplier.

The Denham bar bullhorns are designed to “mimic the brake hoods of a drop handlebar .. helping reduce your body’s frontal area” (www.cyclingabout.com/koga-denham-bars), one to test next time you are confronted with a block headwind, though, as you say, you may need to rotate the bell out of the way.

Thanks Jon. I’ve just inspected the light and there is indeed a little button under the rear light. Can’t believe I’ve had the bike for over 2 years and only just discovered it!!! I’ll double check the light when I next go out for a ride. As for the handlebars, perhaps the bell needs a permanent repositioning. If the wind is so strong that it requires you to consider reducing ‘your body’s frontal area’ to help cut through the it, I would definitely not be using the bullhorns as keeping the bike steady would be much more difficult…

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Koga Signature E-WorldTraveller-S Trekkingbike Review

The Koga Signature E-WorldTraveller-S is the electrified brother of the famous Koga WorldTraveller, one of the most famous trekkingbikes in The Netherlands. Read the review and watch the video!

• Weight: 24,86 kg 
• Size: 57 cm
• Price: € 6025

One of the most famous trekking bike brands in The Netherlands is Koga. Koga is based in Heerenveen – in the north of The Netherlands – and the name is a contraction of the names Kowallik and Gaastra, the couple that started the Koga brand. Later the brand was known under the name Koga Miyata. The Japanese Miyata once built the frames for Koga but somewhere in the mid ’90 the name Mitaya disappeared. Nowadays Koga belongs to the huge Accell Group. They are the owners of the original Dutch bikebrands Batavus and Sparta but also of Lapierre, Raleigh, Ghost, HaiBike and VanNicholas 

Size and weight

The Koga Signature E-WorldTraveller-S Trekkingbike that I am reviewing has a frame size of 57 cm and fits well my length of 169,5 cm. The bike is fully loaded: Bosch Performance CX-mid engine, PowerPack 500 battery, 14-speed Rohloff E-14 speedhub, Gates beltdrive, Shimano XT disc-brakes, SKS fenders, B&M lighting, Trelock lock, Brooks C17 Cambium saddle etc. The total weight as stated by Koga is 24,4 kg. I measured a tiny bit more: 24,86 kg and for an E-bike so complete this is pretty ok. 

Signature configuration

The Signature part in the name refers to the Signature configuration system of Koga. You ‘built’ your own custom bike on the Koga Signature website. Here you can adapt the ‘basic’ bike to your own demands. I did not do this since Koga lend me the bike and they made the choices. But I don’t think I would make any different choices accept for one. More on this later.

Frame and smooth welding

The Koga Signature E-WorldTraveller-S has an aluminum frame and fork. The frame tubes are manufactured by hydroforming – under water pressure – that gives the tubes their special shape. Thanks to this technique, tubes can be made in virtually any shape. This way tubes can be extremely thin – hence light – without losing strength. The fork has three attachment points for carriers or bottle-holders.

The Bosch mid-engine is an integral part of the frame and therefore it is a very solid construction. All welds on the frame are smooth and that is something of a trend thing. Smooth welding doesn’t say anything about the welds or the quality of the welds. It only says that the welds are hidden under a layer of putty so that you don’t see the welds anymore but you get a very clean looking frame. Personal note: I love high quality welding that is visible and I have never been a trendy-sensitive guy…

Wiring and mounting points

Since the Koga is an E-bike a lot of extra wiring is required I must say that Koga did a beautiful job. All electrical wires are mostly inside the frame which makes them less vulnerable. The same applies to the cables coming from the brakes levers. There is only one bit of wiring I don’t like: the electrical wire on the right side of the handlebar with some cheap electricity tape… 

The battery is mounted on the frame where you would normally place a bottle holder. The frame has three places to attach a bottle-holder to: one on the seat tube, one underneath the top tube and one underneath the down tube. The first only fits a small bottle-cage but in the other two large 1.5 liter ones do fit. 

Bosch-Rohloff-Gates

This is the first bike I ride with a Bosch-Rohloff-Gates combination and I am impressed. Since the Bosch motor is placed in the heart of the frame, the center of gravity and the balance of the Koga is spot on. The motor is operated with three buttons on the left side of the handlebar. The plus and minus symbols are used to change between the amount of support given by the engine. I have the choice between Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo and “off”. This is all displayed in a screen that is located in the middle of the handlebar. The middle button is the information button an by pressing it I change the information in the display ranging from distance, speed, average speed, gear and also estimated reach. On the right side of the handlebar I have a second set of buttons. These operate the changing of gears in the Rohloff speedhub in the rear wheel. Yes, electric!

Electric Rohloff E-14 speedhub

The Rohloff E-14 speedhub is a hub with 14-gears in the hub. Shifting is traditionally done by a twist-grip on the handlebar. Turn the twist-grip on the handlebar and the gears go up or down. The Rohloff hub has a name in being a wonder of technique that is bulletproof. Since the Koga is an E-bike is it logical that the changing of gears is automatic to. 

Shifting through the gears of the electric14-speed Rohloff speedhub is astonishing. A press of one of the buttons operates a servo in the shifting mechanism that is positioned left side of the rear wheel. The whole system is about the same in size as the manual one. The shifting is fast, almost silent and very accurate. During riding on flat roads and not to steep ascents it works brilliantly. Pressing three times gives the same as manual shifting three gears up (or down). In fact it feels so natural and smooth I would prefer electrical shifting in favor of the manual one. Even on non-E-bikes. Except for two small remarks:

• With the manual system it is possible to climb a steep hill, pause the pedals for a millisecond and shift very quickly before coming to a complete stop. The automatic system is not that fast and sometimes it happened to me that shifting was not fast enough to keep the speed going. Changing gears with pressure on the pedals is not something a Rohloff-speedhub likes when climbing.
• The electric system detects when the bike is coming to a stop. For example in front of traffic light, a stop to look at the map or take zip from a bottle. When the bike stops the system automatically shifts back to gear number 6 (you can program this to your desire) so that the bike is in the right gear to start biking again. This is super except when you ‘stop’ by doing a sur-place or turning a very tight corner on one spot. The system doesn’t register that the bike keeps moving and it changes into 6 th gear. Something I don’t want at those moments.

Are those two remarks a big thing? The first… maybe. It depends on how you are going to use the bike. The second…. I know I am a bit of a nerd that tries tot to touch the ground when stopping as long as possible.

Gates belt-drive

The Gates belt drive. I love bikes with a belt. The main reason is that a belt is a very quiet way of getting energy from one part to the other. And because it is so silent I enjoy the ride more because I hear more sounds from nature, ok… mainly birds and wind. Also the facts that a belt requires hardly any maintenance and is free from grease are a pro. 

I’ve had a lot of debates about the durability of a belt-drive on a trekkingbike and some issues I do understand and some I don’t. Replacing one on a long trip I understand because you need to bring one. That belts break easily I don’t understand, chains break too. A belt drive on an E-bike is the proper thing to do: E-bikes are mostly used in environments with a high quality infrastructure so when things go wrong… help is at hand. By the way: a belt is a closed loop and in that respect different than a chain. To place or replace the belt the frame has an ‘opening’ (see picture) in the right seat stay. This does not compromise the frames integrity; one of the things I hear a lot. 

One thing that is important to know is that when the belt is not on the right tension and while putting a lot of force on the paddles, the belt is able to hop over the rear sprocket. This can lead to nasty crashes. To prevent this a snubber is mounted at the rear sprocket. This Snubber is a sort of little wheel that hover above the belt and prevents the belt from lifting so no sprocket hopping can occur.

Carriers and luggage

The E-WorldTraveller-S is equipped with carriers from the German brand Tubus. In the front Koga installed a Tubus Duo lowrider and in the back a Tubus Logo. The front is capable of loads up to 15 kg and the rear up to 26 kg. I always test the bikes I review with the same load so I can relate to bikes I tested in the past. In the front I have 10 kg in total and in the back 15 kg. I use dumbbells instead of real camping equipment – although the weight is based on my camping trips – and because of this method I don’t have differences in packing. I mostly use Ortlieb panniers. With the weight in the panniers, the bike and me the total weight is 112,86 kg. The frame and fork have no problems whatsoever with this weight. The handling and steering is fine. The maximum weight limit of the Koga is 130 kg so be aware of this. 

PowerPack 500 battery range

The range of an E-bike – any E-bike! – is probably the biggest issue with the most difficult answer. Why? Because there are so many variables that influence the range. Think about the support modus – Eco or Turbo -, wind, temperature, hills, luggage, what type of bike, tires, weight of the rider and how much physical power you are delivering. 

I know how I like to ride an E-bike and that is giving a lot a power myself cruising at 25 km/h and end up being totally exhausted after the ride. I see it as a workout. Therefor I ride 70% in Eco and sometimes (5%) in Tour. On the home stretch I go for Turbo to maximize speed and have fun draining the battery and me ( I did 41,5 km/h max on a bridge descent, no support from the motor of course). With the 113 kg and my way of riding I had a range of 100 km from the PowerPack 500 battery. That is decent for this kind of trekking E-bike. With playing between modes you can increase or decrees this dramatically.

Bosch knows that range is a big issue and made an eBike range assistant to give a ruff calculation on range. I put the link below the article. Charging an empty battery takes about 3 hours an when the battery is ‘empty’ there is still some power left for the lights and changing gears. Then you have a normal but a bit heavy trekkingbike. Nice is also that the Bosch engine almost gives no resistance when riding without power.

Shimano disc brakes

There was a time that disc brakes on a trekking bike where a no go. I didn’t understand it in those days and I am happy that times have changed in favor of them. The Koga is equipped with Shimano XT brakes. Both discs are 160 mm and the BRM-8000 calipers have double pistons. The Shimano XT brake levers are easy to adjust to accommodate smaller and larger hands. The dosage of the brakes is user friendly and braking force more than adequate, even with all the luggage.

The riding position on the Koga is sporty but comfortable. There is not a lot to play around with if you want to change the position a bit. You can only remove a few shims from the stem if you want a more sporty ride. The Koga-branded handlebar is 665 mm wide and the shape makes it extremely comfortable. The Brooks grips are not totally to my liking; they are too slippery on the top and that is the one thing I would change. The Brooks C-17 Cambium saddle I do like a lot. More on the Brooks in this video. 

The behavior of the Koga is very predictable and I do like the fact that it is a bike with a 27,5” wheelset. For me – small guy – this is the perfect balance between a compact bike setup, riding characteristics, and comfort. The rims on the E-WorldTraveller-S are from Ryde with Schwalbe Super Moto X 27.5 62 mm around them. On straight roads it is a super stable combination and when it gets a bit more curvy the behavior is what you would expect from a trekking bike: it goes with the flow. Frame and fork are fully loaded up to job. The beefy tires perform their best on flat and even tarmac. And when properly inflated they give little roll resistance. When riding more adventures roads – gravel, unpaved country roads – I had to experiment a bit with the tire pressure to make the ride a bit more comfortable. But with balloon tiers this big that is never a problem.

The verdict

The Koga Signature E-WorldTraveller-S has proven to be a very comfortable and well built travel companion. The riding position is fine for long distance travelling. The Bosch-Rohloff-Gates combination with the electronic E-14 shifting is worth a Gold Medal on it’s own. I would like to see the availability of this E-shifting on regular trekkingbikes with a small powerpack to feed it. The Koga ride is quiet thanks to the belt. Frame and fork are capable of carrying at least the 130 kg load limit. The beefy tires make the E-WorldTraveller-S suitable for a lot of road conditions. For what it’s worth: the range of the PowerPack 500 battery is about 100 km and that is fine for an E-trekkingbike. Small minuses are there for the shifting up steep hills, the Brook grips and the sloppy taping of the electrical wire on the handlebar. The price is of the Koga Signature E-WorldTraveller-S as I tested it is € 6025,00 and that seems to be a fair price to pay in this top category of E-trekkingbikes. But…. If you are planning to buy one the minuses should be solved and the mandatory bell should be on the handlebar. I rate the Koga Signature E-WorldTraveller-S at 9.2/10 points.Koga statement: ‘We are sorry we forgot to mount the bell on the bike. It should have been there. Our mistake, won’t happen again!’

Information: www.koga.com

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Koga-Miyata 26 Inch WorldTraveller Touring Bike

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As world travel becomes more popular for “bicycle tourists”, I think there is going to an increasing desire for touring bikes that can handle any sort of road conditions one might encounter. While traditional touring bikes are great for most long distance bike tours, an extended trip on dirt roads and narrow single-track trails is going to require a more sturdy and reliable steed.

Here you see the Koga-Miyata WolrdTraveller Touring Bike , decked out with fenders, kickstand, front and rear rack, lights, water bottles, pump, and most important of all… 26 inch wheels.

Why are 26 inch wheels so important? Because when you travel around the world, 26 inch wheels are the easiest to find. Many remote parts of the world do not sell 700c tires or tubes, so having a bike with parts that can be purchased and/or repaired along the way is of utmost importance.

Darren Alff

My goal as the "Bicycle Touring Pro" is to give you the confidence and inspiration you need to travel by bicycle anywhere in the world. I'm here to help you plan, prepare for, and execute your first bike tour and remove all the guesswork, wasted time and frustration that plagues so many first-time bicycle travelers.

18 thoughts on “ Koga-Miyata 26 Inch WorldTraveller Touring Bike ”

Mark Beaumont used one of these type of bikes on his world record breaking world trip.(Since broken). He swore by the gear hub type of gears over the standard type.But it is very hard to find a bike with these gears and a 3 chain ring up front..they have to be special ordered or adapted by the purchaser. The guy that took his record had a bike with a Belt drive. The technology of bike design is on the move…belt drives, more hydraulic disk breaks and soon the one side fork will make its debut. I have just re-started my love affair with the bicycle after 30 years on motorcycles…I soon found the regular seat caused me such pain and discomfort that I would have to quit before I really got started…until I bought a Moon saddle..now all is good again.

26 vs 700 it is true that 26 tires are more avalable than 700 but… In the middle of no were their is no bike shop and when you go to a small shop they will have very low quality tyres. So you need to carry a least one spare tyres and you will find good tyres in big shoop in the main city. Since most of the time you will drive on pave road 700 are still a good option.

it is true, but in the middle of nowhere you might buy a used tyre from a local and that will get you to the next town. plus 26 wheels have a huge advantage as far as spoke breakage is concerned

I ride a classic chrome molly touring bike built 28 years ago. Originally it had 27″ wheels, and I had 700C wheels put on them and simply adjusted the cantilever brakes. In all the years of touring, including some pretty rough roads, but not pure desert, I have managed with tires no wide than 35c. I do carry a spare folding tire which is available where ever you might be and spare spokes.

Happy cycling,

I don’t know Tony. Get in touch with someone at the company and ask.

Tony, Koga has changed it’s approach concerning the trekking bikes. Now, they’re called “signature”, and you can totally customize everything. Check this out: https://www.koga-signature.com/en/Koga-Signature.aspx

Tony , Salsa bicycles may have touring bicycle or touring bicycle frame for you .

avevo una bella koga myata world traveller ruote 26 mi è stata rubata :desiderei ricomprarla anche usata .Nuova mi viene riproposta con ruote da 29 sinceramente non mi entusiasma Quello che la rendeva unica ed accattivante erano le ruote piccole così mi sembra un pò “cavallona “

The World Traveller -(from three years ago at least)-ships with tyres that are called Continental- Travel Contact, but we have found them to be very inadequate. They appear to be very good tyre- the rubber is good and hard and so forth, but the sidewalls deteriorate rapidly. In our case, three of our four original tyres have become useless after less than 4000km; while the rubber looks as though it would easily go for another 4000km. They get longditudinal rips along the line where the ‘bead’ meets the sidewall, and other rips on the diagonal up the sides of the tyres. Meanwhile we know from the numerous touring cyclist types we run into that Schwalbes are commonly getting 10,000km- and only cost slightly more. They’re not cheap tyres- I know because I have spares, but they are not worth the money. I’m surprised that Koga is using them on their flagship World Traveller bikes. I’m also surprised that I can find nowhere online to write to them privately and tell them about this issue without doing so in this more public kind of way. Otherwise the bikes are fantastic. The best I’ve ever owned and I don’t see how anyone could improve upon them.

totally agree

I need a new fender for my Koga World Traveler, where can I get one ???

You can get them anywhere. What size wheels does the bike have? 26 inch? 700c? The wheel/tire size is what dictates the size of the fenders you need. Just go here: https://amzn.to/2h9EDgj and you will see all the different fenders options that are available to you.

I have a 26″- World Traveller that I was using on my around the world bicycle tour. IN 2014 I was hit by a car and thought my bike survived well. I am now physically recovered and took my bike in for some minor repairs and noticed the frame was bent. We measured it and with the amount of bend, it is unsafe to ride.

I am now looking to sell it for parts. The wheels are excellent and other parts like bar ends, rear rack, seat post etc., are in excellent shape if anyone is looking.

Nobody spoke yet about one big advantage of the 26″ wheel. Try to put it on a car, lift/elevator, etro, train, rtc.

etro =>metro

I cannot believe Koga do not have a store or distributor in Australia…I have never had the money to buy one until now but freight to Melbourne is huge .Now, Europe is too dangerous to cycle with the virus and our borders are closed. I cycled through India and Nepal last year on a cheap bike which I bought in Kathmandu. Never again and so dangerous. Indians are lovely people but the drivers are madmen.150000 killed every year.

I managed to buy a 2nd hand Koga Miyata World Traveller on Gumtree in Oz, only AUD 900. I have also seen Thorn Nomad Mk II, just have to check daily and be patient. Can’t wait to try it out on my next tour in WA. Up to now been using a Roberts Rough Stuff with drop bars, excited to find out how the Koga compares. Check out my YouTube channel “The Constant Cyclist” next video will feature Koga World Traveller

I cannot understand why there is no distributor for koga bikes in oz and also nz

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The New 2020 KOGA WorldTraveller S 2.0 Touring Bikes

Table of Contents

The 2020 koga worldtraveller s 2.0, configuration choices, bike features, how does the koga worldtraveller-s ride.

KOGA has just announced a big update to its premium touring bike range. The 2020 KOGA WorldTraveller S 2.0 now offers a new welding technology, new sizing, new drivetrain option, 200 new paint options and a new entry-level price point.

The ‘S’ in the model name refers to KOGA’s Signature program, which offers every WorldTraveller-S bike as a custom build. You choose from a huge range of proven touring parts, pick your colour and can even get your name painted onto on the top tube. The  online bike configurator  for the WorldTraveller is the best in the business, with live changes to the bike image, weight and price.

The frames are painted in the Netherlands in a colour of your choice, and once the paint is dry, a certified mechanic constructs your bike from start to finish. The time from placing your order to receiving your bike is six weeks, including global shipping.

I made a film about the KOGA factory when I visited; you can see how the bikes come together  HERE . 

NEW: Super Smooth Welding Looking at the frame, the first thing you’ll notice is that there are no visible welds. That’s because KOGA has changed the welding style on their aluminium touring frames. The welds have been tested to be just as strong, but with a more elegant finish than ever before.

NEW: Sizing The length of the headtube has been increased by 25mm (1-inch) on most sizes. This decision has been made based on many years of comments from KOGA riders. I use exactly 25mm of spacers on my frame, so this will be a welcome change for when I eventually update to the new frameset.

NEW: Derailleur-Ready Frames Previously the WorldTraveller-S frame was designed for Rohloff hubs exclusively. The 2.0 update brings derailleur compatibility to the Signature-level touring bike, allowing for a lower entry price to the KOGA Signature program.

NEW: Lower Pricing The KOGA Signature touring bikes start from €2600 for a Shimano XT T8000  touring bike complete with dynamo lights. KOGA ships their bikes worldwide, so if you order a bike outside the EU you’ll save 21% on VAT. However, once you factor in the shipping and landing costs it’ll likely end up in the same ballpark in US dollars, more or less. It’s also worth noting that KOGA covers 50% of the shipping costs of their bikes, so shipping to your country may not be as expensive as you think! You can find out the exact shipping cost to your country in KOGA’s online bike configurator .

NEW: More Paint Options KOGA has always offered 10 standard colours for their Signature range touring bikes. But they’ve just stepped it up a few notches with their custom colour program. For an additional €200, you have the ability to request any ‘RAL’ colour number; by my calculations, that’s about 200 colour options! Even special requests like the Madagascar Orange (seen above) can be entertained.

Choice of Frame Design You can choose between a ‘traditional’ or ‘mixed’ frame design, both in five different sizes. The Dutch have the tallest average height of any country – 184cm for men and 170cm for women. So naturally, KOGA constructs mixed frames to suit riders up to 190cm/6ft3 and traditional frames for riders over 200cm/6ft7. On the other end of the spectrum, the smallest mixed frame will suit riders around 150cm/4ft11.

Choice of Wheel Sizes The frame has been designed to fit both 700x50C (29×2.0″) or 27.5×2.4″ with fenders. Removing the fenders boosts that those maximum tyre widths even higher. If you’re spending most of your time on sealed roads, you’ll be happiest with the 700C option which keeps rolling resistance to a minimum. If you’re seeking dirt roads or simply want the extra comfort, 27.5″ will offer all that, plus more.

Rohloff or Derailleur Gearing There are two gearing options for the WorldTraveller. You can choose the top-of-the-line Shimano touring groupset which is called T8000. This is the most simple gearing option as you can get spare parts from any bike shop in the world. The Rohloff gear hub is an engineering marvel, storing 14 gears within the confines of a fully sealed hub shell. These hubs are sturdy, efficient, long-lasting, maintenance-free (almost) and very well proven for world bike travel. You can read the pros and cons of choosing a Rohloff HERE  – this upgrade adds €900 to the bike’s price.

Belt or Chain Drive You may not have seen belt drive bikes before. They’re popular for touring in particular as they can last 3-4x as long as a chain. They also require no lubrication, are grease-free and require very little cleaning. They’re the ultimate drivetrain for bike travel, in my humble opinion! You can read all about the pros and cons of belts HERE . Belt drivetrains add €300 to the price of a KOGA WorldTraveller-S 2.0.

Disc or Rim Brake While most bikes outside Europe are only available with disc brakes, KOGA still offers a rim brake option. If you go with disc brakes you’ll achieve more braking power, better braking performance in wet/muddy conditions and much better mileage out of a set of brake pads. Disc brakes also do not wear out your rims over time. I’ve found Shimano XT disc brakes to be reliable and repairable at any shop that sells mountain bikes – they really are the superior brake type. But for those who still like the idea of rim brakes, KOGA offers Magura hydraulic or Shimano XT rim brake calipers, with the latter being the easiest to repair yourself.

Internal Cable Routing All of the cables are hidden away inside the WorldTraveller frame, including the cable for the rear dynamo light. Inside the downtube are long cable channels ( PIC ) to ensure there’s no rattling around on bumpy roads. The internal routing not only looks neat but also keeps the cables tucked away from water, mud and dust.

Steering Limiter Inside the headtube is a feature unique to KOGA touring bikes – a steering limiter. This stops the handlebar from being able to twist into the top tube. It also ensures that your front wheel cannot turn too far when you deploy the kickstand.

Paint Details One of the highlights of the WorldTraveller Signature is the detail of the paint. Throughout the bike are contour lines and other intricate details. You can also get your name or a message/quote painted on the top tube. KOGA use a powder coat finish which is the most durable paint option for touring.

Super Stiff Frame One of the most noticeable things about the WorldTraveller-S is the super stiff frame design. KOGA use an eccentric bottom bracket so that they can make the rear triangle as stiff as possible for a belt drivetrain. You can learn more about frame stiffness and why it’s important for touring in my resource HERE .

KOGA Denham Bars Obviously, the best feature of the new WorldTraveller is that it’s available with the handlebars that I designed! The bars are nice and wide, giving you a lot of control over your loaded bike. There are also many hand positions for comfort including an inboard bullhorn position (like a drop handlebar) which allows you to tuck in your elbows, making you much more aerodynamic in the headwinds. You can read all about the KOGA Denham Bars  HERE .

After-Sales Care From KOGA: “Our mission is never to leave any Signature customers stranded anywhere in the world. Together with our partners and suppliers, and the customer’s willingness to cooperate – we always strive to find a solution to get our customers on the road again ASAP!” Ask any bike traveller about the KOGA after-sales care – they’re famous for it. For example, my friend Pascal had cycled over 30,000km before his rim cracked. This was a special 40-hole rim that wasn’t available locally. Rather than just sending a replacement rim, they built up an entirely new wheel and shipped it to Australia so he could get on the road without fuss.

Disclosure: KOGA is my personal bike sponsor for my ‘CyclingAbout The Americas’ bike tour from 2017-2020, so I have lots of experience riding the WorldTraveller platform. Despite my connection to the company, I can attest to the above information being accurate, and frankly, all quantifiably measurable or explained.

I have been really happy with my KOGA WorldTraveller. The WorldTraveller has a near-identical frame geometry to one of my favourite touring bikes, the Surly Long Haul Trucker, so the handling was straight away very familiar to me. The bike steers nice and quick with the wide flat bar and is also super stable on descents thanks to its long wheelbase. To be honest, I’m not sure I could design the frame geometry to be much better (I’m pretty critical in this regard). But perhaps I’d increase the top tube lengths in the larger frame sizes and add a bit more ‘toe clearance’ across the size range.

The most noticeable difference between the WorldTraveller and many other touring bikes is the lateral frame stiffness – the KOGA experiences less front-end ‘shimmy’ or wobbling at high speeds, especially with a heavy and potentially uneven load up front. This is something I’ve always been critical of with the Long Haul Trucker (and many other touring bikes) as you can never have enough lateral stiffness, in my opinion!

Despite many people’s preconceptions that aluminium is ‘harsh’, I find the WorldTraveller rides just as comfortably as steel bikes. That’s because most of the comfort of a bicycle is made up from the tyres, seatpost and saddle which deflect and flex far more than a frame can.

Otherwise, my hydro disc brakes have been running nicely, with only a rear brake bleed in the last 16 months. I really like the 29×2.0″ Schwalbe Almotion tyres, which roll super quick, and I have had zero punctures in the last year! The Rohloff hub + belt drivetrain has always been easy and maintenance-free for me. The kickstand is so bloody practical; I thought I’d take it off after a while but now I can’t believe I’ve previously toured without one.

Want To Compare The KOGA WorldTraveller With Dozens of Others?

Check out The Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide  which compares touring bike steering, sizing, gear ratios, specification, pricing and more. The Bikepacking Bike Buyer’s Guide does the same thing, however, with a focus on lighter bikes and models with more off-road capability. Both of these guides are updated annually with the latest models at no extra cost!

Helpful Resources

All About Touring Bike Brakes Frame Materials for Bicycle Touring How to Select Touring Bike Gearing Understand Bicycle Frame Geometry What’s the Difference between Cyclocross and Touring Bikes?

Touring & Bikepacking Bike Overview

2016 Advocate Lorax 2018 All City Gorilla Monsoon 2016 Basso Ulisse 2016 Bianchi Volpe and Lupo 2016 2016 Bombtrack Beyond 2017 Bombtrack Beyond 2018 Bombtrack Beyond 2018 Bombtrack Arise Tour 2019 Bombtrack Beyond 2016 Brodie Elan Vital 2016 Cannondale Touring 2019 Cannondale Topstone 2020 Cannondale Topstone 2016 Cinelli Hobootleg Geo 2018 Co-Op ADV 4.2 2017 Curve Grovel V2 2017 Diamondback Haanjo EXP Carbon 2016 Fuji Touring 2017 Fuji Touring 2018 Fuji Touring 2018 Fuji Touring Disc 2016 Genesis Tour de Fer 2016 Giant ToughRoad 2017 Giant ToughRoad 2018 Giant ToughRoad and ToughRoad GX 2016 Jamis Aurora and Aurora Elite 2019 Jones Plus SWB 2020 KOGA WorldTraveller-S 2016 Kona Big Rove 2016 Kona Roadhouse and Sutra LTD 2016 Kona Sutra 2017 Kona Sutra 2018 Kona Sutra 2018 Kona Sutra LTD 2019 Kona Sutra and Sutra LTD 2020 Kona Sutra and Sutra LTD 2020 Kona Unit X 2016 Marin Four Corners 2017 Marin Four Corners 2018 Marin Four Corners 2016 Masi Giramondo 2018 Masi Giramondo 2016 Niner RLT9 2016 Rawland Ulv and Ravn 2016 Salsa Deadwood 2017 Salsa Fargo 2018 Salsa Fargo Ti Frameset 2018 Salsa Journeyman 2016 Salsa Marrakesh 2017 Salsa Marrakesh 2018 Salsa Marrakesh 2020 Salsa Marrakesh 2017 Salsa Vaya 2019 Salsa Warbird 2016 Specialized AWOL 2017 Specialized AWOL 2017 Specialized Diverge 2018 Specialized Diverge 2019 Specialized Diverge 2017 Specialized Sequoia 2018 Specialized Sequoia 2019 Specialized Sequoia 2018 Surly Bridge Club 2017 Surly Troll 2016 Traitor Wander 2019 Trek 520 2016 Trek 920, 720, 520 & CrossRip 2017 Trek CrossRip 2018 Trek 920 2018 Trek 1120

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Koga WorldTraveller29

Coming out the box as a perfect world tourer package, we review the Koga WorldTraveller29 to see if there is anything we would change.

In 2008 Mark Beaumont broke the world record for riding around the world, and he did it on a Koga bike. So this is a company with a definite pedigree for long distance touring and adventure bikes.

The WorldTraveller29 is just that, made from triple hardened 6069 aluminium with a carbon fork to reduce trail buzz, capable of accepting lowrider pannier. 29 inch wheels help reduce rolling resistance offroad with 47mm puncture resistant tyres, while a 3x10 gearing setup means there is no excuse for being in the wrong ratio for the hills.

Reliable and bombproof Shimano SLX gearing keeps the bike moving while Magura rim brakes stop everything just as quick. Yes, rim brakes are old school, but in this case they have been specced to be completely reliable and easy to repair in the field should anything go wrong - not something you can always claim for modern hydraulic disc brakes.

This is a bike that really could take you around the world and back in its stride.

All our reviews are independent and unbiased. We may earn a commission when you buy from links to Amazon and other affiliates on this page.

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Koga Miyata KR-TR26 Signature review

Expedition-ready custom bike

Simon Withers

Cycling Plus magazine's product editor Simon Withers specced this Koga Miyata World Traveller Signature online, then took a trip to the Dutch company's HQ in Heerenveen to watch it being assembled. He's been delighted with the result.

• Frame: Handmade, perfectly aligned and sumptuously finished aluminium frame – ideal for the very long haul (9/10)
• Handling: An upright and comfortable riding position offers steady, surefooted handling. Long day's riding? not a problem (9/10)
• Equipment: The Rohloff hub is a top-level performer and there’s good quality and very durable kit throughout, from the hub dynamo to the Tubus rack (9/10)
• Wheels: Belgian-made touring rims, Sapim spoke nipples and spokes, and Continental tyres form a hardwearing if heavy combo (8/10)

Anybody who knows me will know that I’m not exactly a stylish dresser and that I’m never likely to own a bespoke suit. But if clothes maketh the man, then it follows that bikes maketh the cyclist. Or something like that. And as somebody likely to spend more time cycling than suited up (funerals and court appearances aside), then it made sense to ride a bike specifically made for me.

I've ridden just about every type of bike out there, but the type of cycling that probably shapes me more than any other is touring. I've done two major tours – a 2,750-mile ride from Cairns to Melbourne, and a 3,000-mile trip on four continents over three months – and fancied something expedition-ready.

Going Dutch

The Dutch company Koga make numerous models, from pro quality race bikes, commuting and leisure machines to full-on tourers. These all come in standard versions, but if none of these takes your fancy then a very large degree of customising is possible on most of their models using Koga’s Signature system.

So whether you want hub or derailleur gears, flat or butterfly bars – popular on the continent, less so here – dynamo or battery lighting, rim or disc brakes, the choice is yours. And Koga have a pedigree when it comes to touring bikes: Mark Beaumont set his round-the-world cycling record on a Signature model World Traveller.

I specced our model – complete with Cycling Plus signature on the top tube (you can choose your own wording) – using Koga’s online build-your-own-bike website . This is a straightforward and very easy to use system, giving you a large degree of control over the bike’s final design. The World Traveller frame is available in five sizes, and the website gives you clear advice on sizing.

The default model, with a Shimano XT triple setup, costs £1,907, with a Deore-equipped bike a very reasonable £1,475. Ours came in with a heftier price tag because we went for the Rohloff 14-speed hub – for its minimal maintenance and ruggedness – and a front hub-driven dynamo lighting system. Aside from Shimano Deore, LX, XT and Rohloff there’s also the option of Shimano’s Alfine eight-speed hub gear.

I’ve always been happy with Shimano’s V-brakes, so stuck with them, but could have gone for Shimano hydraulic disc brakes or Magura’s hydraulic rim brakes. As for the bar, I plumped for a flat mountain bike handlebar with an adjustable stem and stubby Ergon bar-ends. Riding on flat bars I always like to have the extra handhold bar-ends offer, which is crucial on long rides. But again numerous options are available, including swept-back ‘bird’ bars and three multigrip bars, including Koga’s Selego, which combines a butterfly bar, short tribar and a bag holder.

Koga don’t offer a lot of colour choices, ‘mystic black’ and ‘polished silver’ being the only ones. Rim choice is limited to Belgian-made Exals, but these tough-as-old-boots hoops proved well up to the job. Three different tyres are available, and having toured on Continentals I chose the Travel Contacts. These combine a slick central section with deeper treads around the edge for better grip on broken surfaces. Heavyweight rubber, yes, but tough too, and puncture-free for a year.

Numerous extras are also available, and it made sense to go for a couple of Koga-branded Vaude panniers and a bar bag. When I tour I don’t travel too heavily, and if it won’t fit in two panniers and a bar bag then I leave it behind.

The personal touch

I witnessed my Signature model being assembled, and as with every Koga Signature bike one mechanic is responsible for completing each machine before it’s given the thumbs-up by a supervisor and can leave the factory. Mine was put together by an ex-pat Brit, Andy Saunders, whose hobby is listed as long-distance cycling on the card you get with the bike. Koga’s Heerenveen factory is clean and spacious, and extremely well organised and efficient. Koga arrange a number of open days at their showroom and factory where you can see bikes – including Signature models – being assembled.

The frames themselves are made in Taiwan by a subsidiary of the Japanese company Miyata, and they’re made to a very high standard. When our mechanic George took the Koga apart he commented on its Cannondale-like weld and finish quality. And while it’s built for strength, the frame is triple-butted to keep the weight down and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

On the road

It’s all very well the bike looking the part – and the Koga does – but how does it ride? Well, I’ve been riding it for over a year, in snow (it’s the only bike I’ve dared to venture out on in our recent cold snap), rain, sun and anything else the British climate can throw at it, on A-roads, country lanes, tracks and towpaths.

There hasn’t even been a murmur of complaint from the Rohloff, which I’ve grown to love, and I’d be more than happy to tour using one. The 19-100in gear range will cope with just about anything, even when the bike’s heavily laden. I haven’t taken it over any mountains yet, but I have tackled some Mendip slopes on it during day rides. Sadly, work precluded an expedition.

The wheels also coped with every challenge. One of the advantages of using a hub gear is that you do away with the need for dishing the wheel and the uneven spoke tensions that result. This is why Rohloff argue that a 32-spoke wheel will be strong enough. It certainly seemed to be.

About the only thing I would change is the saddle. Up until a year ago I’d been using a Selle San Marco Rolls, and have since become a fan of Fizik’s Aliante. But I never did get used to the Fizik Rondine. That said, Koga offer saddles from Selle Italia and Brooks or no saddle at all so you can keep your old one and save a few quid.

I don’t know for sure that the Signature model was any better than a standard World Traveller, but I do know that I’ll miss it when it goes back to Heerenveen. And that’s the ultimate test of any bike.

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• This topic has 5 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years ago by bencooper .
• Koga Miyata Globe Traveller

I’ve recently inherited my late father’s Koga Miyata Globe Traveller. He’d used it for a few years, on trips to France with his mate and as with enverything he owned it was fastidiuosly looked after and maintained and as such it is pretty much in showroom condition.

I live in the Lakes and as such most of my riding has been on my Tallboy LTc. I have more recently taken to road riding and have a place on the forthcoming Fred Whitton sportive. I’m enjoying the road, perhaps a little more than i should admit, but with the pressures of a young family I do not see me using the Koga at all.

Ironically, the Koga probably means a lot more to me that it did to my father, but I’m having to consider selling it on to free up some cash/garage space.

Does anyone have experience of the Koga Globe Traveller – should I keep it for sentimental reasons or for some far in the future adventure (its got more panier bags withit than i can count). The money from a sale would go someway to a new Di2 groupset that I’m quite tempted by at the moment.

Unless you are desperate for he cash, keep it.

It is a lovely bike and one that will last forever esp if its got a rohloff. Maybe in 20 years your riding will change and your old mans bike will be the perfect ride to use.

Keep it, if it’s sentimental then keep it. KEEP IT!

..or sell it to me for a paltry sum.

Fresh Goods Friday 698 - The Boom Box Edition

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Retrodirect – i have no idea what a paltry sum would be in this situation. Give me a clue!

Keep it. You WILL regret it if you get rid, especially if its just space and a new plastic toy you after.

If it was me, i would find a wall in the house and mount it (but still be able to get it down to ride it in nice weather, like a classic car)

I used to be a Koga dealer – they’re fantastically well made, perhaps a little heavy and over-equipped, but it’s one of the few bikes you could by, weak out of the shop,and be confident it’d take you to Beijing.

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Te koop: Koga Miyata Globe Traveller 2006

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Koga-Miyata Globe Traveller GTR Touring Bicycle

Nov 26, 2012

270 likes | 2.82k Views

Koga-Miyata Globe Traveller GTR Touring Bicycle. Mark Shrosbree. Intended Use. Long-distance cycle touring. Appearance. Appearance. Adjustable drop handlebars. Sloping top tube. Black anodised components. Polished aluminium frame. Materials. TIG welded joints Triple-butted tubing.

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Koga-Miyata Globe Traveller GTR Touring Bicycle Mark Shrosbree

Intended Use Long-distance cycle touring

Appearance Appearance Adjustable drop handlebars Sloping top tube Black anodised components Polished aluminium frame

Materials TIG welded joints Triple-butted tubing 7005 Aluminium triple-hardened tubing

Materials Tubular cro-moly steel rack, 10mm tubing with 0.5mm wall thickness Aluminum CAB Composite chromoplastic mudguards

Materials Double-wall aluminium rims Stainless steel spokes (14 gauge, 2mm) Kevlar belt tyres with reflective strip

Frame Size 47, 50, 54, 57, 60, 63cm 104 cm 57 cm 174 cm

Wheel & Tyre Size 700c wheels ISO 622 633 mm diameter Tyre thickness 32 mm Circumference 1955 mm

Weight 15.90 kilograms with all accessories

Suspension Seat Pillar 30mm travel

27 Gears 9-speed rear X Triple chain ring

Components Twin brake levers Gear shift / brake lever combo TNT adjustable stem (7075 T6 alloy)

Electrical Components LED front light, with light sensor Hub dynamo Trip Computer

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There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

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Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

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Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission