Touring - Are there any Thorn owners out there?

I just ordered a Thorn Nomad and hoping I made the right choice. They seem very well thought out and with BTCs, it was one of the best deals out there even with shipping. Spending that much for a frame I haven't ridden still leaves me a little uneasy, so....

If you have a Thorn, please get back to me.

Check Hoogie's site for info about the Nomad:
http://www.hoogie.co.nz/
http://www.hoogie.co.nz/bikes/nomad.htm

Personally, going for my Club Tour was a bit like blind dating: the only info about it was the one in their catalogue. But the frame quality and handling is up to their words so no need to worry.

I just ordered a Thorn Nomad and hoping I made the right choice. They seem very well thought out and with BTCs, it was one of the best deals out there even with shipping. Spending that much for a frame I haven't ridden still leaves me a little uneasy, so....

If you have a Thorn, please get back to me.

i was going to suggest looking at my nomad webpage, but i see someone has beaten me to it! :)

it is a very good bike, a real solid ride and seems to handle even better when fully loaded ... my only tip would be to spend a bit extra and get the frame powder coated, as the paint they used to have chipped very easily [my only gripe with the bike] ...

i was like you, i bought the frame without riding one, but i did heaps of research, read heaps of articles and emailed lots of owners and was still nervous up till the first decent ride ...

its good mate, you'll like it!

cheers,
hoogie

I've got a Thorn Raven Catalyst - the versatile, mtb-inspired, Rohloff equipped expedition beast. I absolutely love that bike, mostly for the Rohloff, but also for the excellent build quality of the frame. I've taken it out to the Indian Himalayas for the past two years for some loaded touring and also use it as an mtb during the mucky UK winter weather. A friend of mine has taken her Nomad out to the Himalayas too. She rated that bike, but has since upgraded to a Rohloff equipped Raven Tour. Once you try a Rohloff, you won't go back to derailleurs - at least for touring anyway. I'd still use a traditional drivetrain for racy Mtbing because of the lightness and speed of shifting.

I've been round SJS's shop in Bridgewater and know their bikes pretty well. They are always solid, well put together, good value machines. I can understand it's difficult to buy a bike without trying it out since sizing is so important. If you're happy with the fit/size, then I think the Nomad's a great touring bike. Thorn frames are built tough and shrug off abuse. Ours have stood up to lots! Invariably, we see other Thorns on tour in remote places too.

We've got some pics of our (my boyfriend and I) Thorns in the Himalayas on www.out-there-biking.com

Ypu made a good choice with the Nomad as it's a really good bike. I've owned a Raven myself but advised a friend to buy Nomad and she loves it, it's tough, well-engineered and of high quality. I would advise getting the powder coat also and while you're at it get them to fit Scwalbe Marathons as they usually fit Panaracers.

Thanks for reaffirming my decision everyone and nice sites hoogie and cara. Since I opted for the BTCs, I still have time to change the paint so will inquire as to how much more for a powder coated frame. The Nomad really seemed like the only true option, short of a fully custom bike, since I wanted an expedition ready compact geometry touring frame that is also fun to ride unloaded. I was close to hacking my LHT but that bike only excels as a loaded tour.

Hoogie, I also ordered a 595L. The top tube is a centimeter or two longer than I would like but I can deal w/ it. Also debating between drops and flat bars. I have done most of my touring on flat bars and liked it. People say you have more hand postions w/ drops but don't know if I buy that since getting into the drops is a rarity for me so I end up having a narrow bar to ride w/.

Hoping to take this bike to the ends of the earth!

I have a Thorn Nomad. It's one of the best touring bikes ever made. Nomads have already been to the edges of the earth and back several times. They're tough purpose build machines that beg to be loaded and ridden. I'm sure you've already relized that the sky is the limit when ordering from SJS. Want a generator mount in a certain place, head tube extension, custom geometry, certain rim and hub, and on and on..... no problem.

Photos of my bike are in the "Pictures of your loaded rigs" thread at the top of the page, on page 14 which is currently the last page.

My total bike and gear weight has been up to 126lbs/56.15kg or more and at that weight over some of the worse roads I've been on. This is because I was carrying a lot of extra water into remote areas. Out on the road, the Thorn has never given me reason for concern, nor fear that I couldn't do something I've wanted or needed to do.

One of these years I'll finally get the chance to take the Nomad out on the road for 12 straight months. That bike might be as much as 20 years old by the time this happens, but it'll still be up to it.

Cheers,

I Have a Nomad, Like you bought over the internet, never even seen one before.

It is superb

Thanks for reaffirming my decision everyone and nice sites hoogie and cara. Since I opted for the BTCs, I still have time to change the paint so will inquire as to how much more for a powder coated frame. The Nomad really seemed like the only true option, short of a fully custom bike, since I wanted an expedition ready compact geometry touring frame that is also fun to ride unloaded. I was close to hacking my LHT but that bike only excels as a loaded tour.

Hoogie, I also ordered a 595L. The top tube is a centimeter or two longer than I would like but I can deal w/ it. Also debating between drops and flat bars. I have done most of my touring on flat bars and liked it. People say you have more hand postions w/ drops but don't know if I buy that since getting into the drops is a rarity for me so I end up having a narrow bar to ride w/.

Hoping to take this bike to the ends of the earth!

thanks for your kind comment on my website ...

yeah, this bike will get to the ends of the earth, and more importantly back again!

drops vs flats is a personal thing really ... i have tried both and prefer the flats ... i never used the drops at all and found riding on the hoods uncomfortable ... my flat bars with bars ends gives me all the hand positions i need ...

have you also checked out the thorn forum (http://www.sjscycles.com/forum/) ?

cheers,
hoogie

I also have a Thorn Nomad and i'm very impressed with it. How many framebuilders seal off the top tube, down tube, seat and chainstays (to prevent rust), have braze-ons for a rim generator, and a pump holder build into the frame? The 1.0/.7/1.0 tubing is very stable. Just a very well thought out, high quality frame.
I also thought it was risky to buy one without ever seeing one, but i did my homework, tried out lots of bikes, compared sizes, angles, tube lengths, .. and did their fit system and it worked out fine, bike fits very well.

Personally, going for my Club Tour was a bit like blind dating: the only info about it was the one in their catalogue. But the frame quality and handling is up to their words so no need to worry.

I also ordered a Club Tour sight unseen, and I've been happy with it. I did not like the colours in the catalog, but SJS Cycles happened to have the frame in another blue that is not in the catalog. The size turned out to be a tiny bit large, and I have meant to get a shorter stem, but it hasn't bothered me enough to actually get around to it.

I asked the steerer not to be cut when I ordered. The uncut steerer on the Club Tour fork is very long, so you can actually have the handlebars where you want them. None of the ready-made touring bikes that I could have ordered through bike shops would have had that.

Whatever doubts I had are gone due to your feedback. Thorn obviously has a loyal following. It's great a touring specific shop can flourish and have a world wide reputation.

Maybe someone can explain this but the sealed tubes almost seems like a negative unless they created a vacum at the time of sealing. If not, moisture will still develop and no way for it to evaporate. A minimal amount of moisture but enough to cause a little rust. They obviously know what they are doing. I just picked up a can of framesaver but looks like I will only need it for the fork, headtube and seat tube.

Since I am moving parts over from my current touring bike, I only needed a longer seatpost, shorter stem and wheels. The frame should arrive in about a month. Hopefully sooner.

Most likely they will provide a (long) seatpost

Just to confirm all the above. We have a Thorn Tandem ordered from England sight unseen or tried. Did the Thorn fit and it has been really comfortable. They have been fantastic to deal with over the net, nothing is too hard or too much trouble.
Cheers Brian & Sue

I only needed a longer seatpost, shorter stem and wheels.

it may pay to order your seatpost with your bike, as it is an uncommon size ... from memory thorn seatpost sizing is 27.0mm, and not the standard 27.2mm which won't fit ... saves tears at a later date!

cheers,
hoogie
new zealand

I didn't know that about the seatpost and never heard for a 27.0. Thanks for the info. Glad I started the thread and also glad the bike is still being fitted w/ btc's so I can make some changes.

All of you were also right about their customer service. Since the bike hasn't been painted yet, there is no charge to have it powder coated so it's going to be mat black w/ silver graphics which suits me just fine. It also means I will receive it about 2 weeks sooner. I also told Mark that 27.0 seat posts are not that common, at least where I live, and that I use a particular seat post w/ 35mm of set back and it doesn't come in a 27.0 size. So they are going to ream the seat tube to accept a 27.2 post with no ill effects. Sounding better all the time.

What does a Thorn cost? Sounds like a neat purchase if you can shoose paint...black and cream would be cool...so how much $$$$$

Check out their site at http://www.sjscycles.com/ and click on the currency converter to price their other models.
The bike I ordered, A Nomad w/ black powder coat and BTCs will cost about $1600.00 US. That includes a headset and all stainless hardware. This is frame only. The powder coat wasn't any extra since they were starting w/ an unpainted frame.
I could have gotten fairly close in price locally, within the US, for a coupled bike but if the price were same across the board the other brands (Davidson, Co-Motion, Rodcycle, Bilenky) I still would have gone for the Thorn. Especially since it's Fillet Brazed. The prices for the above in a similiar design were $2250, 2025, 1800 and 1750, respectively. And that's w/out a headset.

Check out their site at http://www.sjscycles.com/ and click on the currency converter to price their other models.
The bike I ordered, A Nomad w/ black powder coat and BTCs will cost about $1600.00 US. That includes a headset and all stainless hardware. This is frame only. The powder coat wasn't any extra since they were starting w/ an unpainted frame.
I could have gotten fairly close in price locally, within the US, for a coupled bike but if the price were same across the board the other brands (Davidson, Co-Motion, Rodcycle, Bilenky) I still would have gone for the Thorn. Especially since it's Fillet Brazed. The prices for the above in a similiar design were $2250, 2025, 1800 and 1750, respectively. And that's w/out a headset.
But what about the cost of shipping and customs duties?

A Nomad w/ black powder coat and BTCs will cost about $1600.00 US. That includes a headset and all stainless hardware. This is frame only.

that seems a little expensive ... from memory i paid just over GBP500 which included shipping to me from the other side of the world ... or about NZD$1400, or about USD$800 ...
for that i got a nomad frame, headset, all the stainless hardware and the thorn seatpost ...

also bear in mind that you do get the VAT that the british pay on their goods taken off, which from memory is about 19% off the sticker price quoted on the website ...

sjscycles are good guys huh?

what is are BTCs?

cheers,
hoogie

Yes, they are great guys.

BTCs are what most people call S and S couplings and cost about $420 US in addition to the frame. I plan on flying a lot so they will pay for themselves in about 3 years.

Here is the Sandsmachine site: http://www.sandsmachine.com/

Yes, they are great guys.

BTCs are what most people call S and S couplings and cost about $420 US in addition to the frame. I plan on flying a lot so they will pay for themselves in about 3 years.

Here is the Sandsmachine site: http://www.sandsmachine.com/

ahhhhh, now i see ... good choice indeed ... that would also explain the cost.

in hindsight i wish i had gotten them installed as well ... also i got my nomad frame before the raven model came out ... but still very happy with what i have and what i have built too ...

have just ordered some new lx v-brakes and levers for my nomad ... the perfectly good deore v-brakes and levers are going on my trek 520 along with some pauls thumbies shifters i have ordered as well ... the perfectly good 8-sp shifters/brake levers and canti brakes from the trek 520 are going onto my mtb where the shifters have cr*pped out ... flow on effect or trickle down technology?

also bear in mind that you do get the VAT that the british pay on their goods taken off, which from memory is about 19% off the sticker price quoted on the website ...

sjscycles are good guys huh?


VaT (Value Added Tax) is 17.5%

Any purchase for payment and delivery outside the EU does not have to pay this, so unless SJSC have a non-VAT price list on the website you can deduct 17.5% off the prices.

However your local Customs may well slap a similar 'imporation' tax on the bike. The solution to this problem is either to 'prove' the bike has been yours for ages therefore not new and you are just sending it back to yourself, or to get an invoice for a lot less than you actually paid. To your average local Customs officer a bike, is a bike, is a bike, and will assume a value of US$500 is reasonible

I also have a Thorn Nomad and i'm very impressed with it. How many framebuilders seal off the top tube, down tube, seat and chainstays (to prevent rust), have braze-ons for a rim generator, and a pump holder build into the frame? The 1.0/.7/1.0 tubing is very stable. Just a very well thought out, high quality frame.
I also thought it was risky to buy one without ever seeing one, but i did my homework, tried out lots of bikes, compared sizes, angles, tube lengths, .. and did their fit system and it worked out fine, bike fits very well.

hi bokes, I am tinkering with the idea of building with the Thorn frame. Especially since I am only 5'6' and would probably need a bike with 26" wheels. I live in the US as well in Atlanta, GA.

Did you order the complete bike or frame? Whom did you order it through? Harris Cyclery is the only retailer in the US that distributes Thorn as far as I know. There is some difficuty building a Thorn bicycle in the US because it is not readily available. Just trying to work it all out. Thanks,

The only Thorn available through Harris is the Raven and frame only. Ordering a complete bike from Thorn, to the US, would be prohibitively expensive. The shipping for the Nomad was about $125 and it arrived in five working days which amazed me. I was lucky w/ customs. Some advice I received was to have it powder coated. Glad I did but it's not as beautiful as a wet painted bike but much more durable. I also had them ream the seat tube to 27.2. 27.0 seat posts are not too hard to find but not as plentiful as 27.2. I just finished building mine and will try and add a photo or two.

Georgiaboy, like aroundoz said, just get the frame. I was lucky with customs also.

Here she is. Fairly basic build and it doesn't look that flashy considering the matt black powder coat which will hopefully deter any undesirable attention. I am a little disappointed that the head badge was painted over. Guessing that it's not an option when powder coating. It rides very well and comparing it to the LHT that it replaced, it climbs so much better. I am happy to be on 26" wheels again.

By the way, that is the Spokane River Falls in the background which I am fortunate enough to ride by every morning on the way to work. I liked what someone else said. "Commuting to work is like having two mini vacations every day." I should have included a better picture of the falls. Maybe I still will.

nice build mate ... looks good indeed, but then i would have to say that huh? :)

I think Thorns are great bikes, really I do, but beautiful they certainly are not. Aroundoz's bike looks very functional, but its pug ugly!

If you want a Rohloff, they're one of the best options. If you don't then there are plenty of better looking and equally functional bikes.

I don't quite understand why anyone would buy a Thorn without a Rohloff actually.

Pug ugly is a bit harsh, don't you think? Actually that would be my first impression but it grows on you. Not unlike the original LHT green. If I knew then what I now know about Rohloff's, I probably would have purchased one. Is it a big deal to install a Rohloff hub on a bike not originally designed for it. I know Thorn makes Rohloff specific frames but does that mean it doesn't have a derailleur hanger and nothing more? Anyway, thanks for the kind words. It's a great bike.