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Best touring bikes 2024: tourers for adventures on two wheels

Although there are many bikes capable of cycle trips, the best touring bikes remain the optimal tool for longer journeys

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Our pick of the best touring bikes

What to look for in a touring bike.

The allure of the open road is one of cycling’s enduring themes. Touring by bicycle allows for this on a grand scale, travelling for several days, often in far-flung places with all your kit strapped to the bike. Of course, micro-adventures closer to home can be just as much fun and still keep the spirit of adventure alive.

Whether you’re planning an expedition abroad or fancy exploring more local roads in far greater detail, a touring bike is the ideal tool for the job. Designed for cycling long distances in comfort, the bikes should be both stable and reliable in their handling, as well as providing all the mounts you need for pannier racks and bags and mudguards . Self-sufficiency is one of the tenets of cycling touring, so the bikes are usually designed with ease of maintenance in mind, too.

The good news for touring cyclists is that the range of bikes available to cater for their needs has grown substantially in the last few years.

In this guide, we've rounded up the more traditional options. If you're thinking of going off-road, perhaps investigate gravel orientated options in our buying guide here , and if you plan to go quick and travel light, see endurance road bikes here .

There's more on what to look for in a touring bike below - but first, here are our top picks of the best touring bikes.

Genesis Tour de Fer 30 touring bike

Specifications, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

This is a bike that's been created exclusively to provide a comfortable and practical ride for a touring cyclist. The Reynolds 725 Heat-Treated Chromoly frame promises a springy ride and an incredibly strong base.

The 160mm rotor mechanical disc brakes are a more modern introduction with a nod to practicality, especially in the wet. Although we’ve found mechanical TRP Spyre brake calipers aren’t quite as powerful or as easy to modulate as a hydraulic brakeset, they are easy to adjust and highly reliable – perfect for a long-distance tour.

A 10-speed Shimano Tiagra drivetrain is about right for a bike at this price point, but in our experience, a 50/39/30 crankset provides gears that are just a bit too big for cycle touring – particularly over hilly terrain. 

But you can always swap this out for a smaller ringed option down the line. We find that with a cassette of 11-34t, going for a granny ring of 26t is generally a good bet.

We’ve always found Schwalbe’s Marathon tyres to be highly puncture resistant and with a good wear rate. In 35c, these are capable of traversing broken roads and tamer gravel, but if you’re planning on spending a large amount of time off road you would want something a bit plumper.

Handily, this bike come with many of the accessories we think are a must. Firstly, mudguards, but also dynamo powered front and rear lights, bottle cages and the Tubus pannier racks front and rear.

Surly Disc Trucker

A spin-off of Surly's much-revered Long Haul Trucker, the Disc Trucker keeps many of the much-loved versatility and can-do attitude, but this time with the addition of mechanical disc brakes and thru-axles – unlike the Genesis Tour de Fer 30 which has disc brakes and QR axles.

Opinion is a little split on thru-axles for touring – if you have any catastrophic issues with your hubs in more remote countries, you're unlikely to be able to find a replacement locally. That said, those kind of hub issues are quite rare and if it does happen you can always get a replacement sent out. For the improved alignment between the rotor and the caliper, we think the benefits outweigh the negatives.

A multitude of braze-on mount means the Disc Trucker is capable of running front and rear bags, full-coverage fenders, two water bottles, a spare spoke and even a pump peg. However, in not coming with these accessories, you will have to factor these into the cost, making the value for money a little less than the Genesis Tour de Fer 30 or the Kona Sutra.

With both 26" and 700c wheel build options available, the Disc Trucker can be as adventurous as you choose. The 26" (in sizes 42-58cm) is capable of taking up to 2.1" tires, while the 700c version (in sizes 56-64cm) has room for up to 42mm tires — both with fenders.

Although touring bikes generally do have a more relaxed position than a typical road bike, designed as they are for comfortably covering long distances, the Disc Trucker does have a particularly high front end. This isn't necessarily a problem, but if you are coming from a road cycling background, you may find just such an elevated position a little uncomfortable 

Made from a CroMoly Steel, the Disc Trucker comes equipped with a Shimano Alivio/Sora drivetrain, with the 48/36/26 triple Alivio crankset and 11-34 9-speed Shimano cassette provides a gearing range we find to be a great balance between top-end speed and low-end winching – particularly if you’re planning on maxing out the rider and kit weight limit of 161kg (355lb).

Kona Sutra All Road touring bike

The gloss black Sutra is made from Kona 's Cromoly steel frame and is kitted out with smooth-rolling Schwalbe Marathon Mondial 700x40c tires on WTB STi23 rims, which are now tubeless-compatible.

The current model has replaced the previous Shimano Deore 3x10 drivetrain with 2x10 chainset from Shimano's GRX gravel range. It's a move that's unlikely to please the touring purists. The 46/30t chainrings are matched with a 11-36t cassette, which sees the bike's gearing range reduced. It should still see you up the steep climbs, just perhaps not in as much comfort as before.

Gone too are the bar-end shifters, replaced with Shimano 10-speed Tiagra road shifters. Again it's quite the change, moving the Sutra from a traditional tourer into a far more modern interpretation. It reduces some of the bike's previous mechanical simplicity, which is appealing if your tours are long and overseas. That said the move to STI levers will appeal if you're used to riding a regular bike.

Another nod to modernity are the TRP disc brakes, which are blend of mechanical and hydraulic, and the frame's thru-axles.

With a Brooks B17 leather saddle, mudguards and a front pannier rack finishing off this tourer, this good-looking bike oozes style.

The leather Brooks saddle does require a bit more care than what you might be used to – it need to be kept covered from heavy rain and needs a semi regular application of cream to keep the leather supple. But by functioning essentially as a hammock, it is exceptionally comfortable and only gets better over time as it moulds to your shape – it wears in, rather than out..

Ridgeback Voyage

Classic styling never goes out of date - and the vintage-looking Voyage has got it by the bucket load, though a redesign means that modern tech has not been overlooked.

The Ridgeback Voyage uses Reynolds 520 tubing for the frame, with a CroMoly steel fork. A rack and full mudguards (fenders) come as standard. 

The Shimano 48/36/26t triple chainset paired with an 11-34 cassette offers a good range of gearing although with relatively large jumps between the gears due to having just nine gears at the rear. 

We don’t find this to be too much of an issue when taking it steady on a cycle tour but would prefer something a little tighter if multiple very high mileage days are planned.

Shifting and braking is taken care of by Shimano's reliable Sora levers and Tektro cantilever rim brakes. The latter certainly help make the Voyage a maintenance-friendly machine - easy to maintain and find replaces for, even in remote locations - although disc brakes may be a preferred choice for all-weather tourers.

Alex rims with a high spoke count are pretty dependable, even if not the flashiest and fitted with 32c Continental Contact tyres, they can handle a little off road, but are best suited to the tarmac.  

Trek 520 disc touring bike

Constructed from Trek's CroMoly steel, the frame has been designed around disc brakes and fitted with a rack and fenders mounts.

The Bontrager Affinity rims are tubeless-ready, which might be worth setting up if you want a bit of a faster ride when commuting. But for long-term touring it’s generally best to stick with inner tubes so as to avoid the added complication of sealant drying out. Bontrager’s 38c H1 hard-case Ultimate tyres offer good puncture resistance themselves.

The drivetrain is a mixture of Shimano parts with Sora shifters. The crankset is a triple, with 48/36/26 tooth chainrings, and the cassette is an 11-36 so you'll have ample gears when the road goes up. TRP Spyre C 2.0 mechanical disc mechanical discs look after stopping.

However, with only nine sprockets on the cassette, the jumps between the gears are a little large, as with the Ridgeback Voyage. But if this does cause you an issue, and if you find yourself not using all of the gears, you could fit a tighter range cassette for smaller jumps.

Like the Genesis Tour de Fer 30, the wheel axles are QR, which can make getting the rotor and caliper aligned properly a little more difficult than with a thru-axle system

The overall weight comes in at 14.26 kg / 31.4 lbs in a size 57, which is lighter than some of the more traditional options.

Cube Travel Pro Trapeze touring bike

Cube offers its Travel Pro tourer in both a traditional crossbar and step-through frame design, with the latter making mounting and dismounting this robust, aluminum bike easy and convenient.

The convenience theme is carried through much of the bike. It's equipped with a Shimano Nexus internal hub gear system and a Gates CDN Belt Drive system which offers super low maintenance compared with a more traditional chain and derailleur system.

With this eight-speed hub, the jumps between the gears is a little larger and the overall range a little lower than you can get with a derailleur system, and it's not quite as efficient. But that said, if you're planning on taking it steady on your cycle tour, those points are pretty immaterial compared to the benefit of much lower maintenance.  

There's plenty of clearance for extra-wide tires and the wheels are currently wrapped in Schwalbe's Marathon Almotion 29x2.15in rubber.

Finishing off this functional tourer are full-length fenders, an adjustable CUBE stand Pro kickstand, a Knog Oi bell, lights (front and rear), and a semi-integrated carrier for pannier bags; these features will have you covered for any adventure.

Salsa Marrakesh

The Marrakesh is designed to take you touring wherever you wish — including a trip around the world if necessary. The frame is built from 4130 CroMoly tubing and has a serious array of mounts. There's room for up to five bottle cages thanks to extra fork mounts plus it comes fitted with front and rear racks. There's even a mount to carry a spare spoke.

Elsewhere there are bar-end shifters and a 3x9-speed Shimano Alivio groupset. The gearing range is designed to get you up the steep stuff even when fully loaded thanks to 48/36/36 triple chainring paired with an 11-36t cassette. The shifters also make roadside maintenance a little easier.

Its world-touring credentials are further aided by its generous tire clearance - 700 x 40mm even with mudguards (fenders), and comes stock with Maxxis Roamer 42mm tires. This means you should eat up the miles in comfort even when the road gets rough.

It's difficult to lay out specific criteria when it comes to choosing a touring bike because the beauty of touring is that it can be whatever you want it to be – there is no single best touring bike for everyone, what is best for you depends on the type of tours you want to go on. However, there are key elements to consider when selecting your two-wheeled riding buddy, which will enable you to get the best touring bike for you.

Touring bike frame

If you're planning a longer trip, and intend the bike to be used primarily for such adventures, then the resilience and comfort of steel is a sensible choice. As such, most of the best touring bikes will feature this metal. The amount you're willing to invest will dictate the weight, strength and character of the steel you end up with.

When looking at steel touring bikes, expect to see the word 'Chromoly' a lot. This is a form of low alloy steel that is used when strength is particularly important. It takes its name from two of the primary alloying (mixing of metals) elements used: “chromium” and “molybdenum”.

If you're planning on using the bike for touring and other duties: club runs, commutes, shorter rides where speed might be more in your interest, consider aluminum or carbon .

Bikes suitable for touring will have a relaxed geometry: a shorter top tube and taller stack to put the rider in a more relaxed position. The wheelbase will be longer, to create a feeling of stability. You'll also notice that the chainstays are longer - this means panniers can be mounted without a chance of clipping your heels and it allows for better distribution when panniers are full.

Touring bike wheels

Elsewhere in the cycling world, we talk about low weight and aerodynamics when it comes to bicycle wheels. And sure, if you're aiming to break a world record on your cycle tour then those are probably still very important areas to consider.

However, if you mainly want to get to somewhere rather far away, and you'd like to arrive there with a wheel that's still true and contains the same number of spokes you left with, then a strong wheel is what you desire. Look for a higher spoke count that you might opt for on a speedy road bike.

The best touring bikes will generally have at least 36 spokes per wheel, tandem touring bike can even go as high as 48. 

Touring bike tyres

It's incredible how much difference a set of tyres can make to a bike. The frame can be designed with comfort top of the agenda, but put on some narrow rubber shoes and pump them up to the wrong tyre pressure and you'll be bumping about all over the road.

Most touring cyclists will want to go for wider tyres - 28mm+, when compared with their road racing cousins. The further off the beaten track you want to go, the wider they should be. If you plan on tackling some light trails, look for 32mm+.

Touring bike brakes

Traditionally, touring bikes had rim brakes and these will certainly do the job for most road-based tours. However, disc brakes do provide far superior stopping power, especially in the wet, and they are now more common than rim brake on the best touring bikes

Since disc brakes don't rely upon the rim to bring the bike to a halt, they also reduce the risk of the rims becoming worn through debris building up on the pads.

Add in that many touring cyclists are carrying luggage, therefore adding to the overall load, powerful brakes that work in all weathers do seem like a sensible addition. However, not everyone likes the appearance of disc brakes on a traditional steel machine and the pads are a tiny bit harder to replace and set up, which is worth considering if you're maintaining your bike on the road.

Luggage and Lights on a touring bike

A purpose-built touring bike will come with pannier racks fitted, as well as fenders and perhaps even built-in lights. These all add to the overall weight, but if the intended purpose requires them, it's no bother.

If you plan to use the bike for other purposes, like group rides, then you may want to look for a bike that comes with eyelets for guards and racks, so that you can remove and fit them as and when.

There's a lot of clever luggage solutions around these days, such as frame bags and oversized saddlebags , that allow you to do away with panniers if you'd rather distribute weight differently.

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.

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What’s The Best Touring Bike? (2024 Edition)

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Touring bike buying advice is a popular topic, so I update this post regularly to keep the details current. If you find any out-of-date information, consider leaving a comment to let me know. Thanks!

Choosing a new touring bike can be pretty stressful for a newcomer to cycle touring – especially when you start looking at the price tags. 

So it’s no surprise the most common question I’ve been asked in 18 years of running this blog is some version of the following:

“Help! What’s the best touring bike for my upcoming cycle tour?”

It’s a perfectly understandable question to ask, because there are a lot of options out there – but answering it calls for a bit of context .

Your choice of touring bike should be mainly informed not by online reviews or paid-for content by sponsored bloggers, but by the kind of tour you’re planning, your unique physiology , your riding preferences as a touring cyclist, and – an oft-forgotten factor – what bikes are geographically available to you.

So the “best touring bike” for a young Brit planning a low-budget tour in Europe would be totally different to the “best touring bike” for an experienced American planning a once-in-a-lifetime, multi-year adventure from Prudhoe Bay to Tierra del Fuego.

Similarly, the best bike for a rider measuring 5 feet (152cm) tall, who also has reduced neck mobility, would be different to the best bike for a fitness enthusiast trying to win a bikepacking race like the Tour Divide.

And if you ask fellow cycle tourers on forums like Reddit what they think is the best touring bike, the answers will inevitably reflect what’s worked best for them , not what’ll work best for you.

(Yes, I am a fellow cycle tourer, but I’m not just going to tell you what touring bike I ride, any more than I’m going to tell you what colour pants I’m wearing!)

Simply put, there are diverse answers to the question of what is the “best touring bike”.

Luckily, touring bicycles are a mature product with decades of heritage. And despite the the confusion created by the rise of bikepacking as an industry buzz-word , there are still plenty of good commercial touring bikes on the market today. These are bikes that have been designed to meet the needs of a broad range of touring cyclists, and are readily available through local bike shops and dealership networks around the world.

In this post, we’re going to take a look at the best of them. The list below showcases some of the most time-proven touring bikes being made and sold in 2024, across the full spectrum of budgets, as well as a few lesser-known models to demonstrate what touring bikes for riders with specialist requirements might look like.

Perhaps you’ll find your perfect touring bike here. Perhaps you’ll realise you’re looking for something else altogether. Or perhaps you’ll find something more interesting to read among everything else I’ve written about cycle touring and bikepacking.

This is not an exhaustive list of every single touring bike on the market.

I’m a veteran bicycle traveller with 18 years of real-world experience, and my goal is to help you make the right choice , not to churn out AI-written spam to get on the front page of Google and generate affiliate commission.

My hope is to give you a taste of the diversity of touring bikes available today, rather than overwhelming you with unexplained jargon and things to click on. The journey of buying a new touring bike is not a short one. Reading this post will just be the beginning!

The list of touring bikes below is arranged in ascending price order. I’ve mentioned the worldwide availability of each bike, roughly speaking, and the manufacturer-suggested retail price (MSRP, aka: RRP or list price) in £/€/$ as applicable.

Cube Touring

Decathlon riverside touring 520, fuji touring ltd/disc ltd, ridgeback expedition, ridgeback panorama, surly disc trucker, oxford bike works expedition.

• More rider-recommended touring bikes
• Bonus: The secret to actually choosing the right touring bike

(Many good touring bikes previously on this list have been discontinued, including the Adventure Flat White, Dawes Galaxy, Revolution Country Traveller, and Surly Long Haul Trucker, to name just a few. That’s life!)

Summary: Feature-rich flat-bar trekking bike Availability: Worldwide List Price: £800 / €730 / US$760 / CA$1,090

The entry-level touring bike from the major German bike maker Cube is the affordable and simply-named Cube Touring . The basic model in this extensive range is currently one of the cheapest off-the-peg touring bikes on the market, and is widely distributed across Europe and North America.

If you’re used to the appearance of British or American designed tourers, you’ll notice some big differences, such as the flat handlebars and adjustable stem, the resulting upright riding posture, and the front suspension fork, as well as other details like a kickstand, a hub dynamo, and LED lights as standard. These are all fairly typical features of touring bikes from German and Dutch makers, where utility and comfort takes precedence.

To cater for a diverse customer base, the Cube Touring range comes in several frame variations and sizes, including the classic diamond frame (5 sizes), women’s specific with a sloping top-tube (3 sizes) and a step-through frame for riders with impaired mobility (3 sizes), all in a choice of two colour schemes.

The ‘semi-integrated’ rear rack, which is held in position by the mudguard/fender, is unorthodox, and the seat stays and front fork don’t have standard mounting points, complicating any modifications to the bike’s luggage-carrying capabilities. Riders looking for an entry-level touring bike that can be upgraded in the future may also decide to pass on the Cube Touring for these reasons.

The rest of the specification is impressive at this price. The entry-level Shimano V‑brakes and drivetrain components are sensible. As with any bike, you’ll want to fit your own preferred saddle, but the inclusion of ergonomic grips, lights, fenders and a kick-stand makes the Touring more or less ready to hit the road right out of the box.

All that said, the bike’s strongest selling point is the price. The recent disappearance of several popular entry-level touring bikes has left a gap at this end of the market – one that the Cube Touring happily fills.

• Check out the full Cube Touring range on the Cube website .
• Find your local dealer in Cube’s online directories of stockists in the UK and Europe , the USA , and Canada .
• Don’t buy this bike online. Support your local bike shop ( UK list )!

Summary: Good value forward-thinking light tourer Availability: UK, Europe, Australia List Price: £800 / €800 / AUD1,800

There’s no denying the success of Decathlon ’s no-frills approach to designing, manufacturing and selling sports and outdoor gear. The Riverside Touring is the entry-level model in Decathlon’s new foray into touring bikes, and for many riders will be a welcome addition to the sparse options at this lower-budget end of the market.

The Riverside Touring 520 is based on an aluminium frame, whose geometry sits somewhere between the old-school rigid mountain bike and today’s trendy gravel/hybrid rides. The frameset sports a big range of mounting points for more or less any luggage configuration you might imagine, including a front lowrider or fork cages, a traditional rear carrier rack should the semi-integrated stock rack not be to your tastes, and no less than five bottle cages.

The riding position of the Riverside Touring leans towards relaxed and upright, with the sloping top-tube helping with mounting and dismounting, and flat bars with so-called ergonomic grips and bar-ends atop a stack of head-tube spacers, all pointing to a bike designed with the casual or newcomer rider in mind. Comfortably wide 1.75″ tyres will be equally content on asphalt and gravel at the 700C (28″) wheel diameter.

Looking at component choice, Decathlon have specified a 1×11 drivetrain (ie: a single front chainring driving an 11-sprocket rear cassette); unusual on a tourer where riders tend to benefit from a wide and fine-grained range of gear ratios. The hydraulic disc brakes are also an unorthodox choice for a touring bike. 

Both will have traditionalists up in arms, citing increased chain wear rates, a reduced choice of gear ratios, and the near-impossibility of repairing hydraulics on the roadside. But a quick scan of the many customer reviews of this bike suggest that these concerns are academic. In the regions of the world this bike is likely to be used, spares and repairs for this bike will be abundant. And if you want to take it further afield, you can always fit cable disc brakes and/or a regular drivetrain.

Certainly one of this bike’s great strengths is how widely available it is for test-riding, Decathlon having hundreds of locations across the UK, Europe, Australia, and increasingly further afield, including Turkey, India, China, and the list goes on . Indeed, I can easily imagine a first-time tourer with a reasonable gear budget walking out of the store with not just the bike but a full set of luggage and maybe some camping gear too.

There are only four frame size options, however. Taken together with the wheel size, this may prevent those with short body lengths from finding a good match with the Riverside Touring 520.

In summary, while Decathlon have leaned pretty far into the crossover between classic touring and the gravel bike trend, there’s little to find fault with at this price – and there’s considerably more scope for upgrades here than other entry-level touring bikes in this list.

• Buy the Riverside Touring 520 in the UK from Decathlon .
• The bike is also available from Decathlon branches across Europe , Australia , and beyond .

Summary: Sporty steel-framed light road tourers Availability: UK/Europe/USA List Price: €1,000/1,500

Japanese manufacturer Fuji’s entry-level touring bikes are the Fuji Touring LTD and Disc LTD . The cheaper Touring LTD is the flat-bar model with rim brakes, while the Touring Disc LTD features drop bars and cable-actuated disc brakes with integrated shifter/brake levers. 

They’re both built on a Reynolds 520 cromoly steel frameset, with classic touring geometry and all the usual mounting points. Both bikes feature 36-spoke 700C wheels on Shimano hubs, and mudguards/fenders and a reasonably solid rear rack as standard, but no front rack or lowrider (you can of course add one later).

The Touring LTD has a Shimano Alivio V‑brakes and a 3×9‑speed chainset from the midrange of Shimano’s mountain-bike series of components, while the Touring Disc LTD has a 3×9‑speed Shimano Sora chainset with slightly higher gear ratios, making it more oriented towards lighter-weight road rides, as well as the ubiquitous TRP Spyre cable-actuated disc brakes found on so many touring bikes. For the extra money, the Disc LTD has a generator (dynamo) hub built into the front wheel which is already hooked up to the integrated front headlight – a nice touch.

The Fuji Touring LTD and Disc LTD come in no fewer than seven frame sizes, allowing precise fitting and fewer compromises for short or tall riders.

In summary, both models represent high ambitions in a good-value package aimed at a rider who wants a classic, no-fuss steel-framed touring bike, with the Disc being the sportier and more road-oriented of the two.

• Find a list of global dealers on the official Fuji website .

Summary: Beefy yet comfortable long-haul all-rounder Availability: UK List Price: £1,350

Launched in 2014, tweaked in the years since and now thoroughly tested on longer trips, the Ridgeback Expedition  is a strong contender for best value expedition touring bike on the market.

The current model shares design principles with many more expensive touring bikes designed specifically for worldwide expeditions beyond the developed world: wide-range 3×9‑speed mountain bike gearing, chunky 26-inch wheels, and a comfortable upright riding position. Unusually for a British tourer, it comes with flat bars and bar-end grips for a variety of hand positions. Cable disc brakes are now fitted as standard (the first incarnation had drop bars and V‑brakes).

The Ridgeback-branded integrated grips and bar-ends are modelled on the very popular but expensive Ergon range. The latest version of the Ridgeback Expedition also sees a brazed-on kickstand mounting plate added to the non-drive-side chainstay (though not an actual kickstand).

In many ways, as well as being excellent value for money, the Ridgeback Expedition is one of the most full-featured off-the-peg bikes in this list for extremely demanding trips where comfort and durability over time are paramount. Upgrade the rear rack, add a front lowrider and your favourite saddle, and you’ll be ready for the most remote of the planet’s backroads.

• Read my full review of the legacy 2014 Ridgeback Expedition here , and check the comments for feedback from long-haul riders.
• Like the rest of Ridgeback’s range, the Expedition should be available from any authorised Ridgeback dealer .

Summary: Classic British fully loaded drop-bar tourer Availability: UK List Price: £1,600

The Ridgeback Panorama  is a British-designed, Reynolds 725 cromoly-framed, disc brake-equipped, classic touring bike with a durable selection of 3×9sp drivetrain components from both road- and mountain-biking ranges. 

Its road-oriented frameset is prime for being built up into a fully-loaded, long-haul, asphalt touring machine. Both a front lowrider and a rear rack are fitted as standard – Tubus lookalikes, not the genuine articles, but still a welcome addition for fully-loaded riders who are just getting started.

Potential weak points on the Panorama include the integrated shifters/brake levers, which break away from the principle of separating possible points of failure (although you could theoretically swap them out for bar-end or even downtube shifters). The wheelset components are also nothing to write home about; get the spokes re-tensioned before taking this bike on a long-haul tour.

In spite of these question marks, the Panorama has been around for a long time and is very much tried and tested:  read Tim & Laura’s detailed guest review of the Panorama after a 6,000-mile road test , after which they completed their round-the-world trip on the same bikes.

• The Ridgeback Panorama is available from these authorised UK dealers .

Summary: Customisable road/gravel adventure bike Availability: Worldwide List Price: £1,600 / US$2,050 / CA$2,800

Back in 2012, when the jury was still out on disc brakes as a reliable choice for long-distance touring, Surly produced a disc-specific version of their legendary Long Haul Trucker touring bike, cunningly naming it the Disc Trucker . It has since evolved into one of the most versatile and tried-and-tested touring/adventure bikes on the planet.

The Disc Trucker platform had a major update in 2020, about which more detail on the Surly blog. Wheel diameter now complements frame size, ie: bigger wheels suit taller riders and the vice-versa, for a total of eleven frame/wheel size combinations. If, having tried all the Disc Truckers for size, you still can’t find a good fit, you should probably visit a bespoke framebuilder.

The frame geometry is tight and nimble, with integrated gear/brake levers adding to the sporty vibe. This lack of mechanical separation won’t please everyone, but will certainly please riders looking for a performance boost over the uncompromising solidity often seen in the expedition bike niche.

Similarly to the Kona Sutra (see below), the latest Disc Trucker has bolt-through axles, clearance for fatter tyres, and versatility improvements such as multiple fork mounts for fenders, cages or lowriders, to match the kind of wilder, mixed-terrain rides for which the Disc Trucker is increasingly used.

As ever with Surly, racks and mudguards remain excluded, the intention being for you to fit your own according to your needs.

The garish fluoro-yellow paint option of the current Disc Trucker won’t be for everyone, but Surly tell us that it’s also available in hi-viz black.

• Click here to read my full review of the legacy 2014 Disc Trucker .
• To find a place to test-ride one, start with Surly’s global dealer locator .

Summary: Adaptable, performance-oriented road/gravel tourer Availability: Worldwide List Price: $2,100 / £1,900

Canada-based bike manufacturer Kona have long inhabited the left-of-centre in cycling. The Sutra range, too, is progressively-minded, being one of the first mainstream touring bikes to switch to disc brakes back in the early 2010s.

Since then, Kona have adopted the stiffer and stronger bolt-through axle standard (another first amongst bikes in this list), and tightened up the frame geometry to produce a nimble and sporty cyclocross-inspired steel frameset which remains a touring bike at its core.

In 2022, Kona diversified the platform into several models, including the LTD and SE. The standard Sutra went in a more lightweight direction than in previous years, switching to a road drivetrain and cable-actuated hydraulic disc brakes. Today, this performance-oriented version of the Sutra remains Kona’s ‘modern take on the classic touring bike’ (in their own words), with a Shimano GRX 2×10-speed road-bike gearing, drop bars with integrated shifter/brake levers, mixed-terrain Schwalbe Marathon Mondial tyres, and a Brooks B17 saddle and Brooks bar-tape as standard. This all points to the blend of on-road and off-road use increasingly preferred by riders going on shorter, wilder adventures.

The 2024 Sutra’s luggage-carrying capabilities are diverse and adaptable. For those wanting to use the bike as a fully-loaded world tourer, standard rack mounts are provided on the seatstays and rear dropouts, suitable for fitting any standard pannier rack (perhaps a Tubus Cargo or Logo to match the Tara front low-rider already fitted). For those wanting to stay nimble, frame and fork mounts exist for more or less any combination of bolt-on cages and harnesses.

The Kona Sutra comes in six fine-grained frame sizes. This year’s paint colour is Satin Midnight with bronze gloss decals, in case you were wondering.

• I’ve been riding a Kona Sutra myself since 2012 and I love it.  Read my original long-term review of the legacy model here .
• The Kona website has a handy  list of worldwide dealers so you can find a place to test-ride the Sutra.

Summary: Bespoke, round-the-world expedition bike Availability: UK & Worldwide List Price: from £2,789

Originally a one-off “ultimate expedition bike” built to my exact specification, Oxford Bike Works have been refining and custom-building bespoke Expedition s to order since 2015 from their workshop in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. Many have now circled the globe. It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

As standard, each bike features a hand-built Reynolds 525 cromoly steel frame, a choice of 26″ or 700C hand-built wheels, top-end Tubus racks, rim or disc brake options, Microshift thumbshifters, and tons of other expedition-specific touches.

From a baseline specification, each bike is custom-built to the rider’s exact needs and preferences after an in-person consultation and fitting session at their workshop. While most of their customers are from the UK, they will also ship finished bikes elsewhere in the world in special cases.

Oxford Bike Works have now moved all frame production to the UK, both minimising their carbon footprint and allowing even more individual tailoring – especially attractive for riders with diverse physiologies who may find that the commercial bikes in this list don’t cater well for their needs.

• Check out the full specifications of the Oxford Bike Works Expedition .
• Read my 10,000-word epic, How To Build The Ultimate Round-The-World Expedition Touring Bike (With Pictures) , which details every design decision that went into this bike.
• Don’t buy this bike online (you can’t anyway). Support your local bike shop ( UK list )!

Yet More Rider-Recommended Touring Bikes

This is not an exhaustive list, because if it was we’d be here all day. But the following bikes have also been recommended by readers of this blog over the years since I first published this post. All have also proven themselves capable touring bikes over time and miles:

• Bombtrack Arise Tour (Germany & Worldwide)
• Cinelli HoBootleg (Italy & Worldwide)
• Fahrradmanufaktur TX-800 (Germany)
• Genesis Tour De Fer (UK)
• KHS TR 101 (USA)
• Temple Cycles Adventure Disc 3
• Trek 520 Disc (USA & Worldwide)
• Vivente World Randonneur (Australia)

…and you’ll find even more options in my massive list of heavy-duty expedition touring bikes available worldwide .

Remember: don’t buy a touring bike online. Support your local bike shop ( UK list ) and have your bike chosen, fitted and customised by an expert whose job depends on getting it just right, just for you!

Bonus : The Secret To Actually Choosing The Right Touring Bike

Finally, I’m going to tell you a secret. 

It’s something other cycle touring bloggers won’t tell you, because they’d prefer you to click on their affilliate links, buy a bike online, and earn them commission.

If you’re having trouble choosing between the touring bikes listed above, the reason is probably because – on paper – they are basically all the same .

They all cost several hundred pounds/dollars/euros. Most of them have steel touring-specific frames, wide gearing, relaxed riding positions, a pannier rack and extra mounts, and drivetrains from the middle of Shimano’s mountain-bike or road-bike ranges. They’re all built primarily for paved roads, but could handle a dirt track or gravel road if need be. They all have two wheels, handlebars, and a saddle.

So how should you choose between them?

The answer is actually very simple.

Visit a touring bike specialist ( UK list ) and take a few bikes for a test ride. 

In doing so, you will discover that the “best touring bike” is the one that’s available in your area and has been set up for you by a touring bike specialist who’s taken the time to understand your needs.

I’ve written a longer post about what to do when you get to this stage of the touring bike buying process, when you’ve got a shortlist of bikes you found online but you’re struggling to choose between them .

And if what I’ve shared with you here still isn’t enough, you can check out even more deep-dive posts about detailed aspects of touring bike choice, including

• three critical questions you should ask at the start of the touring bike buying process ,
• a discussion about what exactly defines a touring bike ,
• my take on what’s really going on when you can’t decide between two bikes ,
• a hugely in-depth article on how to custom-build your own expedition bike ,
• a summary of the debate over disc brakes versus rim brakes ,

and more on my absolutely massive advice and planning page .

Because of all the things you’ll buy for a cycle tour, the bike is the one purchase you really can’t afford to get wrong.

Bogged down in research for your next big bicycle adventure?

I wrote a whole book to help with that. How To Hit The Road is designed to be read at your leisure, making planning a bike tour simple and achievable, no matter the length, duration or budget. Available globally as an ebook or paperback.

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Also relevant to this post:

• How To Custom Build The Ultimate Expedition Touring Bike (With Pictures)
• Surly Disc Trucker Touring Bike: Legacy Review & Detailed Photos
• The Best Cheap (Sub-£1,000) Touring Bikes for Low-Budget Adventures

Comments ( skip to respond )

323 responses to “what’s the best touring bike (2024 edition)”.

Wow. An actual person. Writing. Pen to paper. This is just O so refreshing! Thank you!!! (At 76 years of age-and an English major to boot, circa 1970–I get so tired of the shit being published today. Gawd–I have to guess at what some stupid software program is ATTEMPTING to say!)

You’re welcome. It’s fast becoming my unique selling point!

I can’t find a Kona Sutra SE anywhere, I think they’re discontinued, so if anyone knows where I can find one let me know.

Yes, you’re right – it looks like Kona have simplified things for their 2024 range, and the plain Sutra is now their classic touring bike once again (as it was for years before the SE was introduced). It looks like you’ll need to add your own rear rack for fully loaded touring, but all the frame fittings appear to be there. I’ll update this post shortly with the new model. Thanks for highlighting it!

My wife’s bike is a basic 2000 Kona Hahana. Persuaded the dealer to sell only frame headset seatpin bars. . Built up better wheels etc tubus racks. Tierra del Fuego to Quito plus many more trips. Still going strong 20 years later. My lovely lightweight Univega bought as a frame lasted until 2013 .The frame broke in Albania survived for 60 km held together with nylon cord and cone spanners. Got it welded by local blacksmith. Now have Surly Troll. Ok .….but will have to go back to Square taper bottom bracket. Wife’s old square tapers have done about 30000 miles. Progress or fashion? Charlie and Bethan

All I can do is repeat the old saying that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Anyone got their hands on a Decathalon Riverside Touring 900? Looks like good all round value, but rarely in stock on their website! Would love to hear some real world feedback on this bike…

I second that – real world stories appreciated!

Hi Tom, I recently cycled from Amsterdam to Genoa covering 2500km in total. I flew into Amster with the bike boxed up. I took with me a carbon frame Ridley Kanzo Adventure, it has all the mounting points and relatively relaxed geometry. I road over every type of terrain and the bike didn’t let me down. What I liked with this bike was that I could arrive at my destination in the evening, remove my pannier bags and then have a light weight roadie feeling for exploring whatever region I had made camp in. The bike also had great performance in the hills. Another plus was that when flying and the bike is boxed up, it’s relatively light weight to transport. This meant that at the start and end of my tour getting the bike boxed up from campsite to train to airport was not such a struggle.

Thanks, Kerry. I really like this approach and I’m heartened to hear carbon frames are now being built to take light luggage loads. Thanks again for sharing!

The 30 year old touring bike you already own becomes the second best, as the next one you buy must necessarily be even better.

I’ve recently gone from a Claud Butler Majestic to a Crossmaxx 28″ Pinion. Naturally, I’m absolutely certain, it’s the best touring bike I could possibly have bought (given my criteria and priorities).

First, let me make this perfectly clear, I’m not a seasoned tourer, so much of what I will say is strictly coming from an amateur. I had to look for a new touring bike after my 85 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe got hit by a hit-and-run driver and bent the fork beyond repair, but that bike worked great for my needs.

I could not buy a touring bike from anyone in my city of 350,000 people because no one carries them, the only shop that could have ordered me the Trek 520 but there were some things about the bike I didn’t like, plus it was expensive and with lower end parts, much how I felt the Surly Trucker was, having no choice I had to turn to the internet. in 2019 I compared the Kona Sutra SE, Surly Trucker, Fuji Touring, Masi Giramondo 700c, and one other I can’t recall the name. After much debate, I narrowed it down to either the Kona or the Masi, and ended up with the Masi because of the price of $1,450 at the time, the Kona would have cost me $1,950, but in 2019 they didn’t have some of the stuff they now have on that bike so to make it work I had to make some changes which would have cost me even more; the Masi had the best gear ratios for climbing steep grades with a loaded bike of any bike I saw, and at the time Masi was using 180mm rotors on the front and 160 on the rear and I liked the idea of the bigger rotor on the front, Masi has since reduced the front rotor size to 160.

I did make some changes to the Masi, put on RedShift Shockstop suspension stem and seat post, a change I would have done to any other touring bike I would have bought, now I feel like I’m riding in a Cadillac. The stock Kenda Drumlin tires are junk and heavy, I replaced those with Schwalbe Amotion 38c tires; and the WTB saddle was also junk, so replaced it with a Brooks C17; I ended up not liking the front Tubus Tara rack and replaced it with a Blackburn Bootlegger rack which works better for my needs. 

I think the Masi Giramondo 700c is a very worthy touring bike that a person should at least look at, especially if on the lower budget end of things.

Thanks for this detailed contribution – it’s always good to hear about rider experiences with touring bikes other than those listed here. For other readers’ reference, here’s a link to the California based manufacturer webpage for the Masi Giramondo .

About to begin a year of touring with Breezer Radar Expert. A review of it here https://cycletraveloverload.com/breezer-radar-expert-review-best-budget-gravel-bike/ (not me) I changed the tires to Schwalbe G‑One Overland Evo 28″ 50–622 for this purpose 😉

I’m considering the Priority 600, as my new touring bike and wondering if anyone has any history of using one or opinions of this bike? Thx

For reference, here’s a link to the Priority 600 . I have no personal experience of this bike, but I have published my own detailed thoughts on internal gearing systems such as the Pinion gearbox in the context of cycle touring here (most of the same logic applies to belt drive).

I am a multi day ultra cyclist, so tend to go minimalist. However, I have done big touring rides in the past on my trusty 1993 Cannondale T1000 (my 21st birthday present). I think that a Daws Super Galaxy or Cannondale, still make excellent budget touring bikes. I have been racing and touring on a Niner RTL Steel, which is makes an excellent touring bike, with great touring geomtry and lots of mounts for racks — I use a 1x 46t Shinano GRX groupset with an 11–50 cassette. Gravel bikes can may great touring bikes

Happy you’re reinforcing the mantra that the best touring bike might be the one you already have – even if it’s 30 years old! As for gravel bikes, many of them would certainly make good tourers – just not sure I’d advise anyone to buy a gravel bike for touring if touring-specific bikes are also available.

I think I have been riding the “Best” touring bike for the last 7 years. — https://photos.app.goo.gl/wP8vs7T5hLpNjSBX8

What an absolute beast! Something with that much detailed customisation can hardly fail to serve its rider’s needs best.

Yes HP and Tom, I would like to know about the Marrakesh too!

Interestingly enough, I still can’t find any long-term rider reviews of the Marrakesh. There are, however, plenty of spam reviews which combine manufacturer specifications and stock photos with meaningless filler like “combining Alivio Trekking derailleurs with the Shimano Sora shifters, you won’t have any problem slowing down or torquing up the bike when needed” (yep, actual quote). As a rule, bikes only get on this list when a consensus emerges from the community of people who’ve used them on tour. I just wish I could find more decent trip reports from people riding this one!

Great list, but where’s the Salsa Marrakech?!

I’ve done a few tours on it and can vouch for it’s quality. She’s an absolute beast and rides like a dream! Packed with touring features and has really well worked out geometry.

PS I don’t work for Salsa.

PPS love the blog mate. Did a 6500km+ around Asia a few years ago and your blog was really reaaally useful. ???

Thanks for the comment! The Marrakech was launched in 2015, which in cycle touring circles makes it a newcomer 😉 but you are correct that enough time has gone by now to see real-world results, so I’ll consider it for the next update. Thanks again!

I am looking to buy either Fuji disc touring LTD 2021( priced at 1336 euros) or Trek 520 2021( priced at 1600 euros) . I am really confused , as I don’t understand even though both have very similar specs, why is the trek 520 priced at 250 euros higher? Is trek somehow supposed to be better for some reason that I cannot comprehend or is it price cause of the brand “trek”?

Hi Badri. Prices may differ for many reasons, including import taxes, exchange rates, retailer profit margins, and of course simple pricing decisions by the manufacturer. But my main advice still remains this: if you can’t choose between two bikes on paper, it’s time to visit your local bike shop and take both for a test ride!

Hi I’m from newzealand and touring bikes well decent ones aren’t that easy to come by at the moment because of covid .but I found a Kona sutra the guy had only done about 100 km on it decided he wasn’t going to cycle so sold it and I happen to be at the right place at the right time.great bike to ride and I’m looking forward to my first tour on it in one months time Peter

Unlikely you monitor this anymore, but I’ve been comparing my 80s road bike to modern touring bikes (Croix de Fer and Kona Sutra) and the geometries look the same. Am I missing something or are modern specialist tourers actually very similar to old-school road racers?

Hey Hugh. Actually I make a point of replying to every comment, and I update this post monthly 🙂

Long ago I inherited a hand-built road bike from my grandfather. It was the first bike I’d owned that wasn’t a mountain bike and I was amazed at how fast and light it was, despite being a steel frame. It was a bit on the small side for me, but you’re right that the geometry was quite close to a classic road tourer. The biggest differences you’ll probably find are in the weight (heavier-gauge tubing designed for carrying luggage) and the wheelbase proportional to frame size, although the trend today seems to be for more compact and sporty designs. But the short version is yes, there are certainly a lot of similarities!

Sorry to burst some people’s bubbles.But I want to save you the hassle and frustration. I’ve been touring around north,central and south america,now in Turkey & the Balkans for the last 4.5 years on a 3x9 ‚11–36 cassette Surly Troll 26″ and I can tell you that 26″ anything is absolutely obsolete!! DEAD!! It has been a total nightmare! I can find zero parts for it, anywhere. Definitely forget tires. Impossible! Literally nothing anywhere. Traditional wisdom is gone out the window, China has flooded the market with 27.5/29″ and all the components for these sizes and that’s what killed the 26″ over the last 5+ years. Seriously , almost everything I have for my bike I had to buy off Amazon and getting lucky once or twice when a mechanic spent days looking for parts for me. I’ve spent days and more than 2 weeks stuck in cities looking for what was considered simple parts found “easily”! :9 speed shifters,cassettes,chains,26″ tires,disc rotors 160mm,BB,brake pads,etc…Nada!! Super frustrating! I can’t buy a new bike now but I will sell this 26″ 3x9 Troll in a flash the first chance I get or throw it straight into a river. It’s a shame because it’s a great bike. You can almost still get things for it online, but I think soon these parts will be plased out soon. Due to Covid the shipping is taking weeks and many parts are out of stock now too. I thought that being in Europe people still ride 26″ bikes I might find parts,but no.I’ve been once again stuck Tirana for more than 2 weeks just for a cassette and chain and have to take inferior parts now. If I had a 27’5 or 29″ and 10/11 speed I would have more options. My friends who toured 5–10 + years ago can’t believe this change. All 26″ inch bike frame builders out there need to know this.The market has changed, traditionalists be warned. Good luck!

Hello Ian and thanks for your comment. You certainly sound frustrated! For balance, and for the benefit of my other readers, I’d like to add a few observations:

1. 26″ is a wheel size, not a cassette sprocket count, chain width, shifter indexing system, disc rotor size, etc. It affects rim, spoke, tyre and tube availability. 2. You’re right that the industry is currently swamped with trendy new wheel sizes like 27.5 and 29. But most existing bicycles in the world have 26-inch wheels. These bicycles will always need spare parts and are unlikely to disappear overnight. 3. As for “literally nothing anywhere”, I just walked into my local supermarket and found an aisle of brand new bicycles, all adult sizes of which had 26-inch wheels, and a rack of spare tyres right next to them. I’ve said this before: it’s not just specialist bike shops that sell bikes. This is critical to remember when looking for 26-inch wheel parts in far-flung lands.

That’s all I wanted to add. I hope you get things sorted in Tirana. And I hope you’ll share with us the location of the river you throw your Surly Troll into!

Im fairly sure the Surly Long Haul Trucker promotion pictures are of frames with a different wheel size they are designed for. The picture here looks like a 60cm frame for 700c wheels but fitted with 26″ wheels. This is the same for the picture here as it is on their website, which looks like a 58cm frame for 262 wheels with 700c wheels in place. I own a Surly LHT and theyre great bikes but the frame sizeing can be a bit confusing and the promotional pictures dont help.

I would respectfully disagree, based on the fact that the brake shoes are visibly aligned correctly with the rims. If the wrong sized wheels were fitted to the frame, this wouldn’t be possible. In the past, all sizes of LHT frames have been available for both 700C and 26″ wheels, so I’d guess we’re looking at one of the larger frame sizes for 26″ wheels with the correct wheels indeed fitted. The proportions do look weird at a glance, but it is in fact how these bikes were sold. FWIW the sizing scheme of the Truckers has changed now, so wheel size better complements frame size throughout the range, as mentioned in the latest update to the post above.

Hello Tom — I have a Koga Miyata Globe Traveler which I bought in 2005 from a dealer in Lexington, KY — Pedal The Planet. (Ironically, in 1985, I did a world tour on a Miyata bicycle.) I bicycled the Lewis and Clark Trail that summer, St. Louis to Astoria, OR. 10 years later in 2015 I began a charity ride of the perimeter of the U.S. for Habitat For Humanity and Save The Children (website: usperimeterride.org) and concluded that 12,000 journey in 2017. I’ve been very happy with my Koga Miyata all these years. I’m 71 now, and don’t know if I have any expedition type tours left in me … but I keep thinking. Just wondering your thoughts on the current Koga bikes. I’ve seen a couple of comments here regarding Koga bikes — some positive and couple not (the one regarding the cracked frame). I think that there are no longer any Koga dealers in North America. Am I correct in thinking that? I believe there used to be one in Toronto, and a dealer out in Santa Barbara, CA, that handled parts. Pedal The Planet where I bought my Koga Miyata is no longer in operation. Thank you for all your info on your website!

Aaaand Long Haul Trucker is gone as well. Seems like Surly are phasing out some of the touring bikes.

Same source — LHT FAQ, third answer I think.

That’s tragic – although on closer inspection it does say “for the time being”…

Sadly, Surly will discontinue the Troll model in 2021.

Hi Lukas! Do you happen to have a source for this? I’ve checked the Surly website and social media channels and haven’t found any mention. I just want to be sure that my readers are getting accurate information. Cheers!

Someone asked the question on Surly’s website in Thorn section — Q&A. They asked whether Thorn will be renewed for 2021 and someone from the staff said that they will no longer offer this model. 

https://surlybikes.com/bikes/troll

FAQ section, should still be the first question asked. 

I was planning to build a tourer on Troll frame and I guess now I should buy it before it’s gone.

I wrote ‘Thorn’ by mistake, should be Troll (I also consider Thorn for my build and must’ve been thinking about it.)

Thanks for the reference, Lukas, that’s very useful. I guess it reflects the diminishing popularity of the 26-inch platform, at least for new bikes (and thus for profit margins).

In the premium category I’d add one of the IDWorx bikes such as the All Rohler or oPinion BLT. I visited their HQ last week and Gerrit and his team are amazing. They won ‘bike of the year 2020’ award for their BLT off-road touring bike. https://www.idworx-bikes.de/

I had the Off Rohler in this list since visiting their stall at Eurobike 2014 – it almost wins the ‘most expensive off-the-peg touring bike in the world’ award! I’m keen to see what they’ve created since then. Thank you for the link and the suggestion!

They arent’ cheap that’s for sure. I tried to trade in my wife for a titanium bike, but they only take euros.

Once they start to explain the engineering behind each component you can understand why they arrive at those prices. Also it’s a 4th gernation family of bike builders, they hand build the bikes, their staff are properly-paid, they have sunk lots of money into R&D and make many bespoke components. The attention to detail is astonishing. I spent nearly a day at their HQ with the attention of the owner, his wife, two dogs and their chief engineer. (He did his Masters theisis on Pinion gearboxes). We rode in the German countryside and tested a score of bikes. The customer service is out of this world. If you can afford it, I’d would recommend IDWorx.

Hi Tom, thanks for your help! Now im planning a big tour for a few years in Africa and America, now i have an Avaghon 26 series with Rohloff and Magura but im thinking to change with a 29″ wheels( im 1,81 cm tall ). What do you think about Surly ECR? Thnaks, Fabio.

I have never ridden the ECR so I can’t speak from experience, but I know it’s a well respected frameset. Your height suggests a 29er would be more comfortable in the long run. For planning a big tour you might want to check out my list of expedition touring bikes – this will also help you see quickly which framesets are Rohloff-compatible. Hope that helps!

I think I have “the best” touring bike available… judge for yourselves. Full suspension mid-drive eTouring bike and trailer evolution. https://photos.app.goo.gl/wP8vs7T5hLpNjSBX8

Hey Tom. Love this website. Is this still current? I can’t find a stockist that has the Flat White. Even Adventure’s own website doesn’t seem to link to it. Or am I missing something obvious? Thanks

It’s still listed at https://www.adventureoutdoor.co/bike/flat-white — I’ll be updating this article this month and will see if I can find any current stockists.

A look at secondhand market worth it as I picked up Thorn Mercury Rohloff for £1200 (pretty much the price of the hub alone) also have a rohloff on my ti 29er and it has been on 2 other mtb before that ……. pretty much fit and forget.

Hi Tom I am preparing for a number of long term trips in the near future and researched bicycles heavily (including use of your excellent website) and settled on the Ridgeback Expedition. However I have now made three attempts to buy one at cycle shops in a variety of towns and no-one seems able to sell me one! I decided to contact the compnay directly, but no phone number and they say that they take two weeks to answer e‑mails. So I would suggest that customer service might be a factor in choosing the bike to buy (these are not cheap acquisitions after all) and any company that cant even manage to communicate with customers at the point of purchase isn’t likely to have ana dequate after sales customer support! Not sure what to do now, but it definitely will not be a Ridgeback anything Dave

Local bike shops don’t tend to sell a wide variety of bikes here in the UK, they make there money from servicing bikes and selling components so it’s not really a surprise you can’t find a bike shop that sells them. A quick google search has just shown several reputable online retailers that supply the ridgeback expedition and will provide you with any customer support you might require after purchase.

Hope this helps

Thx for the info. About same specs as my modded Moonrun. I use SKF bracket spindle but have cheaper headset but works fine for years now. For carrying stuff I use strongest on market today and that is the rear rack made by Thorn. Fitted with M6 steel bolts I can come a way with most everything I throw at it. I had the frame professionally modified by Marten from M‑gineering after which it was powder coated.

Hello, Thanks for this nice article. Why is the TX-800 striked-through in the list ?

You don’t have the Surly Ogre(700c) or Troll(26″) on your list. I got the Ogre because it was suggested over the LHT or disc version because they are a little more rugged. I went from the US to Panama on an Ogre and never had a problem with it beyond needing new tires, I went with the Ogre because I had a really nice set of 700c rims. NEVER EVER go to Latin America with anything but 26″. I read a few blogs on crazyguyonabike.com and with off road touring the LHT(or disc version) needs welding.

Hello Tom. I cycled Armenia three years ago in a short tour and met an old french man Thierri, walking all the way from france to there. one month after getting home he came to me in Tehran and stayed for few days. in his Photoes, i saw you. i knew you in advance beacause of your movie. The intention of writing for you is that we’ve been in contact for one year or so but suddenly i lost him and i Thought you might remember him and have any news of him. I really hope he is doing well and being healthy. thanks sorry for misspeling

best wishes Saied

Yes, he’s safe and well and back living in France. A true legend and inspiration!

I’m currently cycling in Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. 2000km via the coast, in some pretty demanding scenarios. I’m riding the Cinelli HoBootleg 2018 Touring Bike which has been as tough and reliable as I had hoped it would be. I’m 1000km in of the 2000km and think it’s been a great bike. Intrigued it wasn’t listed in the line up.

Should it be? I think so yet if there is a reason for not rating or listing can you let me know? Recognise you cannot list all Touring Bikes yet it does have a great name in many other review pages.

Anyway — I rate the Cinelli!

One other thing, I think the Trek 920 should be listed. The bikes you have reviewed are very traditional and the Trek 920 certainly makes the available options a little more spicy. Touring bikes are surely headed in the Trek 920 direction wouldn’t you say? D

Tom, what do you think about Verso Tour Gitane? I’m from Argentina, and here there aren’t so many good bikes, and I can buy one Gitane, but I’ve never heard about this model. Thank you

I also haven’t heard about this one. On paper it looks like a pretty decent European-style ‘trekking bike’ – the adjustable stem and the Magura hydraulic rim brakes remind me of some better known German and Dutch models. The drivetrain choices are close to what we use for the Oxford Bike Works Expedition. I’d take a careful look at the rear rack, which doesn’t look too sturdy from the photos, and consider upgrading the tyres if you’re going on a long trip.

This bike has a lot of critical components made from aluminium: the frame, forks and rear rack. The front rack would appear to be the chromoly Tubus Ergo. Going on your previous comments about aluminium Tom you could rule this bike out for some types of touring, for example, where a frame, fork or rack break would cause a major disruption.

Thank you for post. Lot of good reading. However i am bit lost in a choice now. Do you think you can shine a bit light to it ? 

I just now finished 300km testing tour on my road bike Coyotee Route 66. I changed a lot of things in a bike like butterfly handlebars, wheels, saddle, etc etc… 

I was riding in UK from Birmingham to Warrington. But after i come back i had a pain all over my body. And i started to think about a choice all over again… 

Now In 3 days i should start trip about 4000km from UK to Portugal. Do you recommend to buy a new bike this short before? 

I explored variety of options of bikes but seems more or less simmilar. I am concern if i will go for normal touring bike riding will be bit boring. Where Surrly Troll seems bit more fun. I was also thinking about hardtail mountain bike with fork suspension. But this seem as quite slow and tiring on road. And also what you think about newer types as using cargo bike (YUBA), hybrid bike should i think about it ? And also if you have any experience with using electic bikes. With a range above 100miles seems as interesting. Go for it or not ?

Thanks a lot for your answers.

Thanks for the article, i plan to travel from Texas to the bottom of South America next year. I was planning on buying a bike there. Do you know much about American bikes and what would be good for that trip, i’m Over 6 ft and about 95kg now. I’m in china now so i don’t think buying one here would be good but, i’m open

The Surly LHT or Disc Trucker is the classic American tourer and widely available. For your height/weight I’d go for a 700c model in L or XL frame size.

Thanks for this great review. I travel now for last 5 years with a Koga World traveller bike. Very happy with it. Please include in your evaluation next time!

Bought a Koga World traveller three years ago, have been very happy with it. BUT, this summer while on a trip in Scotland I saw a nasty crack on the welding. Tried to identify a Koga dealer, and all those mentioned on their website no longer do Koga. I contacted the customer service via their website form and it took them a week to get back basically telling me to contact the seller. I bought the bike in France, so that wasn’t going to help me much! So I went to the nearest reputable dealer in Pitlochry, they confirmed my worry that the bike was too dangerous to use so bought a cheap, but very good Giant mtb, and continued the holiday. Picked the broken Koga bike up on the way back to France and went to the seller.

The bike has been sitting in the seller’s workshop for THREE WEEKS as they wait for KOGA to instruct them on how to proceed (they are no longer a Koga dealer). The frame comes with a lifetime warranty, but a warranty doesn’t fix a bike. The seller has sent photos, and sent more photos at Koga’s request, but still no instructions. They have contacted the nearest Koga dealer in France and no answer from them either. I even went to the nearest dealer in Germany to see if they could help and they refused.

I have emailed, tweeted, tried calling, but nothing seems to get them to react now.

So my advice would be to stay away from Koga unless you are ok with paying a lot of money with no assurance that you will get any form of support if you have a problem on the road.

This sounds like a terrible story and I’m sorry to hear about it. It does seem unusual that one of the most reputable high-end touring bikes would develop such a fault in the first place, however. I’d be interested to hear what solution eventually arises – I would have thought a crack in a weld under warranty would point to a brand new replacement frame.

Tom I have a dawes titanium (not disks) and I was thinking of upgrading the wheels and brakes for longer audaxes. Do you have any suggestions.

thanks David

If I were you, I’d pay a visit to my nearest professional wheelbuilder.

New Trek 1120 is a whole new dimension. Gearing up now for a Canadian ride.

Having been the proud owener of several Koga bikes for around the world trips unfortunately, since 2016 the quality has been declining. For the amount of money it cost, it is simply not worth it. For 2000 € (which the price of a Koga bike) you can get a lot of bicycle elsewhere.

Hi Tom! Thanks for an interesting article! I’m dreaming of bike adventures, both longer trips and weekend trips and try to find a new bike that can make those dreams come true. Mostly, though, I’ll use the new bike for my everyday commute in Sweden. I’ve been watching the Verenti substance tiara/sora — seems like decent components and good value which I’m pretty sure will fill my commuting needs. But how do you think it would do for longer adventures? I’m mostly concerned about weight, geometry and key component durability. I would be very grateful of a brief opinion! http://www.wiggle.se/verenti-substance-tiagra-adventure-road-2017/

Hi all, Great article — many thanks. Very useful while choosing a bike to undertake a cycle across USA in 2018 (I’ve never had a touring bike before). I chose Trek 520 (Disc brake variety) in the end which I’m really happy with. Good value at £1,000 versus other bikes available, comes with pedals and rear pannier rack and very swish gear changers. Reviews on Trek website largely very positive as well. I went for because I’m quite tall (193cm/6foot4) so was struggling to find a big enough frame in any touring bikes. Surly do large frames but are more expensive (~£1500) and no extras like pannier rack. In the end the 60cm Trek frame firs me very well — we checked standover length and top tube length and because of the geometry of the bike it actually matches some other manufacturers who produce larger frames (eg 62cm). Feel free to contact me on [email protected] if you have any questions or thinking of buying the bike, I’d be happy to help.

Ollie, London

If it is a choice between a smaller and a larger frame, my preference is for the smaller frame because a) provided the steerer hasn’t been cut yet, it is almost always possible to achieve a good fit by putting on a longer stem and raising the seatpost (swapping for a longer one if necessary) b) bigger frames are harder to pack for travel c) it can feel more manoeuvrable

Punish the thing, make the bike work for you, and don’t be limited by the bike or its stuff. Bikes get stolen, plans go squiify and so what if we decide to take the really cruddy road upppp that turns into gravel then kind of goat track then.. and you land up pushing and doing singletrack downhill to .. mud and gravel and finally .. So, my bike came out of a skip, a rusty 2012 Scott Speedster S30. Thrown out! Square section BB, road rims and tyres (I know.. but a good spoke key makes life simple). wide range 9x2 gears. But it takes racks.. The boom in road cycling means 700c and road bike bits are much easier than they were a decade ago — even in Yemen and Iran. Total build cost of my bike: £100 including panniers. Bits and pieces off gumtree, pinkbike, etc. If it get bent, hah. If it gets nicked, hah. The no-compromise bits: ‘fit’ / setup, the saddle, my most comfy/worn SPD shoes, tubeless with goop.

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing this!

Hey this is great stuff! However, do you have recommendations for bikes in the US? ‑j

Sure – many of the bikes in this article are from U.S. manufacturers, Surly and Kona being the obvious two. Also check out REI’s range of tourers under the Co-op Cycles brand.

Hi Tom, love your site. I need to thank you not only for an informative site in general, but also for helping me make a decision on a touring bike. Until recently I lived in Darwin, Australia. It’s reasonably isolated and the choice of bike brands is severely limited. Thus, test riding anything decent is out of the question. My wife was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to work in France for 6 months so I saw this a a great chance to purchase the bike of my dreams. Armed with advice from your site (and others) I narrowed it down to two bikes — the VSF TX-400 with Shimano drive train, and the Rose Activa Pro 2. As there wasn’t a Rose dealer where we were living in France, the TX-400 was the winner. That was August last year and I haven’t had even a twinge of regret. I love it. Keep up the great work mate. I look forward to following your adventures (and Charlie’s) for many years to come. Cheers, Derek.

I am surprised that Ridgeback is still fitting aluminium racks to its high-end touring bikes when most other brands fit cro-moly. Aluminium whilst okay for components such as wheel rims, handlebars, and seatposts, is too fragile for heavily loaded racks with thin small diameter tubes and suffers too easily from metal fatigue.

I am surprised that serious riders will still accept an add-on rack of any kind steel or not. Every connection is a weak link. Tout-Terrain, Panamericana. http://www.en.tout-terrain.de/bicycles/panamericana/ — not interested in the pinion gearing but you can’t beat the frame.

Hi Tom and readers, Does anyone out there have any experience with or notion of what to do with the following problem? (saddle soreness — chafing). My girlfriend has a typical german woman’s uprightish trekking bike by bulls, and we did just one two week tour on it last summer. She’d never toured before. She found her “intim Bereich” (intimate area) got rubbed a lot by the saddle (wasn’t an issue with short local trips previously), so I ended up buying and trying a new saddle, then a series of the best rated woman’s saddles out there, and all of them did the same rubbing thing. Biking shorts and a gel pad didn’t help fully or much. She thought being more upright helped the rubbing, by taking pressure off the front of the saddle and putting it more on the sitz bones, so I got some big curvy bar ends and cranked them way back, so she can sit totally upright. I even added a nice suspension seatpost. But somehow the pain won’t go away. I’m really at a loss about what to do. I wonder if a new frame would help at all. Anyone find a saddle that really helps with sensitive bottoms? I’m leaning towards getting her a recumbent, but can’t really afford it, and she doesn’t tour with me a lot. I ride a bacchetta giro 20 myself and highly recommend it for touring! Thanks for any advice!

hi Jeff and all, dr. jim parker from cruzbike has compiled some very revealing facts regarding health issues cyclists commonly are facing, i.e. genital numbness & e.d. besides the usual (wrist,back & neck). i do suffer from groin pains riding on my dawes upride racing bike within 30–45 min.

hence for my upcoming uk & european (& car replacement) tour i am opting for an “atl-falter” from radnabel in tuebingen, germany. atl stands for “all tags lieger”(recumbent for everyday-all year/tasks); falter stands for folding. they are not well known outside of central europe, have been handbuild for nearly 30 years and are highly regarded for being — safe (long wheel base, low center of gravity), nimble (sharp turning circle), quick (ergonomic design & pushing against the backrest/very good uphills), comfortable (no neck, groin or wrist pain, full suspension), good load carrying capability [70kg total], “protecting” (see: allwetterverkleidung/foldable fairing/poncho), well engineered and sound workmanship. although dieter baumann (builder) speaks english, the webside is in german only. the atl-falter with rohloff, full chain cover, rear rack, pannier holders, twoleg stand weighs 17–18 kg (chrmo steel). 

you get an better idea about radnabels atl’s watching these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZgX6zIViBY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsBEvBX_S4o

they have proved themselves also on long distance tours germany to china. happy cycling or as we say in bavaria: “frohes radln” regards reinhard

Ok, my thing about touring bikes, what about the weight?! Most tourers are just too heavy, 17Kg+ steel monsters. “They have to be, for the reliability”…well the only frames I’ve had break were a steel and an Al frame. Maybe you’ll say “blasphemy” but my trekking bike of choice is a modified carbon fibre Simplon “Nanolight” K3. My aim has been the lightest bike but still fit for a tour of up to a month on road. This thing has been faultless for 9 years of mainly mountain tours (and daily commuting). The essentials, for me, are: good hub dynamo lighting, hydraulic Rim brakes (discs are, expletive, Primadonnas), brooks saddle, bike rack, mudguards, oh and lightness. Everything is carbon or titanium, except the wheels, saddle and handlebar. it’s expensive but still less than people spend on fancy packages for their car. Final tour weight is around 9.1Kg. I even made my own bike bags out of lightweight cuben fibre. Yes the bike could be seen as excessively focussed on weight, but nowadays trekking bikes could be a lot lighter than they are, we would have many more people on bikes, heavy bikes stop people biking. J Jones.

I have noticed that all these touring bikes have no suspension in the front wheel. I am curious, why? Does a front suspension affect the performance of these long bike trips?

For most tours it’s simply not necessary. A suspension fork adds complication, meaning more to go wrong. Forks without lockout introduce inefficiency. Finally, most forks are incompatible with lowriders (front racks).

Bikepacking (i.e. lightweight offroad touring) is a different story, but still a small niche.

Is there an easy solution to fitting a front light to my Ridgeback Voyage with a bar bag in situ? I do not want an extending arm attached to the drops with the light above the bag. I was wondering if one can purchase a bracket to bolt onto the mudguard retaining bolt on top of the front forks immediately below the headset. This would have to be offset to clear the cantilever cables. Any thoughts Anthony

A bracket on the fork crown is a common (old-fashioned) solution. Some bar-bags also have a mounting bracket accessory for a light (the Carradice one comes to mind). Or you can wear a headtorch!

Thanks Tom for your reply, I have had lots of comments and thoughts from others on the Cycling UK forum too. As is often the case as soon as one starts looking into things there are loads of solutions available. I have learnt a lot just by looking at the various websites sugggested by people. I have now purchased a good light that will fit on the fork itself and and allow to be positioned pointing down to cover the road in front. Not a dissimilar situation from the old ‘ever ready ‘lamps that we had on our bikes back when I was a child in the 50s and 60s. Though this is a USB rechargeable smaller model. I think this will do the job. So thank you again for your thoughts and I will soon start to read your book on my kindle which arrived today. I look forward to that.

Great site Tom and full of excellent stuff and info. Keep it up.

Kind regards Anthony Brewer

Hi Tom and all, Has anyone any experience of the cantilever brakes designed specifically for tandems and tourers by a company in Seattle USA called Rodriguez bikes., R&E Cycles. They call the design ‘The Big Squeeze’. I looked into this as I am not sure in my mind yet whether my Shimano cantis will work on my Ridgeback Voyage as well as I want on a heavy laden bike on very steep descents. The contact I have had with the American company has been excellent and speedy. They have no distributers or outlets in the UK and the brakes are quite expensive but look with all the information they provide a well thought out and constructed brake. Any comments, opinions or knowledge on this from anyone would be very much appreciated Anthony Brewer

Spa Cycles, a touring specialist fit these. 

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s101p2386/TEKTRO-RX-5-Mini-V-Brakes

I have used them on 4 loaded alpine and Pyrenean tours on my Ridgeback panorama and they have been great. They need fine tuning and true wheels but have plenty of power and work much better than the ones supplied by Ridgeback. My Panorama only cost £450 so I would be reluctant to spend $250 plus shipping on those. Also I am not a fan of the style I think they stick out too much and could cause injury in a collision.

Thank you Phil for your comment on these brakes. I use simialr V brakes on my hybrid as per your link to Spacycles. However as I understand things it isn’t possible (easily that is) to change to V brakes ( which I do like ) without quite some work. I have dropped bars with the gear change incorporated in the brakes. The length of the cable is significant and the possible use of a ‘travel agent ’ to allow for the cable pull etc etc. Are you saying that Spa cycles would change my present cantilver system to these V brakes advertised? As I said I have yet to test my present brakes seriously but will definitely be doing so this spring/summer. Thank you for the recommendation Phil Regards Anthony

No problem Anthony. I ordered them from Spa and fitted them in one hour and I am no expert. May have needed new cables and small sections of outer because of the lengths of the runs but it was straight forward. You can remove the original centre-pull aluminium cable stay as the new cable comes from the side. The original brake levers and repeater levers will work, no new ones are required as the travel is sufficient. I also looked into travel agents to gear up the travel but I agree they are complicated. The mini-vs don’t need the same amount of travel as the full size v‑brake. They are just 85mm not 105mm. Admittedly it is possible with them fitted the level can be pressed right onto the bars, but by that time you would be over the handle bars. The large amount of travel gives you precise control. 

It is very straight forward to fit but you could always order them and get the local bike shop to fit them.

PS the cantilevers supplied on Ridgeback tourers are on the verge of being dangerous on a fully loaded tourer down a steep hill. I recommend changing them to Tektro mini- v brakes I showed you or Tekro CR720 

http://www.highonbikes.com/tektro-cr720-cyclo-cross-bike-cantilever-brakes-front-rear.html?gclid=CjwKEAiArvTFBRCLq5-7-MSJ0jMSJABHBvp0WpP5LLsbie8YcECqv8AAZxpL0R1slUyaJFRFZzcQghoC0YTw_wcB

I don’t like them because as I previously said they stick out too much

Again many thanks Phil. You have certainly given me much to consider. However the Tektro CR720 are themselves cantilever brakes too. So I wonder why you have suggested these as a possible alternative to my present tektro Oryx cantilever brakes on my Ridgeback? They look very similar. I do appreciate your comments on this subject Anthony

the CR720s are used by my co-cyclists on tours and are much better than the oryx design in terms of efficiency. It’s all about the distance from the rim to where the cable connects, much more leverage. I included them as an alternative but would still favour the mini-v’s personally.

they look very different from your once fitted: http://bananarider.com/product/tektro-cr720/

Hi, would you consider Specialized Crosstrail Disc 2017 a good touring bike? I am looking forward to buy my first bike aiming to use it for a long tour (upto 3–6 months) next year around europe.

Also a doog opyion in my opinion: http://www.kross.pl/en/2016/trekking/trans-alp

I’ve recently purchased a Cinelli Hobooleg for £1100, although I’ve only been using it for my 10 mile commute so far I’m very happy with it.

It looks the part and from the reviews I’ve read it will hopefully see me safely around North Wales on my first proper test run later this month.

Looking at the features of these touring bikes they look like early 90s mountain bikes. 26″ wheels?Check. Steel frame? Check. Rigid fork? Check. 7/8 speed drive train with thumb shifters? Check. Braze ons for racks and fenders? Check. I would suggest folks keep an eye out for a good used mountain bike from this era and you could save a bunch while ending up with a bike just as robust, lighter and with higher quality parts(granted, said parts may need some love). I found an abandoned Rocky Mountain Team Comp which has frame tubing better than any of the bikes listed (heat treated tubing by Tange of Japan). The bikes of this era were of very high quality as it was the fastest growing sport then and the competition was fierce with leaps in steel tubing technology. Steel was still the material of choice also. I managed to build my bike up(it was missing a lot of parts) for maybe $500 and I have XTR rear derailleur, Sunrace 8 cassette, Suntour XC thumb shifters, Syncros stem, NOS XT UN73 BB…you get the picture. The additional bonus is a bike that is still quite light yet strong. I wouldn’t recommend this to someone who knows nothing about bikes but if you are a bit of a bike geek its pretty rewarding finding a good higher end mountain bike and fixing it up. Parts back then were very well made.

Hey Tom, Edinburgh Bikes have a new tourer out end of the month, http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-country‑2–16

I’m sure it’s similar to your reviewed bike above but would be great to hear your thoughts.

looking at a bike trip in 2018 from shanghai to istanbul semi-supported. been doing self-supported touring on my 25 yo trek 970 but the sour grape machine is ready to be retired. been shopping around and am considering the novara safari–i like the mustache handlebars and the price seems good but worried about the quality of components and whether 700 wheels are potentially a problem…i know 26″ is more the standard when you are in the middle of nowhere. any input would be much appreciated.

Tom, I have been researching touring bikes for quite some time and I think I have found the bike to start touring. Following your advice in this blog I picked up a 15 year old MTB that is in great shape. I will put on touring tires and a rack that I already own and I’m ready to go on some short introductory adventures. Perhaps if I really get the touring bug I will invest in a new bike but for now this will do and the price is right. Thank you.

For anyone currently looking, my local LBS, The Bike Shed Devon, have a bit of a touring sale going on at the moment. Definitely worth looking before making any decisions. http://www.bikesheduk.com/touring-bikes-for-sale

Thank you very much for the tip on discounted 2015 Dawes Galaxy AL bicycles from Evans. I just picked one up for £400!

Evans has also the Dawes Galaxy Cross cromo (steel frame, disc brakes, straight bars) for the same price. Looks like a bargain.

Having cycled and backpacked since I was at school, in my mid 50’s i decided it was time to combine the two persuites and try a spot of weekend touring. Not wanting to spend too much on a bike that i may not get on with, I bought my daughters barely used 2001 Specialized Hardrock off her. It cost me £225 new originally, so she recon I got a bargain at £40 second hand!!! It’s Cr Mo steel frame and rigid forks [not even butted], Acera group set, square drive triple chain rings and 26″ wheels, have a real solid feel, so after fitting Marathon tyres, racks, and bar ends, I treated myself to a pair of 46li Altus rear panniers and a bar bag. Packing lightweight and minimalist, my first weekend away was a real success. On my next outing of 4‑days, a rear spoke went after the first 20 miles, but no rubbing, so I finished my tour in the Cotswolds, but walked up a lot of hills. For my next trip in the Peak District, I had a new twin-wall rear wheel, and a new wider range rear cassette, still walked up many hills, but who cares, I was wild camping, and just making my route up as I went along. I keep looking at new bikes, but don’t know how I would really benefit, the bike just keeps rolling along happily for my short breaks. A new bike may weigh less. My rig weighs in at 16.5kg without panniers, how does that compare with other tourers?

So, the ultimate all-round tourer *is* a 26 inch wheel frame with geometry which looks like my many-times-earmarked-for-the-skip, first generation, double-butted cro-mo mid-80s MTB that’s in the shed? It confirms my own conclusions (though I’m no hardcore global wanderer like yourself). Interesting that it looks as if 26″ wheels will remain relevant. I was thinking there is a gap in the market for a longer and near-horizontal toptube frame style (with, perhaps, 29er wheels), instead of the downhill-style geometry which seems obligatory on all fat-tyre machinery.

[…] spend money on a good bike and the necessary gear you’ll find costs are minimal. Many good quality bikes can be purchased for less than £100. Many travelling bicyclists choose to camp at official […]

Thanks for the advice! I was faffing around for about a year trying to buy a touring bike in the UK but never quite got around to it. I’m now in Vietnam about to set off in a time pressured trip to India (through Laos, Thailand and Myanmar) and I no longer have the same access to the kinds of brands mentioned above(or budgets). I’ve found something called a Windspeed Long Rider touring classic, which is a Chinese brand, and the bike shop is offering a pretty good deal inclusive of accessories. Let’s hope it’s up to the job! Anyone have any experience or knowledge of this bike? Mostly sold only in Asia I think.

Hi. I am trying to choose a bike for touring around the world that would be a slow heavyweight may be some times off road and long term! but in my country there is not a wide choice for me! I have to choose a bike and change it into a touring one! my question is what kind of bikes is good for me! road bikes that mostly used here for races or mountain! here i can find bikes from Merida , giant, Fuji, Scott, specialized! of course I have an old Peugeot mountain bike that i was thinking about changing in to a touring bike but i am not sure! it is too old! thank you 🙂

Finally bought me touring bike, a Specialized AWOL DLT. Took your advice to try it and decided on a medium instead of a large frame (I’m 5′9″) since it was more comfortable. The problem was to find any bike shops who stocks touring bikes in Sweden, found only the AWOL, Kona Rove and Trek 520. As a plus I got a good discount, paid “only” £760 (Evans charges £1160) since the dealer said -“customers ask for touring bikes and then they do not buy them”!

Hi Rob, where in Sweden did you buy it ? I am in Norway (Oslo to be precise) and can´t find any shop stocking touring bikes.

Hi Francesco, http://www.cykelhuset.com sell Specialized AWOL, http://www.jarlacykel.se sell Trek 520 and http://www.fixmybike.se sell Kona. I have only ridden the AWOL and the Rove, both seemed very competent. Just on way back from virgin trip Sassnitz — Berlin, so far satisfied, love the 700x42c tires, perfect for tarmac and gravel!

Tom, for my 21st birthday I got a Cannondale T1000, 22 years and 15000 miles later (low mileage bike) it is going strong. It has been to Paris a couple of times, Amserdam 4 or 5 times and one long trip from Cherbourg to Santander as well as numerous day and weekend UK outings, it has towed a Tag Along for a fair few miles and had a child seat for some of its life. Much of today’s riding is spent on minor roads and tracks around the New Forest and Wiltshire. Few parts have worn out, I am on the second BB, and I upgraded the chainset to an ultegra, other than a couple of tyres, chains and cassettes I have had to do very little. I love the bar end shifters for their reliability, the XT cantilever brakes do a good job stopping the bike, even on 50 mph descents in the Pyraneese with full panniers and camping gear and my 80 kg weight. With an 11 to 32 cassette, 24 speed are fine on a tourer, spacing is well judged. It is really hard to imagine how it could be improved on.….

I just picked up a 2004 Cannondale T2000 for my son’s 13 birthday. Cost just £300 and looks fantastic, in fact looks new. I am surpised how light it is. It Has a few upgrades, including a nice Kinesis fork, which delivers a much nicer ride than my T1000 and it also has a 30 speed XT / ultegra group set and a really nice looking rack. Overall this is the nicest bike I have ever ridden, it is adjusted to perfection and feels really well sorted definately a subtle but noticeable upgrade from the T1000

How does an older mid range tourer like the Cannondale T1000 or T2000 compare with today’s mid range tourers like the Surly LHT or Daws Super Galaxy

To be honest I would be really confident that my Cannondale could tackle a more adventurous tour than I have tried

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” – that sums up any longer and more detailed response I could come up with! 🙂

hey tom! an interesting article you have here 🙂 hopefully you can shed some light on my situation. me and my mate are literally just starting out after training, we are planning a big trip! Our trip in mind is taking us from the uk, through france and to the south of spain. we figure that we want a bike that can take the distance, but can also take us as off road as is sensible. we plan on visiting a few cities also! (we’re thinking cobbled streets and some gravelly paths) so im not entirely sure what kind of bracket we fall under, but the bike i have put a deposit down for (buying new) and am collecting tomorrow, is a specialized sirrus, costing 400 pounds sterling. am i looking in the right kind of bike here considering our journey and our plans? 

as far as i understand (our beginner cycling pedigree in mind) pad brakes are risk free and easily replaced, steel frame and forks are more durable. would having flat bar handle bars restrict us some what? hope you can help! thanks, cillian.

For a trip to the south of Spain pretty much any bike will do, as long as it fits you and it can carry your luggage! (I hope you’ve test ridden this bike before buying it – most important thing of all in getting the right bike!)

Check out this blog series if you want any more info on specific components and things…

Thanks for the swift reply there Tom, yeah I’ve ridden the bike, but as I’m a complete novice, it feels better than any bike I can remember riding. I guess I’m concerned about getting a bike with the right geometry and what not! Any unbiased thoughts on the specialised sirrus as my choice? So long as it’s comfortable of coarse, thanks! Cil

Only that it’s not really a touring bike! £500 would get you a Revolution Country Traveller which would be fully kitted out for touring and has had a number of excellent reviews. You could also get a much higher-spec second hand touring bike for that money.

Fit is important, but if you’re buying a new bike it might make sense to get one that’s designed for the job at hand, rather than adapting a hybrid. Just a thought!

excellent advice good sir! its seems for now that we are settling for our hybrids in good faith that they will pay off when we are mooching around cities and taking scenic bridle ways! thanks a lot for the replies Tom, happy cycling!

Safe roads!

Do you or others on this site have experiences with the Co-Motion bicycles for touring (www.co-motion.com)? They are made in the USA (Eugene, Oregon).. 

I have a Surly LHT with many miles on it and wanted to updated to the new 2015 Disc Trucker with the 10-speen 11/36 cassette, but was considering the Co-Motion Americano. There is a LARGE price delta (Americano is around $ 4,100 US$.

Any experiences/feedback is appreciated.

Have a TERRIFIC day!

Darren Alff of Bicycle Touring Pro has it — Co-Motion Pangea — and he loves it! He had it even repainted recently and put back again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XAwqgXhRzc&t=23s See also his channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCGE4MRedy8pXEdJb9Vsx‑g

Most of the touring bikes I read about in this section either deal with 700c size wheels or 26″ wheels. I bought a Surly Ogre 29er and it’s been the best commuting/touring bike in my opinion. The wider wheels help to accommodate a wider tire (1.9–2.3) that helps absorb the load that you’d be carrying.

You can fit 1.9–2.3″ tyres on a 26″ wheel too. It is the original mountain bike wheel size, after all!

[…] Redninga for den som vil gjøre grundig research blir da å slå over til engelsk. Et bildesøk på “touring bike” bekrefter at dette begrepet har en bestemt betydning. Søket “which touring bike to buy” gir også en endeløs rekke med relevante og informative treff. Spesielt godt liker jeg rådene til min favorittsykkelblogger, britiske Tom Allen. […]

Hi Tom … any thoughts of including a recumbent in your Best Touring Bike selection? Like say an Azub 6? http://www.azub.eu/azub-5-five-recumbent-bike/

While they are the cost of two or three of the above selections I’m interested in your experience or opinions?

Because they’re very much in a niche of their own, I’d rather do a whole feature on recumbent touring options. Suggestions welcome! In the meantime, have a read of my own recumbent tour last year …

This has been an interesting read — as I’m a devout touring bike user, even though touring the world is not on my horizon. Suffolk and noerh Essex are most definitely part of my equation and between 50 — 110 miles per trip are not unusual along with cycling to and from work.

For 18 years I’ve enjoyed my long sought after 1997 Dawes Super Galaxy, which is now up for a complete drive train rebuild (and a return to drop handlebars but without those awful bar end changers), but I’m also keen to add a second bike to the collection as the Dawes is the only form of transport I have and really do need a bike to get to work for as early as 3am (outside public transport times).

My 2 options are the new 2015 Dawes Super Galaxy or the 2015 Ultra Galaxy. Yes, I’m sticking with Dawes, with my current Super Galaxy’s record why not? Also, I can get the bike via the company bike to work scheme and save some dosh. Whilst the budget is between £2000-£3000, I reason over 18 years this will become a bit of a bargain. So the question of this comment is really this:

What are the benenfits of the Titanmium Frame on the Ultra Galaxy over the Reynolds 853 tubing on the Super Galaxy frame? Do I really need to spend that extra £700?

Please, no comments about lucky you etc — it is 18 years since I last made this big an investment and apart from new tyres and inner tubes and a swap to butterfly handlebars the bike is pretty much as it came out of the shop (despite almost 100k miles of travel and commuting). I see this as the kind of purchase that is similar to that of purchasing a car…

Hi Andrew — what did you decide on in the end and are you happy with that decision? I find myself looking at exactly the same choice to make (Galaxy super vs. ultra). It’s not straightforward!

Although I am not a touring cyclist I put in quite a bit of mileage commuting (around 120 miles per week) using either a steel audax type bike (Ridgeback Mercury), alu hybrid or ancient Dawes Horizon (fitted with studded tyres for snowy/icy days). Fancying doing a bit of touring I recently bought a Revolution Explorer with disc brakes and have been riding it since Christmas. Has to be said that the disc brakes are a revelation compared to any sort of rim brake (I have tried them all apart from hydraulic); no constant adjustment, no rim wear, no filthy aluminium slurry all over the rims, silent and they actually work in the rain ( of which there is plenty here in Lancashire). The latter point saved me earlier this week when I had to do any emergency stop to avoid an idiot driver, I doubt any other sort of brake would have been up to it. And I am talking about BB5s which I understand are budget disc brakes.

I am about to buy an used tourer for occasional touring use for my son, he has a Ribble road bike. Budget £300 and I have a choice of Ridgeback World Voyage 2012 …520 CroMo.…Sora.…Alivio etc or a ‘Dale T800 2003, hardly used, Ally.…CroMo forks…Tiagra.…XT etc. I can easily make decisions at work involving lots of cash…but this one appears to have me foxed!! (I have a stable of steeds and tour on a Roberts Roughstuff, I should be able to choose!!!) Please help! Thanks one and all!

[…] utstyret du velger når du skal legge ut på en lang sykkeltur. På nettsida si har han skrevet om hva som er den beste tursykkelen. I eboka går han atskillig mer grundig til verks. Verdt å nevne er at han legger spesiell vekt […]

you forgot koga miyata 😉

I’ve just bought the 2015 Ridgback Tour.

Ive just this minute seen that aluminium frames have a much lower life expectancy than steel due to the fact that they fatigue — is this true? Ive heard that 5 years is the life expectancy of such a frame even if cared for? Have I bought a white elephant — as I planned to treasure it. Thanks.

I’ve just thinking that all bikes mentioned above are in price of year long trip. My humble suggestion is: buy retail! I bought a trek bike in pawn shop for 180euro and so far this holds for 4 seassons (16000km, regions spread from scandinavia to balkans) and now I’m preparing this beauty for 17000km long trip from czechia to indonesia. Throughout these trips I never broke a spoke (seen this problem many times in my friends Dawes) and punctured so few times that it can hardly be mentioned. So far I spend almost 6 months on the roads and during this time I spend less money than price of the cheapiest bike mentioned above.

So my advice is search it, test it, uprgade it, love it and than… finally ride it,-D Put a piece of your heart and skills into your piece of metal. Relationship between tourbiker and his bike must be stronger than click on ebay. Sorry for english and toilet phylosophy, I’m still upgrading,-D

Tom, I just wanted to say a very big thank-you for helping me choose the right touring bike. After spending many evenings checking your advice and loads of websites, I finally opted for a Dawes Galaxy Classic. I took your advice and went via eBay to Kingsway Cycles of Cambridge. I paid £900 instead of £1300 for a 2014 model! More importantly, it’s the right bike. I’ve only done about 60 miles since Saturday, but it’s really excellent. Kingsway are a great bike shop and really nice to deal with — none of that irritating superiority complex so common in good bike shops. I’d recommend them. Again, thank you. Alistair

Seven things:

Now the bike is bedding-in, before a big trip, have the LBS tighten your spokes and true the wheel(s) as required.

Take the time to ensure that the inside of the wheel rims have wide tape, not plastic or thin tape — you will thank me when you don’t get pinch-flats from the inner spoke nipples.

Chop out the brakes for V brakes. I have the same cantilever brakes, and they’re poor. It’s my next upgrade after upgrading my wheel set — as you can tell, this is real-world experience talking here!

If you fit a Ortleib (or similar) bar mounted bag, replace the existing gear cables with extra long ones since they are a little too short as standard and will crop over time and your gear shifting will become increasing difficult and then the front mech’ will cease working.

If you are running Shimano gearing,chain etc make sure the jockey wheels are not a 3rd party set, if so, buy Shimano ones, they work better than others.

You will notice as you ride, most of the touring bikes you’ll encounter are Dawes; how cool is that?

The enjoyment of your adventure is reflected in the width of your daft Cheshire-Cat grin, so grin, then grin some more!

Fantastic! I hope you get many years of touring enjoyment from it!

Hello Tom & Co.,

Do you have input on preferred bikes / systems for long rides with two young kids? 

Preferably sub-$2,000 (US), with a granny gear, and disc brakes.

I am trying to figure out which adult touring bike (and system) to use with my kids. The four-year old child will be in an attached trailer bike (with coupler), and the two-year old child will be in a chariot trailer behind that (via skewer hub)…unless someone has a better idea.

I already own a Specialized Tarmac for zipping around, and a Santa Cruz mountain bike for the trails. For a few years, I’ve reluctantly used my carbon fiber Tarmac for pulling my oldest child in the Chariot trailer. The ergonomics are all wrong, especially in the hills.

Now I have both a four-year old and a two-year old child, plus we live in major mountains. I want to do LONG family rides, and commutes around town (paved / gravel mixed). Ideally the bike could also be used for (solo) century rides. Once they are older, I’d like to explore multi-day touring with me on the same bike.

Salsa Vaya? Trek 520? Surly LHT, Cross Check, or Straggler? 

Big thanks!

[…] started thinking about this tour; my thoughts immediately went to the tried&true options for bike touring (Surly LHT for example), and I was waiting for a deal to pounce on online for months.  But living […]

3864 miles thus far (26 Sept 2014) around Britain and without doubt the most popular bike is the Dawes, maybe 80% (?) streel framed in the majority, and whilst we are at it, Ortlieb panniers, also in the majority.

I am on a 2008 Dawes SG. Rubbish cantilever brakes — to be replaced in short order. Replaced the wheels as the rims were concave, but she is an eBay Special (£590) likewise the four panniers (£83). Fantastic combo with Tubus steel racks.

Hi Tom, I believe the bikes from German Company Tout Terrain have a good name as well. Namely the “Silkroad” seems a fantastic bike to me. Expensive but has all the gimmicks I like to have (Rohloff and disc brakes). http://www.en.tout-terrain.de/bicycles/silkroad/

i was stranded in london on the 4th aug (after losing my oyster and bank cards) leaving me with just £10 and a predicament a quick look on gumtree found me a nearby bike (complete with 21 speeds and rack and double panniers inc cycle comp for my insane budget and now 10 days later its covered 120 miles and by far best buy ever for a tenner 🙂

ps i live 18 miles away in the subarbs so as to speak

Love the site, especially the discussions on this page!

I’m interested in your views on bar-end shifters. My wife’s Sabbath Silk Route was stolen in Amsterdam recently and she’s loathe to spend quite so much on a replacement. Many of the sub-£1,000 tourers seem to have bar-end shifters and she’s a bit nervous about taking them on. What are the pros and cons compared with integrated brake lever shifters? Quite like the look of the Genesis Tour de Fer but the bar end shifters are the only sticking point.

Pros: Simple, durable, reliable.

Cons: Less efficient to actually operate; inexperienced users whack their knees on them.

For a long-term tourer I’d take bar-end or downtube shifters over STIs any day.

I bought the Tour de Fer and did an 8 day tour in Greece. Its an excellent bike and I’m really happy with it but the bar shifters are annoying. I decided to upgrade the bike with a tubus tara front rack and a son dynamo hub with a plug usb charger. I’ll do a review of the bike later as I’m about to set off on a tour to Singapore something its probably not designed for but it came within my Ride-To-Work budget and I’m not a fan of the 26inch tourers I’d rather take my chances in the bikes shops. FYI the new version has a flat bar instead of drops and a tubus tara lowrider as standard — bonus! Love your site it’s been invaluable in my tour planning

You can always move the bar end shifters up onto the flats using a solution like Pauls Thumbies or SJS do their own version. It’s just a bolt on bracket with a mount for the shifter and a cable stop. If you ride mainly on hoods and flats then they are much easier to reach than down at the end of the drops. Cable maintenance is easier as well.

Many thanks for your excellent website. I’m thinking of doing Land’s End to John O’Groats and have seen a Raleigh Gran Tour at our local cycle shop. It seemed fine on a trial run round the block. Any significant pros or cons that I need to be aware of?

Nick check out the Surly Long Haul Disc Trucker it will be the best Touring Bike you will ever buy and will take you anywhere wheel size go for 26 and you can travel the world buy once not twice

Thanks John. I’ll check it out. 

Another issue that’s coming up is tourers vs endurance bikes. Any strong preferences either way, anyone?

Are you doing an endurance ride? Or are you going on a cycle tour?

Different tools for different jobs…

Hi Tom, I was wondering if you had any experience or knowledge of the Cinelli Hobo? It does seem to come as a fairly complete package as well as a 61 frame which is good for a tall person like myself.

I’m afraid I don’t! Sorry! It does look like a good bike, though.

I have a cinelli hobo for mixed trail touring. I find it incredibly comfortable and a really good load hauler. Some of the stock parts are pretty poor, particularly the FSA alpha drive chainset (replaced with Deore, and the alex rims on sora hubs which i’ve recently replaced. The weakest part of the setup for me is the microshift bar end shifters… I had real trouble keeping them indexed. I have swapped for an old pair of Tiagra STI shifters and these feel much better with a deore chainset and rear mech.

It has shorter chainstays than my old galaxy but still has plenty of heel clearance fitted with ortlieb classic panniers. The bars are the most comfortable I have ever used!

Overall i’m really pleased with it as it suits my choice of riding on mixed road, track and trail with a nice blend of cyclocross and touring capabilities… just a shame the marketing around the bike is so goddamn annoying!

I am planning a touring for next year, I was thinking to get a bicycle with a 29’‘ rim using a 28c tyre, i also plan to use mavic hubs, but i am not sure how tough a mavic hub can be on long touring distances, i guess i may not have problems as far i get some spare bearings and parts for the hubs. any suggestion about the rim sizes? will a 27″ rim do the same job as a 29’’ rim size? I have seen that NS has some cool looking hubs, i know they are for dirt-jump bikes, but those are something i consider dues they are do to resist hard impact of daily trainings, but my doubt is if a a hub for hard impact interfere with speed and smooth riding, by logic i guess it doesn’t interfere depending on what bearing it uses…am i right? Ps.: i enjoy cycling fast. lol

i found some other hub, the DT Swiss looks pretty good… but they don’t have a nice front hub with Disk break, that is what is pity, but i may get normal brakes, cos the disk brake has a high cost maintenance …

Where are you going? Your primary consideration is spare parts availability. 26″ or 700c wheels are the only sensible choice for 99% of tours, and I wouldn’t recommend anything other than Shimano cup-and-cone hubs with loose bearings and easy maintenance, ideally XT. They’re tour proven and won’t need a second thought.

Have found your website invaluable in the preparation of a bike trip my brother and I are making from London to Istanbul on August 10 (our first bike trip). I bought your book this afternoon on Amazon too as it should be a handy guide on the trip.

I’m just about to buy a bike and have come down to the Dawes Galaxy 2014 for £691 and the Raleigh Sojourn, which I founded hugely discounted here for £689 (down from £1,100!): http://www.ashcycles.com/site/raleigh-sojourn-2013 . I’d be very grateful if you (or anyone else on this page) could suggest what you think would be the better buy for my budget of £700?

Cheers, Shaun

Very glad you’ve found this site useful.

In my experience, which touring bike to buy depends on choosing the right tool for the job, and seeing what feels good to ride. I’m going to guess that you’re fairly sure both these bikes will meet your needs, but that you haven’t tried either of them out. So the only useful suggestion I can offer is to see which you can test-ride locally. On paper they’re as good as identical. You can discuss specification charts until the cows come home but it’ll all be irrelevant once you’ve actually started riding.

Ideally you’d test-ride both, but if you can only try one, then at least you can either eliminate it from your shortlist or confirm that it’ll do the job — then buy it.

The other critical reason for testing bikes out is to ensure that you get the right size, as incorrectly-sized bikes are the biggest source of discomfort and even injury on tour.

Hope this helps!

Thanks a lot for the tip Tom and appreciate you taking the time out to respond to me.

I’m based in HK and so unfortunately won’t be able to test-ride either of them (only a narrow window in London and they have to be ordered in advance), but if you say that the specs are identical then it makes the decision a bit easier — comes down to the aesthetics now!

I’ve got a KHS TR-101, bought from Cycle Surgery. Since these are relatively uncommon, I thought I’d put up my thoughts.

It’s a lovely bike to ride and I’ve done 2 3‑week trips to New Zealand South Island on it, usually somewhere between 50 and 100km a day. But I do think the brakes are not good enough for a tourer — I’m going to switch mine out after realising as I coasted down from Arthurs’ Pass in the rain with a loaded bike that I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to — and the mudguard fittings have been annoying — little plastic clips which pop ou, and which don’t hold the guard far out, so it rubs the tyres if the guard gets even slightly warped. Both easily replaced though. I’ve carried medium weights on it — prob. ca. 20kg — with ease, using both front and back racks and it feels very smooth and well-balanced. In fact, I think it’s the easiest bike I’ve ever ridden in that respect. Even the stock saddle is OK although I’m finally switching to a Brooks.

I don’t find the gears allow me to get up big hills when it’s loaded (but that might be just me — I’m not very gritty about hills.…) but it’s very smooth to handle and way faster than most other bikes off the bigger hills. 

I’ve done almost all on road on it and wouldn’t do off road again after an 80km run on the gravel Mavora Lakes road — it coped but it wasn’t nice (could have been the headwind…).

I’m planning one or two more 3 week tours on it (New Zealand again, and then maybe Sri Lanka) but am trying to work out whether in the long term I should just upgrade the parts, or actually invest in another bike. It’s a lovely cycle though — I’d really recommend it, although if you are looking for a real round-the-world workhorse it might be worth looking at some of the more established models. 

No bike is without problems, it aint about the bike without blood, sweat and tears :-X

Hi Tom — Great site, very informative and helpful. I´m looking at setting up my first Touring / Expedition rig.

Wondering if you wouldn´t mind commenting on Santos Bikes out of Holland? I see they make some great looking touring bikes, but only in Aluminium.…I asked them why they dont do Steel and their reply was that the Steel / Belt Drive combination is not good, ie to flexible and that the belt will wear just as fast as a regular chain, therefore, they go with Aluminium?? Any comment. Also, thoughts on the Belt Drive in Combination with a Rohloff Hub??

I´m looking at a go anywhere, do anything rig…2 week tours in Europe and RTW adventures. 

Thanks if you can help me out and keep up the great work 🙂

Hi guys, spoilt for choices,the steel v ali debate?? V brake or disc??Santos i havent seen but if its dutch id expect its a good bike, like koga who use aluminium for rtw touring(a reason people like ali is light for air transit, and it wont rust like steel) but can be a harsh ride,so invest in a suspension seat and a brooks saddle,backside will thank ya..Roholf or mech?? Roholf belt drive i have met a tourer using and he was happy with it, expensive combo but if it rolls for 100,000klm and comp have good rep. As it comes to preference and trail n error..I a bit like yourself wanted a rtw expadition bike. I got a thorn ripio frame which i then built up myself …doing that i chose my best spec bits xt tubus fsa brookes ergo etc( finding good reductions online) and most important get to know how it goes together ..useful as often u must rely on yourself to fix the problem and keep those wheels rolling:-) i like steel frames as they flex and are more comfortable with luggage…frames i would say are worth considering are as mentioned by others, surly lht , thorn and an excellent other is onone.…another option is to find a good old used bike/steel frame i.e 90’s atb/mtb models by specialised, trek, orange and upgrade as reqiured. Invest in strong wheels if offroading full loaded and good tyres, schwable marathon xr are excellent and after 20,000 klms they still got tread. A final thought an expensive shiny touring bike looks great to the owner and a theif, to protect my ride i wrap the frame in old inner tube and tape so protecting frame from damage and making my pride and joy look like a dirty ol ride! Thats all folks:-)

Thanks for the contribution!

Sadly the Schwalbe Marathon XR was discontinued years ago now 🙁

Hi tom and troops„, yeah the xr was too good „buy once product, found early originals recently 2 in holland…(where else.. for any tourers holland is ur candy store). So what u rollin on these days??? p.s u on a tour??? Bon route:-)

Not right now, no. But I have my own stash of XRs for when I am 🙂

Hi Tom, very interesting article. My wife and I are looking to buy touring bikes. We would use them in Europe initially — we have a small child who will be with us on a seat so we’ll leave Africa and Asia etc for a few years. I was thinking of a Genesis Croix de Fer , 725 reynolds probably rather than the expensive 931. What are your thoughts? Versatile but do you think they fall between two stools. Thanks, Mark

The Surly long Haul Disc Trucker not only Ticks all the Boxes but you will only ever need to purchase this bicycle Once No need to upgrade this bicycle will be perfect and last a lifetime of Touring wherever your dreams take you Go for the 26 wheels far stronger and gives you an extra gear on steep inclines happy cycling

Sorry, Now I have seen that you have an article about the Tern Link P24 and touring with a folding bike. My suggestion was totally redundant.

But no less appreciated! Thank you for a great summary (and much a much broader one than mine!)

Thanks Tom for all your great articles. I think that folding bikes are a serious alternative for long-term touring. Certainly less sturdy but have many advantages, easy to carry on planes or busses if needed or into hotel rooms and tents for added security. They are getting better with more reliable frames, even with full suspension (Reise und Muller birdy touring) and all the best specs up to Rohloff and dynamo hubs. Small wheels are not good beyond tarmac or good dirt tracks but there are a foding bikes with 24″ and 26″, though I will go for 20″ as a perfect balance between comfort, stable handling and still compact size when folded, bearing in mind it may nor be the best option to do the Pamir highway or crossing the Andes. There are some models speced for touring with pannier racks, mudguards etc. Tern link P24, Dahon MU with alfine 11 and the awsome Birdy. Worth considering.

[…] reading the reviews of Tom Allen and reading a bit about what is important in a touring bicycle, I became convinced that the Kona […]

Hello Tom, your website is amazing, well done! I’m about to undertake a long bike tour through Asia and Europe …unfortunately my budget is very limited. I think I will buy the kona sutra but I also saw this bike which I really like http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/anyroad.1/14819/66151/ Can you please give me some advice comparing the two models?

I will also convert the bike in an e‑bike with the golden motor magic pie conversion kit plus a solar panel . Do you think the conversion will affect the efficiency of the bike?

Thank you very much for the help Vince

Hi Tom, Great article thanks! I bought a 2008 Ridgeback Panorma World Tour in 2011 and I have loved every moment on it. It’s the old BMW grey model. I have been an occassional cyclist for much of my life but it was only when i got this bike that it really made me want to do more and more miles. We have done the UK coast to coast and will be doing the Way of the Roses in the next few weeks; also did Penrith to John O’Groats when I met up with friends doing LeJog. It eats up the miles and has been bullet proof. Once it’s rolling it flies and the Deore gearing gets me up anything. If anyone is considering this model I wholeheartedly recommend it. I swapped out the saddle for a Brooks B17 and put Ortlieb panniers on it and both have been unbeatable performers. I only wish I could match them 🙂 Cheers Mart

i thank for this advice.this would encourage many of them to cycle.i to got encouraged. i have cycled about Km400 this is just the start,i think all cyclist belong to one family.

I’m planning on building a bike for a round the world adventure but I’m overwhelmed by the choices of frames! Surly, thorn, Kona… The obvious choice for a frame would be a Surly Long Haul, but the geometry doesn’t fill me with excitement. My dream bike and frame is the Santos 2.6 (It looks and feels more like a MTB than a tourer), but at almost £800 for the frame it’s way out of my price range. Flat bars or butterflys are a must for me as I really don’t understand this facination with dropdowns. Top of my list currently and within my price range is a Surly Troll. What are your thoughts about the troll as a world tourer? Should I stick with the tried and tested Surly Long Haul (although I’m not sure if the LHT geometry is ideal for flat bars) or go a bit leftfield and try the Troll?

getting ready for a st malo — malaga ride in the spring and am looking at the Specialized Awol:

http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/road/awol

How would you say it compares with the Kona Sutra?

Fantastic website, btw.…

It looks like an interesting bike, if a rather specialised one (sorry) — almost a dirt-road racer with luggage racks, which I think is what Kona have tried to do with the Sutra (mistakenly IMHO; should have been a new model altogether). It looks like a bike for light and nimble loads rather than fully-loaded touring, with 32-spoke wheels and the 10-speed Sora chainset. I’d be very interested to hear a road test report if you do go with it.

Bob Nally!! You may think trying to advertise in here is a good thing which either makes you extremely clever or extremely stupid, which is it folks?? thanks for the info Bob but just encase your advertising here hadn’t noticed this is a about info, advice and camaraderie between true people that have cyling in their heart and you may (or may not) realise this, anyway. guys im a very short woman 4.10 so finding it very hard to find a touring bike to suit me (my mountain bike is 14 inches) but i’m finding it very hard to find something withing my price limit Tom and everyone else, I’m looking for a man’s tourer that can suit my height (I CAN NOT STAND THE LOOK OF WOMANS BIKES) lol so hopefuly I can have Tom or someone else to give me a tip on a “short ass” tourer lol

Does Bob Nally work for Ash Cycles, then? If so, he probably has cycling in his heart too. I’m pleased to hear about it if there’s a relevant deal on, though it would be nice if people disclosed their affiliations of course.

What’s your price limit, Pam? The 26-inch Surly LHT is available right down to a 42cm frame. After that you’ve got seatpost, saddle, stem and cranks to tweak the fit.

For anyone looking for a new bike AshCycles (UK) have the Dawes Galaxy Classic 2013 (and many more bikes) discounted to £879.95 with free delivery.

Thanks for pointing this out!

Hi Tom, I´ve been falling you for over a year and love the movie and the book. I feel like the world is telling me to move south–I´m in Colombia right now and I want to go to Argentina. I am looking into bikes to buy here, and it is very difficult to find aone in a place full of little people (I´m 193cm tall). But that is a problem that I can manage. 

Here in Bogota, these types of cargo racks ( http://bogotacity.olx.com.co/biciclta-panadera-iid-578339198 ) are very popular and they can definately hold a bunch of weight (they usually come in black). I know that there would be wind issues, especially with the front rack–but what do you think of mounting one of these on the back or possibly mounting on both the front and the back of a bike. I´m not too worried about speed but much more worried about control. 

On another note, I bought this from kickstarter ( http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/flykly/flykly-smart-wheel ) and when it is developed and shipped to me this summer, I plan to use it to get from point A to point B… I don´t know if it will work or not, the only downside is that I cannot change gears with it… We´ll see. 

On another note–can you recommend a book for learning how to repair/assemble a bike… 

Thanks in advance for the advice and I will probably have a hundred more questions in the coming weeks and months… Say hi to your brother Ben for me… If everything goes to hell in a handbasket, I might just fly to Lebanon in February for the big event.

Hey Wes… faced with a cargo rack decision like that, the only way to know for sure is to take one for a test ride. I think you’d attract a fair amount of attention if you did go with it! 🙂

The Park Tool website is the number one resource for bicycle repair tuition. I’m not aware of a specific book, though.

Drop me an email if you have any more questions — always happy to help.

Hi Tom, just discovered your website and am so inspired that my wife, daughter and I are planning a tour to Paris next year. Anyway…I have a Specialized Sirrus hybrid that to my novices eye seems to be similar to most of the touring bikes above. The only obvious difference being aluminum frame, flat bars and no racks etc. The components all seem similar. Would there be much point in changing to a tourer? Cheers.

If you can fit a rear rack to that frame, you’re good to go. Even if you can’t, a seatpost rack will do you from here to Paris. Enjoy!

Touring bikes are great if you need full camping gear. I rode a kona Jake the snake lisbon-istanbul, cuba etc, cyclocross bikes should be considered for light touring is.bivy sack and no cooking gear. Super fast, built strong to off road and just more fun and nimble to ride, if that’s your thing. I haven’t been carrying front panniers though, not sure how would ride. I’d encourage really trying to lighten everything up, gear and bike, more rewarding — but this does assume staying within a few hundred km of a store/restaurant/hostel although can be self sufficient for a few days.

Just love this site, ride on tom!

Thanks Yuri. I can count the number of times I’ve been more than a day’s ride from supplies on the fingers of one hand. Almost everyone could “lighten up” and go fast and nimble. I guess it depends on your priorities for being on the road!

Was wondering why you haven’t put any of the Thorn Bikes on your list?..Maybe the Sherpa would be a good mid-range,no? Ian

I haven’t read all the comments so I don’t know if it’s been mentioned (I’ll also hold my hands up here and say I work there) but if we’re talking mid-high end touring bikes then Spa Cycles are worth looking at — http://www.spacycles.co.uk there is now a steel tourer available which is competitively priced.

If we’re talking relatively small UK touring ‘brands’ then Thorn would be worth mentioning too.

Thanks Ben! I haven’t included Thorn here as they’re a bit pricey for the mid-range, but I’ll do so in a future piece on higher end tourers…

No problem, really enjoyed the film on Tuesday in Leeds. Has given me even more enthusiasm for riding the 270 miles home to Dorset for xmas in a week or so. 🙂

I did 6000 miles on my 2011 Cannondale CAADX. The Only upgrade was a pair of heavy duty handbuilt touring wheels a Son 28 Hub and some Schwalbe Marathons.…. I have to say it was the driest 3 month trip you could imagine so the lack of crap picked up to wear the Bike out was noticeable… The Only mechanicals, 2 broken cable and about 4 punctures. Get your bike looked over/serviced before you go and remember this, when you ride your bike normally, what usually goes wrong… I bet nothing.….

Hello Tom & thanks for your very useful and cheerful writings. I’m just getting back into bike touring, and still using my faithful 1977 Dawes Super Galaxy, nearly all original but with a re-enamelling job on the frame. Still pretty well perfect for my long but slow road trips. Brittany’s rolling country is a mine of varied and beautiful scenery : have you tried it? All the best

I haven’t been to Brittany since a school camping trip in 1999… maybe I should 🙂

Tom, you’d be very welcome! so yes, maybe you should! You have my e‑mail via this page, I imagine, so let me know if you’re over here & the Super Galaxy will be wheeled out! 🙂

Hi Tom I’m looking for a top end light tourer that’s very comfortable, capable of going as fast as a tourer can go and at home on Tarmac and on dusty tracks. I intend to carry minimal luggage too. How does the Van Nicholas Amazon (or Yukon) Rohloff compare to the Thorn Mercury? Which would you chose?

I’m sorry but I have absolutely no idea! The only way to know for sure is to ride both. It sounds like your requirements are quite specialised, whereas I’m only really intending to cover generalist mid-range tourers in this article. Sorry!

Thanks a lot for the article. The best I could find on the issue over the net.

My question is, did you get to try Kona Sutra 2014 already? I can’t find any comparisons ; 2013 vs. 2014 — yet there’s the huge change of frame.

I haven’t ridden it myself, but here’s my piece on the changes .

I’ve got a bit of a silly question : How should a touring bike “ride”? I’ve been on “racing” bikes forever and find them comfortable and fun to ride. I’ve been hunting for a touring bike and while they are comfortable to cruise around a bit, they seem far too upright for my riding comfort (makes me feel like I’m riding one of those cheap stationary bikes at the gym, on the first one I tried, I had to drop all the spacers on the stem to get comfy, but then ran into issues with the brake stop/hanger not clearing the head tube) and they feel a bit sluggish and hard to “toss around”, especially when out of the saddle on climbs, even in comparison to my light-weight steel mountain bike. I can see why ultra-low gearing is recommended if all you can do is sit and hammer up the climbs. Is that how it is supposed to be?

Hi Isaac I have recently ridden from Adelaide to Darwin on a Tout Terrain bike and I think there are several characteristics that make the touring bike the right one for you. You need to be comfortable if you are going to spend up to 10hrs in the saddle and the more upright positions of most ‘tourers’, seem to take the weight and pressure from your hands/ arms. Also, the touring bike should never feel “twitchy”, especially when loaded. My Tout Terrain rides the same when laden or un-laden and when you find yourself carrying 15kgs of water plus all other camping gear etc, the bike needs to be predictable. Many bike frames will twist when under a load; as a result, your control, reliability and comfort will suffer. I also like having handlebars that give multiple hand positions, which helps with fatigue. The other consideration is that you are an accomplished road bike rider. You are ‘familiar’ with this lower profile riding position and the road bike handling characteristics. This may be why every other riding position feels foreign. Load up a few different bikes including a road bike and try them out on a few long day trips. Consider the advice of others, but ultimately you need to enjoy touring and your decision should be based on what is right for you. As Tom advises, just get out there and problem solve. In essence, ‘touring’ is not a race and almost any bike can be used. You just need to select the one that feels right for you.

Cheers Mark — I echo these sentiments.

Have you tried riding one with a full load (i.e. 15–25kg luggage split between the front and rear)? A touring bike should feel reassuring and stable under such circumstances as it’s what they’re designed for. Riding them unburdened is not going to give you a realistic sense of the ‘ride’.

Cockpit setup is largely personal preference, I think. I’ve seen people touring on everything from upright shopping bikes to mountain bikes to racers with drops — it’s what you prefer. Personally I choose being upright and able to look at my surroundings rather than tucked down grinding away at the asphalt.

Tossing them around and hammering up climbs is not really part of the touring style — taking it slow and steady, especially uphill, is what allows you to reach the end of a day with a hundred k on the clock.

Hope that helps!

Bianchi Volpe

just wondering if a cheap tourer such as the Raleigh Royal or Revolution Country Traveller ’13 would be suitable enough for a first tour of say 3–4 weeks on EuroVelo network through Germany? have done a bit of mountain biking before, and am a commuting cyclist everyday but I don’t really know that much about bikes

Any comfortable bike will do you for 3–4 weeks in one of the most cycle-friendly countries on the planet!

I can vouch for the Revolution Country Traveller. For the money (£430.00 in the sale!) its a surprisingly comfortable and capable bike. Swapped the saddle to a Brooks but otherwise its been perfect.

I saw that the link for the Rocky Mountain Sherpa was broken. Here’s the new URL:

http://www.bikes.com/en/bikes/sherpa/2013

I am moving to Norway and want to get more into touring, would an 2005 trek 6500 mountain bike work for touring? Link to the bike http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2005/archive/trek/6500/#

Any bike will work for touring if you’re determined enough!

You’ll just need to find a way of mounting a rack. Tubus do seatstay clamp kits for bikes like this. Your other option is a trailer like the Extrawheel .

Thanks for the guide. Think I’ll go with the surly long haul trucker. Why? Because I saw a girl with one on the train after she’d come back from an across Britain ride. So I wanted one!

Lo mejor es que a partir de la accin y de la memoria del equipo. Una vez instalado aprieta el botn de encendido que ven en la nube. Sabemos que Nokia ha lanzado un nuevo juego java para celular, es que HTC podr renacer y volver a reproducirlo. La informacin recopilada en nuestro sitio Hoy 9tres tecnologia y servicios estimamos los mejores del ao. Llegaron a descubrir la agricultura y la envia a la interconexin entre centrales 9tres tecnologia y servicios y pblicas. La interfaz es mucho ms fcil, pero me parece curiosa la decisin 9tres tecnologia y servicios de Acer de incorporar Windows 8 que posee? brujerias para enamorar a un hombre http://journals.fotki.com/watersbaxq/my-blog/entry/krbkbqdfbfrr/

Tom have a look at Thorn Sherpa I have one it’s great

Hi Tom, it’s that time of the year when all you want to do is load up your bike, jump on the ferry to France and just go wherever the mood takes you. It’s also the time when you just devour all the reviews and conversations about bikes and gear and destinations. I love it. I’ve had my Dawes Super Galaxy for over 25 years now. It’s the single best item I have ever spent money on and, if I had to get rid of all my bikes bar one, it’s the one I’d keep. I’m in awe of its Rolls-Royce levels of reliabilty, comfort and smoothness. I’ve ridden 10s of thousands of miles on it and it still rides like a dream every time. All the way across the Pyrenees last year; fully loaded, 900kms, 50,000 ft of climbing, horrific weather, faultless. If the new models are as good as the old ones (and they should be) then you couldn’t go wrong with a Galaxy.

Hi, I am not new to cycling but am to touring. I just purchased a Tout Terrain SilkRoad Frame with derailleur hanger (not getting the Rohloff hub version) and want to build it up with durable components. Plan on using drop bars, 26″ wheels, and cable disc brakes. I also like grip shift but don’t know if this is compatible with drop bars, or even if they are still made. Would prefer mountain bike components. Any recommendations for which components group (model year 2013) to get that would be true and durable. I hear Shimano XT is good and light but durability is not what it used to be. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance. J

PS Cash is a factor but don’t want to sacrifice quality either.

Ideally you’d build an 8‑speed drivetrain from a mixture of components (8sp chains being thicker than 9sp and therefore longer lasting). Deore to XT ranges are durable and rugged. Beyond XT it’s about saving weight for racing, with durability sacrificed, so don’t go there. 

The rear derailleur will take more abuse than the front one. 9sp Shimano rear mechs work with 8sp shifters (at least, mine does).

Grip shifts are certainly still made but I have no idea about using them with drops…

Many thanks for your response Tom; the questions you wrote are certainly eminently practical and sensible.

Perhaps it could be assumed that 32 spoke set-ups are strong enough, given that Rohloff and the expedition bike manufacturers, who stake their reputation on reliability and longevity, use that set-up. Though, having said that, it seems Rohloff are now making a 36 hole hub (according to their website).

According to the Thorn website, spoke breakage was an issue; an issue they solved by drilling the spoke holes on the rim differently. Presumably Santos use the same technique as they also hand build their wheels.

You are absolutely correct in saying that the long distance cyclist should be able to repair such things as broken spokes and derailleur malfunctions (and etc). In terms of enjoying trips though, It’s much nicer if nothing goes wrong (ie Murphy’s law takes a holiday). As much as I enjoy servicing and working on my bikes (the mechanics are such “elegantly simple” bits of technology), I prefer the comfort of my own garage. For those reasons a reliable, strong and well prepared bike would be desirable — and that is an answer to your original question about “which bike?”.

Regarding derailleur and Rohloff gears — derailleurs have certainly stood the test of time, though newer sets with more gears may be more finicky than older versions. For that reason, and when the range of use-able gears is considered, the Rohloff hub is attractive (except for the cost — a 60000 km break-even point may not be achievable for many tourers). Interesting that you have heard of misfortunes with Rohloff hubs — I hadn’t, which indicates that I need to do more research. Perhaps a question to be considered here is, “why are top-end touring bike (and some MTB) manufacturers using Rohloff hubs?” Presumably the perceived reliability is a part of the answer to that?

Mind you, all the theorising in the world is still bound by practical experience. 4000 km into last year’s trip the drive train needed replacing (this inconvenience was my fault really, as I should have renewed the components before setting out — the bike was relatively new and I left the original equipment just to see how long good quality components would last). The chain and cluster were easily replaced, but I had to ride another 1000 km without the use of the middle chainring, until I was able to buy a suitable replacement. It was then that I started considering alternatives — a Rohloff hub is one possibility, perhaps also the gears at the bottom bracket, such as fitted to one of the Tout Terrain models.

Anyway, interesting discussion and I look forward to your assessment of the “upper” end of the touring bike market.

Thanks again

If it helps, the builders I’ve spoken with say that the 32 spoked Rohlof hub is stronger than a handbuilt 40 spoked tandem wheel. This makes sense when thinking about dishing and the inherent weakness it introduces to the wheel. The other thing, of course, is that it is easier to repair a broken spoke on the chainside of a Rohlof hub than on a dished wheel with a cogset.

This has been a very interesting discussion — many thanks.

In response to your original question about other brands that might be considered be considered; no one seems to have mentioned the Santos Travelmaster bikes, in 26 and 28 in sizes and in aluminium or cromo.

Now, if I may lead to a dilemma. In one of your responses you referred to a concern that a new derailleur gear system with 30 gears may not yet have been “proven” to be reliable for long tours (paraphrasing your response). That is a good point, borne out by my experience — my older 26 in MTB/hybrid has 21 gears (perhaps indicates how old the bike is) and has never needed adjusting, while my newer 28 in with 27 gears needs frequent attention. Even though I do all the servicing myself and can generally adjust the gears satisfactorily, it can be a pain spending time adjusting the gears while touring (I’d much rather be riding or photographing or sipping cappuccinos in a wayside café). This has led me to consider a Rohloff hub.

That leads to the dilemma. The Rohloff hub bikes (Tout Terrain Silk Road, Thorn Nomad, vsf TX1000 and Santos Travelmaster and possibly Gudereit are all under consideration) all use 32 spokes. I am nervous about dropping from 36 spokes. The theory is that, because the Rohloff hub does not require a “dished” spoke set-up, it is stronger (than the equivalent deraileur set-up). The issue is that I cannot find any info that states how much stronger. One blog mentioned that 26 in wheels are about 10% stronger than 28 in wheels (with the same number of spokes) — but what the 10% is “of” was not explained, and what the measurement of “strength” is was also not explained. Questions remain hanging — is a 32 spoke undished 26 in wheel stronger than a 36 spoke 28 in wheel, for example? What is the “hierarchy of strength” when considering 26 and 28 in, dished and undished wheels?

This leads, of course, to really basic questions such as, for example, “would a vsf TX1000 ( 28 in wheels with wider tyres) be as strong as my current 28 in with 36 spokes”? How much stronger are the Santos wheels with 32 spokes, given that they are hand-made? And so on…

So, if there is anyone who could shed light, with facts, on this dilemma, it would be very much appreciated.

As a final point, I wonder if the steel/aluminium frame issues is now a non-issue — an idea espoused by a metallurgist-cyclist when considering modern frames?

Many thanks

Hi Phil. Thanks for the detailed comment.

The main reason I haven’t included the Travelmaster here is because it’s a top-end touring bike, whereas in this article I’ve been focussing on mid-range bikes. I’ll definitely include it in a future article about top-end bikes, though, along with the other bikes you mentioned — thanks for bringing them to my attention.

Regarding hubs and spokes, I think that the important question here is:

“Would Rohlhoff hubs be fitted to top-end touring bikes if spoke-count was a real issue?”

I doubt it. I hear more tales of Rohlhoff internals failing than spokes breaking. Which begs another question:

“Is it easier to repair a derailleur system or a Rohlhoff wheel on the roadside?”

My money’s on the derailleur. That’s why I’ll keep using them over internally-geared hubs.

And instead of asking what percentage of extra strength 36 spokes gives over 32, I’d be asking:

“Am I able to replace a broken spoke?”

Because that’s what you’ll be thinking when a spoke does inevitably break 🙂

I’ve been using a VSF TX1000 for over a year & completed over 2,000 miles (fully loaded) last autumn through Spain & France on a variety of roads & canal paths… my experience has been very positive… the 32 spoke Rohloff & Son28 wheels show no sign of wear & are true as the day I got them????

Hi Tom! Any comments on the Brodie Elan: http://brodiebikes.com/2013/bikes/elan.php

I tested the Sutra but after trying both 56 & 59 could not make up my mind on what was the right size for me. I am 6 feet tall so I guess I might be somewhere in between. On the other hand I also tried the Brodie Elan 54 & 57 and the 57 felt to big for me… Thanks in advance for any feedback

I’m surprised that the Fuji Touring did not make your list. I’ve been looking around and it seems like a solid touring bike at a good price. 

BTW — I just stumbled across your site and I’m impressed! I’ll be back soon.

Hello, Tom. Why you advice only steel frame bicycles? There’s a lot bikes with alluminuim frame and fork. It’s lighter and easy to buy everywhere.

The main reasons are durability and for ease of repair. Steel has a much longer fatigue limit, and in case of breakage can be welded anywhere by anyone with basic welding equipment. Aluminium, on the other hand, needs specialist attention — in less developed countries this could mean going to an airport. Frame breakages are not uncommon on long-haul tours and that’s why most quality long-distance touring bikes are still made of steel.

Personally, I also prefer the ride quality of a steel frame; there’s a little more give over the very stiff ride afforded by aluminium. For long term comfort that does become noticeable.

For short and occasional touring, I have no doubt that most aluminium frames would be fine, though.

Tom, that old chestnut about a steel bike being welded anywhere by anyone is quite amusing. That is the theory. In reality it takes a skilled welder who has experience with bicycle frames to do that job properly. Yes, you might get a rough cut job to hold your frame together to the next port but on a loaded bike i would’t fancy it. And how many people do you know who have actually had this done in practice?

I do agree with you that the steel frame gives a much nicer and more comfortable ride and that such a frame has much better strength which are great reasons to get steel.

Lots. Including me (Yemen). Andy (India). Al (Sudan). Etc. There’s quite a list. Very common story on very long trips. The fact that any old welder can get you to the next port is the whole point. We all had steel frames and we all managed to continue riding.

On the other hand, I know several aluminium-riding tourers who ended up hitchhiking with broken bikes and then waiting around in cities for new frames to be couriered out because they couldn’t get them repaired at all.

Salsa , Rivendale , Co Motion , Koga Miata — if you looking for really nice touring bike. Expensive but for long run cheap — it is simple , you get quality what you pay for .….. Years back I on $ 400 sligtly modified Raleigh Tarantula MTB , ( now overhauled and equipt with top of the line comnponents still in use for trails in Rockies ) I did made trip from La Paz to Chile . Want to safe some money . It teach me ! Never ever I will make this kind of mistake again .…

Another bike similar to ones already mentioned is the Rocky Mtn Sherpa. I’ve been riding a 2012 model for 8 months and am pretty happy with it. Pros- 36 spoked wheels, 27 gears in a wide range, stiff frame. Cons- the braze on placement on the seat tube (the front derailler is attached between them), I’d like bigger chainrings up front, It doesn’t do well off-pavement.

Cheers, David. I wonder why Rocky Mountain haven’t fitted a rack to this bike — I know people can be picky about racks, but I do think touring bikes at this level should be ready to tour off-the-peg as well. Nevertheless, it certainly looks like a good option. Thanks for the addition!

I was looking at Jamis Aurora Elite 2013 (cannot find the 2012 anymore). However some reviews describe it as a “light tourer”. I understand the problem of the 10-speed cassette. But what would make it a *light* tourer.

A ‘light’ tourer would usually mean a bike that’ll carry some luggage on a relatively short paved-road tour, but probably suffer off-road and with lots of luggage in the long-term.

I have just purchased an audax cycle from my local cycle store (Surosa cycles in Oldham, Greater Manchester, UK) as they build their own frames.. and had it custom built with my chosen spec for a total of £1266 and it’s a very good bike with mudguards, and a heavy duty rear rack with rack bag and 56L panniers.. soon to have an addition of handlebar bag, and front rack and panniers and I’d feel happy to do some touring on that over any distance

That sounds like a good price for a custom frame and build. I’d be interested to know the spec?

People will choose their bikes according to all the factors mentioned by you, Tom, and by other contributors. For some, keeping costs low is paramount and for others, strength and reliability are the main considerations. I think there are also intangible factors such as each individual’s self image as a cyclist and the emotional resonance of one bike or another. I’m far from wealthy but I appreciate the inherent value of high quality engineering and get enormous satisfaction from assembling my own bikes. After much research and deliberation I bought a high quality European frame and a mix of German, Japanese, American and British components. The complete set wasn’t cheap but I did make a considerable saving compared with buying a similar bike off the shelf. I also bought a wheel truing stand and gauges, and built my own wheels. I wouldn’t claim to be an expert bicycle mechanic but the experience of assembling my own bikes has provided not only personal satisfaction but also great confidence for dealing with routine maintenance and potential problems while far from home. I don’t believe there is any one ‘best touring bike’ and I’m skeptical about such claims. The message I take from this section of your blog, not to mention many other bicycle related blogs and websites, is that bicycle touring is a growing phenomenon and that it is rich with variety, in both equipment and people. That is surely a good thing.

You are absolutely right; there is no one-size-fits-all solution. I can completely appreciate the process of building a bike up from carefully-chosen top-end parts (as I did myself in 2007), just as I can appreciate the idea of rescuing an old bike from a scrapheap and bringing it back to life (as I’m doing right now)!

Thanks for the very thoughtful comment!

Just about to buy the Ridgeback Journey for some UK touring — perhaps France too next year. I’ve been seduced by the Alfine gearing. Am I being wise?

In 2009 my Roberts Roughstuff (with Rohloff hub) was stolen in Bulgaria with only 2000 miles on the clock. So that I could continue my RTW trip, I bought a Drag ZX5 mountainbike in Sofia, with replacement Schwalbe Marathon tyres, butterfly bars and comfy saddle, plus front and rear racks, stand, fenders and the two components of my wireless computer that had disappeared with the Roberts. The first bike cost just short of £3000, the second (Sofi) cost £500 and has now completed around 18000 miles. I’ve asked myself many times, ‘why did I bother spending all that money in the first place?’ The BMC paid out £250 in insurance btw.

Hi Anne i followed your adventures on crazy guy, was epic. Were the gears on Sofi deore or lesser Regards Pete.

I have almost completed a round the world bike ride on a Koga Signature with a Rolhoff gear system. During my four years on the road i have changed tyres, chain, brake pads and the bike was serviced in Australia and Los Angeles. I am still running with the original rims, no broken spokes and the Rolhoff is bomb proof. The Koga in my humble opinion is by far the best bike on the market. Ive been on wonderful smooth highways, Australia, USA and dirt roads that you wouldnt take a Land Rover on in Patagonia and Bolivia but the bike has just kept going, ive done over 30.000 miles on with not one problem, it still has the original bottom bracket. If you want to ride around the world buy any bike if you want to return home problem free then buy a Koga Signature.

Hi Robert, I was offered a World Traveller today for €1200 (2013 with 500kms) although I’ll probable go for the Kona Sutra as I perceive it to have a broader and more efficient range of use and I have no plans for outside Europe. How did you find your bike on load touring, daily tasks?

Sorry mate, we are going to drop the http://www.8pedsls.com site. To expensive to keep up for the entire 4 years. 

http://Www.facebook.com/8pedals http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doc_id=11458&v=3Z

So we are now on fb. And crazy guy on a bike. 

I would put my vote for the BB7s. A mechanical system may require more pull on the lever than a hydraulic system it doesn’t have all the potential service issues. The BB7 are durable and been around for a while. The nice thing about the BB7 vs the BB5 is that both pistons are adjustable on the bb7 making the setup and adjustment easier. Also the 7 brake pads are bigger than on the 5 which would make you think it stops better. I can’t comment on the ease of finding pads since they are not on my tour bike but since the bb7 uses a Juicy style pad it may be more common. For me I always carry spare pads regardless of where I am. The sintered metallic pads will give you longer pad life…just make sure that your rotor is rated for a metal pad. 

The other nice pluses for disc setup is no wear on the rim from brake pads, better stopping power in bad weather/muddy conditions and if you break a spoke or come out of true your brakes are still fully functional. The downside however is more strain on the hub shell and if you bend a rotor it can be next to impossible to get it perfectly straight…and there is the advantage of having both pistons adjustable on the bb7.

Hi Tom, I’ve read about Thorn bikes before (specifically the Raven) — any views?

Also, I would be interested to know why drop bars are so popular. I find a more upright cycling position more comfortable so would probably choose bullhorn or butterfly bars, but hardly any bikes seem to have these. 

What’s your view on disc brakes? I notice that the Kona Sutra has them — does it not cause an issue when you run into maintenance problems, especially outside Europe? (I would apply the same logic to hub gears).

I ride a Raleigh Royal, which is fine as a sturdy budget option (£500).

Thanks for article, really really useful!

The reason I haven’t included Thorn is that most of their models are above the price range I was aiming for here. I’ve never ridden one, but I have been told by several people that they’re great bikes, and that the people who make them are quite obnoxious.

I’ve found drops to be comnfortable, but I never use the dropped part except for shifting. I would imagine that’s fairly normal. Instead I make use of the various hand positions available on the upper part of the bars, which is at a height comparable to other types of handlebar once you’ve raised it with spacers and an angled stem, such as on the Kona Sutra. You get a very comfortable and fairly upright position out of that arrangement.

Before, I used an adjustable stem and riser mountain-bike bars. Now when I sit on that bike I feel like I’m on a Harley Davidson with pedals!

Disc brakes — well, models like the Avid BB7 have been around now for long enough to prove their reliability in the long term. They use the same cables and levers as V‑brakes, the mechanism is simple, and they’re maintenance free, except for changing the pads, which you can carry with you. They last longer and are lighter than V‑brake blocks. They’re also becoming easier to find spares for outside Europe. If your fork has V‑brake bosses, you’ve got that option in case of a really unlucky breakdown or accident. So I think the risk is now a very manageable one.

Thanks for the budget bike suggestion — I’ll work that into a future article.

All the best!

Hi Tom, and everyone! I’m one of those lucky enough to be able to afford several bikes, so I can make some comparisons based on experience. If you live in the U.K. it is definitely worth looking at the Thorn bikes as they are just so well built and I can vouch for the ride being ultra comfy and smooth for long days in the saddle. If you look at their prices they seem to be expensive at first but on their website they often have amazing deals on bikes they already have built up. They are absolutely worth it and are designed by someone who really knows how to get touring DNA and experience into a bicycle. The Surly Troll is another great choice with even more versatility in the drivetrain area but rides more like an MTB ( which it is ) than the Thorns. A word of advice for those who are wondering how to carry stuff. get a Burley travoy, the trailer that packs up into a shopping bag. It is a game changer and can carry a lot.You can get the load off your bike with it and still have a rack and space for other gear on your bike frame. Sometimes you can park it and ride your bike ‘naked’ without being bogged down with gear. It is the single most amazing piece of touring gear I have.

Ooops! Forgot to mention about disc brakes. I’ve got both systems. I find that disc rotors need to be perfectly flat for good performance and once they get bent even slightly on a tour they don’t function as well and are a pain to straighten out. They also can squeal a lot. For the first reason I found V brakes better for serious touring. Even though the disc fashion is popular now, i wouldn’t go that way for touring and seriously, a good pair of V brakes will stop you just as well. Concerning hub gears. My Rohloff and Alfine units have given me ZERO problems and i mean zero plus they are weatherproof. Derailleurs are not . If you have good mechanical skills you(ll be happy with them but if not definitely go IGH if you can afford it.

A tip for straightening out a bent rotor is to use an adjustable spanner to grip the rotor at the warped point and then give it a few nudges back in the right direction. With a bit of care this’ll cure all but the most traumatic bends.

Thanks for the comment! I have heard lots of good stuff about Thorn, and I’m sure they deserve their reputation. I’d put them in the “top-end” category on price point, which is why they’re not included here. One day it’d be nice to try one out… (hint!)

Re drop bars: I wouldn’t want to tour without them, and I use them a lot, but especially when I have to ride into the wind. On any tour, there will be long hours, and sometimes days, when the wind is blowing head-on, and I’d go nuts if I had to be sitting straight up, catching the full force of the wind, the whole time. However, it’s important to note that not all drop bars are the same. Some bars are marketed as “randonneur” bars, and they allow for a wide range of positions, which is really important as you can change positions frequently and relieve tension on your hands, wrists, neck and shoulders. On my current bike, a Surly Long Haul Trucker, the stock (drop) bars are very good. I probably spend the most time with my hands on the top section of the bars, but it’s a blessing to be able to get right down into a crouch when I have to ride into the wind.

The Paul Hewitt Cheviot is a very good bike too.

Tom I think the comment that the 5 models you showcased are basically the same bike is spot on. Yes there are bikes with better components but the few that you chose will do the job. Its easy to build a $5000 tour bike and I have seen several. However at the end of the day I would prefer to have a tough as nails work horse that doesn’t mind another scratch or two. 

I laugh as I think that my wife’s tour bike frame, a steel Rocky Mountain Soul, was perfectly fine and yet was about to be thrown into a dumpster when I saved it. Put a fork on it for 75 cents from the reuse it center and then built the rest from bits and hand me downs of solid mid range mtb components. For a few hundred dollars I built a bike that has easily survived several hard tours. It took a little time and patience but in the process I learned how to fix just about everything on the bike. Not to mention the satisfaction of giving it a new life. Now I would never consider buying a new bike from a shop. There are just so many great used bikes that would make a perfect tour bike project. With the internet as a resource you can research just about every part there is. It however takes time.

One more little story. On our trip to India, one of our group bought a $100 bike off craigslist in Vancouver. We checked it over and and made sure everything was sound and then shipped it over. She rode it for a month on tour and then donated it to an orphanage. Think they were happy? It was a pretty special moment. Would I have ridden it around the world…maybe not but it served the purpose and then some. Sometimes its just not about the bike.

Hey Henric — thanks a lot for this perspective. 

I agree that renovating an old bike is just as valid as buying a new one. (In fact, that’s a project I’ve got on the go at the moment.) I do also think, though, that there’s room for everyone to have their own way of approaching the situation — a new bike might be what takes someone from a dreamer to a die-hard cycle tourer — and for another person, the love that goes into a rebuild of a completely unique vintage bike may achieve the same thing.

Thanks for your input!

I pulled an old green Chicago Schwinn Varsity off the trash when I was in High School, fixed it up and rode it for a long time. Last year I put new wheels and tires on it, and then had to replace the rear derailleur. This year I’ve put saddlebaskets on it and use it to go to work everyday, and am planning to take it on a short 200 mile tour this summer. The only gripe I have with it is that the original gearset doesn’t have quite a low enough first gear for the hills in Albuquerque, but when I get back to Chicago next week it should be just fine again. Absolutely reliable bike (though it’s really heavy at 45lbs without the baskets, close to 55 or 60lbs with the baskets)

Fantastic. That’s the spirit.

I love my Surly Troll.

A real work horse and rides suprising well both loaded and unloaded. I personally think it’s better than the LHT because it’s a great alrounder.

It does look good. Rear triangle & caliper positioning like the Sutra. Very flexible-looking setup!

I’m lucky enough to own a pair of touring bikes, a Thorn Sterling ( discontinued I think ) and a Troll, both built to my spec, with Shimano XTR v brakes ( I don’t like discs, squeaky, rotors too easily bent ‚hard to replace on a tour, and extra weight ), They are both fantastic bikes but with a different ride quality. The Surly is a bit more agile, rides more like a trail bike, but for putting on the miles when you are going to be riding seven or eight hours a day, the Thorn just cruises through it sffortlessly. It’s also one solid bike. Don’t believe i’ve ridden any another frame that is as comfortable as the Thorn for long days in the saddle. For those shopping for a tourer, I’d give careful thought to whether you’ll be on or off road. Both of my bikes can handle either but they both excel at only one.

For several years I have gone on a European cycle tour with my tent and cycled for a period of no more than six weeks. I have had a couple of good touring bikes which I upgraded the wheels to Mavic 719 and the gears to Shimano XT As I got older now 62yrs of age I decided to invest in a Thorn Mercury straight handlebars and a Rolhoff Hub including Disc Brakes the result is perfect my saddle is a Brooks B 17 the bike is a dream to ride 853 Reynolds Steel Stiff and flexible to enjoy many miles in the saddle As for the Rolhoff I could Never Tour with a derailleur gears again the Rolhoff is all they say it is German engineering at its best the people at Thorn did a first class job their manner appears firm but they certainly know their business and I am really pleased with my byclcle Thorns lowered the gearing to its maximum and I can climb most hills fully loaded if it’s touring on Tarmac with the occasional canal towpath I recommend the Mercury byclcle and with Swarbe marathon plus tyres your bike is bomb proof I am always amazed when cyclists talk about weight on a byclcle yes if you are racing but when you Tour a couple of kilos really makes no difference my only regret is I didn’t purchase a Rolhoff years ago not cheap but it will last you a lifetime and should you upgrade your bike you can transfer it to your next byclcle making the former into a single speed for training purposes as for disc brakes when I am fully loaded coming down a steep mountain side I know I can safer stop otherwise it’s possibly very hot wheel rims and possibly wheel failure it just depends on what kind of cycle touring you wish to do if it is traveling in south east Asia 26* wheels and no disc brakes but after cycling for over 50 years I believe I have finally found what works for me

Hey Tom. Just found your site. Thought we would say hi. We are in the midst of organising a lap around the world in 2014. For 3 years. Great site look forward to investigating it further. We r using 1 Surly lhdt, 1 world Randonneur $ 2 giant boulder bikes. Check it out under bike specs on out 8pedals site. Early days for us. 

Thanks! (Everyone else, check out 8pedals.com !)

Walmart sells nice bikes (really). I ride combined packed dirt (nation forest) roads and paved. I use a dual suspension 21sp MTB upgraded with wide seat and swept back handlebars, better tires. Racks and other acc. as needed. for $250USD you can replace it every 2 years, transfer the custom parts to the new bike and still sell the old one for $35. Thieves know its a cheap bike and don’t bother it, joyriders main threat. My current bike was a $89 model, but I installed wide range gearing in addition to the other modifications. Going on 4 years 8500 miles, frame still good.

re your comment “They’re all built primarily for paved roads, but could handle a dirt track or two if need be.“ I bought a Surly Long Haul Trucker for a tour that included hundreds of kilometres of gravel road, and it was fabulous. A key factor was to use fairly beefy tires (1.75”). The setup on the Surly allowed getting down on the drop bars for long stretches against the wind, but enough cushioning in the tires (and frame) to make rough sections comfortable. I suspect this would be true of most of the bikes you mentioned, as long as they have room for wide tires. There have been a few loose dirt trails where a mountain bike would offer better control, but the Surly has been an ideal compromise for most of my rides.

After perhaps 25,000 km of touring we lashed out and bought Thorn Nomad each, with Rohloff. These are a little heavy, but the most comfortable and durable bikes imaginable…the Rolls Royce of touring. We can’t speak too highly of the Rohloff hubs.…just fantastic. But then, we travel slowly and thoughtfully.….you might say “savoring the experience”.…too old to do it anyother way! Check out Thorn’s website.

i would agree with the above. The Nomad is like a two wheeled tank, bit heavy, but can carry loads and tackle almost everything thrown at it. Slowly and thoughtfully ? ……… i couldn’t have put it better.

Hey, Tom! Since I have come back from my first bike tour to Europe I decided to buy Kona Sutra but question about what sixe should I choose is too complicated for me. I am 6 ft 2 inch. Thank you.

Hi Alex. The best thing to do by far is to test ride the different sizes. But if that isn’t an option, my brother is 6′2″ and he has the 59cm model, which fits him very well, if that’s of any help.

i have no money what small improvements could i make to my cannondale quick cx 4 2012 to make it a little better for touring

I would start by going on a tour with it and seeing if you run into any issues — depending on what you’re doing, it might be fine as-is!

Was all set to go for the Kona Sutra 2012 after much research and your review for a 1000km trip in SE Asia followed by a coast to coast of Oz, but just seen the Dawes Super Galaxy for £1125 at Spa Cycles. Almost the same price as the Kona. Would be interested on your thoughts on the Super Galaxy. I don’t plan on carrying much weight if that helps.

I’ve never ridden the Super Galaxy, so all I can say is going on the specs on the website. They look very similar, although the Super Galaxy has marginally better drivetrain components and better tyres. On the other hand, the Sutra has powerful disc brakes, bar-end shifters and a stronger/more widespread 9‑speed drivetrain, rather than the Dawes’ 10-speed which I consider a downgrade rather than an upgrade.

I’d toss a coin, or take them both for a ride and go with your gut!

Quick update — several stores are doing the 2012 Sutra at a discount now, including the two links in the article above…

Hey Tom, I went with the Kona Surtra based on my gut feeling and it felt right when I test rode it. Thanks for the link to cyclestore and your advice. I did a 3000 miles plus tour of SE Asia quickly followed by JOGLE on a mountain bike which was blast, but very much looking forward to journeying on a proper touring bike. Should make things less laborious hopefully. 

Top website!

Have to say I was a bit surprised at your mention of ‘stupidly expensive’ bikes then trying to claim that £1500 is a mid-range price. Anyway I have a Dawes Ultra Galaxy Ti and love it!!!

£1500 is a mid-range price 😉

My wife and I have had our Ridgeback Panorama’s for a couple of years now and are really pleased with them. We would, however, agree with Mark’s comment about the brake pads/blocks. Fortunately, easily rectified with a better brake block compound. We find that, when fully loaded, the bike comes into its own with regards to comfort, response and stability due, I think, to the Reynolds 725 tubing.

I bought a Panorama for touring in the Alps. Testing around Rutland hills I realised the brakes weren’t even good enough for here, let alone 25mile descents. I swapped them for Tekto mini “V” brakes available from Spa Cycles for £25. More than enough braking power now, it made a huge difference.

Hi Tom, I followed your adventure to the Arctic. Good to see you passing on your knowledge. Both my DH and I have Koga Randonneurs and I love mine. He preferred his Dawes Super Galaxy that he had upgraded with the Koga multiposition bars unfortunately , it was stolen and never recovered. They come complete with dynamo for lighting and I have a gizmo to charge the I phone. Good to find your site again. Brenda

Thanks for the article. A bit disappointing recumbents are not mentioned, as these are hands down the best bicycles for long distances. The first question should always be: Do I have a reason for not choosing a recumbent?

I can think of several — price, availability and familiarity are the first three. 

I do appreciate all the arguments for the benefit of recumbents, but this article was intended to highlight mainstream mid-range options, and unfortunately recumbents are still a long way from being part of that. I’d love to run an article about them, but not until I have some first-hand experience…

Great article Tom, I suspect most of us spend too much money on our bikes. Its refreshing to see someone write about the mid-rangers. Rather than the “you need this bike with Rohloff, Son, Magura, tubus” that you read on most sites..

Too true. I’ve got an interesting article in the pipeline which will go even further in the ‘budget’ direction. Watch this space…

I’ve just completed a tour on my new Vivente World Randonneur 

It’s probably at the upper end of the middle for touring bikes, if that makes any sense. But for me doing heavy highway touring it is ideal. Strong, stable. The dynamo on the front wheel is excellent at charging up all my electronics.

As you said, a bit pricey, but a lovely looking bike — thanks!

Is it possible to put a dynamo for charging up a GPS and iPhone on the front wheel of a Surly LHT? Does it reduce speed much?

Go for it. I have done it and could not be happier. The reduction in speed is minimal.

+1 for the Ridgeback. Like you say, everything is a compromise and in the Panorama’s case the manufacturer has skimped on the brake pads the most. Happily this is easily fixed. Another slight annoyance was caused by the shifters, which needed the addition of brake noodles to route the gear cables away from the handlebar bag I added — couldn’t quite justify 105 levers with integral cable routing for a tourer. Top bike, highly recommend it!

Novara safari is a great and inexpensive tourer sold at Rei Cheaper then any of these by a large margin with butterfly handle bars Novara randonee is more in line with what is here Khs tr 101 very complete even includes clipless pedals.

Thanks for this, Andrew. I had a look at the specs of these bikes. As you say, the Novara Randonnée is a closer fit for this list of mid-range tourers, though I would still be concerned about the rear rack’s strength and the 10-speed drivetrain. It’s also missing fenders. Otherwise it looks like a good bike at a good price. 

I’d probably put the Safari in the ‘budget’ category rather than the mid-range, due to it having a lot of entry-level components. While that’s fine for short tours and commuting, I’d be concerned about its long-term durability on a big tour, where the aim is to reduce the likelihood of repairs and replacements.

The KHS TR 101 looks like a very capable road tourer — I’d like to see some real life reviews.

Thanks again!

Also love your site and check my rss reader for your posts daily such a inspiration keep on riding man :).

I’ve done short tours on my Randonee for years, and love it. Hildy (my Randonee) climbs hills like a madwoman and can haul as much cargo as need be quite handily. The bike will even handle mild off-road. I’ve long since worn through the stock tires, and replaced them with Schwalbe Marathon tires. 

I’ve replaced the rear rack, but I’m told by many that the tock rear rack is quite sturdy. (I already owned a pair of Tubus racks from my previous bike when I bought the Randonee.) This fellow rode from Florida to Washington State on a Randonee, and used the stock rear rack. 

I have an older Randonee that has a 24-speed drivetrain, and I have to say that I share your concern about the newer, 30-speed drivetrain. It seems odd that they would put a 10-speed cassette on a touring bike. However, I am pleased to note that they have gotten rid of the old STI shifters and moved to the more dependable bar-end shifters. If I had the spare cash, I’d have those installed on Hildy. 

The Safari looks like a fun bike for short tours that contain off-road components, but I’d worry about those disc brakes on tour.

I put a huge vote in for the Surly. I can say I’ve treated mine like a mountain bike on previous tours and it’s never been a problem. Its just built to take any punishment I fell like dishing out.

I have had negative experiences with an older Kona Sutra; however, it was with the former placement of the bb7 brake caliper and subsequent rear rack configuration with a huge bolt and spacers. It’d just sort of snap whenever we were running late, battling poor weather, or having trouble finding camp. Now that they’ve moved the brake to the lower chain stay, that problem is gone and the rack is likely as bombproof as the frame.

Yeah, that’s probably what prevented it from being taken seriously for so long — I’ve read some similar comments about older models. I probably wouldn’t have included it here a few years ago, but I can attest to its vast improvement in the last couple of years. Had an interesting chat with Kona’s designers in Vancouver earlier this year — they decided to redesign it from the ground up, rather than try to beef up a road-bike design as they’d previously done.

I had a 2007 or 2008 Sutra and one of the rear rack eyelets broke off during the first week of my very first tour. I finished the ride with the rack held up with bunch of zip ties. I was very disappointed with that frame.

A good bargain i.m.o. would be the vsf Fahrradmanufaktur TX-800 XT with 30 gears. handmade in Germany, complete Shimano XT-Group, Tubus Cargo and Tara lowrider racks (made out of Steel tubing, Magura hdraulic rimbrakes, a XT hub dynamo and a pretty good, rigid wheelset including some Schwalbe Marathon 47–622 reflex tires. There are Shops in GB too, in € it would be 1499,-. Of course, a sturdy steelframe and-fork.

Or, my ride of choice, the Surly Troll (mine is a custom-setup by myself, but the complete bike gets some good reputation too), more like a Offroad-Utility-Bike. (can be driven with V‑Brakes, Disc-Brakes, a Rohloff Hub, a normal rear derailleur or even singlespeed). http://surlybikes.com/bikes/troll The parts on the complete one wasn´t what i had in mind so i bought the frame and fork for 380 €

Thanks for the comment and suggestions!

The Fahrradmanufaktur looks like good value for money, as you say. I wouldn’t take a 10-speed chainset far beyond Europe, though — very new tech and with every increment comes a narrower, weaker chain, with spares almost impossible to find outside high-end bike stores. My first expedition bike was built with a 8‑speed rear mech for exactly that reason. Even a 7‑speed would still be stronger and easier to find parts for in most of the world.

The Troll reminds me of the Explosif I built from the frame up for off-road touring. Looks absolutely great if you want to build your own and ride a lot of dirt! Shame only a few stores import them over here in the UK.

Tom, and All Others, 

Can I ask for your opinion on the new Fahrradmanufaktur bikes? I was about to purchase one, but I’m a bit unsure for two reasons: 1) It has hydraulic brakes. Do you think that would require more (complicated) maintenance? 2) It’s a women’s frame. I haven’t seen many female frames among long distance touring bikes. Is there a good reason for that?

This is the original TX-400: http://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/katalog/expedition?product_id=668

And this is the one I’m eyeing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/371133699189?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Thank you, I would really appreciate your input on this.

Sofia, I’m a woman travelling around the world with the TX-800. The Magura hydraulic brakes don’t need any maintenance, just changing brake pads when needed (very easy, with a click). I have the male frame as I always had male frames in all my bikes and it’s what I’m used to. Another Spanish girl is also travelling around the world with the TX-400, male frame, and also happy with it. The advice the experts give is always the same, try to test both of them, male and female frame, and see how they feel.… Good luck!

Hi I bought the TX-400 last year and took it on 10 tour of Oman. It’s a really great bike! Very sturdy, and of course heavy but very easy to handle. My ony complaint was the company’s website. Everything is in German and they are very difficult to communicate with. Tried registering the bike using the website but couldn’t as it was in German. So a called them and emailed them a couple of times… again with no response. So my worry is that if on a longer trip I need to get spares, how could will their service be?

I guess it was many us who thought the same, as vsf fahrradmanufaktur have translated their webpage into English and Dutch… 

Regarding contact, our experience was totally different. We had a lot of doubts before buying the bikes, and although they kept telling us to contact the retailer, they replied most of them, even sending the bike documentacion translated into English, a list of spares,… Communication has always been in English.

As for their service, I had to use it twice in this trip, nothing serious, and it was very easy. I guess it helped that I was cycling through Germany at that time. They arranged for a shop in Leipzig to tight my cassette that had become lose, and they sent new pedals to another shop in Dresden as I wasn’t happy with the spinning of the ones that came with the bike. So far… so good. Hopefully I don’t need to contact them anymore!! 🙂

I’ve also got a TX800, it’s hugely strong and very well built, and will happily go anywhere a mountain bike will go, even when fully laden. It’s not the fastest bike but very reliable and robust. So far have only ridden the highlands of Scotland (including off-road touring) and a quick trip to Ypres plus 800 miles of commuting but the Zanskar valley beckons… 

To sum up this bike, think flat handlebars and fat tyres. Surly LHT, Dawes Galaxy, Koga typically have drop handlebars / skinny tyres, and will get you there quicker. The TX800 has a very upright position and quick (light) steering, ideal for circumnavigating rocky trails (like a Landover) but if you are the slow lad/lass at the back wanting to keep up then buy something skinnier.

This is a proper trekking bike, suited to carrying heavy loads away from tarmac. (And very reliable commuting, but not too quickly…)

Oh, and it comes in bright black and day-glo brown. It’s a German thing…

Believe it or not, an excelent touring bike is an old style Shwinn Varsity, 1982. With its steel frame, steel wheels, Suntour components, top-pull Diacompe breaks, narrow width drop handlebars, this bike is suprisenly stable and so well balanced you can ride no handed for as long as you like. Mine was a 25 inch frame, 27 inch tires. Tough long lasting and and inexpensive, I paid $175 used. My current touring bikes include crom-moly and aluminum, yet this steel Shwinn is probably my overall favourite

I have toured mainly in Europe always on Tarmac or the odd canal route my byclcle has been a Edinburgh Counrty traveler two years ago I opted for a Genesis day one steel frame bike with a Alfine hub I have since changed the handle bars to straights with bar ends this stopped the pain I developed between my shoulder blades after cycling 90 miles or more I also went to Thorns who fitted a Rolhoff 14 gear internal hub yes it was expensive however I must confess I would Never want to tour on a derailleur system again I appreciate the derailleur system can be easily repaired however the Rolhoff Hub has 14 distinct gears and it certainly does the job beautifully many of my friends who also tour and have cycled on both sets of gears now would not go back to a derailleur system my advice is you can cycle or your on just about any toe of byclcle Tom Allen has proved that but in life you get what you pay for I would personally recommend a steel fram touring bike good set of wheels Swarbe Marthon Plus tyres Bomb proof and a once in a lifetime investment purchase a Rolhoff the world then is your oyster and should you decide to later go for an expedition byclcle you can take your Rolhoff with you and transfer it to your new bike as it gets better with age

Hello we are currently cycling from Barcelona to Australia and using vsf tx400 fahrrad manufakture.the bike is great the only weak point do far are the tyres for us. We have it comes with schwalbe marathon mondiale which for us are not strong enough as we had to repair so many puncture. We think is a great bike and awesome value for money but just consider the tyres. ?

I bought my VSF 1,5 years ago from a dealer in NL, he says when buying from factory a lot of small adjustments needed to be done by him as the derailleur and that jizz wasnt properly adjusted, same i can imagine with the rear cog. I love how it is specd! Love the front dynamo light as it is bright as hell and the rear light stays on after stopping for a minute or two which is great regarding saftely. The frame (60cm for me) is not to stiff but very comfortable during my 10.000 K trip last year.. Also definitely a rear kickstand is a must, I have always had a centre stand but Rear kickstand has been amazing. I added an Andra Ryde rear rim that has proven to be bomb proof under load. I love the bike. But keep in mind that if you get rimbrakes or discbrakes it is impossiple to change after purchase as the frame is not compatible for both simultaniously.

I bought a Dawes Super Galaxy 2001 second hand in a fairly sorry state. I guess it was 30 years old then. I have ridden through Brittany on it 3 times and use it every day. I’m on my third set of wheels and it has had 2 complete drive train changes. I have been thinking about getting a new bike for 5 years but them I spend $100 on new bits and keep it going. Anyway, it was built to last. Don’t know if the new build quality is as good?

That’s the mark of a good frame!

I’ve picked up a 2013 Kona Sutra from bikes.com.au for $1200. The Dawes is now chained to the shed like the old dog out of Babe (sheep pig). I am loving the Sutra. I use it every day commuting and it is very comfortable. The saddle was hopeless but my old saddle suits the bike well. Anyway, thanks for the advice, think I got a bargain.

Sounds like an extremely good deal. You’re right about the saddle, but I can’t remember buying a single bike for which I didn’t replace it!

Hi Tom I have purchased a Genesis Day One with an Alfine 11 speed Hub To climb the Steeper hills I have changed from a 42 tooth to 38 front ring and an 18tooth on the rear Would this bike be suitable for European Touring can you advise please

Practically any bike is suitable for European touring, as long as it’s comfortable enough to ride all day. You’re never more than a few miles from a bike shop or train station if something goes wrong. I know people who’ve toured Europe on bikes from scrapheaps.

That is not budget.

…or VSF Fahrradmanufaktur TX-400 — either with Rohloff or not. https://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/de/katalog/expedition-2017/tx-400-rohloff-speedhub-14-gang

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Best touring bikes: Machines for old-school, long distance riding

The best touring bikes to load up for the long haul or just for local load-lugging

• How to choose

The best touring bikes are designed to be loaded up for comfortable long-distance riding, but they're also a robust, reliable option for local riding with a load or just for commuting .

They're a bit old school now, with bikepacking being the trendy fast and light way to ride far, either on one of the best endurance bikes or the best gravel bikes . The availability and range of models reflect that trend, although touring bikes still offer a great way to see the world.

They're built strong, often with a steel frame and fork and have reliable wheels with plenty of spokes for strength, as well as a wide gear range, which may be via a triple chainset with a smaller range of "speeds" in the cassette or hub gear. Expect an upright ride position and comfortable touchpoints.

Luggage is normally carried in panniers and bags attached to a rear rack, often supplemented by a front rack, as well as a bar bag. Mudguards are also normal, making riding more comfortable in all weathers, while multiple bottle cages mean that you can keep hydrated even when you're far from a tap.

Below, you'll find our pick of the best touring bikes and below that is our buyer's guide to how to choose the best touring bike for you.

Best touring bikes: our picks

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

This Genesis touring bike option comes fully loaded, with front and rear racks, lights and a bottle cage, while its 35mm wide tyres give a comfortable ride. There's a Shimano Tiagra triple chainset, which gives a total of thirty gear ratios, which head below 1:1 for loaded climbing. 

Read more below

Another steel-framed tourer with many of the extras you'll need already there. The Kona Sutra has a high ride position and is equipped with a Brooks leather saddle for a retro touring vibe, although the disc brakes and wide gear range keep it up to date.

Yet another steel-framed option with front and rear racks and an upright ride, the Salsa Marrakesh has 3x9-speed gearing and mechanical disc brakes. Its 42mm Teravail tyres should provide comfort and grip wherever you travel.

Another long-haul steel model, the Disc Trucker has a very upright ride position thanks to its riser stem and yet more rise to its bars. A triple chainset that goes as low as a 26x34t ratio helps with long rides over steep roads.

With 42mm WTB Resolute tyres, the Marin Four Corners is a bike that can handle poor road conditions. The steel frame and fork are robust, while the triple chainset, nine-speed gearing and mechanical disc brakes should prove reliable. 

The Giant Toughroad takes a slightly different tack from most touring bikes, with flat bars, an alloy frame and carbon fork. Its 50mm wide tyres and very wide gear range equip it for off-road adventures.

Best touring bikes

1. genesis tour de fer 30, specifications, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Genesis Tour De Fer is a great option in this category. It's a top all-round bike, featuring a solid steel frame, durable tyres, disc brakes and all the practicalities such as three bottle cages, front and rear racks, mudguards and dynamo-powered lights.

Simply put, this is a bike ready for whatever you need to do straight away, whether it's commuting, leisure riding or touring. The bike offers an easy, calm ride, and is comfortable enough to get on and go right away.

35mm Schwalbe Marathon tyres come as standard, with their puncture-proof reputation. The Shimano Tiagra triple groupset gives you plenty of range including a sub-1:1 ratio to haul your loaded bike up the hills. You might need that range, with the extra features adding significantly to the bike's weight though.

2. Surly Disc Trucker

Another do-anything bike, the Disc Trucker features a sturdy and good-looking steel frame and fork. It is, however, more suited to road riding than exploring gravel and mud, though it's not to say that you can't tackle gravel tracks with it. The rise to the bars, paired with a long head tube gives a comfortable all-day ride position.

Mounts for three bottles, a pump, and mudguards add to the practicality, while the tyre clearance will let you get some meaty rubber in there. Surly quotes 2.1" tyre clearance on 650b wheels and the smaller frame sizes come specced with this wheel size for better toe clearance.

A Shimano Alivio MTB triple groupset with Sora road shifters provides steady and reliable 9-speed shifting, although it's quite a low end spec. Like the Genesis and the Trek, the Disc Trucker relies on TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes for reliable, low-maintenance stopping power.

3. Giant Toughroad SLR 1

What do you get when you combine a mountain bike, a touring bike and a gravel bike? No, this isn't the start of one of your dad's jokes, you get the impressively capable Toughroad SLR 1. More suited to the offroad than any of the bikes we've looked at so far, Giant calls it a do-it-all bike capable of commuting, but make no mistake, it's built primarily for dirt and gravel.

There's no suspension fork, but the giant 50mm tyres are a dead giveaway. An 11-42 MTB cassette on the back will also help with tackling the steep stuff, although there's not the absolute range of the triple chainsets on the bikes above. Pannier racks front and back and three bottle cage mounting points mean you can pile on whatever you need to take with you.

There are plenty of modern features on the bike, including thru-axles, hydraulic brakes, and tubeless tyres. A reliable Giant wheelset and Shimano Deore groupset round off this bike. You might find the lack of variation in hand position with the flat bar configuration gets tiring on longer rides though.

4. Kona Sutra

The first thing to strike you about the Sutra is its retro features; the Brooks leather saddle and steel frame give a different look to many of the bikes we've looked at. Disc brakes and thru-axles remind you that this is a thoroughly modern bike, though.

It's another bike for touring and commuting on the road and on some gravel/dirt surfaces. Mudguards and front and rear pannier racks are included, while there are other bosses for more additions if needed.

The 10-speed Shimano GRX gravel groupset with Tiagra shifters gives plenty of range, although not as much as a triple like that specified on the Trek, while the hybrid hydraulic/cable-operated brakes should give a bit more stopping power than the TRP Spyre cable brakes specced elsewhere, they are more of a faff to maintain though. It's a classy-looking bike that can work well anywhere.

5. Salsa Marrakesh

A great-looking steel frame is the first thing to catch the eye on this bike, while the fat 42mm tyres give a signal as to its intentions. It's as comfortable off-road as on, whether you're touring, commuting or just riding for fun.

As with the bikes above, front and rear racks are included, though if you want to add mudguards, be warned that the wide tyres will need to go on a diet ­– down to a 40mm maximum.

It's a solid entry into the touring selection, even if it is a bit on the weighty side, however, though not so much that you'll be struggling under the weight. Components include a Shimano Alivio groupset with Microshift shifters as well as TRP Spyre-C disc brakes and wheels and tyres ready to be set up tubeless.

6. Marin Four Corners

The Marin Four Corners is part tourer, part gravel bike. It's got the clearance for really wide tyres on 650b wheels (which is the stock wheel size specced on smaller-sized frames), but you can also set it up for a more traditional touring configuration with 700c wheels.

The steel frame is bombproof while the long head tube gives an upright ride position so you've got plenty of visibility all around. There are mounts for a rack, mudguards and to lash extra kit to the fork legs, so you can load up to head into the unknown. It's a bike more geared to gravel than the road, unlike the more traditional tourers like the Kona and the Genesis.

7. Trek 520

Marketed as a bike for long-haul travel, the Trek 520 is the longest-running bike in Trek's stable, although its days look to be numbered. The 520 is no longer sold in the UK or US, but international buyers in some countries still have a choice of two specs on Trek's site, including the Sora/Alivio option above.

Like the Genesis, the Trek 520 comes with front and rear racks, although you'll have to add mudguards for all-weather use. Small updates include mechanical disc brakes with a thru-axle alloy fork, while the 9-speed Shimano Sora gearing provides massive range from its triple chainset, albeit with quite large jumps across the 11-36 tooth cassette.

It's also nice to see tubeless-ready wheels specced (although not the tyres), so you can set up tubeless, which should up dependability on long rides. 

How to choose the best touring bike for you

Whether you're looking for a practical way to get to work, want that extra durability so that your bike will stand the test of time or want to travel to far-flung corners of the earth with nothing but a tent and a change of clothes, a touring bike a great addition to your stable of steeds. 

You can still get around quickly – whether you're hitting the roads, gravel paths or other rough terrain – but plenty of space for mudguards and racks, as well as a more relaxed position, make a touring bike a better all-round option than a road bike, a hybrid or a mountain bike. 

The relaxed geometry and more upright riding position are also handy for commuting, and the best touring bikes are often built with durable, easy-to-maintain components so they can be fixed when hundreds of miles away from a bike shop. This lends itself to fewer mechanicals and lower running costs. Steel frames also have a far better chance of being repaired all over the world compared to aluminium or carbon fibre if you're on a big trip.

What types of touring bike are there?

Touring bikes can range anywhere from predominantly road-going bikes with horizontal top tubes and 700c tyres, to rugged mountain bikes with knobbly mountain bike tyres. 

What the best touring bikes tend to share, however, is a durable design, comfortable geometry and the ability to carry luggage. Some opt for bikepacking bags , which usually consist of frame bags and oversized saddle bags, whereas others opt for the traditional rack and pannier bag method of carrying luggage. 

As with any bike purchase, consider the riding you plan to do with the bike. For those looking to travel far and wide, a bike with more luggage-carrying capacity will be preferred. For those who are looking to travel off-road, look for a bike that can handle the rough stuff. Live in the mountains? Look for a wide gear range. 

What's different about touring bike geometry?

Touring bike frames feature a relaxed geometry , with a taller head tube and shorter top tube for a comfortable and more upright riding position compared to a racing road bike. In addition to this, they feature a longer wheelbase, which keeps the bike stable even when loaded with heavy luggage. Since they're designed to be cycled over long distances, they're equally designed to stay comfortable for as long as possible.

If you're a geometry nerd you may notice the trail is a little lower than you'd expect for a relaxed ride, but this is often done to counteract the slowing effect on the steering of a heavy front load to avoid the bike feeling like a barge when laden.

Which gearing should a touring bike have?

Gearing-wise, what you should pick really depends on what type of riding you'll be doing. If you're taking on hills regularly, then you'll want a cassette with larger sprockets on the back. Some touring bikes offer a triple chainset too, with easier gearing on offer compared to a double chainset. The addition of extra gear combinations into the mix will add an extra component to maintain, so those on flatter terrain might prefer a single chainring at the front.

The majority of touring bikes offer standard external gear systems – the chainset, chain and cassette we're all used to. Some do have internal gearing though, with an enclosed rear gearbox which requires a lot less maintenance and is less prone to damage but is heavier and will cost you more. Belt drives are also available – this is a multi-tooth belt instead of a chain, so no regular cleaning or lubrication is required. Hub gears like the Rohloff system are favoured by riders taking on huge worldwide tours for their durability. 

Should I look for rim brakes or disc brakes?

As with much of the cycling world, rim brakes and disc brakes are both available, with rim brakes found more often on lower-end bikes. Rim brakes feature two pads grabbing onto the wheel rims to stop the bike, while disc brakes grip onto a separate rotor on the wheels instead.

Disc brakes feature better and more consistent braking performance, which is useful for a heavily laden bike, and are better in wet weather, though. Both adjustment and maintenance are far easier with rim brakes, however, with an Allen key and some new pads all you really need.

Rim brakes will wear down your rim eventually, prompting a rim swap and wheel rebuild or a new wheel. Whereas that's not an issue with disc brakes, and there's more leeway to keep riding with a buckled disc brake wheel or a broken spoke.

Hydraulic disc brakes are generally maintenance-free in operation, however, if you snag your brake hose on a tree in the middle of the Atlas Mountains, there's little chance of repair unless you packed a bleed kit and spare hose. 

What should I look for in touring bike contact points?

Saddles are an important factor, being the main point of contact with your body. Padded saddles may look more comfortable but looks can be deceiving, with thinner padding usually better for you once you've gotten used to it after a few rides. Saddles should support your sit bones, and additional padding can move the pressure elsewhere and rub more, making things more uncomfortable over time.

If you're planning a long trip and already have a saddle that you like, it may be worth swapping out the saddle that comes with the bike, if you're not sure how comfortable it will be for the long haul.

On a multi-day trip, handlebars need to be comfortable as well. Some bars have a slight rearward sweep, which can feel more natural when riding on the tops. A shallow drop is likely to be more comfortable to use as well.

Which pedals should I choose?

It's worth choosing pedals wisely too. While the best road bike pedals give good power transfer, the best cycling shoes that work with them are difficult to walk in, which could be an issue if touring or even for a trip to the shops.

On the other hand, flat pedals may make it difficult to keep your feet well-positioned for longer rides. They will allow you to use standard shoes, which are easier to walk in, but unless the soles are relatively stiff, your pedalling will be less efficient and you may get foot ache after a long day riding without adequate support.

Gravel bike pedals are a good option, as they still let you clip in for more efficient riding, but the cleats are recessed on the sole of the shoes and so can be walked in much more easily. You'll need gravel shoes to go with them that accept two-bolt cleats. These will have soles designed for efficient pedalling and foot support, but most are not too stiff to walk in comfortably.

Alternatively, some of the best commuter cycling shoes also allow you to fit two-bolt cleats.

You can learn more about the pros and cons of two-bolt versus three-bolt pedals in our explainer.on Shimano SPD vs SPD-SL systems.

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Paul has been on two wheels since he was in his teens and he's spent much of the time since writing about bikes and the associated tech. He's a road cyclist at heart but his adventurous curiosity means Paul has been riding gravel since well before it was cool, adapting his cyclo-cross bike to ride all-day off-road epics and putting road kit to the ultimate test along the way. Paul has contributed to Cyclingnews' tech coverage for a few years, helping to maintain the freshness of our buying guides and deals content, as well as writing a number of our voucher code pages. 

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Cycle Travel Overload

Bikepacking & Adventure Cycling

13 Best Touring Bikes For Worldwide Travel 2024

Looking for top-tier traditional touring bikes? You’re in the right place. As the cycling industry evolves, particularly in the gravel and bikepacking realms, the landscape of adventure cycling has changed dramatically. Yet, traditional touring bikes, once the go-to for adventure, remain as relevant as ever for fully loaded, long-distance journeys.

What Are The Best Touring Bikes – Our Recommendations

Panorama forillon, koga worldtraveller.

• Tout Terrain Silkroad

Bombtrack Arise Tour

• Falken Jagd Hoplit +

Surly Disc Trucker

Decathlon riverside touring 900, vivente gibb, salsa marrakesh, genesis tour de fer, co-op cycles adv 1.1.

While gravel bikes gain popularity for their versatility, traditional touring bikes continue to be the definitive choice for extensive touring on paved roads and beyond, including off-road expeditions. Today’s variety of touring bikes, catering to a wide spectrum of adventures and terrains, can seem daunting.

This article aims to simplify your decision-making process by focusing on the type of adventures you’re planning. We’ve curated a diverse collection of modern, capable touring bikes suitable for everything from month-long trips to lightweight, credit card-style touring. Here, you’ll find a touring bike for every cyclist, regardless of your preferred style or destination.

Light Touring or Gravel Touring Bikes

Kona sutra se.

(A Classic All-Road Touring Bike with Modern Touches)

Price: $2,199 USD (about $3,446 AUD)

Bomb proof, rock solid, smooth and comfortable ride. with traditional touring bike components; Brooks Saddle, bar-end shifters and Deore groupset

Weight :  14kg (30.86 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Frame – Kona Cromoly Butted . Fork –  Kona Project Two Cromoly Disc Touring

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano Deore, 26/36/48t crank and Shimano Deore 11-36t 10spd cassette

Gear Ratios :  19.90″ to 120.50″ (0.72 to 4.36 ratio)

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.56 chainstay 445mm – wheelbase 1,073mm – (steering) headtube angle 70.5 deg – trail 71mm – Fork offset/rake 50mm. Bottom bracket drop 72mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  700c x 40mm With a max tire clearance 29×2.3″ (Check clearance with racks)

• Many mounting options
• Comfy, smooth and rock solid bike
• Clearance for 29×2.3″ tires
• Able to ride MTB sections
• Traditional bar-end shifters
• Rides well loaded or light
• A little sluggish when you need that extra speed for endurance bikepacking events
• Breaks have been known to freeze during winter
• Derailleur hanger is known to break slightly easier then others
• Have had issues with paint quality overtime

The Kona Sutra, my personal bike of choice, embodies the essence of a traditional touring bike while incorporating a 1x gravel drivetrain, a unique twist on the classic design. While the SE model maintains the frame of the Sutra LTD but stands out with its more versatile gear range. An especially notable feature is the stock Brooks saddle, a hallmark of comfort and quality.

On my own Kona Sutra LTD, I’ve managed to fit tires as large as 29×2.3″ without fenders, suggesting the potential for even broader options beyond the standard 700x40c Schwalbe Marathon Mondial tires that it usually sports.

The detailed specifications below are tailored to the touring bike variant of the Kona Sutra. However, if you’re intrigued by the prospect of a build more suited to off-road adventures, I highly recommend reading our review of the Kona Sutra LTD .

This bike is astonishingly versatile. I frequently use mine on challenging mountain bike trails , and it’s proven its worth time and again, effortlessly handling jumps and rugged terrain. Its performance as a commuter is equally impressive, proving itself capable of handling a diverse range of conditions.

In comparison to its peers, like the Trek 520 and Surly LHT, the Kona Sutra boasts superior specifications on paper. It features a full Deore groupset and includes bar-end shifters, which add a touch of traditional touring aesthetic.

A bombproof, fun machine that can take you anywhere. Offering a smooth and comfortable ride, it stands out as a rock-solid choice for both enthusiasts and serious cyclists alike.

(A true Swiss Army knife for on-the-go travel bike)

Price: $2,399 CAD (about $2,747 AUD)

Weight :  13.15 kg (29 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Frame – REYNOLDS 525  Steel Fork –  CUSTOM CR-MO 4130 Steel

Groupset & Drivetrain :  2×11 microSHIFT XLE, FSA – FSA OMEGA 2X MEGAEXO, 46/30T crank and MICROSHIFT XLE 11-42T cassette

Gear Ratios :  19.85″ to 111.81″ (0.71 to 4.18 ratio)

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.55 chainstay 455mm – wheelbase 1,050mm – (steering) headtube angle 71.8 deg – trail 67mm – Fork offset/rake 50mm. Bottom bracket drop 76mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  700c x 44mm With a max tire clearance 700c x 50

The Forillon by Panorama Cycles is a steel all-road touring bike that combines a mid-component range with a budget-friendly price, making it an ideal choice for adventurers looking to explore the world. This bike is designed for efficient riding across various road types and maintains stability and ease of handling even when fully loaded with luggage.

At its core, the Forillon is a testament to strength and reliability, a theme that is evident in its choice of components. It features 36 spoke double-walled rims with reinforced eyelets, paired with robust 700x50mm tires, ensuring durability and stability on diverse terrains. The frame and fork of the Forillon are constructed from high-quality materials, including Reynolds 525 steel tubeset and 4130 steel, known for their resilience and long-lasting performance.

The Forillon stands out with its integrated kickstand plate and a plethora of mounting options, which include front and rear racks, fenders, and triple cage mounts on the fork and under the downtube. These features make it an excellent choice for riders who require a bike that can carry substantial gear on extended tours.

Other noteworthy aspects of the Forillon include its low bottom bracket, long chainstays, and a 2×11 drivetrain, all contributing to a comfortable and stable ride.

The bike also boasts mechanical BB7 brakes and bar-end shifters as part of its well-rounded build kit. Additionally, the frame and fork are treated with an anti-corrosion internal ED coating, enhancing the bike’s durability.

The Forillon is not just about functionality; it also has an aesthetic appeal. The frame graphics, inspired by topographic maps and created by Vancouver-based artists Pellvetica, add a unique touch to the bike’s design.

Offered in three sizes and weighing 29 pounds for the medium build, the Forillon is available at a retail price of $2,149 CAD (approximately $1,675 USD) through PanoramaCycles.com. This bike is a reliable, versatile, and stylish choice for those looking to embark on long-distance, all-road touring adventures around the globe.

(The Ultimate Expedition Touring Bike)

Price: Approx $6,000

Weight :  17.5 kg (38.6 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Full Aluminium Build

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano Deore XT groupset or Rohloff drive belt

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.57 chainstay 477 mm – wheelbase 1,170 mm – (steering) headtube angle 69.5 deg – trail 82.4 mm – Fork offset/rake 50 mm. Bottom bracket drop 60 mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) : Possibility to mount tires up to 72mm wide

• Can be packed up to 120 kg
• Super stiff for touring
• Built for durability & serviceability
• Includes mini-kick stand on the front rack and other accessories
• Life time warranty on the frame
• More standard touring equipment then most bikes
• Top of the line components
• Dynamo hub and lighting system as standard.
• Not the lightest touring bike on the block
• Quite expensive then most

The KOGA Worldtraveller series, recognized for its robust and versatile trekking bikes, is an ideal choice for all kinds of cycling trips. These bikes are designed to comfortably carry all your essentials, whether you’re gliding over smooth asphalt or tackling rugged gravel roads.

A notable aspect of the series is its unique alloy build. Despite the current popularity of steel touring bikes, the alloy construction of the Worldtraveller provides a solid and reliable alternative.

This bike remains stable and performs smoothly under a touring load, even when outfitted with sensible width tires. This combination of strength and smooth ride quality sets the Worldtraveller apart in the realm of long-distance touring bikes.

The series has been recently updated, with the new WorldTraveller model featuring a total load capacity of 180 kg. It can accommodate tires up to 72mm wide, enhancing its suitability for various terrains. The integrated rear carrier and new frame design contribute to improved rigidity and cycling performance.

For those interested in an electric version, the E-WorldTraveller includes the Bosch Smart System and a 750Wh battery. Customization is a key feature of the range, offered through the KOGA Signature programme.

The Worldtraveller range comprises several models:

• The standard WorldTraveller, a versatile trekking bike with numerous attachment points for luggage.
• The E-WorldTraveller, an electric variant with a Bosch motor and 750Wh battery.
• The E-WorldTraveller Suspension model, featuring a suspension fork with 100mm travel.
• The Worldtraveller Classic, a proven model known for its reliability.
• The Worldtraveller-S, offering choices in front forks, groupsets, and drive belts.

KOGA also offers extensive customization options through their Signature programme, allowing riders to tailor their bike to their preferences. Test rides are available to prospective buyers, showcasing the bike’s capabilities.

Tout Terrain Silkroad II 275

(A Steel Expedition Dream!)

Price: From €5,349 / $5,835 USD or $8,711 AUD

Weight :  From 14 kg (30.09 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Full Steel Build

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Rohloff drive belt

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.52 chainstay 455 mm – wheelbase 1,081 mm – (steering) headtube angle 70.5 deg – trail 73 mm – Fork offset/rake 47 mm. Bottom bracket drop 60 mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  27.5″x2.0″ / With a max tire clearance 26″ x 2.0″ (50mm) with mudguard, 27.5″ x 2.0″ (50mm) with mudguard, 700C x 42 mm with mudguard

• Steel frame and oversized tubing create a robust structure
• Suitable for various terrains and heavy loads
• Standard with Rohloff hub or belt drive
• Customisable
• High-end components and features contribute to a higher price point
• Limited tire clearance
• Limited availability in certain regions

The Tout Terrain Silkroad is a high-end touring bike designed by the German company Tout Terrain. Known for their specialization in steel bikes for about 15 years, Tout Terrain’s Silkroad incorporates several innovative features and is built for durability and versatility.

The bike’s frame is made from steel tubes manufactured and welded in Taiwan, chosen for their ability to be easily repaired and modified. The Silkroad frames are among the first to pass rigorous safety testing, supporting a combined weight of rider, bike, and luggage up to 180kg/400lb. The bike uses oversized, thick-wall tubing to build a strong structure, which is beneficial for carrying front and rear luggage.

Key features include a steering limiter to prevent cable damage, an integrated steering lock to stabilize the bike when parked, and the option for either double-legged or rear-mounted kickstands. The Silkroad also boasts an integrated stainless steel rear rack designed to be indestructible and compatible with both regular panniers and the specially designed QL3 system panniers.

For power and lighting, the Silkroad uses 12mm thru-axles front and rear for maximum stiffness and alignment, and incorporates SL dynamo wiring in the fork for powering lights and USB chargers. The lighting system features Schmidt lights and a dynamo hub, and a Cinq Plug5 Plus USB charger integrated into the steerer tube.

The bike is equipped with a 14-speed Rohloff hub for the drive system, known for its reliability and efficiency, especially in challenging conditions. It also features a belt drive, preferred for its low maintenance requirements. Hydraulic disc brakes provide reliable stopping power, and the bike allows for the use of up to 203mm rotors.

The Silkroad offers different wheel size options, with 27.5″ being recommended due to the availability of high-quality tires. The bike is also fitted with Tout Terrain’s in-house “Black Label” components and a Selle Royal saddle from the Scientia range.

(Classic Touring Bike Aesthetics)

Price: $1,499 USD / $2,240 AUD (Estimates)

Weight :  14.7 kg (32.4 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Frame – 4130 double butted CrMo, heat-treated front triangle, TA sliding dropouts, rack/fender mounts . Fork –  4130 CrMo, TA, rack/fender mounts, internal hub dynamo cable routing

Groupset & Drivetrain :  BOMBTRACK AMES forged aluminium crank and MICROSHIFT CS-H103 10-speed, 11 – 42T cassette

Gear Ratios :  19.62″ to 115.53″ (0.71 to 4.18 ratio)

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio 1.51 – chainstay 435mm – wheelbase 1,045 mm – (steering) headtube angle 70.5 deg – trail 68mm – Fork offset/rake 55mm. Bottom bracket drop 70mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) : With a max tire clearance of 700C x 40C / 700C x 35C with fender

• Includes dynamo, quality Tubus racks, and lighting for an affortable price
• Microshift bar-end shifters give you the seamless and classic touring bike feel and look
• Affortable price tag
• Only has 32 spokes on wheels
• The mudguards are know for being low quality and breaking
• The frame length is a little short, for that extra stability when under a load, shorter then most touring bikes.

Offering a blend of traditional touring design and modern components, all wrapped in an eye-catching metallic green color that is sure to turn heads.

At its core, the Arise Tour features a double-butted steel frameset known for its adaptability and resilience. Enhancing its touring capabilities are the Tubus touring racks and aluminum fenders, designed to handle all your storage needs while protecting you from the elements. Illumination for those early starts or late finishes is provided by a full lighting system from KT and Supernova, ensuring safety and visibility in all conditions.

The bike’s transmission system is built for reliability over long distances. It features Microshift’s ultra-reliable bar end shifters and a 10-speed clutch mechanism. The wide-range 11 – 42T cassette and a subcompact 46 / 30 chainset make for a versatile and efficient setup, ideal for tackling various terrains with ease.

When it comes to braking, the Arise Tour relies on TRP Spyre C mechanical calipers, coupled with a 180 mm rotor upfront. This setup offers controlled and effective braking, particularly important on those thrilling long descents.

Every component on the Arise Tour has been meticulously selected for its proven reliability and durability. The goal is to let you focus on the joy of riding, rather than worrying about bike maintenance.

FalkenJagd Hoplit +

(Pinion Titanium Touring Bike)

Price: €6,798 / $7,415 USD / $11,000 AUD

Weight :  17 kg (37.5 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Full Titanium Build

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Belt Drive

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  WTB Trail Boss 27.5 x 2.35″ / Clearance for 650b x 3″ or 29er x 2.6″

• High quality components made of titanium and almost everything on the bike is tianium not just frame and fork
• Copes well on all surfaces
• Ultimate touring bike build!
• Very expensive

The Falkenjagd Hoplit PI Plus is a standout travel and expedition bike, designed for those who seek durability and reliability on long bike trips. Named after the elite warriors of antiquity, this bike lives up to its name with its robust build and high-quality components.

At the heart of the Hoplit PI Plus is its titanium frame, known for being extremely stable, scratch, and corrosion-resistant. The frame design, featuring a longer head tube and a slightly shorter top tube, facilitates a more upright sitting position, optimal for touring.

A key aspect of its design is the lower bottom bracket, which, by lowering the center of gravity, especially when carrying luggage, results in improved stability.

The bike’s rear triangle is notably sturdy, with chainstays designed for increased tire clearance and comfort. The rear dropouts are a technological marvel, allowing for longitudinally adjustable quick-release axles to optimize belt tension, and incorporating an integrated stand holder and a strap lock.

The Hoplit PI Plus is equipped with the Pinion P1.18 gear hub and a low-maintenance Gates CDX toothed belt, ensuring a smooth and reliable ride. It can accommodate either 28 or 27.5-inch wheels, offering flexibility depending on the rider’s preference for smooth running or damping.

This bike is an all-terrain champion, providing maximum comfort even under high payloads, thanks to its wide tires. It stands out for its high-quality titanium components, including the frame, fork, spacers, stem, handlebars, seatpost, luggage rack, and bottle cage.

Other features include a SON hub dynamo and lighting, a comfortable Brooks Cambium C17 saddle, Falkenjagd Titan Axios racks, Pitlock thru axles with theft protection, Magura MT7 4-piston disc brakes, and SKS Bluemels B65 mudguards.

The Hoplit PI Plus version extends its capabilities with its ability to take tire widths up to 3.0 inches (650B) and 2.6″ (29″). It boasts specially adapted chainstays and rear dropouts, which are adjustable in length for optimal belt tension. The bike’s design also ensures neatly laid cable pulls and flat mudguard and light mounts for a secure and aesthetic finish.

Trek 520 Disc

(The Longest-Running Touring Bike On The Market)

Price: $1,829.99 USD

Weight :  14.2 kg (31.31 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Steel frame / Alloy fork – Trek butted chromoly disc touring, 135×5 mm QR, Tire Clearance: 2″, Color: Diablo Red and Alloy disc touring fork, rack mounts, 100×5 mm ThruSkew.

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano Alivio with 48/36/26T crankset and 9-speed 11-36T cassette.

Gear Ratios Inches :  19.79″ to 119.81″ (0.72 to 4.36 ratio)

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.49 chainstay 450mm – wheelbase 1,048mm – (steering) headtube angle 71 deg – trail 65mm – Fork offset/rake 52mm. Bottom bracket drop 70mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  700x38c / With a max tire clearance 29 x 2″

• One of the most budget friendly options in the list
• Steel frame is rock solid and feels great
• Perfectly comfortable touring bike
• Long chainstays and a slack head-tube angle offer a stable, comfortable, semi-upright riding position, suitable for both touring and commuting.
• Trek’s history of producing the 520 model since 1983 adds to the trust in the brand and model.
• Frame is however a little on the heavier side
• Stock pedals suck (order replacements if you consider this bike)

The Trek 520 stands as a testament to durability and adventure in Trek’s lineup, holding the title of their longest-running model. This true touring bike is designed for those who yearn for long journeys, offering a perfect blend of stability and comfort through its touring-specific geometry.

With a sturdy steel frame paired with an aluminum fork, the Trek 520 balances strength with practicality, weighing in at a manageable 31.4 lbs / 14.2 kg. It’s equipped with both front and rear racks, ready to handle all the gear you might need for your adventures, making it an ideal choice for the avid tourer.

Renowned for its solid build and reliable performance, the Trek 520 has been field-tested and established as an industry standard. It’s a bike that’s not just ready for your next touring adventure but is also built to last, promising at least a decade of enjoyable riding experiences.

However, it’s important to note that this bike demands regular maintenance to remain in peak condition, particularly in keeping the drivetrain clean to avoid gear hopping. But this small trade-off is worth the exceptional experience it offers, especially considering its versatile gearing range that makes conquering hills feel effortless.

For those looking for even more versatility, the 520 Grand is also an option to consider. Excelling in bikepacking, trail riding, and handling a mix of gravel and pavement, it expands the horizons of where the Trek 520 can take you.

(A staple dirt tourer, just like its predecessor Long Haul Trucker)

Price: $ 1,749 USD or $2,600 AUD

Weight :  15.2 kg (33.5 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Frame – Surly Long Haul Trucker, 100% Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. Fork –  Surly Long Haul Trucker, 4130 CroMoly, lugged and brazed

Groupset & Drivetrain :  3 x 9 Alivio, Sora drivetrain. Shimano Alivio 48x36x26t crankset and Shimano Alivio, 11-34t, 9 speed cassette.

Gear Ratios :  19.42″ to 111.40″ (0.76 to 4.36 ratio)

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach 1.58 ratio – chainstay 450mm – wheelbase 1,076mm – (steering) headtube angle 71 deg – trail 57mm – Fork offset/rake 45mm. Bottom bracket drop 50mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) : 26″ x 46mm With a max tire clearance for 26” x 2.1” tires with or without fenders, or 700c x 47mm with or without fenders

• The steel frame is robust
• 20-30mm taller frames and a 30mm taller handlebar, offer a more comfortable riding position.
• 10 frame sizes, catering to a wide range of rider heights
• Has the heritage of the LHT
• Toe overlap issues
• Not ideal for singletrack or technical trails due to its long wheelbase and less agile handling. (If you want to go off-road)
• No longer has the Shimano 3X10 bar-end shifters
• Smaller frame sizes have an increased standover
• The reduced chainstay length effects its capability as a touring bike
• It now has 32 spokes instead of 36
• No kickstand frame mounts
• A downgrade in drivetrain to Shimano Alivio from the previous Shimano XT
• The price has also increased

The Surly Disc Trucker, known for its reliability and no-nonsense approach, is a drop-bar steel touring bike. A staple among touring enthusiasts, this bike is recognized for its ability to handle long, loaded rides comfortably, though it doesn’t necessarily stand out in terms of its specifications.

Having personally ridden the Long Haul Trucker for thousands of kilometers, I can attest to its suitability as an excellent introduction to bicycle touring.

The 2021 model of the Disc Trucker however, sees some significant updates, including a taller frame and handlebar, additional tyre clearance, user-friendly STI shifters, and more mounting points, along with internal fork dynamo wiring and TRP Spyre brakes.

However, it loses some features like the Shimano 3X10 gearing and bar-end shifters. The Disc Trucker is well-suited for road travel and light off-road conditions but may not be the best choice for more technical or agile riding needs.

(Best Value for Money Touring Bike You Can Buy!)

Price: £1,299.99 / $1,650 USD or $2,463 AUD

Weight :  17.1 kg or 37.7 lbs

Frame/Fork Material : triple-butted aluminium

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano XT Trekking groupset – 26-36-48 triple chainring – (11-36) cassette

Gear Ratios :  18″ to 80″ (0.64 to 2.91 ratio)

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.47 chainstay 458 mm – wheelbase 1,096mm – (steering) headtube angle 71.5 deg – Bottom bracket drop 54 mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  28 x 1.75″ tires / With a max tire clearance up to 29 x 2.4” (estimated)

• Can carry up to 170 kg
• 33 mounting points for various accessories and luggage
• Equipped with Shimano Deore XT and a Brooks B17 saddle (High quality components.)
• Integrated Dynamo Hub
• Lifetime Warranty on frame, suspension, stem, handlebars, and rack.
• Insane value – priced competitively with comprehensive features.
• Heavier at 17kg, which may affect maneuverability and speed.
• Basic Pedals and Grips may need upgrading
• USB charger effective only at higher speeds
• Potential issues with exposed wiring for lights
• Despite having a mount, a kickstand is not included
• Steering lock mechanism to prevent over-rotation may take getting used to

The Riverside Touring 900, by Decathlon, is a highly robust and versatile touring bicycle ideal for multi-day trips, commuting, and carrying heavy loads. A bombproof touring bike, along with the bikepacking friendly Touring 920. These bikes are ready for adventure and for unbeatable value. 

The 900’s key features include a strong and comfortable frame capable of carrying up to 170kg, internal cable routing, 33 mounting points for customization, and reliable Shimano Deore XT components. The bike is equipped with a Brooks B17 Imperial saddle, known for its comfort and durability, and TRP Spyke dual-piston mechanical disc brakes for reliable stopping power.

It also features a USB cycle-to-charge socket integrated into the stem for charging devices on the go, and robust aluminum mudguards. Before embarking on a major trip, it’s advisable to test the bike’s charger to ensure it meets your requirements. Consider whether you’ll need an extra power bank, as the charger requires extensive cycling to power your devices effectively. While it functions, its capacity is just sufficient for navigation purposes with the screen active.

However, it has a heavier frame at around 17kg. But if you don’t tour for speed that little extra weight shouldn’t bother you. And it comes with basic pedals and grips that might need upgrading for better comfort. But for the amount of touring bike you get you can’t beat it for value!

(Legendary Australian Touring / Expedition Bike)

Price: $6,600.00 AUD or $4,420 USD

Weight :  16.8kg (Estimated)

Frame/Fork Material : Full Steel Build – Double butted Cr-Mo touring frame and 1-1/8″ full Cr-Mo, threadless, mudguard, lowrider and electric cable mounts, through axle, steering stabiliser hook.

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Andel crankset – BCD 130mm, 5 arm, 165/170/175mm, with FSA QR-1 self-extracting crank bolts. With Rohloff speedhub 500/14, 36H, CC DB, black, external transfer box, OEM axle plate, quick release

Gear Ratios :  extra low gear ratios down to 15.9″ to 83.6″ with options in between or traditional 20.0″ to 105.2″

Geometry (M) : Chainstay 464 mm – wheelbase 1,087mm – (steering) headtube angle 71 deg – trail 67 mm – Bottom bracket drop 75 mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes:  Options for: 700C×40 (for road), 27.5 × 2.00 (for tracks), 27.5 × 2.80″ (all-rounders).

• Designed for minimal upkeep, ideal for long tours.
• Made from 4130 chromoly steel, offering stiffness and resilience, especially suitable for touring
• Superior mudguards, ergonomic handlebars, and intelligent dynamo light.
• Integrated rack and rear disc caliper, reducing the need for spacers and long bolts
• Comprehensive Tool and Spare Kit: Enhances self-sufficiency on long trips.
• One of the heavier touring bikes in this list
• Not the most beginner friendly bike – The comprehensive nature of the bike might be overwhelming for new cyclists.

The Vivente World Randonneur (VWR), particularly The Gibb model, stands as a pinnacle of touring and transportation bicycles in Australia. This bike, admired for its meticulous refinements over the years, now incorporates a series of desirable upgrades, culminating in a nearly perfect touring experience.

At its heart lies the Rohloff SpeedHub 500, a 14-speed hub gear known for its unparalleled range and reliability. While this hub adds to the cost and weight of the bike, its maintenance-free nature and durability make it a worthwhile investment for serious riders.

The bike’s 4130 chromoly steel frame ensures resilience and comfort, making it ideal for long rides. Its geometry is finely tuned for stability and ease of handling, enhancing the overall comfort during extended touring. The bike is also notable for its comprehensive tool and spare kit, ensuring riders are well-equipped for any situation.

The hydraulic disc brakes provide consistent stopping power, a crucial feature for safety and reliability. The dynamo-powered USB outlet is a thoughtful addition, allowing riders to charge devices on the go. While the bike may be somewhat daunting for beginners due to its complexity and the initial friction in new gears, its overall design is geared towards low maintenance and high performance.

(Entry Level Traditional Steel Touring Bike Design)

Price: USD $2,049 (About $3,211 AUD)

Weight :  12.25 kg (27 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Full Steel Build – Marrakesh Triple Butted CroMoly – BB Standard: BSA, 68mm, Threaded – Tire Clearance: 50c – Color: Gold

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano Alivio – 11–36t, 9-speed cassette and 48/36/26t crank

Gear Ratios :  20″ to 121″ (0.72 to 4.36 ratio)

Geometry (55 cm) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.55 chainstay 455 mm – wheelbase 1,055 mm – (steering) headtube angle 70.8 deg – trail 64 mm – Fork offset/rake 55 mm. Bottom bracket drop 77 mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  Teravail Rampart 700c x 42 mm / With a max tire clearance 700c x 40mm tires with fenders and 29 x 2.0″ or Apparently you can run up to 27.5 x 2.6″ tires

• More then enough eyelets for storing gear
• Rohloff hub compatible drop out
• Very comfortable ride
• Traditional touring bikes design and aesthetics – bar-end shifters for example
• It comes with 42 mm tires but the minimum tire for fenders is 40 mm!
• Can only use the Salsa rear pannier rack due to how it attaches to the dropouts.
• The rear drop out swingplate is non-standard. A potential problem if it is damaged with limited access for parts
• The 2020 models in particular has paint chipping issues – even though it looks great
• Smaller frames may have limited space inside the frame for bikepacking frame bags and room for drink bottles
• Heel-striking is a potential issue on smaller frames

Made from a burly steel but heavy frame (not as heavy as some other bikes in this list) the Marrakesh offers a rock solid, stable and comfortable ride as you would expect in a touring bike.

With a dual capability for both off-road and on-road adventures. This bike is versatile enough for touring, commuting, or leisure riding, offering a comfortable experience across various terrains.

Despite its somewhat hefty build, the Marrakesh doesn’t compromise on maneuverability or performance. It comes equipped with front and rear racks, although fitting mudguards requires a slight reduction in tire width from the stock 42 mm tires to a maximum of 40mm. 

The bike’s solid construction is further complemented by a reliable Shimano Alivio groupset, Microshift bar-end traditional touring bike shifters, and TRP Spyre-C disc brakes. Additionally, its wheels and tires are tubeless-ready, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

However, a notable concern for potential owners, particularly those with smaller frame sizes, is the chainstay design. The positioning of the rack is forward by about 20-30mm compared to other models, which impacts the bike’s handling, making it more akin to a shorter gravel bike when loaded.

This setup also raises the possibility of heel strike, a drawback that could affect the bike’s overall appeal as a touring option.

(The Most Budget Friendly Option In This List)

Price From: $1,590 + USD

Weight :  15.6 kg (34.40 lbs)

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano Tiagra

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.52 chainstay 455 mm – wheelbase 1,083mm – (steering) headtube angle 71 deg – trail 56 mm – Fork offset/rake 55 mm. Bottom bracket drop 75 mm

Tire Clearance:  700x35mm, with fenders, but the frame can accomodate 700x38mm without.

• 36 spoke wheels – strong for bicycle touring
• High quality Busch und Müller lights
• Well-balanced geometry ensures a stable yet responsive ride.
• Budget friendly option
• The Sunnywheel fenders might be a little narrow
• Limited tire clearance only up to 38 mm
• At 15.6kg, it might be considered heavy for some riders
• Not as capable off-road thanks to limited tire clearance

The UK-designed Genesis Tour de Fer 30, drawing inspiration from its sibling, the popular Croix de Fer, stands out as a remarkable blend of innovation and tradition in the world of touring bikes. This model is unique for its slightly longer build than most other touring bikes, providing an added level of stability and comfort for those extensive journeys.

But is it really a “Do-It-All Tourer?” With limited tire clearance, therefore limited off road capabilities it is better suited to traditional road only touring.

At the heart of the Tour de Fer 30 is the reliable Reynolds 725 steel frame, noted for its strength and relative lightness, making it a dependable companion for long-distance travels. The bike’s design is complemented by a chromoly steel fork with quick-release dropouts, further enhancing its durability and resilience.

A standout feature of this touring bike is its high-quality Busch und Müller lighting system, powered by a dynamo hub. These lights not only offer superior illumination for safer riding but also add a touch of sophistication to the bike’s overall design.

The shifting and drivetrain responsibilities are adeptly handled by Shimano’s Tiagra groupset, which includes a triple chainset offering a wide range of gears, ideal for tackling diverse terrains and steep inclines. The 10-speed cassette ensures low-maintenance, consistent performance, a crucial factor for long tours.

In terms of braking, the Tour de Fer 30 is equipped with TRP’s Spyre cable disc brakes, known for their consistent and sufficient stopping power. While they may not be as powerful as hydraulic brakes, their ease of maintenance, especially in remote locations, makes them a practical choice for touring.

The bike rides on robust Sun Ringlé Rhyno Lite rims and is fitted with the legendary Schwalbe Marathon tyres, renowned for their durability and puncture resistance. This combination ensures a smooth and reliable ride across various surfaces.

Finishing touches include Genesis branded components like a 27.2mm seatpost, a flared handlebar for comfortable handling, and a saddle designed for long rides. Practical features such as full-length mudguards, bottle cages, and spacious racks (including a Tubus Tara low-rider front rack and an AtranVelo Tour 365 rear rack) enhance its functionality for touring and commuting alike.

(The Most AFFORDABLE Touring Bike At the Time of Writing!)

Price: 1,699.00 NOW ONLY $1,358.93 USD

Weight :  13.61 kg (30 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Full Steel Build – Double-butted chromoly steel and Chromoly steel fork with 15mm thru-axle.

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano Deore, 48/36/26T crank and 10 speed 11-34T cassette.

Gear Ratios :  21″ to 120″

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.54 chainstay 455 mm – wheelbase 1,054mm – (steering) headtube angle 70.5 deg

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  Schwalbe Marathon with puncture protection 700 x 38mm / With a max tire clearance up to 50mm

• Reliable Shimano Deore and Deore LX parts for the drivetrain
• Double-butted chromoly steel frame provides stability and a smooth ride
• Can support up to 300 lbs. including rider and gear (140 kg)
• Comes with spare spokes
• Getting on the heavier side but mid range weight compared to other bikes in this list.
• Tight clearance for fenders
• You could question the practicality of hydraulic disc brakes for touring bikes

The Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1 emerges as a robust and reliable touring bike, well-suited for long-distance journeys and heavy-duty touring. A very suitable bike for tackling steep inclines with heavy loads, which is what you want in a touring bike.

Its double-butted chromoly steel frame ensures a stable and comfortable ride, even under heavy loads, and the bike can support up to 300 lbs. The combination of a Shimano Deore crankset and Deore LX rear derailleur, along with the Tektro HY/RD hydraulic disc brakes, underscores its focus on durability and performance.

The bike is particularly noted for its excellent performance on long tours, with users reporting successful journeys over thousands of kilometers. It is equipped with puncture-resistant Schwalbe Marathon tires and comes with custom front and rear racks for carrying essential gear. An ultra-low gear option is also available, making it easier to navigate steep terrains.

However, some riders have noted the bike’s weight as a potential drawback, particularly when compared to lighter adventure options. There are some concerns about the practicality and maintenance of the hydraulic disc brakes for touring purposes.

Comparing These Bikes

Below, I’ve compiled a table featuring key information for each bike, making it easier for you to compare and decide which one best suits your needs. I hope this helps!

Why You Should Trust Cycle Travel Overload’s Advice

Hey I’m Codey Orgill and have been exploring this world by bicycle for over 8 years now! I have a long history with touring bikes, first being introduced to the world of bicycle travel with a classic Novara Randonee touring bike, then a Surly Long Haul Trucker and I now ride the Kona Sutra Touring Bike .

I have ridden my bikes across 10+ countries so far and a lot of trips where I live here in Australia! Lover of bikes and so passionate about researching, riding, and writing 🙂 about adventure-focused bicycles. That’s why I started this blog ! Have helped over 1 million people find, compare, and decide on their dream adventure bike! Nothing means more to me than getting more people out into the world on two wheels!

What Makes A Good Touring Bike? Criteria For Choosing These Bikes

First I wanted to focus on mostly more traditional touring bikes in this list. As I plan to put together a updated guide for off-road touring bikes better suited for bikepacking type adventures.

Comfortable and Stable Geometry & Design: A top priority was the bike’s geometry. We looked for models with a long wheelbase, (average touring bike wheelbase: 1050 to 1070mm) and chainstay to ensure sufficient heel clearance during pedaling, (average touring bike chainstay: 445 to 470mm) and to accommodate rear panniers. The ideal geometry also contributes to a stable center of gravity, enhancing balance and creating a smoother ride. Additionally, a front center of (around 600 millimeters) is ideal for toe clearance and compatibility with front panniers, a typical setup for world-spanning adventures. For predictability and more stable steering a 60 to 70 mm trail is ideal!

Upright Riding Position : An upright riding position is crucial for comfort during long tours. We sought a stack-to-reach ratio of about 1.5 or higher to avoid a hunched-over posture, reducing back strain over extended periods.

Gear Ratio : The gear range was another vital factor. We looked for bikes with a broad spectrum of gears, especially low-end ratios for climbing with a heavy setup. Ideal bikes offer gearing as low as 18 inches for steep ascents and up to 120 inches for comfortable descents, accommodating various touring conditions. However if you are doing lighter touring and commuting, typically up to a 25 inch low gear is a pass, but not for fully load adventures.

Wheels and Components : Quality components are non-negotiable for durability and performance. We ensured that each bike had robust components unlikely to fail during extended tours. Wheel strength is vital, so we preferred bikes with a high spoke count, ideally 36 spokes to support the weight of a fully loaded touring setup. But some of the lighter touring bikes or not so good build quality bikes may have 32 spokes which isn’t ideal.

Weight Considerations : While weight is a factor, it’s less critical in touring bikes. Most selected bikes weigh around 13 to 15 kilograms or heavier, standard for this category. With added gear, this weight increases significantly, but our focus was more on reliability than lightness.

Other Considerations: The bike’s load capacity is a pivotal feature, with higher capacities being more advantageous. Ideally, a robust touring bike should be able to support a total weight ranging from 130 to 180 kg. Additionally, factors like frame stiffness and the configuration of the kickstand are also important considerations for these types of bikes.

What Are Touring Bikes? The Different Types of Touring Bikes

Touring bikes can be broadly categorised into four distinct types, each tailored to different touring needs and preferences. While there are even more nuances within these categories, this classification provides a solid foundation for understanding the diverse range of touring bikes available in the market.

Traditional or Classic Touring Bikes

Traditional or classic touring bikes are built to be tough and withstand the rigors of long, continuous cycling over days, months, or even years. Unlike road bikes, these are designed with a focus on durability and stability. Typically made from steel, these bikes feature an upright geometry, longer chainstays, and are often equipped with fenders and a rear rack for panniers. The wheels are usually 700c with a high spoke count (32 or 36-hole) to endure the demands of bike touring. While classic touring bikes traditionally had rim brakes, mechanical disc brakes are becoming more common in this category. Both flat and drop bars are seen on these bikes, which often have a vintage look, as their design emphasizes functionality and longevity over aesthetic changes.

When discussing traditional touring bikes, the Novara Randonee instantly springs to mind as the quintessential example. With its bar-end shifters, classic steel frame, and comfortable touring geometry, it embodies everything a touring bike should be. This bike holds a special place in my heart as my first introduction to the world of bicycle travel. I’m eternally grateful to both the bike and Eric, the generous legend who gifted it to me. Thanks, mate!

Expedition Touring Bikes

Expedition touring bikes are designed for epic, long-duration trips, such as around-the-world adventures. Made primarily from steel for robustness and ease of repair, these bikes typically feature 26-inch wheels and rim brakes. The choice of these components is strategic, as they make it easier to repair and replace parts, even in remote corners of the globe. These bikes are built for resilience and are capable of carrying all essentials for extended journeys, making them a top choice for serious long-term touring enthusiasts.

These bikes are quite similar to traditional touring bikes but offer even more adventure focused components and parts as standard like kick stands, Dynamo hubs and light setups, and trekking bars or flat swept back alt bars are often more common on these bikes for that extra comfort in the saddle. The Koga WorldTraveller is a perfect example of this category of bike.

Adventure Touring Bikes

Adventure touring bikes or off-road touring bikes are crafted for rougher terrains, such as loose dirt, single tracks, and off-road wilderness paths, making them ideal for exploring less-traveled roads. These bikes are essentially a blend of road and mountain bikes. They usually come with drop bars and either mechanical or hydraulic disc brakes, offering strong stopping power for diverse conditions. Adventure bikes can accommodate a variety of wheel sizes and have clearance for wider tires. Many models are also equipped to handle dropper posts, adding to their versatility for different types of terrain.

For example, the Tumbleweed Prospector is engineered for supreme reliability and performance in rugged terrains. Its design eschews trendy materials for durability, particularly excelling with the Rohloff SPEEDHUB, an internally geared drivetrain known for its resilience in diverse conditions, from deserts to snowy mountains. Unique features like the Phil Wood eccentric bottom bracket and custom cast dropouts, coupled with a design focused on maximum mud and tire clearance, make the Prospector a top choice for adventurous global expeditions.

Light touring or gravel touring bikes are similar to gravel bikes in that they offer the flexibility for both on-road and off-road use, but with the added functionality of eyelets for attaching racks. They are designed for carrying lighter loads and are more suited for shorter bike tours or bikepacking trips. Generally lighter in weight than traditional touring bikes, they provide a versatile and adaptable solution for cyclists who prefer a mix of on and off-road experiences. These bikes are often interchangeable with gravel bikes, focusing on a balance between lightness, flexibility, and durability.

In this category, the distinction between gravel and touring bikes becomes more nuanced, existing on a spectrum. Some gravel bikes are adeptly equipped for touring and off-road adventures , thanks to their tire clearance, touring-inspired geometry, and build quality. Others, however, are better suited for lightweight touring, with their capabilities leaning more towards smooth roads or light gravel paths due to certain limitations in design and gearing. This diversity means that while some models excel in rugged conditions, others are ideal for less demanding journeys. A good example of a lighter touring bike would be something like the Fuji Touring Disc or the Salsa Journeyer.

How To Choose A Touring Bike

When it comes to choosing the perfect touring bike, understanding your specific needs and priorities is key to narrowing down your options and making an informed buying decision. Every touring bike offers a unique combination of features, and what works for one cyclist might not suit another. By focusing on what is most important for your touring experience, you can filter through the plethora of choices and find a bike that aligns perfectly with your requirements.

1. Prioritize Your Touring Environment : Are you planning to ride mostly on smooth roads, rugged trails, or a combination of both? The terrain you expect to encounter is a primary factor in determining the type of touring bike you need. For instance, if off-road adventures are your main focus, a bike with sturdy tires and a durable frame, like an adventure touring bike, will serve you well. On the other hand, if you’re sticking to paved roads, a traditional touring bike with smoother tires would be more appropriate.

2. Comfort vs. Performance : Long-distance touring demands comfort, especially if you’re spending several hours a day on the bike. Consider bikes with a geometry that offers an upright riding position, reducing strain on your back and shoulders. However, if speed and performance are more important to you, a bike with a more aggressive geometry might be preferable.

3. Load Capacity and Accessories : Assess how much gear you need to carry. If you’re planning a self-supported tour with lots of luggage, look for a bike with a high load capacity, robust racks, and multiple mounting points. Conversely, if you prefer light touring with minimal gear, a bike with fewer rack options but a lighter frame might be better.

4. Maintenance and Durability : If you’re touring in remote areas, consider the ease of repair and maintenance of the bike. Bikes with simpler, more robust components are easier to fix on the road. The bike’s durability also plays a crucial role, especially in challenging conditions.

5. Budget Considerations : Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Higher-priced bikes usually offer better quality and more features, but there are also great mid-range and budget options that can meet your needs effectively.

Panniers for Touring Bikes

Much like the diverse range of touring bikes available, the market is also rich with various styles of panniers to suit different touring needs. Whether you’re setting off on an extensive cross-country adventure or planning a brief weekend escape, selecting the appropriate panniers can greatly elevate your experience. In this article, we delve into the world of panniers, offering insights into robust touring options, streamlined micro bikepacking choices, and minimalist solutions for those who favor a lighter setup.

What About Specific Touring Bike Handlebars and Saddles?

When embarking on bike touring or bikepacking, comfort is paramount, especially considering the main body contact points with your bike. A crucial aspect of this comfort is finding the right handlebars, which can greatly impact your experience over the many miles ahead. This article focuses on what to look for in touring handlebars and presents some of the best options available.

Choosing the right saddle for your bike touring or bikepacking adventure is a decision that can significantly affect your comfort on long rides. In our latest article, we address the essentials of bike saddle comfort and how to select a saddle that reduces discomfort for extended periods in the saddle.

A comfortable bike saddle is crucial, especially when you’re planning to spend days, or even months, pedaling across diverse landscapes. It’s not just about picking any saddle; it’s about finding the one that fits your unique body shape and riding style. We explore the factors that contribute to saddle comfort, from shape and size to materials and design.

Are Touring Bikes Good For Commuting?

Touring bikes are a great option for commuting due to their unique combination of durability, comfort, and carrying capacity.

Designed for long distances and varied terrains, these bikes are robust enough to withstand the daily wear and tear of urban travel, ensuring longevity.

he upright and relaxed geometry of touring bikes offers significant comfort, which is crucial for daily commutes, especially over longer distances.

This design effectively reduces strain on the back, neck, and shoulders. One of the key advantages of touring bikes for commuters is their ability to carry loads. Equipped with racks and multiple mounting points, they are ideal for transporting work essentials, groceries, or other personal items. Want to use a touring bike for commuting?

While touring bikes are versatile and perform well on different surfaces, making them suitable for various commuting routes, they are generally heavier than road bikes.

This might not be ideal for those who need to frequently carry their bike.

Additionally, they might not be as fast as road bikes, which could be a consideration for those with longer commutes seeking speed.

Moreover, the focus on durability and functionality often makes touring bikes more expensive than some basic commuter bikes.

Despite these considerations, touring bikes offer a reliable, comfortable, and practical solution for daily commuting, balancing efficiency and stability, especially when carrying loads.

Other Touring Bike Reads

• The Tips, 67 bike travellers wish they knew earlier – Beginner Bike Touring Advice
• Best Bike Touring and Bikepacking Handlebars – Everything You Need to Know
• Gravel Bike For Touring – 6 Best Gravel Bikes For Touring!
• 12 Best Front Bike Racks For Touring & Bikepacking
• Best Off-Road Adventure Touring Bikes 2024
• Best Flat Bar Touring Bikes & Expedition Bikes
• Best Touring Bike Kickstands & Everything You Need To Know

About The Author

Codey Orgill, a seasoned bicycle adventurer, has been exploring the world on two wheels for over 10 years. Since embarking on his initial cycling journey, Codey Orgill has traversed numerous countries, experiencing a series of epic adventures.

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• Touring & Bikepacking Bikes

Here Are The 12 Best Touring Bikes You Can Buy In 2020

I know, I know. It’s a bit late in the season for picking the best touring bikes for 2020. But with Summer soon arriving for many of you, I think you will really appreciate the best touring bikes for 2020!

I have gone through my 2020 Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide and picked out all of the bikes that stand out to me. You can get a copy of my book which teaches you all the ins-and-outs of touring bikes, comparing over 160 bikes, right  HERE .

Today, we’ll be going through all of my picks, and I’ll be using as many data points as possible to justify why I picked them. Even if you don’t like my bike choices, you will be able to apply this information to any touring bike you’re looking to buy.

How Did I Select The Best Touring Bikes?

Price/Value Some people will argue that the bikes I’ve selected are  not cheap enough, but it’s my experience that you get great performance and reliability through investing a bit more in your touring bike, especially if you’re planning on using it long-term. If you want a cheaper bike, I recommending getting an older version of these bikes second-hand…

Frame Geometry I have carefully assessed the frame geometries for each of these bikes to see whether they are suitable for the intended use. Everything I’ve picked is stable, upright and has the appropriate steering speed for the handlebar type.

Low Gear Ratios I wish I didn’t have to talk about gear ratios so much, but all too often I find that touring bikes are under-geared. Bike designers often don’t travel themselves, so they don’t understand that we are climbing all kinds of gradients with a tonne of equipment… and maybe a few days of food too! Today, we’ll be comparing touring bike using gear inches. This is the diameter of the wheel, times the size of the front chainring and divided by the size of the rear cog. With this information, we can compare bikes with different wheel sizes and drivetrain setups. All you really need to know is that lower is always better, and ideally, your touring bike will have something around 20-inches in the smallest gear for on-road, and less for off-road road. These numbers are relative: a bike with an 18-inch gear will climb 10% slower than a 20-inch gear, which means you’ll either find the same hill easier – or you can use to this mechanical advantage to comfortably ride up steeper gradients.

Frame Stiffness The majority of touring bikes support a front and rear load, and your frame is the medium which needs to resists the twisting forces between these two points. When it comes to the handling, stability and general feel of a touring bike, we want our frames to be as stiff as possible without having the weight of a boat anchor. You can determine the approximate stiffness of a frame by the diameter size of the tubes employed. On a steel bike, we’re looking for downtubes that are 34.9mm or larger.

Wide Tyre & Fender Widths Traditionally, touring bikes have had very narrow tyres. This is ok on smooth roads, but the reality is that there is very little speed penalty to using a wide slick, which will take you on the rougher backroads. The optimal tyre with fender clearance for most touring bikes is around 50mm or 2.0″. That way you can run a 35 or 40mm on the smooth tarmac, but switch to something closer to a mountain bike size if you find yourself on dirt roads.

Kickstand Mounts Kickstands are so damn useful when you’re touring, in fact, I think it’s crazy so many touring bikes don’t have them. I don’t realise how much I use mine until I borrow a bike without one, a kickstand is just 250 grams extra weight – so expect many options on this list to be kickstand-friendly.

Best Touring Bikes: Long Distance

Cube Travel // €799 This is probably the most under-rated touring bike you can buy. The Cube Travel is incredibly capable on a mix of surfaces, with 29×2.2″ tyre clearance with fenders. It comes with lots of great features including a rear rack, rear-mount kickstand, Shimano Deore 27-speed gearing, hydraulic brakes and a dynamo hub and lights. The frame is available in five sizes, and there are an additional three step-through frames for ease of getting on and off. The climbing gear is pretty good too at 22 inches.

Fuji Touring // US $899 – €899 – £799 – AU $1499 If you don’t mind giving up some braking performance, the Fuji Touring is a killer build for the price. This Reynolds steel bike is ready to cross a continent with its 36 spoke wheels, 27-speed Shimano gearing, easy-to-repair brakes and Vittoria Randonneur kevlar tyres. The bike is available in seven sizes, so it will suit riders of all heights. The long chainstays and fork rake help to offer a long and stable wheelbase, and this is paired with the quick steering necessary of a drop bar touring bike. The climbing gear is a 21″ which ain’t bad at all. If you want a kickstand, check out the Pletscher Multi for a good fit.

Diamant 135 // €1299 – £1149 – US $1410 I’m almost certain you haven’t seen this bike before, but if you have, I bet you didn’t know this: the Diamant 135 is a re-branded Trek 520, but with better parts and a lower price! This frame is available in six sizes, it has a great touring geometry has recently been updated with a larger downtube for increased frame stiffness. Like most European-specced bikes the 135 comes with all the features you need: racks, dynamo lights, kickstand and the Brooks B17 saddle which is universally well-liked. The spec is great with tough 36 spoke wheels and Deore 30-speed gearing with a 22″ climbing gear. There is one glaring downside to the 135, however, and that’s the funky handlebars. Fit a regular flat bar with bar-ends or an alt handlebar – and you will love it.

Vivente Anatolia // US $1474 – €1362 – £1186 – AU $2500 Here’s another bike you haven’t heard of. Vivente is an Australian brand that specialises in touring bikes. The owner of the company has been touring all over the world for over 40 years and as a result offers stiff, steel touring bikes with all of the touring features he likes himself – from a rear-mount kickstand, a top-tier rear rack, dynamo lights and even a mirror. These bikes come with a perfect 19″ climbing gear and super strong wheels which even feature triple-butted rear spokes – that’s attention to detail. Wait, why am I telling you about some obscure Australian touring bikes? Well, they’ll ship their bikes anywhere in the world for just US $190. That actually makes them a really awesome deal.

Kona Sutra // US $1499 – £1449 – €1499 – AU $2500 One of the hardest choices on this list was a drop bar touring bike at the mid-price point. The competition is stiff here – it was a toss-up between the Salsa Marrakesh, the Trek 520 and the Kona Sutra. I ended up picking the Sutra because it is $200-$300 cheaper than the others but comes with the best components of the lot, including a 30-speed Deore drivetrain, a 20″ climbing gear, TRP cable disc brakes, a rear rack, fenders and a Brooks B17 saddle. It’ll also clear 29×2.2″ tyres without fenders if you plan to do any off-roading. The biggest downside to the Kona Sutra is that there is no kickstand plate and they’re kinda hard to fit too. For good kickstand mounting alone, you might be better off with the 520 or Marrakesh.

Best Touring Bikes: Light Touring

2020 Diamondback Haanjo EXP // US $1999 If you’re up for packing light and travelling fast, you can’t go past the Diamondback Haanjo EXP. This bike is under 10kg and depending on your body weight, will be good to support a 10-15kg load. The lowest gear is just 21 gear inches, so you should be able to comfortably ride up the steepest road gradients, and given the bike weighs so little, it certainly won’t hold you back either. While the frameset uses a modern lightweight carbon construction, Diamondback has kept the parts simple, fitting bar-end shifters, TRP cable disc brakes and a threaded bottom bracket shell to the bike. This bike will clear 27.5 x 2.0″ tyres, it has 3x bidon mounts on the frame and provision for front and rear racks along with fenders.

2020 Salsa Journeyman Flat Bar Sora  // US $1199 My other lightweight bike of choice is the flat bar Salsa Journeyman. The Journeyman uses an aluminium frame and carbon fork to keep the weight down to 11.3kg, which is really decent for a bike at this price. You can choose between 700c wheels with narrow tyres or 27.5″ wheels with fatter tyres. The climbing gear is a little high at 24 gear inches, but you can fit cost-effective Acera 9-speed parts to the Journeyman (eg. 42-32-22t crankset) which will get the climbing gear right down to 18 gear inches! This bike has a frame geometry ripe for an alt handlebar conversion such as my  KOGA Denham Bars  or the Surly Molokos, which will provide both an aerodynamic hand positioning along with the stability of a wide flat bar.

Best Touring Bikes: Off-Road

2020 Surly Bridge Club // US $1200 – £1350 – AU $2500 The  Surly Bridge Club  is one of my favourite dirt road touring bikes. This simple steel rig is just $1200, it has an 18 gear inch climbing gear from the new SRAM SX 1X drivetrain and it will clear 27.5 x 2.8″ tyres. For an all-round touring setup, you could fit some fat 2.4” Schwalbe Super Moto-X slicks and fenders and this bike will be great on a dirt road tour too. The Bridge Club frameset has got all the braze-ons you can think of, including mounts for the Surly-8 and 24-Pack rando racks.

2020 Masi Giramondo 27.5 // US $1199 The $1200 Masi Giramondo has long been recommended by me. Not only has it got a super cool paint job, but it’s running 27.5″ x 2.1″ mountain bike tyres, TRP cable disc brakes, reliable bar-end shifters and 30-speed Deore gears with a 18.5″ climbing gear. I’m honestly surprised I don’t see more of these steel bikes floating about.

2020 Salsa Fargo Apex // US $2199, £2250,  The Fargo is one of the most capable drop bar bikes, offering 29 x 3.0″ tyre clearance, a 22″ climbing gear, and the ability to fit a  Rohloff 14-speed gearbox hub  and  belt drivetrain . The Fargo frame geometry is super upright; it’s intended to be this tall so that you can ride in comfort in the drops for long periods of time, where you have the best access to the brakes. The SRAM Apex model is actually $400 cheaper than last year, and that’s even with the awesome Salsa Firestarter carbon fork. Like many Salsa bikes, perfectly-fitting frame packs are available for the Fargo in all sizes.

Best Touring Bikes: Trekking

2020 Canyon Pathlite AL 4   // €799, £749, US $799 The Pathlite AL 4 is a standout in terms of value and reliability amongst trekking bikes. Wait, what’s a hybrid doing on this list? Well, you’ll be really surprised what these bikes are capable of. The highlight of this rig is the coil-sprung suspension fork which is nice and reliable and will add significant comfort and traction on dirt roads. The bike has an insanely low 17″ climbing gear from its 20-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain. Chuck a handlebar pack and rear panniers on this bike and it will take you a really long way.

Best Touring Bike: All-Round

KOGA WorldTraveller Signature   // from €2600, US $2800, £2300, AU $4400 The KOGA WorldTraveller is one of the best touring bikes you can buy – and yes, I can justify this objectively (they’re my personal bike sponsor, however, this isn’t a paid ad nor did KOGA have any input on this list). The KOGA frame has very high attention to detail – incorporating full-length internal cable routing, a steering limiter, super smooth welds and an abrasion-resistant paint job. You can choose from 11 stock paint colours, or as an optional extra, any custom colour you desire!

You choose between a step-through or traditional frame which are both available in five sizes. The frame geometry is very stable thanks to the long wheelbase but it’s paired with agile steering up the front which tempers a heavy front load. The frame is optimised to be super stiff laterally, so you can load up the bike with a tonne of gear and it will always ride without fuss.

KOGA bikes are custom-built from the ground up using many components that I personally use and recommend. You can choose between fast-rolling 700C wheels for the road, or the 27.5″ wheels that I use for off-road terrain. These are the strongest wheels you’ll find on any stock bike – I’ve been using Ryde rims for over a decade and never had a failure. You can then pick easy-to-repair rim brakes or super powerful and reliable Shimano XT disc brakes. The WTS comes with a full XT 30-speed derailleur drivetrain, which is good as it gears for touring, or if you have deeper pockets you can choose the Rohloff internal gear hub like me.

If you want the best dynamo lighting and charging, that’s an option. Kickstand? No problem. Brooks saddle? Sure thing.

Like the Vivente, you can get these bikes shipped globally for €300, and in the process save the 21% VAT included in the price. You will, however, have to pay your local tax and import duties – so do the calculations because it might actually be cheaper to plan a bike trip in Europe, picking your bike up along the way!

Best Touring Bikes Summary

That rounds out the best touring bikes for 2020! It was super hard narrowing this list down to so few, but I think these models really stand out in each of their categories. Let me know what your favourites are in the comments below!

Also, if you’d like to know everything about touring bikes, check out the 2020 Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide , which teaches you about all the touring bike features, before equipping you with all the tools you need to compare over 160 current bikes. It’s updated yearly for free – forever – and is a product I’m super proud of.

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The Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide

A touring bicycle is a bicycle designed specifically for bicycle touring (also referred to as “cycle touring, bike touring, bike travel, bicycle travel, adventure cycling and bike-packing”) – the act of riding a bicycle for days, weeks, months, or even years on end as you travel across entire cities, states, and countries under your own power (without the assistance of a motor).

There are hundreds of different touring bicycles available to you. There are touring bicycles made for short day rides near your home; touring bicycles for fast, speedy and lightweight club-style cycling adventures; and touring bicycles made to carry you and your gear all the way around the world. No two touring bicycles are the same!

The Best Touring Bicycles in the World

This article contains a list of 100 of the world’s most popular touring bicycles, along with a photo and a short product description of that bike (usually from the manufacturer). But be warned – each of these touring bicycles has been designed for a specific purpose. While the bikes on this page may look similar to the untrained eye, there are a number of minute details that make each bicycle better equipped for a certain type of bicycle touring.

For example: Did you know that there are three main types of bicycle tours with more than a dozen different sub-types under that? For each of those various types of bicycle tours, there is a corresponding type of touring bicycles.

For example, each touring bicycle on this page can be placed inside one or more of the following five categories:

• Sport Touring
• Light Touring
• Road Touring
• Off-Road Touring

This means that a bicycle designed for short local day trips should probably not be used for a long-distance bicycle tour across an entire country or all the way around the world. And a bicycle made for off-road riding won’t last long if used alongside bicycles designed with fast, speedy sport touring in mind.

This is why it’s so important that you understand not only the different types of bicycle tours, but also the different types of touring bicycles and what they have been designed for, before you go out and purchase a touring bicycle for yourself. More details on this can be found inside The Essential Guide To Touring Bicycles .

Touring Bicycles – What You Need To Know

Sadly, most local bike shop owners don’t know much (or anything) about bicycle touring. Because bicycle touring is such a small niche within the cycling industry, local bike shops rarely ever focus any of their time, energy, or money on this type of cycling and almost never have touring bicycles of any kind on hand at their stories. If you can find a local bike shop with someone working there that actually knows something about bicycle touring, you should consider yourself very lucky!

Unfortunately, many of the people who go into a local bike shop looking for a touring bicycle come out having been sold a bicycle that isn’t really designed for bicycle touring at all. The result of this is not only an investment in a product that won’t suit your needs, but could result in damage to your bicycle, your belongings and your body (because an ill-fitting or improperly designed bicycle could break apart during a bicycle tour (yes, this really happens… and it occurs more often than you might thing) or cause pain, discomfort and even long-lasting nerve damage to your body when used on a multi-day bicycle tour).

So, go ahead and check out the impressive list of touring bicycles below, but before you go out and purchase a bike for yourself, make sure you understand what type of touring bike you are buying and how you wish to use it . Don’t make the mistake of buying the first bicycle your local bike shop owner suggests. The bicycle you buy is going to be the biggest and most important investment you make… so make sure you make the right decision!

Bianchi Volpe

The Bianchi Volpe features a smooth riding steel frame and fork and a variety of good components from top manufactures so as to deliver a great affordable bike that can do anything from commuting to hard road rides.

Brodie Elan

Pacific Coast Highway 101, Lake Garda en-route to Lake Como, the Cabot Trail or the Tour D’Afrique. Just climb aboard and pedal where your heart leads you. With classic features which are imperative in Brodie’s first ever touring bicycle, you’ll be so happy that your first touring bike could easily be your last!

Brodie Rombulus

Shimano STi levers handle the shifting and braking duties, a triple chain ring lets you choose the rate of gait and a cromoly frame keeps the components flying in tight formation. Beautiful looks without the beastly price.

Bruce Gordon Cycles BLT-X

Designed for serious loaded touring, with a frame geometry that ensures a stable ride. Versatile 26″ geometry will accept standard road tires, as well as the normal 26″ off-road capable tires.

Cannondale Touring

Back in 1983, Cannondale made its very first frame: a touring bike. Since then, the touring bike has always been in its line. From the market in Kara-chi to the grocery in Kalispell, Cannondale touring bikes have been there, done that.

Co-Motion Americano

The Co-Motion Americano has established the standard for what a touring bike should be – an entirely new breed of bicycle that handles self-supported, transcontinental touring without even breaking a sweat. We’ve developed ideas from our unsurpassed tandem designs to increase touring load capacity and provide a level of rugged reliability unmatched by any other bicycle.

Co-Motion Nor’Wester Tour

If you’re not seeking the extreme capabilities of Co-Motion‘s Americano or Pangea bicycles, the Nor’Wester Tour is one of the finest touring bikes money can buy. The Nor’Wester Tour provides an incredibly stable ride and the kind of positioning you want when your goal is to cover more ground while taking in the scenery.

Co-Motion Pangea

An outstandingly rugged, 26” wheeled touring bicycle that is perfect for our shrinking world. The Pangea has all the features you need for touring in the most challenging of environments. Far from a mountain bike with a drop bar, the Pangea is designed with the stable, responsive touring geometry that has made Co-Motion an industry leader.

Cube Central

The Cube Central has been designed deliberately more sporty than the other models in Cube‘s Global Travel Series. The Central combines the technology of Cube‘s Global Travel Series, but with more athleticism.

The ambitious design of the Delhi makes for a perfect trekking bike. The bike has a long wheelbase, so you can ride in comfort—even with a large load.

Cube Kathmandu

Cube‘s Global Travel Series bicycles are distinguished by their high comfort and easy handling. Special emphasis is placed on the frame geometry, weight and maximum stiffness. This bike has extremely balanced handling and is capable of carrying heavy loads.

Cube Touring Pro

Long rides and short tours are what the Cube tour bikes were developed for. Adventures on two wheels, no matter if the weather is good or not. The especially developed ECG – Efficient Comfort Geometry delivers a comfortable riding position without sacrificing optimum power transfer.

Dahon Tournado

The all day, all weather, all roads, travel bike. The Tournado is a handmade, lugged steel touring bike that celebrates classical frame geometries and component designs. In true hand-made tradition, each frame is painstakingly welded and brazed from Tange Prestige tubes. The Tournado features a frame geometry designed for upright riding stability. The result is a superbly balanced, supple ride that will deliver mile after mile of smiles and still packs easily into a suitcase for your next adventure.

Dawes Cycles Galaxy

The Dawes Galaxy features another legendary tube set made from Reynolds 631. The forks use Reynolds 520 chromoly blades that make for a smooth but reliably strong ride for the longest journeys. Equipped with 27 speed Shimano Deore gears with bar end shifters, Trktro Oryx cantilever brakes, Tubus cargo carrier, WTB Dual Duty rims, Shimano hubs and Schwalbe tires. The Galaxy is a great touring bike.

Dawes Cycles Horizon

The Horizon features a reliably strong, yet light, Reynolds 520 chromoly frame and chromoly forks. The geometry is configured to give enhanced comfort even through those long days in the saddle. It is equipped with 24 speed Shimano Alivio gears, Tektro Oryx cantilever brakes, WTB Dual Duty double wall alloy rims, Shimano hubs and Schwalbe tires. Those long journeys are made more comfortable with the Selle Italia FLX saddle and chromo-plastic mudguards.

Dawes Cycles Karakum Gents

The KaraKum features a lightweight alloy frame and chromoly fork. Distinctive because of its butterfly handlebars it offers unrivaled comfort with multiple riding positions on those long tours. A roll call of quality components consist of Shimano Deore 27 speed gears, Shimano hubs, Shimano V-brakes, Scwalbe Silento II tyres and an ultra comfy Selle Italia FLX Gel saddle.

Dawes Cycles Sardar

Bikes really don‘t come much tougher than the Sardar bike, with its strong 26″ double wall rims, steel trekking fork and it‘s compact alloy expedition frame. The Sardar really does allow you to attack almost any terrain you choose whilst still allowing you to carry every necessity you desire.

Dawes Cycles Vantage

The Vantage is designed for the tourer on a budget who still wants the best value money can buy. With a 6061 alloy frame and Chromoly fork you’ll experience a quality ride and still be able to carry your kit on board. The Vantage is ready for anything with its Shimano 24 speed gears, Truvativ cranks, Schwalbe tyres, luggage rack and mudguards. An ideal starter bike for long jaunts.

Devinci Caribou

Sturdy frame. Triple curved seat stays that help reduce vibrations. The fork can be used to install both a rack and front disc brake. With its proven design, the Caribou is the great travelers‘ bicycle. The Caribou is designed and assembled in Canada.

Fuji Touring

The Fuji Touring is a full-fledged touring bicycle with a classic look and modern components – available at a super low price. An excellent introductory touring bicycle!

Giant CRX-1

Whether you ride for fitness or transportation, Giant‘s CRX-1 will get you where you are going. The Lightweight ALUXX frameset and wide-range gearing tame steep city inclines, while the quick handling reflexes and flat bar let you sling corners with precision. Tuned ride comfort meets road racer efficiency.

GT Peace Tour

GT’s renowned Peace platform, built for touring. If your idea of a perfect ride is cruising the countryside, panniers packed, and rack loaded down, this is your ride.

Jamis Aurora

The Jamis Aurora is arguably the last of the production-built, loaded touring bikes—unbeatably efficient at hauling you and your stuff, and the ultimate ride for big-distance commuters and cyclo-tourists. The bike‘s touring geometry combines a lanky wheelbase with stability-enhancing weight distribution.

Introduced in 2009, the KHS TR-101 has quickly become a big hit with the touring and trekking crowd because of its low price and touring features, such as front and rear fenders and braze-ons designed to support both front and rear racks.

Koga-Miyata Traveller

The Koga-Miyata Traveller is a popular touring bike with an aluminum frame. It is a complete, appealing bicycle for versatile use. The bicycle comes in both a mens and womens version and can be purchased in both aluminum and steel.

Koga-Miyata World Traveller

The 26″ touring bike for rough terrain; also ideal for mountainous or pathless terrain. The super stable aluminum frame is completely outfitted with Shimano Deore XT equipment, Tubus carriers, double eyeletted rims and battery lighting.

Feel good all over the world and then some with Kona’s wondrously refined touring bike. This year the Sutra returns with new chainstay mounted disc brakes for easier fender fit and more fender options. We’ve also added lighter, disc specific stays and, ahem, fenders themselves (sorry for the delay). Take your pleasure seeking on the road, ride deep into new dimensions, and do it all on a bike specifically designed to take you there-and back again of course.

Kross Trans Line

The line of Trans trekking bikes from Kross were designed with the thought of long trips on paved roads in mind. Thanks to the geometry of the frame, a comfortable saddle, fenders and rear rack, the bike is perfect even in difficult conditions, whether you choose to travel near your home on go on a much longer expedition.

Kross Trans Pacific

The Trans Pacific was designed with the thought of long trips on paved roads in mind. Thanks to a comfortable frame geometry, fenders and rear rack, the bike is perfect if you choose to go on a real expedition far from home.

Louis Garneau LGS-GMT

Designed with disc brakes, front and rear fenders, braze-ons built for front and rear racks and all the comfort you would expect in a fully-loaded touring bicycle, you‘ll be lucky if you can find this bicycle on the market today. It’s no longer in production as far as we know.

Marinoni Turismo

The roads around the world are at your fingertips with Turismo! Robust and stable, its framework has been designed to support heavy loads while maximizing energy transfer, thus ensuring the rider reaches port as efficiently as possible!

Norco Cabot

The Norco Cabot is a touring bike built with a Reynolds 525 chromoly frame, 3 water bottle mounts, pump pegs, spoke holder, fender/rack mounts and IS disc tabs. Full Shimano 18-speed drive train with 105 rear derailleur. Sturdy wheels: Shimano LX trekking hubs, butted stainless spokes and Mavic A316 hole rims.

Norco Fraser

The Norco Fraser is a touring bicycle built on a double butted chromoly frame with 3 water bottle mounts and fender/rack mounts. Shimano 18-speed drive train with FSA Vero triple cranks.

Norco Qwest

A bicycle that may no longer be in production, the Norco Qwest is a bicycle designed with sport touring and trekking in mind. The butted Chromoly frame easily accepts both front and rear fenders and racks.

Novara Randonee

The Novara Randonee is a traditional touring bike sold by REI. It’s apopular, low cost touring bike model that’s great for beginners looking for their first touring bike.

Novara Safari

The ultimate adventure-touring cycle, the Novara Safari rides on – even when the pavement runs out! A popular touring bicycle sold at REI stores in the United States.

Weighing in at 27.6 lbs, the Opus Largo is a traditional touring bike built on a triple butted profiled CrMo frame with an Ora Touring aluminum raked fork. Front and rear rack compatible.

Opus Legato

Weighing in at 25.8 lbs, the Opus Legato is a lightweight touring bike built on a triple butted profiled 6061 aluminum frame with an Ora Touring aluminum raked fork. Front and rear rack compatible.

Patria Argos

The lightweight Argos is a fast and agile bike, but not only on smooth asphalt: it rolls on easy running 26″ tires and provides good grip even on trails. With a noble frame made of Columbus Zona tubing, the Argos has a geometry and seating position that allows you to go from long distance to sporty.

Patria Boston

The Boston combines the driving characteristics of a modern light trekking bike with the sporty elegance of the classic sports bike. Thanks to its high-quality components and the long-distance posture it is suitable for long-distance cycling and for everyday use alike.

Patria Helios

The Helios is a light and elegant sports bike. The framework architecture is of the highest quality. Even with all of its components, the weight is surprisingly low. The Helios shown here weighs under 13 kg (with lights, without pedals). The frame is stiff, but with just the right degree of long-distance comfort.

Patria Randonneur

The Randonneur drives like a racing machine – both in the narrow 28″ version and with the wider tires on the 26″ version. Two or three different race configurations can be chosen from.

Patria Ranger

The Ranger was named “Bicycle of the Year” in 1985, even before the term “trekking bike” was coined. In the meantime, over more than 20 years of continuous product development, the Ranger has evolved into an impeccably well-engineered trekking bike of premium quality parts.

Patria Sporttourer

The frame of the Sport Tourer is a pure racing frame. For light day trips, a rear rack can be mounted onto the rear.

Patria Terra

The Terra is designed as a 26″ touring bike with wide tires for those planning to travel with gear on rough roads. Its durable Chromoly frame is lugged and carefully soldered by hand, like all bikes from Patria.

Patria Trondheim

Absolute quality and stable driving is what you will find in the sporty bicycle. It is easy to maneuver, safe and comfortable, even under high loads and at high speeds. It is suitable for sporty drivers, but is great for cyclists traveling long distances with luggage as well.

Raleigh Sojourn

A modern touring bike with old-school charm, the Raleigh Sojourn features Reynold 520 Butted Chromo w/CNC Dropouts, Spoke Holders, Pump Peg, 4130 Chromo Cross w/Disc Mounts, Shimano Tiagra & Shimano Deore deraiulluers, Shimano FC-R453 Octalink 30/39/50t Cranks, Shimano Dura- Ace 9spd Bar End Shifters and Freedom Ryder 2.3 Trekking Double Wall Rims.

Ridgeback Panorama

If you are looking for a sensible steel touring bike, the Panorama might just be the bike you‘ve been looking for. The Ridgeback Panorama features Reynolds tubing, top of the line Shimano components and the kind of ride that long distance expedition types really enjoy.

Ridgeback Voyage

If you want comfort, then the Ridgeback Voyage is the bike that will provide all you need and more. It is responsive and fantastic to ride around the city or on the open roads.

Riese And Muller Delite Touring

The touring is optimized for low weight without compromising functionality. The 27-speed derailleur is sporty and very efficient. Other features include a high quality lighting system with steady light function and LED technology. Demanding everyday cyclists can find their own personal training partner in the Delite touring.

Riese And Muller Delite Traveller

The traveller’s special, super-rigid frame ensures a very stable ride. The 27-speed derailleur (Shimano Deore XT) and disc brakes are reliable and time-tested. The special expedition rack is connected via a linkage system to the rear swing-arm providing greater rigidity. There is no tour that it can’t handle.

Riese and Muller Intercontinental

The Intercontinental is a pro tourer designed and developed to withstand even the hardest of applications. If you intend to go on a world tour by bike, you’ll already be a step ahead with this premium, robust touring bike. The extremely tough frame has many interesting design details: a rigid rear rack integrated into the frame, and connected to the rear suspension system by a link system, over-sized tubing and long wheelbase geometry.

Roberts Cycles Clubman

The Clubman combines the best of tradition with modern technology. It’s a design aimed at the rider who rides regularly on the weekend and enjoys the odd cycling holiday. The Clubman is tough enough for long-distance tours, yet comfortable enough for regular commuting.

Roberts Cycles Cumbria

The Cumbria is the perfect combination of commuter bike and heavy-duty tourer. It’s built like a conventionally-styled touring bike, but uses 26″ wheels and has plenty of clearance for up to 26? x 1.75″ tires.

Roberts Cycles Roughstuff

While it looks like a mountain bike with skinny tires and dropped handlebars, the Roughstuff is designed firstly as an on-road/off-road tourer. Compared to a mountain bike, it has a lower bottom bracket height for greater stability and a taller head tube/handlebar height for increased riding comfort.

Roberts Cycles Transcontinental

Developed and refined over many years using feedback from serious cycle tourists who have traveled the far corners of the world, the Transcontinental is the classic “everything-but-the-kitchen-sink” tourer. A surprisingly light- weight mix of Columbus Nivacrom and Reynolds tubes are joined using the finest lugs and meticulous care to provide for a long lifetime of hard riding.

Rocky Mountain Sherpa 10

Touring is all about exploring and adventure and there’s no better bike to tour on than the Sherpa. From intelligent rack mounts, to gearing, to durable paint – every detail has been considered. A long-time staple in the Rocky Mountain lineup, Sherpa offers the durability and features that every long distance rider needs.

Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30

Touring is all about exploring and adventure and there’s no better bike to tour on than Sherpa. From intelligent rack mounts, to gearing, to durable paint – every detail has been considered. A long-time staple in the Rocky Mountain lineup, Sherpa offers the durability and features that every long distance rider needs.

Rodriguez Adventure

If you want room for fenders and big wide tires, mounts for rear and front racks, a bomb-proof frame and fork, mounts for 3 water bottles and a frame made in the U.S.A., what you are looking for might just be a Rodriguez Adventure. This is a comfortable, American made, steel, classic touring bike with modern day components and the old school conveniences, plus hand built wheels with a 3-year warranty.

Rodriguez Navigator

The Rodriguez Navigator is a Randonneur/Sport bike with clearance for fenders, a rear rack and wide tires. The Navigator is a comfortable, versatile bike that is perfect for commuting, day touring, or a weekend ride with your buddies.

Rodriguez Rainier

The Rodriguez Rainier is perfect for the Randonneur cyclist or the commuter who doesn’t need a front rack set up. Not really a touring bike, but a sport bike that accommodates full fenders and a rear rack.

Salsa Casseroll Double

Salsa‘s Casseroll Double is a relaxed road bike, perfect for everything from non-competitive road riding and commuting to credit card touring and charity rides. An extremely versatile frame set is what makes the Casseroll Double so… well, versatile.

Salsa Fargo

Crafted of Salsa Classico CroMoly, the Fargo is a bit of a cycling anomaly: a disc brake only, drop bar mountain bike designed for off-road tour- ing. Six (count ?em, six) water bottle cage mounts (on sizes 18 – 24″) help keep you hydrated on a long journey. The sloped top tube allows plenty of stand over clearance for those fully-loaded starts and stops.

The Salsa Vaya is a road adventure bike designed to take on any surface that someone might consider abroad‘. Crafted of Salsa Classico Cro-Moly, the Vaya is loaded with braze-on‘s for fenders, racks, and lowriders. This makes everything from wet weather commutes to full-on touring a breeze.

Santos Travel Master

Hailing from the Netherlands – where they know a thing or two about riding practical bikes long distances – the Santos Travel Master is a very impressive, well-rounded tourer.

Schwinn World Tour DLX

An inexpensive touring bike made for weekend travel.

Seven Cycles Cafe Racer

The Café Racer pays homage to the vintage motorcycles that once roamed Europe‘s motorways of the 1960‘s. Seven‘s exclusive IntegrityTM titanium tubing provides the utmost utility and durability.

Seven Cycles Expat S

The Expat is two bikes in one: a mountain bike for loaded pannier exploring and a touring bike that is off-road worthy. 700c wheels allow for every type of tire available—from 23c road slicks to full-on 29er mountain tires. Designed for multi-day exploration of uncharted territory, the Expat excels where the road ends.

Seven Cycles Halcyon

Long days and heavy loads make touring some of the most demanding riding there is. Seven’s touring-specific tubing design, along with custom geometry and options ensures comfort, handling stability, lightweight, and durability no matter where you go.

Seven Cycles Vacanza

A genuine touring bike, custom built with your choice of rack and fender mounts, extra water bottle mounts, and more. The Vacanza employs Seven‘s exclusive ArgenTM butted titanium tubing.

Specialized Tricross

Point the Tricross down anything from a gravel strewn fire road to a pothole packed bike path or maybe even a chunk of smooth single-track, and you’ll realize that its numbness-killing chassis, predictable geometry and robust wheelset will help you redefine what’s possible on two (skinny) tires.

Surly Cross Check

The frame itself is Surly’s own 4130 cromoly steel, and provides a relatively relaxed and forgiving ride. Like all of Surly‘s bikes, the parts package was chosen for its value, durability and purpose. Surly sells it as a 2×9 speed, but you could add a third ring if you wanted. Or you could make it a single speed. Or a fixie. People use it for commuting, light touring, single-track riding, hauling kids, just about anything you can do on a bike.

Surly Long Haul Trucker

If you want to carry a lot of stuff while riding your bike long distances, you‘d be hard pressed to find a better bike than the Long Haul Trucker. It starts with the frame, whose custom drawn 4130 tubing and geometry were specifically designed for loaded travel, low bottom bracket for stability, long head tube, long stays, the whole thing. Surly added braze-ons for everything you‘re likely to need. They gave it parts that are durable and long lasting, and ready to travel. Add racks, bags, and fenders… and go somewhere!

Terry Valkyrie Tour

The Valkyrie Tour is a sporty bicycle designed specifically for women that has clearance for fenders as well as has rear rack mounts, alpine gearing and all the comfort of steel for long, loaded days on the road.

Thorn Audax MK3

A superb frame, fast enough for high performance cycling. Comfortable enough for long distance Audax events. Strong enough for medium weight touring. Inexpensive enough for winter training.

Thorn Club Tour

A modern take on a traditional touring cycle at a good old fashioned price! With geometry that truly gives impressive handling! Ideal for leisure, medium paced Audax, commuting, touring and cycle camping.

Thorn Raven Nomad

The ultimate, yet affordable, Rohloff equipped expedition touring bike. With an option to add S&S couplers, the Raven Nomad is totally reliable, easy to maintain, and cheap to run. Lifetime frame guarantee.

Thorn Raven Sport Tour

The Thorn Raven Sport Tour is a high performance road-going machine with a sporty geometry, low bottom bracket height and tight clearances. It‘s a lightweight bike with traditional touring capabilities.

Thorn Raven Sterling

A high performance touring mountain bike, designed specifically for the Rohloff hub with the EX box. Utterly stunning off-road performance!

Thorn Sherpa

The Thorn Sherpa can take you to the other side of town, or to the other side of the planet. It is rugged enough to survive careless handling, yet light enough to be enjoyable in your sportier moods. The Sherpa is unlikely to be your fastest bike, but over time it may grow to become your favorite bike. It is so versatile and reliable. Good looking, but not ostentatious. You can take it anywhere.

Tout Terrain 5th Avenue

The 5th Avenue is a bicycle for the particularly discerning everyday cyclist. It runs exceptionally smoothly on a level thanks to its slim-line 28 inch wheels, and it effortlessly ascends slopes with its (in everyday cycling terms) sensationally low weight of just 12.5 kg.

Tout Terrain Boulevard

The Boulevard is a lightweight urban bike perfectly suited for pleasurable and classy cycling. Design and sophisticated technology are at the very forefront: balanced ergonomics, easy handling, and preeminent comfort.

Tout Terrain Grande Route

The Grande Route is a classic Randonneur who enables long distance riders to cover great distances in a sporty pace without abstaining from a comfortable seating position.

Tout Terrain Panamericana

With the Panamericana you are equipped ideally for all adversities you potentially experience on remote routes. Gravel roads and twisting single-track will hardly affect you, because the Panamericana is the first full suspension travel bike that is exclusively designed for this purpose.

Tout Terrain Silkroad

The Silkroad is an extremely robust travel bike. The “less is more” principle was the main focus when designing this bike. By integrating the rack into the main frame of the bike, many of the weak points you find on typical touring bikes have been cut out.

Tout Terrain Via Vento

The Via Veneto is characterized by its fast and agile handling and is especially designed for sporty cyclists who are looking for an urban bike as well as one that can be used for light touring.

Outfitted with features like an extremely durable butted chromoly frame, wide-range Shimano gearing, and stout Bontrager rims, the 520 strikes the perfect balance between the amenities you’ll want for comfort and convenience and the reliability and performance you’ll need for long-haul peace- of-mind.

Unibike Expedition GTS

A technically advanced, high-quality trekking bike made in Poland.

Unibike Globetrotter

Unibike‘s best-equipped touring bike. Complete Shimano LX indestructible, Schwalbe Marathon XR tires and an oil shock are just a few advantages of this super tough bike.

Van Nicholas Amazon

The geometry of the Amazon has been designed to enhance day-long comfort and stability under load, whilst still offering rewarding handling for a faster ride. The Van Nicholas Amazon is a Cycle-Cross/touring/upright road and Audax frame. You can seize the day and configure this frame in a multitude of variations to meet your performance and riding criteria. This bicycle comes in a ladies, Rohloff and Rohloff ladies version.

Van Nicholas Pioneer Rohloff

This bike was designed so that as little as possible could go wrong with it: so no hydraulic cables, no derailleurs and no front suspension. Van Nicholas combined a heavy-duty, paint-free Titanium frame with a Titanium seat post and bullet-proof Schwalbe Balloon Tires for comfort. And it comes with the integrated 14-gear Rohloff system (like having 27-MTB gears) for one- handed shifting through the entire range, whilst stationary or pedaling.

Velotraum Cross CrMo

This bike‘s Taiwanese welded frame is a contemporary interpretation of a classical touring bike with a heavy-duty steel frame. With rack mounts on the front and back, you can use this bike for your touring needs or use it to quickly get around on the open roads and asphalt strips.

Vivente World Randonneur

Developed by the team involved in the original ‘Randonneur Project’ that started in the early 1980’s. The frame is made from double-butted Cr-Mo steel to give a more ‘alive’ feeling that is a delight to experience, especially on a long day.

VSF Fahhradmanufaktur T-400

If you are looking for the ideal touring bicycle, the T-400 models from VSF Fahhradmanufaktur may be your answer. These bicycles have been designed to be extremely compact and robust. The frame geometry ensures high stability and good handling, and the Magura hydraulic rim brakes are there for safe braking in any situation.

VSF Fahhradmanufaktur T-700 XT

The epitome of timeless aesthetics and quality: The T-700 scores with its sporty handling, and offers high stability and ease. A good performance, durable, and fast bicycle.

VSF Fahhradmanufaktur T-Line

VSF Fahhradmanufaktur produces a number of commuter-style trekking bicycles in their line of T-50, T-100 and T-300 bicycles. The T-models from VSF Fahhradmanufaktur give you easy-to-control handling, equipment that meets all the requirements of your specific ride, and of course—elegance and comfort.

Windsor Tourist

An inexpensive, Eco-friendly sport utility vehicle. Custom Chromoly tubing and Touring-Specific geometry. So comfortable, it lets you hit the road without it hitting back.

While the bicycles listed on this page are indeed designed for the various modes of bicycle travel, I chose (simply as a matter of aesthetics) not to include any folding bicycles, recumbents, tricycles or cargo bikes in this list of touring bicycles.

This is only 100 of the more than 150+ different types of touring bicycles you can choose from. Inside The Essential Guide To Touring Bicycles there are even more touring bikes listed for you, along with detailed information about what makes a touring bicycle different from other bicycles you are probably familiar with (such as road and mountain bikes).

The Essential Guide To Touring Bicycles discusses the important features that makes touring bicycles ideal for long, multi-day cycling adventures and how the manufacturers of these bikes tweak their designs ever-so slightly in order to make the bicycle more rugged and able to carry more weight/gear, while at the same time making the bicycle more comfortable on your body (especially on your back, neck, arms and hands).

If you have experience with any of these bicycles, I would love to hear what you have to say. Leave a comment below and let me know what bike you have, how you’ve used it and what you like best/worst about that bicycle.

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.

61 thoughts on “ The 100 Most Popular Touring Bicycles ”

2013 Specialized Tri Cross Sport Disc, decked out for touring. racks, fenders, a triple, brooks saddle, bar riser, trekking bars, front an rear torch. def not a turn-key but more passion goes into it.

Thank you for this list! It would be even more helpful, if you included price categories too, it would be even more helpful!

Price details and other information on each of these bicycles is available inside “ The Essential Guide To Touring Bicycles .”

Hey Darren, my name is Aiman. I’m brasilian spending the summer in Norway now, and realy feeling to make a small touring bike here. Something like a 5 days trip. The thing is that I’ve found one Merida Hybryd inside a container garbage here in Oslo and I’m trying to fix it to travel a bit. Since you like Norway and Sweden, and acctualy at this moment you are traveling in this area, I wanna ask you if you think that a simple Hybrid Merida would be enought to make this 5 days trip…cicling some moments on the asphalt and some moments in the forest (but more in clear paths and tracks). What do you think? Hope you are enjoyng your trip, Scandinavia is realy amazing, for sure! Thanks anyway, Aiman.

Yes, I think a Hybrid bike like that will probably work fine for a short 5-day bike tour. Just as long as it is in good working condition.

I agree. Some ball park prices would be very helpful..new biker age 77 … Jim Leslie

I have an original Bianchi Volpe, circa 1991. Tange superset and suntour xpress/x1 drivetrain. Winters, loaded touring, tooling around. I think that frame will outlive me. Glad to see they still build them, but I wouldn’t trade on the new model..

Where is the beautiful Cinelli Hobo?. Tested in de Tour d’Afrique

Thanks for the good and comprehensive list.

Please try to look at the following as well.

Cinelli touring bikes

The all original Miyata 610, 910 and the Miyata 1000

And the Urbanite from Toronto Urbane Cyclist, who will build it up to your niche

and of course the All City bikes

I had a Miyata 610 for a few years and did many three day trips on on it, and it would have been the same Miyata 610 the same bike I would ride from Vancouver to Montreal in 1986, however Air Canada destroyed my original Miyata. I stripped some of the non-standard stuff like my 40 spoke concave Weinmann back wheel and put it on my replacement Miyata 610. That 59 day ride from Vancouver was a trip of a life time. But definitely would still like to one day complete the stint to the East Coast.

Darren, you have included the Salsa Fargo but have omitted the comparable Surly Troll. As you know, I rode 6200 miles around the US on varying terrain and experienced few mechanical issues. I would recommend this bike to anyone who isn’t a weight weenie.

Dutch high-end Koga-Miyata has been re-named KOGA. No connections with Japan anymore. Dutch-German IDWORX is non-plus-ultra. Wow! Check it out and put it on this list, please. All German STEVENS is a favourite among Germans. Top quality.

Can confirm Ridgeback Voyager credentials – 3,800 miles tour round coast of Britain and LEJOG without a glitch

Great site and article congratulations. However most of the touring bicycles that you choose to shown in the article are “dream machines” with very big price tags which make them largely inaccessible to most of the “ordinary cycle-touring” enthusiast due to their high costs. Especially for touring cyclist from the south hemisphere like me… As a suggestion I would strongly recommend you take look on the “Revolution” line of touring bikes made by Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op’s, which in my opinion are great “entry” level or “not such expensive” options for cyclist that don´t have so much money to spend on a touring bicycle. Despite been a considerable cheaper option they have really good performance for bicycle touring. I have owned one a Revolution Country Traveller for a few years and cycled many many kilometers with it without any problems, including many kilometers in Brazil´s dirty road. So as said I would strongly recommended such bikes as excellent “entry” level or “not such expensive” options for cycle touring. Another thing that I like about those bikes is the fact that Revolution bikes are made by Edinburgh Bike Co-op, an UK’s original workers’ co-operative bicycle retailer, so when you buy one of those bikes you are helping the workers instead of giving money for big commercial bicycle brands that in the majority of the cases don’t really care about sharing their profits in a fair way with the workers they employee. So ultimately you will have a good affordable touring bike with the added value that it was build and commercialized in a much more fair and ethical way. If you want to know more about those bikes here is a link for a good review made by CTC, the teh UK national cycling charity: https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/comms/site_sizing/product-reviews/revolution-country-traveller-cycle/revolution-country-traveller-cycle.htm Warm regards Felipe Spina

Didn’t see the Surly ECR on the list. It is a workhorse for bike packing and off road touring. Don’t let the big 29+ Knard tires fool you though, it does well on sealed roads even though it lives for dirt and gravel.

Photo for the Cube Delhi appears to be a Giant CRX1. Lot of really nice bikes.

Hello all, here is my review of the Surly LONG Haul Trucker. I have the Bike since November 2010 and am very pleased with it. It is a very solid comfortable Platform for carrying loads of Gear. It gives a very comfortable ride over long distances. I got the complete Bike with the Standard Components plus SKS Mudguard . I just did not like that WTB Saddle that came with the Bike to sharp so I got a Brooks Leather Brown B17 Flyer Saddle with Springs which is very comfortable.

It is not a terribly fast Bike but fast enough , but dont expect it to chase after other Cyclists on group Rides. Now for the niggles , It could do with a Chain Guard around the front Chain Ring. I gouged my Ankle twice with the Teeth of the front Chain ring. So when you are getting your Bike , try and get a Chain guard put on the front Chain ring. Surly recommends you do not put a kick stand on your Chain stay. But it is hard to put a double kick stand on the Bottom Bracket. I have now got a Hebie kick stand that I want to put on the Bike.

I just do not like those Cantilever Brakes. They are fine for pottering around the City but not for going down steep hills in the Mountains with a full load . I like the idea of having Disc Brakes that are on the new LHTs more braking power. I have read reports of the repairability of Disc Brakes out in wilderness areas and it seems to be fine. So I am cautiousely optimistic of them and would get a bike with Disc brakes for Touring in the future.

Is there anything else I would like to rant about. It would be good for all Bicycle manufacturers to present there Bikes for sale with the options of having Mudguards and Pedals and Dynamo Lights already in Situ just like the Dutch Bikes. Everybody knows you have to have Pedals Mudguards and Lighting so why dont they have them on a Bike when you buy it and Dynamo Lighting is the best.

I love the Surly LHT between it and the Thorn Sherpa there is not much difference. If and when I choose another Touring Bike I think I will go for the Thorn Sherpa or Koga Miyata in Steel.

Thank you , this is so great!

Darren: Very nice list. Given the increasing number and variety of companies making touring bikes, perhaps the bike shops will eventually start stocking a few. The shop I deal with has a Gunnar touring bike, made by Waterford Bikes in Waterford Wisconsin, so I would ask that you include Waterford/Gunnar bikes on your list.

Louis Melini

HI there . A further Addenda to my above review of the Surly Long Haul Trucker. Some of you asked about price. I am from Dublin in Ireland and I ordered my Bike in October 2010 and was delivered to Shop in November so it took about two to three weeks to get to Ireland.

The price for the complete Bike was at that time € 1,200 Euro Tax included . The VAT rate Value added Tax / Tax sur le Value Adjoutee/ in Ireland was 21% then it has now gone up to 23%. So the price now might be a bit dearer than €1,200 Euro.

The Price for a Dawes Galaxy in Dublin in 2010 was € 1,500 Euro so the Surly LHT was very good value.

The brand name Koga-Miyata is history. It’s Koga since a couple of years. The list doesnot include the superb Idworx. A Dutch-German dream for any bike traveller with a healthy bank account.

What’s the matter with the Waterford?

I am 1.93m tall (6’4″) with 46 size shoes (13.5 in IS I think)

Long chainstay and long wheel base is most important for me (among other things of course). Which bike would you think would be more suitable for me from the European market?

thanks in advance Haris

Neat list…while my old tourer (LHT – stolen) is here, I’m fairly disappointed not to see my current touring bike, which I love, the Soma Saga. I got a great deal on it when my insurance money for the LHT came in…and frankly, I like it better.

Samtos travelmaster. The people at this company have no eye for detail and built the bicycle really really bad! Unbelieveble that people say they built good bikes. The dont care and it is just a mind game from them. The bicycles are not even build symmetric. The alignmentt of yhe bicycle is not good!! Bottom bracket is not good mounted. If you bought this bike… dessemble completly and put it back together. Met 5 s antos travelers and 3 oofthem would not have bought this bicycle again. It is not the dealer that is the problem it is santos and the peoplwith money (4000 DOLLARS)that don t know what they arebuying but taltalk like it . But that is thetargetgroup for santos, blind people with money who have no brains, for bicycles n! Not the real world travelers they only use (abuse) them for there promotion! Feeling bad for al the people who bought this bike for cycling 8000+km because you been marketed and lied to. Big change problems will sttart. Does internet stories don t tell the hole story. Warning!!

Ben, Dutch Santos has among the best touring bikes money can buy. A great many world cyclists from both the Netherlands and other countries are in high praise of their Travelmasters and other high-end models from Santos. Your comments are one-of-a-kind.

I’m Riska from Santos Bikes and I feel very sorry to hear that your Santos experience was not what it used to be. We would like to get in contact, so we can discuss whether we could help you to find a solution. We are always open for feedback and take this very seriously, as we have the ambition to build the best bike as possible for every unique person. You could always contact us directly, as our company is small and approachable. We would appreciate it if you could send us your feedback by email ([email protected]) or call us on +31 (0)252 426 123.

Best regards, Riska Santos Bikes

Nice list! I’ve never tried touring so I don’t really know what to expect but my friend does it often and he has the Cube Pro Tourer.

I love the description for the Cannondale bike, as I live in Kalispell, and yes I have seen these bikes around!

The best-descending bike I have ridden is a Bike Friday (Air) in ’05, though I spend more time on Serotta Ti and Bruce Gordon Rock and Road Tour. Why did the folding bike not make the list,especially as the packability of a bike seems so relevant?

No Rivendell’s??? The Atlantis is easily as capable as 75% of this list and I’d venture to say far prettier. Did I miss an explanation why you wouldn’t include a companies’ bikes that are in my opinion more suited to Touring than a number on your list… Evidence the Surely Cross Check???????

The Rivendell bikes are included inside The Essential Guide To Touring Bicycles: http://www.touringbicyclebook.com

What do you mean the Surly Crosscheck isn’t for touring, i did a 9000km tour on it.

Not one recumbent bike? Really?

That’s because this is a list of TRADITIONAL touring bicycles – not recumbent touring bicycles. You have to see http://www.touringbicyclebook.com for a list of recumbent touring bikes.

As to be expected very it turns out to be a list of generic steel bikes. However glad to see some Titanium bikes in there. Personally I wouldn’t ride anything else on a long tour after riding my Kinesis Tripster ATR to China last year. Innovative geometry, forgiving titanium, with custom carbon fork makes it beautiful to ride everyday, take a look here:

https://welovemountains.net/the-kinesis-tripster-atr-my-latest-thoughts/

You’re missing the Specialized Awol. It’s a nice bike, and certainly suitable for touring.

Great site!

In this article you miss the aarios bicycles, they are handcraftet and more ore less like the toutterrain, very good velos! I cycled with the aarios discovery through hole europe and in to weeks i will start my asia trip for 5months, and until now i had not once a problem or something with this bicycle.

Greets Oliver

After 28 years commuting and touring on a Peugeot 103 Carbolite heath demands have necessitated a model which has had to be step-through. Thorn cycles seemed to be one of the few companies to cater for older riders and had I been able to I would have gone to them. Unfortunately I now need some assistance and have had to go for an aluminium bike after a lifetime on steel. After a great deal of consideration I went with the Kalkhoff Agattu touring model. I have had this for three years now and it has certainly proved itself to be an able work-horse, both in its load-bearing capacity and in reliability. My only criticism would be that even the smallest model is just a few inches too high for my short legs. I had to remove the suspension saddle to get it to a level where I could cycle safely. The braking system is still a novelty after the appaling braking on the Peugeot. It is great to have such strong working brakes. The lights that come with the bike are not a great deal of use and I have added a pair of Catseye front lights which allow me to see and be seen on unlit country roads. I would still be nervous of using this on a long-haul trip, mainly because of the aluminium frame, (I’m still a steely at heart), lack of public availability of charging facilities and some nervousness about availability servicing of internal hub gears if this became necessary on the road. As my long-term plans did not include air transport, the extremely heavy weight was not an issue. It is not a bike to be lifted up and down stairs or on and off long haul buses! However, until I am forced to move to a tricycle, I think this bike will carry me wherever I need to go for the forseeable future and would highly recommend it to older cyclists or those with disabilities or hip/knee injuries. It will keep people on the road, enjoying life when they can no longer manage a conventional model.

I’d like you to consider adding Cinelli Hobo in the list above, Thanks in advance Darren.

Carmine Specchia [email protected]

This list deserves an update. Koga of the Netherlands is no longer Koga-Miyata (quite a few years already!. German-Dutch Idworx should be included – high-end, so it will cost ‘a few dollars more’. Hamburg-based Stevens is another good manufacturer of quality trekking bikes. My Stevens Sovereign XT Lite not only has a stiff frame, the components are top: Tubus, Pletscher, Ergon, Shimano XT, the best. Stevens bikes are much better than the VSF Fahrradmanufaktur ones, praised by the author of this list, Darren. Frames score good on stability? Forget it! Just go downhill fully packed and you will feel the difference with better bikes. My advice: spend more and you get so much more.

By the way, where do people from all over the world (yes indeed) buy a new quality trekking bike? Just visit http://www.vakantiefietser.nl . In Amsterdam, so another good reason to come to the Dutch capital. The best bikes, the best advice. No, I am in no way connected to them. Ask owner Eric about VSF!

Another good one to check out in the Four Corner’s Collection from Marin. Two build options.

I have the 2017 Marin Four Corners Touring bicycle. Very happy with frame geometry, stock 700x40c tires and disk brakes. For some reason this bike does not get much coverage, maybe cause other brands are just more of a house old name.

When I read your article I couldn’t help wonder where all the recumbents were. You have some nice bikes here but if you really wanted to sample everything there should have been at least 5 or 6 bents in the list. My bike for example. Slipstream by Longbikes. Long wheel base bicycle built like a tank. Capable of 100+ miles a day, day after day. Over sized tube. Good strong racks. Let’s you look at the scenery in stead of the road below you and never a soar muscle at the end of the day. I don’t think any of the bikes listed here can top that. I think you should rewrite the article. Be a little more open minded and get to the truth. I know bents are for every one but if a few people had voted in a different direction a few years ago these you listed here probably wouldn’t exist today. Why? Impractical, painful and unsafe.

A bike that is not on the list ,but that I do strongly recommend to have a look at is the “MTB Cycletech Papalagi”. It’s designt for touring around the world. ( https://www.mtbcycletech.com/core/shop/front/prodlist.php?parmx=cGclM0Q4JTI2bGFuJTNERw%3D%3D&parmz=f5424d8d8b8dc0feaeab6da8a59b63ed ). Another brand, which I could recommend is “Aarios”. They also make the offical Swiss Military bike. ( https://www.aarios.ch/produkte/reiseraeder.html

I have a 2016 Velo Orange Campeur, a medium trail touring bike in the old French style. Its not mentioned in your list, but is absolutely brilliant. Road, gravel, gentle off road; a fantastic machine. I’m running 700C x 38mm Compass tires, full fenders, 3 bottle cages, triple crankset (24/34/48) with an 11-34 cassette – just a lovely bike. I’m 70 so I need the wide range gearing. The only negative: after running discs on my 2006 Giant mtn bike turned commuter/tourer/errand bike, I find the cantis on the Campeur are woefully inadequate in the rain and require too much pressure on the levers when compared to one finger disc baking.

Ive been riding a Fuji Tourer for five years, its a really nice bike, but worn out a bit now. My next bike (in a few weeks I hope) will be a Vivente Swabia. This bike come fully kitted out with Rohloff 500/14 hub and Gates Carbon Drive. I’m very excited about it. The man behind these incredible bikes lives here in Tasmania, added bonus.

Don’t forget to include the new Santos Travelmaster 3+ !

REI bikes are now Co-op Cycles, they dropped the Novara name.

Thank you for site

Looking at a “National ” touring bike from Mountain equipment Co op.has pretty good components. Any opinions on this bike ?

What happened to the Waterford?

KOGA !!!! Not Koga-Miyata, that’s history.

Thanks for the article, Darren, but you made no mention of Specialized Awol or Awol Comp for bike touring? In your opinion, would you recommend this particular bike for touring? Thanks!

Fantastic bikes! I bought a custom Franklin Frame Mountain Expedition Touring bike in 1990. It has carried me over 100,000 miles without a problem. Phil Wood hubs and bottom bracket. It rides and rides across continents and 14 times across the USA. Frosty Wooldridge, 6 continent world bicycle traveler

so now a days people buy 4000 dollars bicyles to cycle 40000km .

I bought in 1990 a Giant Expedition model prune color with Shimano Deore LX set, i dreamed to travel, but i used for few trip to my town so basically i think did not ride 1000 Km perhaps few hundreds only. Stored in the garage it looks good and plan to keep anyhow. Wonder how would compete today after so many years with present production.

However the look is still very nice to me.

As a former NYC bike messenger in the glory days before a fax, beeper, internet, email and cell. When people modified beach cruisers into the first mountain bikes. When people knew how to ride a fix before it was a trend and now people pop they’re knees out and get joint pain and arthritis at twenty five. We looked for junked bike frames in the street found a decent 1″ inch steel Reynolds tube frame or later 1-1/8″ inch aluminum frame or purchase the ultimate prize that last forever and is bomb proof, titanium. Then started to collected the components and put them in a cardboard box. After you find your frame hang it on the wall like a painting then carefully research all your components separately. Don’t buy wheel sets purchase rims, spokes and hubs seperately and according to desired color. I’m old school with silver/naked aluminum parts only. Research the bearings, spindles, axle and metal cups materials, the various types of greases. Research your drive train, headset, bottom bracket, stem, handle bars, brakes, levers, cables, housing, caps, spindles and dimensions on pedals, crank arms, chainring count (steel). Front and rear derailleurs, chain (KMC). And shifters I prefer old thumb friction shifters but there is SIS, index. I personally do not like hydraulics, SIS, index, shocks unless I’m doing some kind of insane mountain racing. Regarding wheel size I’m an old fart, only 700C A.K.A: 29’s (road) and 26″ (mountain/cargo). They’ve called me an elitists bike snob (a$$hole) as I roll into the bike shop looking homeless and only purchasing Joe Smiley fuzzy dice for my wheels (big spender). The only big problems you should have on long tours are broken spokes and a few flats. The less moving parts the less you have to fix the more you enjoy the trip. If you built it you know how to fix it. If someone else built it become a commuter and don’t tour. When your in the middle of nowhere believe me you’ll learn your lesson in an ugly way. Have fun and don’t get hit by a crazied driver or attacked by wild animals or a Norman Bates country side serial killer or a steep fall.

I can’t believe you did not include the Bob Jackson Super Tourist. A fabulous bike with all Reynolds 531 double butted tubes, hand crafted and gorgeously painted. I’ve been a cycling tourist since 1973 and I sprung for a Bob Jackson Super Tourist in 1985. My 1985 Super Tourist has over 70,000 miles on it and it still performs like a dream machine. Sadly, after 85 years making great bikes Bob Jackson(RJR Cycles) is closing their doors in December, 2020. I’ve cycled all over Europe and North America from the deserts in the US southwest, through Alaska and Canada to the alps in Switzerland and Austria and throughout all of the UK. Never had a problem with this great bike. Always travel fully independent, self contained with panniers usually around 36-40 pounds. Gone through a couple of Brooks leather saddles, a few chainrings, 3 paint jobs and several freewheels over the years, but the frame and other components have held up beautifully. This is truly a classic touring machine.

Bianchi Volpe was recommended by my trusted bike expert. He beefed up the rear wheel and it’s been my ride from 2010 to 2020. Made it to the top of Monitor Pass (elev 8314), around Lake Tahoe, and all over Southern California. Solid, bomb-proof.

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S&S Couplings ™

  Greg LeMond comments regarding his S and S Coupled LeMond road bike.  

How will the bicycle ride?

• A bicycle manufactured with this system is ultra strong yet lightweight (two BTCs™ add only 8 oz. total to a typical road bike) and it feels exactly the same as a bicycle built without BTCs™. There is no added frame flex and the BTC™  is absolutely silent!
• Don't just take our word for it. Read the comments and reviews to find out what others have to say.

Testimonials  from:

• Owners , with up to 90,000 miles  
• Owners , page two including a comment from  Greg LeMond  
• Owners , page three from the Tandem@Hobbes tandem group
• Owners , page four
• Editors , including a down hill mountain bike racer 
• Framebuilders , including some of the finest in the world 

Magazine Reviews 

• Adventure Cyclist Make your dream bike totally portable! by John Schubert
• Adventure Cyclist Cream Cheese and Concrete by Paul Lamara
• Bicycle Guide S and S Machine's Travel Bikes. by Mark Riedy
• Bicycling Magazine Co-Motion's Espresso Co-Pilot By Bill Strickland
• Bicycling Magazine Race-worthy steel road bike that fits in a suitcase by Garret Lai
• Cruising World Magazine Bike In A Box. by Steve Callahan
• Cycle California!™ Folders? Yes! by Maynard Hershon
• Cycle 'Pack Up Your Cycle In Your Old Kit Bag’ by Charles Maurer
• Cycle Sports Co-Motion Test Ride Japanese with English translation 
• Cycling Science Co-Motion's Co-Pilot . by Chris Rutkowski
• Cycling Weekly UK , article 1 of 3 Bicylcle Torque Couplings First Look
• Cycling Weekly UK , article 2 of 3 Bicyle Torque Couplings First Ride By Steve Calland
• Cycling Weekly UK , article 3 of 3 Bike test Bob Jackson 953 BTC custom By Steve Calland
• DirtRag Co-Motion Co-Pilot Off Road. by Karl Rosengarth
• Florida Sports Magazine A Bike For the Road. by John Robson
• Pilot For Pilots Who Pedal: A New Crop Of Folding Bikes. by Stephan Wilkinson
• Plane & Pilot The Ultimate Travel Bicycle. by Steven Higginson
• Recumbent and Tandem Rider Magazine Review #52 Zona Davis Double by Rudy and Kay Van Renterghem
• Recumbent and Tandem Rider Magazine , Review #139 Barcroft Columbia Recumbent Tandem by John Axen
• RoadBikeRider.com Co-Motion Co-Pilot Speedster Tandem reviewed By Fred Matheny
• Tandem Magazine Burley Rumba S+S by David Morgan
• Tandem Magazine Co-Motion Co-Pilot by David Morgan
• Tandem Magazine Our Rig by Carlyle & Donna Isner
• Tandem Magazine S and S Bicycle Torque Couplings, Is the Search Finally Over? by David Morgan
• Tandem Magazine The Rodriguez Eight-Ball Convertible Tandem by David Morgan
• VeloNews It's Summertime, Summertime...or searching for the perfect travel bike. by Maynard Hershon

Internet Reviews

• Adventure Cycling S & S Couplings
• BIKEmagic S&S Fixings - make your bike a folding bike By Brant (internet) 
• Calfee Tetra Tetra tandem by Dick Powell of The Bicycle Outfitter of Los Altos 
• BikeRadar.com , Pro bike: Andy Hampsten's Cycles Strada Bianca Ti  by James Huang, technical editor
•   Charlie The Bikemonger video of a SURLY Travellers Check frame
• Converting a Mountain Bike to a Touring Bike by Brian DeSouza (internet)
• Concord Giro road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Cyclingnews.com   Andy Hampsten's Hampsten Cycles Strada Bianca Ti Travelissimo by James Huang
• Elevation Outdoors Magazine, Sick of Traffic? Hit the Dirt…on Your Road Bike (Hampsten Cycles “Strada Bianca”) By Rob Coppolillo
• Sacramento Bee With bikes, know when to fold 'em By Ed Hensley
• Sevencycles Sola Ti A Long Term Evaluation by Casper
• VéloSport Vacations Have Bike, Will Travel by, Chris Gutowsky 
• ZINN Cycles Video MUST SEE THIS VIDEO   

How strong are they?

• Destructive tests show that a coupling is stronger than a Reynolds 531 tube.
• Nondestructive tests show that a BTC™ is stiffer than a Reynolds 531 tube.
• Test 1, bicycle hit by a Harley Davidson  
• Test 2, bicycle hit by an ice cream truck
• Test 3, Colnago tangles with a Saturn
• The key to the coupling's strength is the tapered tooth design which eliminates all movement where the teeth meet. When the nut is tightened with a spanner wrench , the teeth wedge together and lock to produce a rigid, zero clearance joint that remains tight. All components are precision CNC machined for a perfect fit.

Framebuilder list  

• Over 100 framebuilders including some of the worlds best from Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States
• The list links to a builder profile for each framebuilder which includes a link to their home page.
• View Builder Logos  instead of a list. Slow to download (about 250K). For speed, use the framebuilder list .

Photo gallery        Scroll down or use these links 

• Argonaut Cycles custom road bike
• Baum Cycles Tobacco Brown Espresso Commuter Bicycle
• Bilenky Eco-Travel Sport (travel bike package complete with case) 
• Bilenky custom road bike 
• Bilenky custom Softride
• Bilenk y with fancy Nevex lugs by Richard Sachs 
• Bilenky Travel Ultralite 
• Bilenky Deluxe Travel Ultralite 
• Bilenky Signature Travel Tourlite with Stainless Steel Lugs 
• Bilenky Signature Travel Ultralite 
• Bob Brown road frame 
• Bob Brown road bike with stainless lugs 
• Bohemian custom road bike with fancy custom lugs. 
• Courtney Custom Cycles "Tequila Sunrise" road bike. 
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot road bike. 
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot road single with pearl white paint. 
• Co-Motion Espresso Co-Pilot 
• Co-Motion Express road bike.
• Co-Motion custom single 
• Co-Motion Nor’Wester Co-Pilot
• Coast Cycles Road Bike with S and S Couplings 
• Curtlo custom road bike
• Cycles LaMoure Mitch LaMoure and his personal road bike
• Cycles LaMoure custom track bike.
• da Vinci titanium road bikes 
• Davidson Handbuilt Custom S and S Coupled titanium road bike with Shimano's DURA-ACE with Di2 technology
• Davidson Handbuilt Road Bike
• Davidson Handbuilt Bicycles titanium road bike
• Davidson Titanium Road Bike
• Dean Titanium Bicycles Road Bike
• Dean USA titanium road bike 
• DeSalvo road bike
• Erickson custom " Calvin and Hobbes" road bike. Glenn Erickson's personal bike.
• Erickson custom road bike. Ridden to a first place finish by Nancy Bruce in the '96 Masters Nationals road race championship.
• Erickson Signature with carved S and S BTCs  
• H. H. Racing Group road bike. 
• Hampsten Cycles Ti Strada Bianca Travelissimo with S and S Couplings
• Hampsten Cycles Travelissimo 
• Mercian road frame
• Merlin custom titanium road bike
• Merlin road bike
• Merlin titanium road frame
• MSH1 Bicycle Works frame and fork
• Naked Bicycles and Design 2 steel road bikes 
• Naked Bikes custom singe
• Naked Bicycles and Design Road Bike
• Ravello Bicycles road frame 
• Ravello Low-Profile Road Bike 
• Rex road bike This is the first single bike ever built with S and S Couplings!
• Rex road bike.
• Rex road bike 
• Rex custom road bike.
• Rex Cycles custom road bike
• Richard Sachs road racing bike with Campy Record
• Richard Sachs road bike 
• Roberts "Backpack" ULT Compact Racer weighing 12+ pounds
• Rodriguez "red and yellow" road bike. 
• Rodriguez Six Pack ultra compact, 20" wheel, road bike.
• Serotta road bike
• Serotta Road bike
• Simoncini road bike 
• Strong Frames road frame with Columbus EL OS tubing 
• Sweetpea Bicycles road bike
• TiCycles custom steel road bike 
• TiCYCLES titanium road bike
• TiCYCLES Hyak titanium road bike
• TiCYCLES stainless road bike
• True North Cycles Road Bike
• True North Cycles Road Bikes, a pair
• Walker road bike
• Waterford model 1200 road frame 
• Waterford road bike. Maynard Hershon's personal travel bike.
• Waterford road bike
• Zinn Cycles large road bike 
• Zinn Cycles large titanium road bike plus packing sequence. 
• Battaglin road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Bianchi road bike retrofit by Jon Tallerico (includes packing and more)
• Bianchi road bike retrofit by Steve Rex
• Bob Jackson road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Cinelli retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Colnago retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Colnago retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works with custom carved lugs 
• DeBernardi Road Frame Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works  
• Eddy Merckx Titanium Road Bike Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works   
• Eddy Merckx Titanium Road Bike Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Fuji road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works  
• Giordana 2001 Titanium AL retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• GT Edge Titanium Road Bike Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Hujsak Road Bike Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Jamis, Rambouillet and Centurion Frames retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• LeMond road bikes retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• LeMond road bike with ovalized titanium tubes retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Litespeed Firenza road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works ( ovalized down tube )  
• Litespeed road bikes (two) retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Litespeed titanium road frame retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Litespeed Vortex Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Litespeed Veneto titanium road frame retrofit by Ti Cycles
• Marinoni retrofit Marinoni, chrome plated. Retrofit by J. P. Weigle
• Marinoni titanium road frame retrofit by True North Cycles
• Masi road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Merlin road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Merlin road bike retrofit by Ti Cycles
• Moots Hampsten road bike retrofit by Ti Cycles
• Panasonic road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Performance titanium retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Pinarello road frame retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Raleigh  road frame retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Raleigh road bike retrofit by Courtney Custom Cycles see it packed step by step
• Richard Sachs Road Bike Retrofit with S and S Couplings by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Rivendell Rambouillet retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Rivendell Romulus retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Sampson ti road frame by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Simoncini road bike retrofit by Simoncini
• Somec road frame retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Serotta Colorado retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Serotta CSI Lugged frame retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Serotta Hors Categorie retrofit by TiCycles
• Serotta steel road frame with tapered tubes retrofit by Ti Cycles
• Serotta ti road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle  Works
• Seven Axiom Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Seven Odonata Road Bike Retrofit by TiCycles
• Steelman road bike retrofit my Bilenky Cycle Works
• Trek Single Track retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Trek 720 retrofit by Powers Design Quality
• Univega   road bike retrofit by Ted Wojcik.
• Waterford road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works.
• A train touring bike
• Anvil touring bikes
• Arvon world class touring bike
• Arvon Cycles "Expedition Grade" Touring Bike with S and S Couplings
• Baum Cycles Cappuccino MTB touring bike
• Bilenky Clubsman sport touring
• Bilenky Deluxe Travel Tourlite 
• Bilenky Deluxe Travel Midlands Expedition with 700 x 47 tires 
• Bilenky Eco Travel Tour special 
• Bilenky Eco/Travel Tourlite 
• Bilenky Eco Travel Tourlite 
• Bilenky Eco Traveltour - Midlands Special 
• Bilenky Midlands touring
• Bilenky Midlands touring bike with 26" wheels 
• Bilenky Signature Travel Midlands 
• Bilenky Signature Travel Tourlite
• Bilenky Sport Tourer, won best of show at Cirque du CyclismeBilenky Cycle Works
• Bilenky Travel Ti Tourlite built with S and S Couplings
• Bilenky Travel Upright TourLite 
• Castelon custom titanium touring bike with  60,000 miles . 
• Co-Motion Americano Co-Pilot touring bike 
• Co-Motion Nor’Wester Touring Bike 
• Cycles LaMoure touring bike
• Davidson sport touring bike 
• Dean Titanium Bicycles custom touring bike
• Erickson custom touring bike "Thunderclouds and Lightning"
• Kent Eriksen Cycles touring bike with S and S Couplings
• Kinetics Custom touring bike. 
• Moots Mootour/S&S Coupler titanium touring bike 
• Naked Bikes custom carved lugs
• Naked Bicycles and Design Expedition Touring Bike Naked Globetrotter touring bike
• Powers Design Quality custom touring bike
• Powers Design Quality   retrofit of a Jamis Aurora touring bike
• Retrotec Twin Top Tube Touring Bike 
• Rex Cycles custom touring bike with 26" wheels and bar end shifters, 
• Rivendell custom touring 
• Roberts custom Compact Audax 
• Rodriguez   Navigator Travel bicycle
• Rodriguez  Rohloff Equipped S&S travel bike
• Rodriguez touring bike, "Matt's Flame" 
• Rodriguez W2 Ultimate Travel Bike 
• Seven Cycles steel touring bike 
• Spectrum titanium light touring bike. 
• Surly Trucker Deluxe built with our internally lugged BTC2 Couplings
• Sweetpea Bicycles touring bike
• Sycip a beautiful touring bike with a Rohloff Speedhub and lots more. 
• Talisman Traveler touring bike
• Thorn Expedition bicycle on a 48,000 mile / 4 year journey across 6 continents
• Thorn Raven eXp sport touring bike 
• Ti CYCLES custom titanium touring bike
• Triton Bikes custom titanium touring bike
• True North Cycles touring bike with racks
• True North Cycles Titanium touring bikes with S and S Couplings (a pair) 
• True North Cycles Touring Bike
• Bridgestone , 1993 XO-1 retrofit by Courtney Custom Cycles
• Bruce Gordon Rock N' Road Touring Bike Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Dawes touring bike retrofit by Bob Jackson Cycles  
• Heron retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Lygie road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Nishiki Touring Bike Retrofit with S and S Couplings by CycleArt
• Rivendell Atlantis touring bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Rivendell Atlantis touring bike, 68cm frame retrofit by Rex Cycles
• Trek 520 touring bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Guru triathlon bike
• Quintana Roo Picante titanium triathlon road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle  Works
• Quintana Roo Santo titanium tri bike 
• Bilenky Mudpuppy custom hybrid
• Bilenky Deluxe Travel Nor'easter cyclocross with carbon seat stays 
• Bilenky Eco Travel Nor'easter cyclocross 
• Bilenky stainless steel cyclocross / touring bike 
• Cherry hybrid bike
• Curtlo Cross frame
• Cycle Therapy off road touring bike. It has a cut in half lizard headbadge.
• Gaansari St. Clair touring/adventure/expedition bike inspired by the '93 Bridgestone XO-1 
• Gunnar Cyclocross Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Independent Fabrication cyclocross retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Independent Fabrication Custom Ti Planet Cross
• Landshark stainless steel hybrid bike
• Lynskey ProCross Cyclocross bikes
• Lynskey ProCross Frame with S and S "visible weld" Titanium Couplings
• MSH1 Bicycle Works 'C-Sport' city sports tourer
• Ramblumtick Bikes Couplumtic cyclocross bike 
• Ravello Cyclocross Frame 
• Rivendell All-Rounder
• Salsa Cross frame retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works  
• Seven Cycles titanium cyclocross bike
• Soma cross frame retrofit by Ti Cycles
• Soma cyclocross (a pair) retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Surly CrossCheck Cyclocross Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Surly Travelers Check frame
• Sycip   "Cross-Dresser" cyclocross   
• Sweetpea Bicycles cross bike
• Thorn xTc all-round touring cycle  
• True North Cycles Cross Bicycle
• True North Cycles Cyclocross
• True North Cycles Cross Bike with disassembly and packing instructions

Specialty cycles

•   Anderson Four Seasons 953 multi-use bike
• Bicycle Specialties Orion 4.2 off road 
• Bilenky Mini EcoTraveler 
• Bilenky Mixte Travel Metroluxe
• Bilenky Travel Tourlite - ultra light weight sport tour bike for randenouring 
• Bilenky ViewPoint custom racing tandem (only one set of pedals)
• Cinelli Supercorsa road frame fixed gear (retrofit by ?)
• Davidson Modal, toggles between single, fixed, and geared modes 
• Independent Fabrication step-through frame
• LEVEL competition tricycle 
• Merlin Taiga check out the fly fishing rod stored inside the frame
• Ramblumtick Couplumtick mountain/touring bikes 
• Retrotec Half, lugged cruiser
• Rodriguez Six Pack six coupler frame that can fit in a backpack 
• Surly Long Haul Trucker
• Sycip Bicycle messenger bike and more with 90,000 miles .  

Single Speed / Fixed Gear Photos

• Bilenky Daily Planet single speed travel bike 
• Bilenky Signature Travel single speed with custom carved lugs 
• Calfee Luna Track Bike
• Calfee Fixed Gear Bicycle
• Cinelli fixed gear retrofit by Franklin Cycles 
• Gallus Cycles fixed gear cross bike
• Geekhouse belt drive bike with a seat stay coupling which allows the belt to  be installed.
• Paramount fixed gear retrofit by Waterford Precision Cycles. 
• Bilenky   TwoNine (29" wheel) mountain bike 
• Bilenky TwoNine (29" wheel) mountain bike 
• Bilenky Hedgehog stainless steel mountain bike
• Bilenky Eco Travel Mountain bike 
• Cherry Cherry Bomb MTB 
• Cherry custom Dear John mountain bike. 
• Clean Speed frame, uses small wheels 
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot OR (off road) bike
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot mountain bike
• CURTLO CYCLCES custom mountain bike with Rohloff Speedhub 
• CURTLO CYCLES custom mountain bike frame setup for Rohloff Speedhub
• Dean USA Baja titanium full suspension mountain bike. 
• Independent Fabrication frame 
• Independent Fabrication single speed off road 
• Inglis Cycles and Retrotec mountain bikes also shown packed 
• Merlin custom titanium off road bike
• Moots custom Gristle 69'er YBB
• Phil Wood   mountain bike 
• Rex Cycles mountain bike with Softride beam  
• Ramblumtick Bikes 29" wheel mountain bike 
• Retrotec 29r single speed half 
• RMA custom stainless steel mountain bike frame
• Rodriguez Willie Weir's custom mountain-touring bike ridden on his Balkan Mountains adventure.
• Seven Cycles Sola mountain bike. 
• Seven Cycles titanium Sola mountain bike. 
• Seven Cycles Sola Ti, long term evaluation
• Strong Frames Custom Mountain Bike
• Sycip Rallye One, Winner of the Shimano "Adventure Racer" Showcase:  
• Basso titanium mountain bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Bridgestone X0-1 retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Bridgestone XO-1 retrofit by Powers Design Quality
• KHS mountain bike retrofit done by Bilenky. Shows the steps of retrofitting.
• Litespeed Unicoi titanium mountain bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Moots Mountain Bike Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Specialized Mountain Bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Specialized Rock Hopper retrofit by RMA
• Salsa Alacarte  retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Soma Groove mountain bike retrofit by TiCycles  
• ariZonaTandems   carbon fiber tandem in 3 sections  
• ariZonaTandems Davis Double carbon fiber tandemm
• ariZonaTandems Davis Doublee Lite Flite 
• Arvon tandem bicycle frame in 3 sections..
• Bilenky Cosmo-Comfort Travel Tandem with an internal 14 speed hub  
• Bilenky "Moonbeam"" Softridebeam tandem  
• Bilenky Signature Tinker road tandem in 3 sections and it fits in one airline legal hard case..
• Bilenky Signature Travel Tandem shown with aa Bilenkytrailer for towing a hard case  
• Bilenky Deluxe Tinker Tandem with 26" wheels shown being built, step by step..
• Bilenky Deluxe Tinker tandem with 26" wheels  
• BilenkyDeluxe Tinker Tandem with aa BilenkyTurtle Tow Trailerr for towing a hard case. 
• Bilenky Lugged Tandem with S and S Couplings. Best Tandem Bike at the NAHBS for 2009
• Bilenky tandem in 3 sections (not a loose tube configuration)  
• Bilenky tandem bicycle with touring gear on the bike.   
• Bilenky Tinkerr AerMet® and stainless steel hybrid tandem in 3 sections..
• Bilenky Tinker mountain tandem in 3 sections.. This is the very first tandem ever built with S and S Couplings!!!
• Bilenky Travel Tandem 650b Fillet Brazed with S and S Couplings.Runner Up - Best in Show Cirque du Cyclisme 2009
• Bilenky Viewpoint semi-recumbent tandem packed in one backpack case     
• BobBob Brown tandems split into 2 sections  
• Bob Brown tandem with hand built lugs andd daVinciIndependent Drivee
• Bob Brown tandem bicycle in 3 sectionss
• Burley Rumba S&S tandem bicycle in 3 sections.  
• Burley Duet S&S tandem bicycle in 3 sections.  
• Bushnell road tandem withh Rohloffhub  
• Calfee carbon fiber tandem in 3 sectionn
• Co-Motion Mocha Co-Pilot Tandem with S and S Couplings Round the World Tour
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot Periscope tandem  
• Co-Motion Customm Softridetandem bicycle in 3 sections..
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot tandem bicycle in 3 sections and a packed backpack case.  
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot tandem in bicycle 3 sections..
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot tandem bicycle in 3 sections..
• Co-Motion Cappuccino Co-Pilot tandem bicycle  
• Co-Motion Cappuccino tandem bicycle in 3 sections..
• Co-Motion Mocha Co-Pilot tandem bicycle
• Co-Motion Mocha Co-Pilot tandem shown taken apart on a train in France  
• Co-Motion PrimeraCo-Pilot tandem bicycle in 3 sections  
• Co-Motion Sky Capp tandem bicycle. (aa Softridebeam on a production model)  
• Co-Motion Speedster Co-Pilot tandem bicycle
• Co-Motion SupremoCo-Pilot tandem bicycle
• Concept Technology Softride,trapezoidal design tandem in 3 sections..
• daVinci customm Softridebeam tandem bicycle  
• daVinci custom for blind stoker. Captain's position adjusts without impacting stoker's position.  
• daVinci Global Venture Road in 3 sections.  
• Davidson tandem bicycle in 3 sections  
• Erickson Signature "Rose" tandem bicycle with duall Softrideand carved BTCs  
• Erickson custom tandem bicycle in 3 sections. Glenn Erickson's personal tandem..
• Erickson custom tandem bicycle in 3 sections with Glenn in the photo  
• Erickson tandem bicycle in 3 sections.  
• Erickson Signature tandem frame with carved BTCs  
• Kent Eriksen Cycles tandem frame in 3 sections
• Kent Eriksen Cycles tandem in 2 sections
• Pedalpower tandem in 2 sections shown packed in one oversize hard case 
• Lynskey Performance titanium tandem     
• Meridian Softride tandem bicycle in 3 sections  
• Rex tandem with a two-tone paint job 
• Rock Lobster tandem frame and fork 
• Seven Cycles Axiom 007 titanium road tandem bicycle in 3 sectionss
• Seven Cycles custom titanium tandem in 3 sections  
• St John Street Cycles Customized Thorn Discovery Tandem in 3 sections..
• Spectrum custom tandem bicycle in 3 sections..
• Spectrum Cycles Road / Cross tandem in 3 sectionss
• Thorn Adventure tandem bicycle in 2 sections  
• Thorn Discovery tandem bicycle in 2 sections  
• True North Cycles Tandem in 3 sections
• Ventana El Conquistador mountain tandem in 3 sections
• Zinn titanium tandem with nine couplings, instead of the normal six, due to its large size
• Burley Duet , Early 90's retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Burley Duet 3 coupling retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works to fit into a private plane 
• Burley retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works . 
• Co-Motion Speedster before, during and after retrofitting by Bilenky Cycle Works  
• Ibis tandem bicycle retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works .  Before, during and after retrofitting.
• Ibis tandem bicycle retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Ibis tandem retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works  
• Longbikes retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Meridian tandem retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Ritchey Tandem Retrofit by Bilenky Cylcle Works
• Santana Arriva 3 coupling (only 2 sections instead of 3) retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Santana Cilantro tandem bicycle retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Santana Cilantro tandem bicycle retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works. (before during and after)  
• Santana Cilantro and Co-Motion tandems retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works meet in France 
• Swallow tandem bicycle retrofit by Swallow Tandems 
• Richmond Cycles tandem bicycle retrofit  by Kinetics 
• Alex Mead Bikeworks quad in 2 sections
• Calfee carbon fiber triplet in 4 sections
• Bilenky quad bicycle in 2 sections.
• Bilenky Signature S&S triplet bicycle in 3 sections.
• Bilenky Triple that separates into 2 sections 
• Co-Motion triplet bicycle frame in 2 sections (custom paint) 
• Pedal Power triplet in 3 sections 
• ariZona Due X Tre carbon fiber convertible tandem or triplet 
• Calfee Design Tetra carbon fiber convertible tandem or triplet bicycle 
• Bilenky T3 convertible tandem/triplet converts from tandem to triplet bicycle
• Bilenky tandem, triplet, quad convertible bicycle 
• Bilenky Triplicator converts a S and S equipped tandem to a triplet bicycle.
• Black Sheep Bikes "Single-Tandem" custom mountain bike 
• Co-Motion Periscope Trident convertible 
• Co-Motion tandem triplet convertible 
• Co-Motion tandem - quad convertible 
• Co-Motion tandem, triplet, quad quint convertible bicycle "The Pedouins" 
• Cycles LaMoure Solo Tandem, Singe/tandem convertible 
• GREENSPEED GTVS6 tandem/solo trike.
• Longbikes quad - hex convertible 16 1/5 feet long in the 6 seat configuration .
• M . Steel Cycles Tandem Bicycle (2 wheels) to Tandem Trike (3 wheels) Convertible. 
• Meridian Attaché convertible tandem/triplet bicycle 
• Meridian S&S quad-convertible. Converts from a quad to a triple or a tandem bicycle.
• Meridian tandem, triplet, quad, quint convertible bicycle. 
• Precison Tandems triplet, quad, quint convertible bicycle with S and S Couplings (Aluminum quint with bonded couplings)
• Rodriguez Eight-Ball tandem ( 26" wheel) converts from tandem to single bicycle.
• Rodriguez Eight-Ball tandem ( 24" wheel) converts from tandem to single bicycle.
•  Rodriguez Trillium quad, triplet, tandem convertible bicycle
• Swallow "tandem to triplet conversion" and retrofit.
• Ventana full suspension mountain tandem-triplet-quad-quint convertible.
• Easyracers Ti Rush titanium recumbent retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works  
• GREENSPEED GTS 20/20 coupled sports touring tricycle 
• GREENSPEED GTO touring trike 
• Lightning P-38 recumbent retrofit in 2 sections.
• Lightning P-38 Voyager in one hard case. 
• LoGo VFT Tadpole Pocket Trike 
• Rans Force 5 recumbent retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works (includes packing photos)  
• Rans Rocket   retrofit w/S&S Couplers buy Calhoun Cycle. 
• Rans V-Rex retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Ryan Vanguard recumbent in 2 sections.
• Tour Easy recumbent retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Barcroft Columbia tandem recumbent in 4 sections 
• Bilenky tandem trike 
• Bilenky Viewpoint semi-recumbent tandem.
• Bilenky Viewpoint semi-recumbent tandem packed into a Trico single bike case 
• Bilenky Viewpoint Signature tandem 
• Bilenky LX Sport Travel Viewpoint semi-recumbent tandem in 3 sections, shown packed in one 14" hard case. 
• Bilenky Waltz semi-recumbent triplet. (1 recumbent, 2 conventional, 3 rear facing recumbent) 
• Easyracers custom tandem
• GREENSPEED GTT 20/20 tandem touring trike in three sections
• GREENSPEED GTVS6 convertible tandem/solo trike. 
• LoGo tandem recumbent trike  
• Longbikes Duplex recumbent in 4 sections and fits in 2 hard cases. 
• Longbikes Eliminator recumbent tandem in 2 sections 
• Recumboni - Cambrie Cycles tandem in 2 sections. 
• Rans Screamer tandem in 2 sections.
• Rans Screamer tandem frame in 4 sections. Retrofit by Bilenky . 
• Ryan Duplex recumbent tandem in 2 sections.
• WizWheelz tandem recumbent in 2 sections 

Why buy a bike with BTCs™?

Can I buy a complete bike manufactured with BTCs™?

• Yes. Almost all the listed framebuilders offer complete bikes in either standard or custom configurations.
• Some framebuilders stock complete travel bike systems including the case and accessories .

What type bikes are available?

Road, mountain, hybrid, touring, cyclocross, tandem , track and recumbent ( triangulated frames only, not monotube ) bicycles and tricycles are all available. BTCs™ are as much at home in a USCF Nationals road race as they are down hill mountain bike racing or touring around the world.

• Standard model This is the fastest and most economical way to purchase a new frame or complete bicycle. The design, available sizes and features are usually standardized. Some framebuilders keep these models in stock for faster delivery.
• Custom design This category offers a wide range of design flexibility. It includes anything from minor changes in a standard model to a specialized design that fits you perfectly. It's now possible to get a travel bike in almost any style you want and with almost any feature you can imagine.
• Retrofit an existing bike Many of the builders that manufacture new bikes offer retrofitting services. If you aren't in the market for a new bike it may be possible to install BTCs™ in your steel or titanium frame. Contact a framebuilder that does retrofits to see if it makes sense for you. Most framebuilders will do retrofits but some my try to discourage it with high prices. Shopping for a builder that specializes in retrofitting can make a huge difference in the price !
• Not for use on monotube frames . Triangulated frames, such as conventional single and tandem bicycles and recumbent single and tandem bicycles,  are ideally suited for S and S Couplings. Monotube frames are not compatible with S and S Couplings. That restriction is based on our concern for safety. A monotube frame coupling sees primarily bending compared to a triangulated frame coupling that sees primarily tension and compression. Since our product wasn't designed or tested for that type of loading, we don't sell it for that purpose. We do allow it's use on monotube frames that have a structural seat frame that connects the two frame halves in addition to the couplings . With that said, we have had companies test our couplings on a limited basis on monotube frames and they have held up fine. It is possible, that with additional  testing, we may someday approve of their use on some specific monotube frames. It is unlikely that we will ever approve the use of couplings for retrofitting monotube frames.
• BTCs ™ can be installed on new frames or retrofit into existing steel, titanium or carbon fiber frames. (aluminum frames can't be retrofit) .
• For framebuilders , it's simpler to build a new frame because they install the coupling in a tube in advance, then they miter the tube assembly to fit the frame . The assembled tube is then treated like a solid tube so the actual frame building procedure is unchanged. Painting isn't a factor on a new frame since paint is part of the manufacturing process with or without couplings.
• With retrofits, the builder cuts the top and down tubes and removes a short section of tube then replaces the removed section with a coupling. Before a builder can install couplings, they first determine what type tubes were used when the frame was built. In some cases, due to the shortness of tube butting etc., a tube or two may not be suitable to accept a coupling and will need to be replaced. Tube replacement can be expensive, therefore, retrofitting may sometimes be impractical. In addition to installing the couplings, repainting or touch-up will be necessary since about an inch or two of paint will be burned when brazing in the couplings. The ideal time to retrofit is when frame repair or paint is needed anyway.  In most cases, couplings can only be retrofit to round tubes. Some builders can change the profile of an odd shaped tube to make it accommodate a round coupling so check with your framebuilder before ruling out the possibility of fitting odd shaped tubes with S and S Couplings.
• To determine if you bike is suitable for retrofitting, check with the builders listed on the framebuilder list.
• To pick a builder to do a retrofit for you, first review the framebuilder list under retrofitting for a builder that does the type of bike that you have.  
• Looking through our photo gallery of retrofitted single and tandem bicycles and the owner testimony pages   my also help you pick a builder.
• S and S Machine does not evaluate bikes to determine their suitability for retrofitting, Check with some framebuilders to determine if you bike is a good candidate or not. Not all framebuilders will do retrofitting.
• S and S Machine does not do retrofits, only framebuilders do retrofitting.

How are they installed?

• Stainless steel BTCs ™ are used on steel or alloy steel frame tubes such as chrome-moly. Columbus, Dedacciai, Reynolds, Tange and True Temper are only a few of the manufacturers that make steel tubes that can be fit with stainless steel BTCs ™ . The lug halves of the coupling slip over the outside of the frame tube and are silver brazed in place. These couplings are ideal for both new bikes and retrofitting since they fit the outside diameter of the tube which remains constant regardless of the wall thickness. Or
• Chrome-moly BTCs ™. These couplings use plated chrome-moly lugs and our standard 17-4 stainless steel nut.
• The lugs press fit into the inside of the frame tube and are TIG welded in place. Rubber sleeves cover the weld and paint line eliminating costly masking which makes installation faster and less expensive. The rubber sleeves also provide a dust seal at both ends of the nut. These couplings were designed for production use only and are not intended to be retrofit into existing steel frames. Retrofitting limitations are primarily due to the difficulty involved in press fitting the coupling into an existing frame tube.
• Chrome-moly couplings are also produced to fit only a limited number of specific wall thickness tubes (tube outside diameter stays the same and the inside diameter changes as wall thickness varies). It is unlikely that we will manufacture all the sizes required to fit the various inside diameters encountered when retrofitting.
• Stainless steel frames:
• The same as steel frames done using stainless steel BTCs™
• Titanium BTCs ™ are used on titanium frames (uses our standard 17-4 stainless steel nut). The titanium lugs press fit into the inside of the frame tube and are TIG welded in place. Titanium beauty rings cover the weld. 
• The "machine to fit" couplings are designed to be machined by the framebuilder to fit tube wall thicknesses that are a size other than the sizes we stock and are commonly used for retrofitting.
•   Aluminum frames can't be retrofit.  
• Modified titanium couplings and special aluminum couplings designed for CF are being used on carbon fiber frames manufactured or retrofit by Calfee Design . 

Where can I buy them ?

• Consumers should purchase complete bikes, frames manufactured with BTCs ™ and accessory items from a local retailer . If your retailer doesn't carry bicycles with BTCs™ and is unable to work with a listed framebuilder, we suggest you contact a framebuilder to locate a retailer in your area. In areas where a framebuilder isn't represented, they may sell to you direct, but there is usually no price advantage. Some framebuilders don't sell through retailers, they only sell direct to consumers. For information regarding whether a framebuilder sells direct or through retailers, see the builder profile for each framebuilder which can be found by clicking on the framebuilder's name on the framebuilder lists ..
• Retrofitting BTCs ™ to your existing frame can be arranged through a retailer but it is more commonly done by going direct to a framebuilder .
• BTCs ™ are sold only to professional bicycle framebuilders.  We're sorry but couplings are not sold to amateur framebuilders.
• S and S Machine does not sell bikes or retrofit bikes , we only make the couplings which we sell to professional bicycle framebuilders.

Retailer list (partial only)

• Locate a retailer by city, state and country.
• List includes a link to their home page.

How much do they cost?

• S and S Machine only makes S and S  Couplings, we don't install them. Please check with a framebuilder regarding the cost of installing them.
• New steel single bike frames add about $300-$750 or more to the regular price of a frame.
• Titanium adds about $750-$1000. (check with a retailer of framebuilder)
• Retrofitting your steel single bike frame costs from $400-$600 or more for steel frames.
• Titanium is about $750-$1000.   (check with a retailer of framebuilder)
• Complete bikes can vary considerably. Contact a retailer or framebuilder for prices, not S and S.
• Backpack case: Greatest versatility and lightest weight at only 8 pounds.
• Tandem case: Read this before ordering a tandem .
• Lightweight case: For private pilots and boaters
• Bike box and cover: Economical case for air travel

Accessories and tools

• Security Net: -   TSA inspectors can inspect the contents of you case without disturbing your packing job . 
• D uPont Teflon® Bearing Grease See Finish Line™ Extreme Fluoro Grease below
• TSA approved padlocks allow TSA inspectors access to the contents of your luggage without cutting your lock or breaking your locking latches.
• Compression member: : Strengthens the hard case and box
• Tube covers: Protects your frame tubes from getting scratched
• Stuff bags: Protects clothes that may be packed around bike
• Cable splitters: Splits derailleur cables for easier packing
• Finish Line™ Extreme Fluoro Grease replaces D uPont Teflon® Bearing Grease which was discontinued: The approved lubricant for BTCs™ 
• Spanner Wrenches: Used to tighten the coupling nut 
• Turning mandrel (used by framebuilders to machine the lugs of titanium BTC and stainless steel BTC2 Couplings  

 Cases and accessories are sold through framebuilders and retailers . If you purchased a bike and your supplier doesn't sell accessory items, check with another builder or retailer listed on this web page or contact us for assistance.

Packing a bike in a case

Single bike preferred method, 3D and Merlin, will work for 95% of all bikes regardless of who made it.

• 3D drawings showing a bike packed in a transparent case from all angles. MUST SEE  

Merlin ( with instructions and packing tips ) road bike (63cm)  into a 10" hard case.  MUST SEE  

More single bikes that use the same or other approaches:

• Waterford road bike (62cm) with ergo style shift levers into a 10"  hard case.
• Bianchi road bike retrofit by Jon Tallerico 
• Bilenky Cycle Works packing sequence from Bilenky for their Eco-Travel Bicycles
• Calfee Design carbon fiber road bike into a 10" hard case by the owner.
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot mountain bike into a 10" hard case.
• Erickson road bike (63cm) packed into a 10" hard case 
• Guru triathlon bike packed by Julia Weatherby
• Rex retrofit Bianchi road bike with down tube style shift levers into a 10" hard case.
• Land Shark touring bike packed and tips by the owner 
• Ti CYCLES road bike (56cm) with ergo style shift levers into a 10" hard case.
• True North touring bike Disassembly and Packing into a backpack case
• Raleigh Road bike retrofit by Courtney Custom Cycles
• Ravello road  bike in a hard case 
• Rivendell Atlantis, 68cm frame retrofit by Rex Cycles
• Video Shipping the Coppi by Bill Palladino (be sure to see the video towards the bottom of the page)  
• Specialized Stumpjumper retrofit packed into a backpack case (off site web page) 
• Seven Road bike into a 10" hard case 
• Surly Travelers Check video on YouTube
• Waterford road bike with ergo style shift levers into a 10" hard case.
• Zinn Packing a Zinn Travel Bike (links to the Zinn web page)
• Zinn Cycles large titanium road bike into a 10" hard case.   
• Bilenky Tinker mountain tandem complete into one backpack case.
• Bilenky Tinker hybrid tandem complete into one hard case.
• Bilenky Signature Tinker tandem complete into one 26x26x10" hard case.
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot tandem complete into one 26x26x10" backpack case.
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot tandem complete into one case. 
• Co-Motion Sky Capp quick split for transportation in a Honda Odyssey mini van. 
• Erickson tandem complete into one hard case.
• Meridian tandem / triplet convertible tandem packed in 2 cases 
• Ryan Duplex tandem recumbent in a 58"x26"x10" UPS able box or case.
• ZINN Cycles tandem packing instructions and video
•   GREENSPEED GTO touring trike, packing and assembly

How are they manufactured?

• BTCs™ are precision CNC machined from solid bar on a Mazak 625 Multiplex . This machine tool has twin turning spindles plus milling for improved accuracy over conventional CNCs. Precision machining parts isn't new to us. We have been making precision machined parts since 1976 so holding close tolerances is routine for us.

Coupling specifications including size, weight, material and photo

• Stainless steel "classic" BTCs  (used on most new steel frames and retrofits)
• Stainless steel "BTC2" Couplings (internal lugs for a minimalist look)
• Titanium with hidden welds "original style"
• Titanium with visible welds      
• Chrome-moly TIG weldable BTCs. (limited use on new steel frames, rarely on retrofits)

Travel adventures on bikes equipped with BTCs ™

• Round the World At 10 mph On A Tandem Bicycle by Art and Judee Wickersham on a Co-Motion Mocha Co-Pilot tandem  
• 100+ country, 50,000 mile, 5 year worldwide mountain bike expedition by Jamie Bianchini and Garryck Hampton on two Black Sheep Bikes Single/Tandem Convertibles  
• 11000km tour around the South West of England, Brittany around Europe for 6 months by Björn Blässe on a Thorn tandem  
• 48,000 miles/ 4 years riding across 6 continents by Ken Roberts on a Thorn Expedition Cycle
• 7000 Miles from Kentuckey to Alaska by the Harrison family on a  Co-Motion tandem, triplet, quad quint convertible bicycle "The Pedouins"
• 8 months around the world starting by circling the US through parts of Canada then on to France Belgium Germany Austria and Italy by Doug and Amy Moore on  Retrotec and Inglis mountain bikes
• Alaska to Florida (5 months, 7000 miles) by Randall and Barb Angell.
• Around the world An adventure in progress by Marti Bowditch on a Bilenky Midlands.
• Around the world from 12-02 to 8-04 by the Eber family of four on two Burley Duet tandems.
• Balkan Mountains Willie Weir's 5 month/5000mile adventure on a Rodriguez.
• Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, UK and the USA on a Merlin by Gerald Soto
• Chesapeake Bay area to Portland then up the coast to Alaska by Margaret and Leigh on a pair of Lynskey ProCross Cyclocros s bikes
• China, Cycling in Western Sichuan by Danielle Reed on a Bilenky 
• Circumnavigating the Big Island of Hawai`i by Sheila Hoffman & Spencer Beard on a daVinci tandem. 
• Cuba on "a bicycle built for two... I mean one... I mean two". Willie and Kat Weir tour Cuba on a Rodriguez single to tandem convertible.
• England By Tandem by Joe & Carolyn Stafford on a Co-Motion tandem.
• Europe Self-contained by Lamar Martin on a Bilenky Travel Tourlite
• France, Loire Valley trip report by Lawrence and Anne Levin on a Co-Motion Sky Capp tandem. 
• Giro d'Italia Emily Kenyon's tour in Italy on a Rex retrofit. (off site web page)
• LA to Florida   9 year old William Cushwa and his father David, riding a Bilenky Viewpoint tandem 
• Mel's Dream Adventure. ..New Zealand by Barbara Kornbluh on a Bushnell tandem
• Mountain biking the Sydney 2000 Olympic Course on a Seven Sola by Azizul  Adnan  
• New Zealand northern island 4 tour, 60 days, 1947 miles, by Janine Rood and Mike Trowbridge on a Bilenky tandem 
• New Zealand southern island perimeter tour, 65 days, 1532 miles, by Janine Rood and Mike Trowbridge on a Bilenky tandem 
• Pacific Rim A 2 year tour that will visit 23 countries and travel over 20,000 miles on a Rivendell All Rounder .
• Paris-Brest-Paris by framebuilder Steve and Peggy Rex on a Steve Rex tandem.  
• Prince Edward Island by Kent and Jenny Peterson on a Co-Motion Co-Pilot tandem.
• Prince Rupert , British Columbia to North Battleford, Saskatchewan , 2,312 km (1,437 miles) over 29 days by Bruce Williamson on an Expedition Touring Bicycle made by Naked Bicycles and Design
• Seattle to Boston Dennis Bell retraces a 1896 bicycle tour on a Bilenky Midlands. South America to North America , 23,000 miles by Gwendal Castellan on an Arvon Cycles convertible tandem
• SpokeSongs: Bicycle Adventures on Three Continents by Willie Weir, Breakaway Books, on a Rodriguez mountain bike
• The Antipodes Expedition: From Ushuaia to Inuvik by Gwendal Castellan on a Tandem made by Arvon Cycles
• Tour de France Andrew Dahlstrom's cycling experience in the Alps while covering the tour on a Rex road bike.
• TransRockies Challenge , a 7-day MTB race by James Annan and Jules Hargreaves on a Calfee Tetra Tetra carbon fiber tandem. 
• Two Sisters on an 18 Country Bike Trip by Lucie Ocenas on a Holdsworth touring rig retrofit by Curtis Inglis 
• Around the perimeter of the USA on a tandem with side trips into Mexico and Canada. 
• Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park area by Tom Swenson on a Bilenky Midlands  
• Worldwide Mountain Bike Adventure   Garryck Hampton and Jamie Bianchini are set to depart on a worldwide mountain bike expedition in April 2002 covering over 100 counties over a 3-5year period.
• Year Long Tour of South America by Kirsten Kolkmann (on a Surly Long Haul Trucker ) & Seth Gates (on a Merlin Taiga )

(To have your S and S Coupled bike travel adventure added to this list, please send us a link)

Looking for a bicycle touring adventure? Follow this link to see HubBub's Touring Guide.

BTC ™ Equipped Bike Owners' Web Pages   (Send us your URL if you have a web page and would like to be listed here) 

BTC™  User Guide  

• Which direction do I turn the nut to loosen it?
• Nut Removal
• Nut installation
• Lubrication
• How do I pack my single bike?
• How do I split and reconnect the cable splitters?
• How can I convert my older design hard case from push to pull ?
• How can I prevent water from entering or damaging a steel frame ?

To purchase a bike equipped with S and S Couplings, have S and S Couplings retrofit to an existing bike, find out if your bike can be retrofit with couplings or to purchase cases and accessories, please contact a retailer or framebuilder listed on this web site. S and S Machine does not attempt to determine whether you bike is suitable for retrofitting or not. Only a framebuilder can make that determination. Some framebuilders are more interested in doing retrofits than others. Looking at our photo gallery of retrofitted singles and tandems may be helpful in finding a builder to retrofit your bike.

To ask technical questions that can't be answered by a framebuilder or to get coupling pricing ( pricing is for professional bicycle framebuilders only ) please contact us

Contact Information

Emma's Bread

U.S. Built Custom Bicycles in Titanium and Titanium-Carbon Mix

Travel Bikes with S&S BTC Couplers

Nearly every model Seven offers can be designed for our travel friendly upgrade. To get this upgrade, order whichever model you want and let us know you want the travel compatible design. We'll make it happen.

Topic Quick Links

• Benefit & consideration overview
• Packing & reassembly time
• Price details
• Why couplers over a standard bike?
• Why couplers over other "breakaway" options
• Coupler weight

Seven's travel bike design is awesome because it allows the rider to easily bring their Seven anywhere on the planet.

Through the use of S&S BTC TM couplers, the frame can easily be disassembled into two halves. This allows the entire bike to be packed in a 26" case that makes air travel easy and no-cost.

The S&S BTC coupler system compared to a standard bike case:

• The travel case's dimensions are only about 26 x 26 x 12". This is slightly larger than a standard suitcase but not by much. Therefore, the packed bike:
• The travel case incurs no travel fee as a standard bike travel case or box does.
• The most affordable way to travel by air with your bike. Details below .
• will fit into any taxi in any country. This is a big deal and worth a lot in many countries. Transporting a standard bike requires a real minivan or larger. That's not always available, or the wait may be long.
• is easy to navigate through any airport.

Considerations:

• You have to practice packing and unpacking but only slightly more than a standard bike in a standard box.
• You have to have a bit of mechanical interest but no more so than a standard bike in a standard box.
• The coupler system costs but it pays for itself after a just a few flights. Details below .

Which Seven models are compatible with BTC couplers?

Nearly any Seven can work well with couplers including our titanium and carbon-titanium models. The only exclusion is our dual suspension models and our Flowstate designs. Fat bike are coupler-able but require two cases because the tires, rims, and the frame's rear triangle are so wide.

Packing & Reassembly Time

The assembly and packing times are about the same for Seven's BTC system compared to a standard bike. The first few tries will likely take about 45 minutes to pack . With some practice, you're likely to get into the 20-minute range with modern components and frame design.

The couplers, case, and accouterments are about $2,800. While not insignificant, the typical cost of air travel with a full-size bike case is about $500 round trip. Within six trips, you've paid for the special design and case. This investment is well worth it if you make a couple of trips a year.

* This investment pays for itself within about six trips. The typical cost of air travel with a full-size bike case is about $500 round trip. This investment is well worth it if you make a couple of trips a year.

Why BTC couplers instead of a standard bike and case?

Any taxi will fit the barely two-foot square travel case. Even the smallest taxi is a breeze. When you're at the airport's taxi stand in a smaller airport where English isn't the preferred language, good luck finding a minivan for your full-size bike travel case.

Anti theft : A full-size bike case is a big attractive sign for thieves. A soft-sided Co-Pilot travel case looks like every other piece of luggage.

Case pack-ability : Depending on the type of case you use, with a full-size bike case, there is normally no room for much beyond the bike. S&S style cases can usually fit some of your bike gear — including helmet and shoes — along with your clothes, bottles, etc. It's like having a second bag for your stuff that also fits your bike.

Roll with the flow : The case is nearly standard-sized luggage — as defined by airlines — so it's really easy to travel with. Small elevators, escalators, flights of stairs, narrow city streets, airport navigation. It's all significantly easier with a small case. It may not seem like much at the moment, but when you're exhausted from an eighteen-hour flight, and you're lost in an old city where you don't speak the language, you might really appreciate this feature. You'll never want to lug around a full-sized case again.

No airline bike fee : Fees for bike transport vary by airline and seem to change all the time. Generally, the prices only go up. A recent survey showed an average of $250 each way for bike transport. If a round trip costs $500 for a full-sized bike, six trips with your Seven BTC bike will more than pay for the initial investment.

The coupler travel case is lighter . When you're traveling all over with your bike case, lighter is nicer. There are dozens of full-size bike case designs, so it's difficult to generalize too much, but on average, the weight will be about 5 lbs. heavier than a soft coupler travel case. Coupler cases are smaller and generally simpler in design.

Why BTC couplers compared to other 'breakaway' designs?

Proven design : Bike builders have been working with S&S Machine's coupler design for more than 25 years. Seven has built thousands of bikes with these couplers. We have never had a single BTC coupler failure. No other 'breakaway' design has nearly the track record or real-world testing behind it.

Failsafe design : One of the clever elements of the S&S design is that even if the couplers loosen, the bike is rideable. Do not try this.

Engineering : The design employs the proven Hirth coupling system that was originally used in aircraft engine crankshafts about 100 years ago and is currently used in thousands of high-stress safety-first applications.

Function over form : Some people feel like the BTC coupler is too visible on the bike. Yes, you could call it "overbuilt," but its track record of safety addresses the concern. While you can find systems that are more minimalist, do you want to trust a single bolt or a seat post with your life and safety?

Comparing BTC Couplers with Z Couplers TM

Why you want Seven to build your travel bike

Experience : We're pretty certain no one has built more coupled bikes than Seven. We've built thousands. We have never had a single failure or coupler issue in more than 25 years.

Subtle improvements : There are some elements to the way we work with BTC couplers that are unique and improvements. We don't share these publicly.

Some of us have BTC travel Sevens — both single bikes and tandems. For over two decades, we've ridden to the ends of the earth and learned all the tricks of travel and why BTC couplers are the best way to do it.

Weight of the couplers

Estimated weight: 10.9 ounces, 308 grams . This is about 2% of the weight of an average performance bike with two bottles and a small saddle bag installed. The difference does not have a perceptually negative impact on performance.

This weight is estimated because every bike we build is custom. The coupler size for your frame may be larger or smaller than average. Your tubeset modifications will vary from average.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Seven offer internal cable routing with BTC couplers?

Yes. We do build bikes with internal routing . However, it is a bad idea for traveling, even with hydraulic disconnects. Internal routing is notoriously finicky and simply does not work as well or as simply as external routing. We strongly recommend external routing for your travel bike. It saves you time in packing and reassembly. Externals are easier to service by mechanics in remote parts of the world. Simplicity is one of the key mantras for enjoyable travel.

Why does Seven offer the soft travel case but not the hard case option?

It is counterintuitive, but we've learned the hard way — both directly and through many customer experiences — that soft cases have fewer bike damage issues. We've come to the conclusion that there are two reasons for this: 1) Airline baggage handlers treat soft luggage more carefully than hard luggage. We've had numerous incidents with hard luggage tops and buckles getting destroyed in transit but never once to a soft case. 2) The soft case can shift and adjust to impacts and loads, whereas the hard case cannot. That means that the buckles get destroyed, and the case gets cracked. Once either of these things occurs, your bike is next on the list for damage or having accessories disappear through the cracks. Also important, the soft case is much easier to pack. Lastly, TSA opens every suitcase; a soft case is easy for them to re-close. Conversely, when things shift around as TSA digs through your bike stuff, they may not be able to close the hard case. We've seen this occur multiple times. If they can't close the case, some of your items will go missing.

Do the couplers change the ride of the bike? Will I notice them? Is the bike more flexible?

No. First, the way the couplers work ensures there is no stiffness loss. Second, the couplers are stiffer than the tube section they replace. Fortunately, Seven modifies the tubeset to neutralize the couplers' impact on the ride feel. You will not be able to discern a ride difference between a coupled bike and an uncoupled bike.

Can Seven install couplers on my existing Seven?

No. Seven does not offer retrofits. The frame's tubeset has to be designed specifically or couplers. If not, the frame could fail.

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Best Bicycle Frames to Build Your Dream Bike

There is a wide variety of bicycle frames available online for each different cycling discipline, from MTB to gravel, to touring. Some frame styles have barely changed over the decades, while others incorporate modern design technology that has only emerged recently.

It’s important to buy the correct frame for the riding style you intend to partake in, otherwise, you could end up damaging your frame or injuring yourself. Here we examine the differences between each type of bike frame and the riding style that they’re intended for.

While most bicycles are built around a specific geometry that serves a certain purpose – there are always many more factors in play. Factors such as materials, design, fork travel, and many more that make the bicycle whole. While each of us has our own preferences in terms of how the bike should feel, there’s a lot that can be adjusted from frame to little details around it.

If you have already found the best components for your needs such as the right wheelset, tires for your riding style, but you are looking for a bicycle frame to build the bike from

Table of Contents

Mountain Bike Frames – Hardtail / Full-Suspension

Road Bike Frames

Gravel  and CX Bike Frames

Track Bike Frames

Touring Bike Frames

Best Mountain Bike Frames

Best hardtail mountain bike frames.

Hardtail MTB frames are considerably less complex than full-suspension frames. Although newer models have advanced geometry, hardtail MTB frames typically look like early mountain bikes. They consist of a traditional bike frame with two triangles split by the seat tube and a suspension fork on the front.

Depending on the style of riding the bike is intended for, hardtail MTBs have varying head and seat tube angles. This is largely to do with the amount of travel in the fork, which is usually more if the bike is intended for downhill riding.

Chromag – Rootdown 2020

Head Tube: 64°    /    Seat Tube: 76°    /    Chainstay: 420mm Enduro / Trail

MSRP $3,100 JensonUSA

• Designed for longer travel 160mm forks
• Tire clearance: 29 x 2.5″ or 27.5 x 2.8″ tires
• Headtube: 1.5″ Tapered
• Cable Routing: Partial internal

Buy from Jenson USA

Santa Cruz Bicycles – Chameleon 29

Head Tube: 65°    /    Seat Tube: 74.1-74.6°    /    Chainstay: 425-437mm Trail, XC

MSRP $1,049 Competitive Cyclist

• Recommended fork travel: 130/140mm
• Max Clearance:29×2.6″ and 27.5×2.8″
• Headset: IS41/28.6 IS52/40
• Cable Routing: Internal

Buy from Competitive Cyclist

Trek – Stache C

Head Tube: 67.8°    /    Seat Tube: 67.9°    /    Chainstay: 420mm Trail

MSRP $1,700 TrekBikes

• OCLV Mountain Carbon
• Max compatible fork travel: 120mm
• Max Clearance: 29″ x 3″
• Headtube: FSA IS-2 1-1/8 top, 1.5″ bottom

Buy from Trek Bikes

Marin – Alcatraz 

Head Tube: 69°    /    Seat Tube: 69°    /    Chainstay: 395mm Dirt Jump

MSRP $549   GovVelo

• Series 3 Aluminum 
• Max clearance: 26″ x 2.25″
• Chain tension device
• Headset: FSA No 57E
• Single Speed

Buy from GovVelo

Evil – The Faction

Head Tube: 69.5°    /    Seat Tube: 71.5°    /    Chainstay: 381-396mm Dirt Jump

MSRP $630   Backcountry

• Reynolds 520 Steel
• Tire clearance: 26 x 2.3in
• Fork travel: 100-120mm
• Headtube: 1-1/8″
• Cable Routing: External

Buy from Backcountry

Best FULL-SUSPENSION BIKE FRAMES

Full suspension mountain bike frames are the most complex of bike frame designs, with the most moving parts and mechanical components. They consist of two separate frame triangles on the front and rear, connected by pivots and links so that each one can move individually.

Connected to the front triangle and a pivot point on the rear triangle is a coil or air-sprung shock absorber. Rather than directly under the seat like on a motorbike, this suspension design pivots from the center of the bike so the rider doesn’t flip over forward on steep descents. When combined with a front suspension fork, this provides the best possible suspension that you can get on a bicycle.

Ibis – Mojo 4

Head Tube: 65.4°    /    Seat Tube: 76.6°    /    Chainstay: 425mm All-mountain / Trail

MSRP $3,199

Related: Ibis Mojo 4 Review

• Material: Carbon
• Fork compatibility: 140mm, 37mm offset 
• 130mm rear shock
• Suspension Type: DW-link
• Tire clearance: Up to 27.5×2.6″
• Headtube: 1.5″ tapered

Juliana – Roubion

Head Tube: 64.5°    /    Seat Tube: 77°    /    Chainstay: 426-435mm Enduro / Trail

MSRP $3,949   Backcountry

• Material: CC Carbon
• Suspension Type: VPP
• Rear Shock: 150mm travel
• Recommended fork travel: 160mm
• Max tire width: 2.6″
• Headtube: SHIS IS41/28.6 IS52/40

Norco – Optic C1

Head Tube: 67.5-68°    /    Seat Tube: 75.2-73.7°    /    Chainstays: 420-440mm Trail

MSRP $1,350 Jenson USA

• Material: Carbon front triangle and seatstays,  aluminum chainstay and linkarm
• Fork: 140mm 
• Rear Shock: 120mm travel Fox Float DPS Factory
• Wheels: 27.5″
• Headtube: 1.5″

Ibis – Ripmo AF Topaz 2020

Head Tube: 64.9°    /    Seat Tube: 77-76°    /    Chainstay: 435mm Trail / All-mountain

MSRP $1,799

• Material: Aluminum
• Suspension Type: DW-Link
• Rear Shock: DVO Topaz 3-position
• Tire clearance: 2.6″
• Dropper-post Clearance: 150mm (S) 175mm (XL)

Yeti – SB 115 Turq

Head Tube:  67.8 to 67.6°  /    Seat Tube: 74.1-73.9°    /    Chainstay: 436mm XC / Trail

MSRP $4,000   Backcountry

• Suspension Type: Switch Infinity
• Rear Shock: FOX Factory Float DPS 115mm
• Fork: 130mm recommended
• Tire clearance: 29×2.3″
• Headtube: Tapered IS41/28.6 IS52/40

Related: Yeti Cycles

Evil Bikes – The Wreckoning

Head Tube: 64.6 or 63.9°    /    Seat Tube: 76.3 or 75.7°    /    Chainstay: 430 or 432mm Enduro

MSRP $3,750

• Material: Carbon  
• Suspension Type: DELTA Single pivot
• Front suspension: 160-190mm recommended
• Rear Shock: Rockshox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate 166mm
• Tire clearance: Up to 2.6″
• Headtube: 1- 1/8″ – 1-1/2″

Niner – WFO RDO

Head Tube: 64.7°    /    Seat Tube: 77.7°    /    Chainstay: 434mm Enduro Race

MSRP $3,660 Backcountry

• Material: RDO Carbon
• Suspension Type: CVA
• Fork: 180mm recommended
• Rear Shock: FOX Float X2 Factory 170mm
• Headtube: 1 1/8 – 1 1/2″ Tapered

Evil Bikes – The Following

Head Tube: 66.9°    /    Seat Tube: 76°    /    Chainstay: 430mm XC / Trail

MSRP $3,099 Competitive Cyclist

• Material: Carbon Fiber
• Suspension Type: DELTA
• Rear Shock: 120mm travel RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate RCT DebonAir, 2 tokens
• Recommended Fork Travel: 120-130mm
• Tire clearance:
• Headtube: 1 1/8 – 1.5″ tapered

Best Road Bike Frames

Bianchi – oltre xr 4 disc.

Different Color Schemes Available

Head Tube: 72-73°    /    Seat Tube: 74-72.5°    /    Chainstay: 400-411mm Race

MSRP $5,900 Competitive Cyclist

• HM Unidirectional Carbon Fiber with Countervail
• Compatible with Electronic and Mechanical groups
• Included Headset: FSA Orbit 1.5″
• Full Carbon Oltre Aero Seatpost
• 5-year warranty

Bianchi – Infinito

Head Tube: 70.5-72.5°    /    Seat Tube: 74.5-73°    /    Chainstay: 415-420mm Race

MSRP $3,900 Competitive Cyclist

• Infinito Countervail Carbon
• 1-1/8 – 1-1/2″ Tapered head tube
• Headset: FSA Orbit C-40
• Internal cable routing
• Compatible with electronic, mechanical drivetrains
• Aero seat post

Cervelo – R-Series Disc

Head Tube: 71-73°    /    Seat Tube: 73°    /    Chainstay: 410mm

MSRP $3,000 Backcountry

• FSA IS2 1-1/8 – 1-1/2″ Tapered head tube
• Max Clearance: 700c x 28mm
• Cervelo Carbon SP19 Seatpost
• Weight: 3lb 6.4oz
• Lifetime Warranty

Ridley – Helium SLX Disc

Different color schemes available

Head Tube: 71.8-74°    /    Seat Tube: 75-72.5°    /    Chainstay: 405-408mm Classic Road

MSRP $3,500 Competitive Cyclist

• Carbon Fiber frame & fork
• Max Clearance:
• Headtube: 1-1/4″ – 1 1/8″ tapered

Best Gravel and CX Bike Frames

Gravel bikes are very versatile and cover a wider range of disciplines than simply gravel riding. These days, many bikepackers use gravel bikes for short or long expedition trips that involve rougher terrain than pavement.

Simple to touring bike frames, gravel bikes typically have longer chainstays, slacker seat and head tube angles, a lower bottom bracket, and a longer wheelbase. This makes them more stable at speed over loose terrain or when loaded with luggage.

Niner – RLT 9 Steel

Head Tube: 70-72-5°    /    Seat Tube: 74.5-72.5°    /    Chainstay: 435mm Gravel

MSRP $899 Jenson USA

• Reynolds 853 Steel and RDO Carbon fork
• Max Clearance: 700c x 50mm or 650b x 2.0″
• Built for 140mm rotors, can be used with 160mm spacers
• Bottle cage, rack, and fender mounts

Related: Best Gravel Bikes

Santa Cruz Bicycles – Stigmata Carbon CC

Head Tube: 71-72°    /    Seat Tube: 74.5 -73.5°    /    Chainstay: 425mm CX / Gravel

MSRP $2,899  

• Santa Cruz Stigmata Carbon CC
• Max Clearance: 700c x 45mm or 650b x 2.1″
• Headtube: Cane Creek 110 IS Integrated headset
• Brakes: Flat Mount Disc

Buy from Mike's Bikes

Marin – Headlands

Head Tube: 70.5-71.5°    /    Seat Tube: 74.5-73.5°    /    Chainstay: 420mm Gravel 

MSRP $3,000 GovVelo

• Unidirectional Carbon Beyond Road Platform
• Max Clearance: 700cx45mm or 650bx50mm
• Headset: Upper: FSA Orbit IS, Sealed Cartridge Bearings, 1 1/8″ x 1 1/2″
• Fenders, rack, and accessory mounts

The Chamois – Hagar Gravel

Head Tube: 66.7°    /    Seat Tube: 73.5° – 74.5°    /    Chainstay: 430mm Gravel & Bikepacking

MSRP $2,800 Competitive Cyclist

• Unidirectional Carbon Fiber
• Cane Creek 40-series headset
• 3-year warranty

Specialized – Diverge E5 Evo

All-Road / Gravel / Commuting / Touring

MSRP $1700   GovVelo

• Diverge E5 Aluminum and FACT carbon fork
• Future Shock Absorption frame suspension 
• Max Clearance: 700c x 47mm / 650b x 2.1″
• Flat mount discs

Ibis – Hakka MX Disc

3 Different Color Schemes Availalbe

Head Tube: 70.5-72°    /    Seat Tube: 74.5-73.5°    /    Chainstay: 430mm CX – Cyclocross / Gravel

MSRP $2,000 Competitive Cyclist

• Carbon Frame & Fork
• 700c / 650b
• Max Clearance: 27.5″ x 2.1″ / 700c x 40mm
• 7-year warranty

Ridley – Kanzo

Head Tube: 70.5-72°    /    Seat Tube: 74.5-73°    /    Chainstay: 435mm Gravel

MSRP $2,600 Backcountry

• Headtube: FSA 1-1/8 – 1-1/2″ tapered
• Flat mount disc
• Tire clearance: 700c x 47mm / 650b x 47mm

Best Track Bike Frames

Track bikes usually have the most intense and aggressive frame geometry, placing the rider far forward over the handlebars in the most aerodynamic position. This is the perfect position to exert the most amount of power on the pedals and get the most speed out of the bike.

Track bike frames have the shortest wheelbases, very steep seat and head tube angles, and minimal fork rake. They are also designed with very stiff materials for maximum power transfer on the drivetrain.

State Bicycles Co – Black Label 6061 v2

MSRP $400 State Bicycle Co.

• Weight: 5lbs 3oz – 5lb 11o
• Aluminum frame, carbon cork
• Sizes that fit riders from 5′ to 6’6″
• Headset: FSA No.42/ACB

Shop on State Bicycle Co.

All-City – Thunderdome

Head Tube: 72-72.5°    /    Seat Tube: 74.5-75°    /    Chainstay: 396mm Track / Velodrome

MSRP: $899 Jenson USA

• All-City Alumasonic and carbon fork
• 1.5” Tapered headtube
• Tire clearance: 700 x 28c
• UCI Certified track bike

State Bicycle Co. – Undefeated

Head Tube: 75.5-72°    /    Seat Tube: 75-74.5°    /    Chainstay: 396mm Track/Road

MSRP $600   State Bicycle Co.

• Y9 Aluminum frame and carbon fork
• Weight: 4lb 3oz – 4lb 11oz

Buy from State Bicycle Co.

Best Touring Bike Frames

Touring bike frames are traditionally built with steel and designed to be as stable as possible due to the heavy loads they carry. They usually have slacker head tube angles and tapered forks to provide more ‘fork trail’. This makes steering slower but more stable, particularly if you are carrying heavy front panniers.

Touring frames usually have longer chainstays (up to 470mm) to provide better stability and more heel clearance for carrying rear panniers. Traditionally, touring bikes had low bottom brackets for better stability but on more modern bikes built for off-road conditions, this can be higher.

Surly – Disc Trucker 700c

Head Tube: 72°    /    Seat Tube: 73-72°    /    Chainstay: 460mm

Touring / Commuting

MSRP $575 JensonUSA

• 4130 Chromoly Steel Frame & Fork
• Disc-brake specific
• Max Clearance: 26″ x 2.1 / 700c x 42mm
• Headtube: 34mm
• Multiple rack mounts

Surly – Steamroller

Head Tube: 72.5-74°    /    Seat Tube: 74.5-73°    /    Chainstay: 398mm Touring / Road / Trail / CX / Commuter

MSRP $599   Jenson USA

• 4130 Chromoly Steel
• 700x38mm tires or 700x32mm tires with fenders
• Fender mounts

All City Bicycles – Gorilla Monsoon

Head Tube: 70-71.5°    /    Seat Tube: 74.5-73.5°    /    Chainstay: 430mm Touring

MSRP $1,150 Backcountry

• 612 chromoly steel frame
• Flat mount disc brakes
• Max Clearance: 27.5 x 2.4″
• Headtube: 1-1/8in

Where to look for the best bike frames for sale?

Check out our Best Bike Deals review, or look for:

• JensonUSA – A wide range of mountain-, road-, and gravel bike frames
• TREKbikes – Quite a selected which only a few can be ordered online. Road/Fat/MTB
• Competitive Cyclist – Top bicycle brand frames available – Evil bikes, Ibis, Yeti, Niner, Pivot, Santa Cruz Bicycles, Juliana, Devinci
• PlanetCyclery – Road bike frames starting from $380

What are the best bicycle frame brands?

• Santa Cruz Bicycles – Offers a wide variety of mountain bike frames, both full-suspension, and hardtail
• Surly – One of the best steel bike frame brands
• VAAST – Known by their magnesium frames
• SAGE Titanium Bicycles – High-end bicycles built on Titanium frames

Aluminum / Steel / Carbon / Magnesium / Titanium Benefits

(C) The Carbon fiber bike frame is characterized by ultra-durable, lightweight, and vibration reduction characteristics. Being more expensive than steel and aluminum frames, carbon is one of the most used road bike frame materials on higher-end bikes. Also, carbon bike frames are used on most mid-high end bicycles on the mountain bike range as well.

• Vibration-reduction, super lightweight, tough weight to stress ratio

The Steel bike frame used to be the main material for decades. Today, steel frames are still widely used by their low production cost and durable characteristics. Surly bikes is one of the most known bicycle brands to use Steel frames on all their bikes’ range. Most cyclists prefer steel due to their solid feel of the ride with no flex on the frame.

• Affordable, traditional, has a distinct solid feel to it

(Al) Aluminum alloy bike frames are among the mass-produced bicycle frame materials due to their lightweight and low manufacturing cost. Often seen on the entry-level road- and mountain bikes. The only downsides are that it is difficult to repair an aluminum frame, and aluminum tends to fatigue over time.

• Lightweight, affordable, corrosion-resistant, stiff and responsive

(Ti) Titanium bike frame – Most likely the rarest and most expensive materials to use. Although titanium is mainly used on higher-end bicycle components, a full-titanium bicycle frame is rather uncommon and used on limited or higher-end bicycles. One of the most iconic bicycle brands that use titanium on all of their bikes is Sage Titanium Bicycles .

• Great corrosion resistance, the frame itself won’t fatigue

(Mg) Magnesium bicycle frame – Magnesium bicycle frames started to come around the 80s. Some of the more popular magnesium bike frame brands: Pinarello, VAAST. Although due to difficulties in manufacturing and build quality issues, magnesium frames are a rather niché product these days.

• Strong, great weight-to-strength ratio

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Organized Travel: A Frame Bike Rack For Easy Transport

S o, you’ve decided to fuel your wanderlust with biking. Great choice! As you take off on your thrilling rides and meet new landscapes, it’s crucial to mind how you carry your favorite two-wheeler around. This is where we talk about the magic gadget – the Frame Bike Rack . Believe me, my friend, it makes a world of difference.

Understanding the Need for Bike Racks

You might be wondering, ‘Do I really need a bike rack? Can’t I just stuff it in my trunk or put it in the backseat?’ See, if it were that simple, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. The truth is transporting a bike without its dedicated carrier spells inconvenience at the least and disaster at the worst. Frames can get bent, essential components may get damaged, and let’s not forget about messier aftermath – oil stains! Decidedly a mood-spoiler when you’re out adventuring.

Basics of a Frame Bike Rack

Now that we are on the same page about needing these lifesavers, let’s understand what a frame bike rack is. Imagine a durable, innovative holder that keeps your bike secure while you cruise down highways or snake through rough trails to reach your biking destination. It lets you fix your bike onto your motor vehicle and also makes it easy-peasy to load and unload. Sounds like every biker’s dream-come-true, right?

RELATED CONTENT – Can I Install Accessories Like a Rack or Basket to my Ebike?

Components of a Frame Bike Rack

You know what makes these frame racks so awesome? It’s their robustness encapsulated in simplicity. A typical bike rack consists of bars to hold down the frame and straps that keep the bike stable during transport. Then there are ratchet arms and wheel cradles that work in tandem to ensure a snug fit. Trust me, once you’ve wrestled with a bike rack without ratchet arms, you’ll develop a newfound admiration for this innovation!

Benefits of Using a Frame Bike Rack

The virtues of owning a frame bike rack are aplenty! Do you remember the last time when loading your bike into your car felt like squaring off with an olympic-level wrestling opponent? Bike racks bring an end to that – they are the ultimate hack for smooth transit. Then there’s the fact that the bike won’t be introducing dirt and debris into the vehicle – no more creepy crawlies hitching a ride! And of course, heaps of saved space in your vehicle for camping gear or extra buddies. Now isn’t that what we call hitting multiple birds with one stone?

Choosing the Right Frame Bike Rack: Factors to Consider

I bet right now you’re ready to dive into buying one, aren’t you? But slow down, mate. There are some things to bear in mind before you pick out your bike’s perfect ride partner. Firstly, not all racks play nice with all bikes. Check if your rack can accommodate your bike’s weight and size. Next up, consider what material it’s made from – get something that can hold its own against tough weather. Last but crucially important is user-friendliness; it makes no sense to have something fancy if using it feels like rocket science.

Comparing Frame Bike Rack Designs: Pros and Cons

Frame bicycle racks come in a variety of styles and designs. Some attach to the roof of your car while others happily hitch onto the rear. Then there are trunk mounts, for those who don’t fancy climbing ladders or dealing with hitches. Each design has its perks and quirks. Roof racks make parking easier but there’s the height limitation to think about. Hitch racks are easy-peasy to use, but they could obstruct your vehicle’s rear access. Well, no one said decisions were easy!

Installation Process for a Frame Bike Rack

After you’ve picked the perfect bike rack, it’s time for the next exciting step – bringing it home and setting it up! Now, don’t be fooled by all those parts and manuals. I promise you, it’s exactly like putting together a Lego set (or IKEA furniture). First, begin with the attachment point – whether that’s your vehicle’s roof or hitch. Once positioned correctly, secure the rack with bolts or a locking mechanism. And voila! Your bike rack is ready for some action. But hey, just a little heads up – don’t rush this process. Slow and careful will earn you less hassle in the long run.

Maintenance Tips for Long-lasting Frame Bike Racks

Just as we pamper our bikes, these valuable holders need their share of TLC too. Regular cleaning can go a long way in maintaining the life of your bike rack. Use gentle cleaners that won’t harm its finish or weaken the metal body over time.

Also, keep an eye on any loose attachments and tighten them before each trip to mitigate any potential accidents caused by flying bike parts on highways. And if rust spots start appearing? A bit of sanding with fine-grit sandpaper can usually take care of it. With consistent care, your sturdy rack will outlast not just one bike but several!

Safety Measures When Using Frame Bike Racks

Although using a bike rack makes life much easier, we do need to add a sidebar about safety here. The most important thing? Always ensure your beloved two-wheeler is securely fastened and there are zero chances of it wobbling free during transport.

The straps should be tight enough to hold it snugly and regularly check to make sure they’re not wearing thin. As for your vehicle, be aware that a bike attached at the back can obstruct your rear view or interfere with tail lights. Making sure it’s tilted just right or adding extra lights can solve the problem pretty quick.

Eco-Friendliness: Does Using a Bike Rack Reduce Your Carbon Footprint?

Biking already ranks high on the green scale compared to car travel. Now combine that with bike racks and you’ve elevated your eco-warrior status even more! How do you ask? By using a bike rack, we encourage not only ourselves but others around us to carry their bikes to their favorite spots, parks, or trails. This means less reliance on cars for commuting locally and lesser carbon emissions as a result – don’t you love it when your hobby also helps you save the planet?

Legal Considerations for Using Frame Bike Racks

Just like everything else related to vehicles and road safety, there are laws concerning bike racks too! Various legal factors such as the visibility of number plates, tail lamps and stop lamps must be considered before opting for a particular type of bike rack. It’s always best to check local laws about what’s permissible in your area and avoid those surprise traffic tickets.

Case Study: Real-Life Examples of Frame Bike Rack Usage

I remember reading an online forum where a fellow adventurer explained how his frame bike rack was a game-changer for his regular biking excursions. His simple ritual involved loading his trusty steed onto his sturdy hitch mount rack each weekend before driving off to explore new tracks in neighboring towns.

Echoing these sentiments, another user swore by her roof-mounted bike rack which she proclaimed to be her best friend during family vacations. Her kids could cycle around campsites while she enjoyed her morning runs – a perfect blend of leisure and fitness!

Frame Bike Racks in Commercial Use

You know you’re onto something big when commercial businesses latch onto an idea, and bike riding is no exception. From tour companies providing bikes fitted with racks for tourists to explore cities, to rental services offering bikes equipped with frame racks for renters, these nifty travel accessories are increasingly recognized as indispensable.

They not only make it easier to handle and store bikes but also enhance the overall biking experience, which is essential in this ever-growing industry. And, what does this mean for you? More convenience, more options, and ultimately more fun!

Innovations in Frame Bike Racks

While we’re on the subject of frame bike racks, let’s chat about the innovative designs popping up every day – bespoke solutions for motorcycle owners, or racks that convert into a handy stand for on-the-go repairs! Certain advanced models can even swing out with your bike still attached, offering unblocked access to your vehicle’s rear. Don’t get me started on one such futuristic design that allows you to secure your bike without any frame contact! With these continual enhancements, your biking adventures are set to become more thrilling and convenient simultaneously.

Budget Considerations When Buying a Frame Bike Rack

Just as important as finding the perfect rack is ensuring it doesn’t drain your pocket. Thankfully, bike racks come in a wide price range depending on their features and brands. Basic models offer great value for money for casual riders while expensive ones with advanced features can be a treat for enthusiasts who frequently hit the road with their bikes. But remember, good budgeting shouldn’t compromise safety and reliability. So, finding that sweet balance becomes equally paramount.

Impact on the Cycling Community

You might ask ‘How does a simple contraption like a frame bike rack impact the cycling community?’. Well, believe it or not, I hear it all the time from fellow enthusiasts – how this essential piece of equipment led them to take up biking more frequently or venture into gears they otherwise wouldn’t even consider. Making transportation easier means no trail is too distant, and no road too long – giving cyclists the freedom to expand their horizons!

Where to Buy Quality Frame Bike Racks

Bike shops are always a good starting point when hunting down the right rack. Friendly folks there can guide you through options based on your specific needs. Aventon makes great bike racks as well as Himiway.  But if you’re like me and love scrolling through pages of options before hitting the buy button, online shopping platforms can be a treasure trove! Detailed descriptions, reviews, comparisons – everything for an informed decision.

Can A Frame Bike Rack also Transport an Electric Downhill Mountain Bike?

Yes, a frame bike rack can transport an electric downhill mountain bike . It is important to ensure that the rack is rated for the weight of the electric downhill mountain bike and that it provides enough support for the additional weight and size of the bike.

Like any other biking gear, frame bike racks may seem complicated at first. But dive into the details, explore your options, and before you know it, you’ll wonder how you ever managed those outdoor escapades without this helpful gadget! Roll on new adventures!

The post Organized Travel: A Frame Bike Rack For Easy Transport appeared first on .

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Reader’s Rig: Chucky’s Sam Mack Custom

Previous Dispatch From Thu May 2, 2024

The Tout Terrain CINQ Plug6 Plus USB-C Dynamo Charger is Available in North America

This week’s Reader’s Rig comes from Chucky of Marygold Cycles in Chicago, who shares his custom Sam Mack frame with beefy tires, lugs, a beautiful rust patina, and an eclectic parts kit. Get to know more about Chucky and his one-of-a-kind frame here…

Words and photos by Chucky Berls

Hey, ya’ll! Chucky here from Chicago, Illinois. I grew up in the west suburbs of Chicago until I was 19, when I moved to Phoenix to pursue year-round skateboarding. I moved back to the Illinois suburbs briefly before moving to Chicago in 2015. I exclusively worked in the service industry for 16+ years until leaving a brewery to go full-time bike mechanic a year and a half ago. I currently work at Mack’s Bike & Goods three days a week and run Marygold Cyclery the rest of the week.

In March of 2022, I went into Mack’s for the first time for their anniversary party. It was the first time I met Sam and Kelly, who own the shop, and the first time I laid eyes on Sam’s custom-built, lugged steel, big-tired bike. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. I just loved the thin tubing with the massive tires. Fast forward to November of 2023 when I texted Sam asking him to build me a frame, and he said, “Dude, I would love to.”

Within a couple of hours of that text, Sam had ordered tubes and lugs. We took some measurements off my Hardrock, double-checked my PBH, and Sam eagerly got to work. Most of the build was done with used parts, aside from the tires, cassette, chainring (thanks, Matt!), and pedals. I’m so happy with the outcome and so thankful that Sam was down to build it for me. Thanks a million, bub. It’s been perfect on the unpaved trails we have around the city, and it’s surprisingly pretty dang quick on pavement, too.

• Frame/Fork: Sam Mack custom (Columbus Life 7/4/7 and Zona tubing, Kirk Pacenti fork crown)
• Rims: Velocity Cliffhangers
• Hubs: Shimano dynamo (front) / Shimano (rear)
• Tires: Vittoria Mezcals 29 x 2.6″
• Handlebars: SimWorks Getaround
• Headset: 1″ Tange
• Crankset: Mismatched Shimano 170mm
• Pedals: Pedotec PT Thunder
• Cassette: Microshift 8-speed
• Derailleur(s): Shimano XTR Rapid Rise
• Brakes: Vintage Dia-Compe cantis with VO Grand Cru levers
• Shifter(s): Suntour thumbie
• Saddle: Brooks C17
• Seatpost: Parts bin
• Stem: Parts bin
• Front bags: Blue Lug waxed canvas 137 tote / Ron’s Abs
• Frame bags: Outer Shell Medium
• Rear bags: Road Runner Burrito Bag
• Accessory bags: Outer Shell Stem Bag
• Other accessories: Esgo Technologies Frame Pad, Koma Rear Light

Since I started this write-up at the end of January, and it’s now early May, I have taken my “Sam bike” to San Francisco, Kentucky, and Brown County. Having never ridden in SF, I stole the Suntour thumbie off my Hardrock for fear that the downtube shifter might be cumbersome on the trails. I also picked up an Outer Shell framebag during a shop visit, and I swapped the 175mm cranks for some mismatched Shimano 170s. It has been the perfect bike for all three trips. I plan on keeping the frame raw for a bit longer. It’s coloring (rusting) so nicely.

You can see more from Chucky on Instagram .

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How to explore Moscow in 1 day on 2 wheels: 5 cycling routes

Riding a bike from a city public bike rental station along the embankment of Muzeon Arts Park.

Moscow cycling routes. / Stepan Zharky

Along the moskva river - 29km.

Nagatinskaya Embankment – Red Square – Taynitsky Garden - Kremlin Embankment - Cathedral of Christ the Savior – Luzhniki – The Alley of Fame - Krasnaya Presnya Park - Moscow International Business Center ( Moscow City )

This scenic route along the embankment of the Moskva River will take you away from the city’s infamous traffic. Start at Nagatinskaya Embankment, one of the most beautiful in the capital due to the fascinating architecture dotted along it.

Cycle onto Novospassky Bridge and cross onto the other side of the embankment before riding over to Ustinsky Bridge. Jump off your bike and take the stairs down.

Once on level ground, pedal past two of Moscow’s most iconic landmarks - Red Square and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior - then on to Luzhniki.

Follow signs to the Novodevichya and Savvinskaya Embankments.

Ride in the direction of Smolenskaya and Krasnopresnenskaya Metro stations and you’ll eventually reach the Moscow International Business Center (Moscow City) and its stunning array of skyscrapers.

Soviet grandeur - 13km

VDNKh - Moscow Botanical Garden of Academy of Sciences - Rock Garden - Ostankino Park - Ostankino Palace

If the sights and sounds of the city center are wearing you down, head to VDNKh. It’s a unique park, rich in history and architecture. The complex includes more than 500 permanent structures and 49 of them are objects of cultural heritage. Cycle through the park before arriving at the Moscow Botanical Garden of Academy of Sciences, right next to VDNKh. Then follow signs to the Rock Garden, also referred as the Moscow’s “stone jungle.”

Ostankino Park is the next stop and it’s known for its wide avenues, ponds, and lush greenery. Cycle a little further and you’ll come to some beautiful examples of 17th and 18th century architecture. Ostankino Palace is a unique Russian monument made entirely of wood and amazingly it’s retained its original interiors.

Bright lights, big city - 12km

Moscow International Business Center ( Moscow City ) - Radisson Royal Hotel (Hotel Ukraine) - Square of Europe – Observation deck - Ministry of Foreign Affairs  - Arbat Street – Red Square

Try this route at night and you'll be blown away. The Russian capital is a city of contrasts: Set off from the Taras Shevchenko Embankment and soak up the striking modernity of Moscow City before cruising past the classical, Stalinist magnificence of the Hotel Ukraine.

Pass by both the Berezhkovskaya and Vorobyevskaya Embankments and take a break on the observation deck at Sparrow Hills. From here you can see all of the Seven Sisters skyscrapers. Next, ride on down to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then to Arbat Street, which will lead you to an unforgettable view of the Kremlin and Red Square.

Right in the capital’s heart - 9km

Rozhdestvensky Boulevard - Tsvetnoy Boulevard - Strastnoy Boulevard - Novopushkinskiy square - Tverskaya Street - New Arbat Avenue - Patriarch Ponds - Garden Ring - Moscow Hermitage Garden

This route takes you right through the heart of the city center. Glide past some of Moscow’s most iconic sights. Start at Pushkin Square and bike over to the Government of Moscow building. Then head to New Arbat Avenue and take a rest at Patriarch Ponds. Visit the Bulgakov Museum and take a look at the Moscow Satire Theater and Mossovet Theater. Continue biking towards Sadovo-Trimfalnyy Square and follow the signs to Moscow’s Hermitage Garden. Here you can enjoy a cool beer in the shade.

Chistyye Prudy to Sokolniki Park - 7km

Ustyinsky  Square -  Chistyye  Prudy - Sretensky Boulevard - Sovremennik Theater - Komsomolskaya Square - Sokolniki Park

This route starts off at the Ustinsky Bridge that stretches over Moskva River. After enjoying the beautiful views bike northeast to Yauzsky Boulevard, continue onto Pokrovsky Boulevard, and then cycle to Chistoprudny Boulevard. Your first stop will be Chistyye Prudy – a park in the city center surrounding a charming pond and pavilion. There are a number of sculptures and monuments here that have been glorified countless times in both literary and musical works.

Once you’ve had your fill of Moscow’s “green island,” pedal in the direction of Turgenevskaya Metro - you’ll end up at Academician Sakharov Avenue. Then continue to Komsomolskaya Metro followed by Rusakovskaya Street. Turn left and follow signs to one of the city’s most bike-friendly parks: Sokolniki.

Read more:  Wheels of change: Russia’s cycling revolution gathers speed

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Bill Chipman Palouse Trail

Idaho, washington.

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Bill chipman palouse trail description.

The Bill Chipman Palouse Trail stretches 7.1 miles through the rolling wheat fields of the Palouse region, offering a convenient, paved connection between Washington State University and the University of Idaho.

The trail follows a piece of corridor from the former Union Pacific Railroad (constructed by the Columbia & Palouse Railroad in 1885), which transported passengers from Colfax to Moscow. The last passenger train ran in 1957. Now, the wide, mostly flat pathway—a respite from the area's many hills and valleys—accommodates non-motorized users of all types, with additional trail connections at either end.

Along the route from Pullman to Moscow, 13 original railroad bridges cross Paradise Creek. Opportunities abound to spot birds and other forms of aquatic wildlife thriving in and near the water. Trail users will also find emergency phones, restrooms accessible for people with disabilities, benches, bike racks, and interpretive signs describing the history, agriculture, and ecology of the region.

The Bill Chipman Palouse Trail overlaps with the Pullman Loop Trail for approximately 1 mile, starting near the Chipman trailhead at Bishop Boulevard. From here, you'll cross Paradise Creek to a cirque of benches and an interpretive station at Birdhouse Depot. Magpies are common; the stream also provides a habitat for hawks, falcons, and more than 100 other bird species.

As you travel farther along the gentle uphill grade, you'll come to the next point of interest, a giant grain elevator. A greenway buffers you from the four-lane highway to Moscow, as do the lovely waysides with interpretive signs and benches along the corridor. Grab some water at Neil Wayside near Pullman. This dry, unsheltered path is often windy heading eastward.

The trail culminates at Farm Road (Perimeter Drive) in Moscow. Continue east on the 2-mile Paradise Path through the north and east edges of the University of Idaho campus and up Paradise Creek to the Moscow city limits. Here, you can connect with the paved, 16-mile Latah Trail to Troy, Idaho.

Parking and Trail Access

There are two spots for designated parking along the trail. At the western terminus in Pullman, there is parking at the gas station across from the trailhead, 1455 SE Bishop Blvd. Halfway between Pullman and Moscow, there is parking at the Sunshine Trailhead. 

Although there is no designated parking at the eastern terminus, the trail ends here in downtown Moscow where there is ample public parking.

See TrailLink Map for more detailed directions.

Bill Chipman Palouse Trail Reviews

Flat, yes, but….

Id rate this trail a C- overall for a couple of reasons. The biggest drawback is the overfilled cracks which have been poorly managed. These bumps are hard to take on a rigid frame road bike and they are frequent—as in every few yards. The continual jarring diminishes the riders experience overall. Secondly, as of late August 2023, the bridge near Pullman is out. Some local kids decided to party there and burned the bridge. There is a detour that takes you onto Highway 8, but that’s never enjoyable to ride a busy highway. I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to ride the trail, bu rid you happen to be in the area and want to do a short ride it’s okay.

Great trail for biking between Pullman and Moscow

I only bike this trail, when I want to go to Pullman for some reason and prefer to bike there rather than drive. I don't choose this trail to bike on for the scenery, because the Latah Trail between Moscow and Troy is a lot nicer. But I do like this trail a lot. While you are parallel to the highway, which isn't a big highway by any means, it's not as loud and intrusive as you might think.

Easy commuter trail along the creek

This trail is perfect for an evening workout or leisurely ride. It is a slight but noticeable downhill from Moscow to Pullman, the two end points of the trail. Also there can be a strong wind from the SW. So keep these two facts in mind when take off. The trail is well marked, wonderfully maintained, smooth surfaced with great views of the rolling wheat fields of the Palouse. It also connects to the Paradise Trail system in Moscow and through to the Latah Trail to the city of Troy. Good for roller blades too.

Not much traffic noise

"Although the trail does parallel the 4-lane road, we have to say that with the wind blowing, we barely heard any traffic noise. There is a nice buffer of green space between the trail and road on most of the pathway which was visually appealing along with providing a ""comfort-zone"" for riding. The green hills and wildflowers added to the beauty. Overall, we had a great ride on this path. Thank you Rails-to-Trails!"

"The Chipman Trail is an amazing 8-mile trail between Pullman, WA, (WSU) and Moscow, ID (UI), through the rolling Palouse. It is pristinely paved with minimal traffic and winds its way along a stream for a short time, past solo trees and a few horses or cows depending on the season. It has beautiful purple, yellow and white wildflowers along with high wheat fields at the peak of the season. It's a fabulous journey east and can get a bit windy for those heading West, which makes the journey even that more exhilarating. I've left Washington state for Washington, DC now and I must say one of the things I miss is my daily blade on the Chipman Trail. Enjoy and say ""Hi"" to the Palouse for me! :)"

Nearby Trails

Pullman Riverwalk

Length: 0.42 mi.

Grand Avenue Greenway

Length: 1.7 mi.

Paradise Path

Length: 2.2 mi.

Latah Trail

Length: 16 mi.

Colfax Trail

Length: 3 mi.

Greenbelt Trail (WA)

Length: 7 mi.

Lewiston Levee Parkway Trail

Length: 12.3 mi.

Ed Corkill Memorial River Trail

Length: 5.3 mi.

Great American Rail-Trail

Length: 3743.9 mi.

Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail

Length: 236.46 mi.

Coeur d'Alene Trail

Length: 73.2 mi.

Columbia Plateau Trail State Park

Length: 130 mi.

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Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

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To continue this Moscow itinerary, next you may want to go inside the Kremlin walls. This is the center of Russian political power and the president’s official residence. If you’re planning to pay Kremlin a visit do your best to visit Ivan the Great Bell Tower as well. Go there as early as possible to avoid crowds and get an incredible bird’s-eye view. There are a couple of museums that are available during designated visiting hours. Make sure to book your ticket online and avoid lines.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

Blair Villanueva

OMG I dream to visit Moscow someday! Hope the visa processing would be okay (and become more affordable) so I could pursue my dream trip!

Yup, visa processing is the major downside! Agree! Time and the money consuming process…

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