The number one reason touring bikes break spokes is that the shop that sold the bike didn't stress, tighten, stress, true and stress the wheels the right way. I would go on any long tour without trueing the wheels!
Because WillisB knows the shop, the odds are there are going to assemble the bike the right way and tune the wheels. I don't see either bike busting a lot of spokes on the road. These are quality bikes from a good shop.
Bikes Direct sells closeout Fuji bikes super cheap-- some people who don't understand why these bikes are such a *good deal* and ride bikes with low spoke tention, ungreased and loose headsets, loose cranksets and unstressed cables. And the bikes break down. Then they post here that Fuji bikes are crap....
And that isn't true!