Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Beckman Bicycle Cost

This post is an FYI for anyone researching Beckman bicycles. It is the post I wish I'd seen a few weeks ago. Firstly, let me say that if I could afford to pay for and tour on a Beckman bicycle without a lot of anxiety, I would already have ordered one. It may well be the best touring bike in the world. Anyway, the cost: Complete bike, with racks, wheels, shifters, brakes, etc. = about $5,600. Top quality panniers front and rear = about $1,400. Items that cost extra or are not available at Beckman = Seat, peddles, fenders, lights, some braze-on's. I think you bring your own air pump too, Virginia. My congratulations to anyone with the jack and sensibility to make the long tour on a Beckman bike.

The Beckman bike is indeed the best touring bike made that I've ever found. As far as the cost go you don't have to buy Beckman panniers, racks etc because he does charge a premium price for that stuff. Performance cycling has excellent panners for a lot less money.

If the Beckman is too much money look into Mercian: http://www.merciancycles.com/gallery.asp . Just do a web search and e-mail them to have a catalogue sent to you; the catalogue has more information and better pictures then their web site. Mercian can do any extra brazeons you want, plus you can choose different style lugs which the catalogue only explains. I was going to buy a Mercain but I'm waiting for the British pound to come down against the dollar...hopefully by this summer.

I appreciate the info. I do have to come up with some alternatives. I am even considering buying the Beckman w/o panniers and racks. Maybe buying them later. I will say, though, that although I might be able to modify and make-do with other panniers, his racks look significantly superior to anything I've ever seen (not that I've yet to look that hard). I'll certainly look into the Mercian. If anyone else has suggestions on a really excellent touring bike in the under $4k range, I'd really like to hear about it.

While the Beckman and Ortleib may be the best panniers, though not sure if they really are, they are expensive. I guess it would boil down to how much touring are you going to do. If your not going to a lot of touring then get something that's moderately priced like Blackburn and Topeak that will last quite awhile; and save that money for other gear you might need on the road or a better bike or more options on the bike.

Here is a good site that has excellent and extensive information about touring: http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/

Bought an Atlantis. Once I realized that I wanted a lugged, steel frame, the choices narrowed down quite a bit. As should always be the case when one finds a new love, I wonder, "Whatever did I see in that Beckman anyway?":D

Bought an Atlantis. Once I realized that I wanted a lugged, steel frame, the choices narrowed down quite a bit. As should always be the case when one finds a new love, I wonder, "Whatever did I see in that Beckman anyway?":D

TPIWWP ("this post is worthless without pictures") :)

Bought an Atlantis. Once I realized that I wanted a lugged, steel frame, the choices narrowed down quite a bit. As should always be the case when one finds a new love, I wonder, "Whatever did I see in that Beckman anyway?":D

What did you mean by: "Whatever did I see in that Beckman anyway?"? The Beckman bikes ARE lugged!!

But the Atlantis is an excellent choice, you will be very happy on it.

Oh, frozey, of course their lugged. At $7k (with bags) I didn't belong in the [e-] store, I didn't belong window-shopping, you know what I mean?
As to pictures, brunop, What I did was put a $300 deposit down w/Rivendell. The bike is supposed to be born in about two months. But then there will be certain technical problems: I do not own a camera. (Why are cameras so universal, anyway? I cannot see myself sitting around nostalging, nor asking friends to appreciate places and people they don't know or haven't been to.) Actually, I do not even have the internet at home, only here at work. When the time comes I'll have to ask a more technically outfitted friend.
Thanks for your responses

If the readers of this thread are still shopping for the "Ultimate" in touring bikes (cost no object), I'd recommend having a close look at the Tout Terrain Silkroad (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/tout-terrain.asp) Rohloff specific bike ($4900 before panniers) before putting the deposit down on the Beckman.

To me, the Silkroad is truly an integrated platform. The racks, brakes etc are not add-ons but part of the design from the start. The Rohloff dropout, the disc mounts designed with rack right from the start etc. all point to a bike that will be reliable long past your lifetime.

I suppose you have to ask where you plan to go: Edmonton to Bella Coola? Road of Bones in eastern Russia (rent the Long Way Round DVD) ? Then go with the Silkroad. If you're going to retrace Route66,, then the Beckman may be the Ultimate. Personal choice, but it's cool to have choices..

Oh, frozey, of course their lugged. At $7k (with bags) I didn't belong in the [e-] store, I didn't belong window-shopping, you know what I mean?
As to pictures, brunop, What I did was put a $300 deposit down w/Rivendell. The bike is supposed to be born in about two months. But then there will be certain technical problems: I do not own a camera. (Why are cameras so universal, anyway? I cannot see myself sitting around nostalging, nor asking friends to appreciate places and people they don't know or haven't been to.) Actually, I do not even have the internet at home, only here at work. When the time comes I'll have to ask a more technically outfitted friend.
Thanks for your responses

Ah so it was just a little expensive? err actually a lot for a bike that's just going to get all goobered up touring! But I wonder, if you didn't go with their bags and panniers and bought generic from Performance how much would you save then? The Sakkit Expedition 26 with Shimano Deore is $2,550 (according to Beckmans web site); racks and panners from Performance for front are only $115 and rear are only $130 on sale now, add on $100 for assembly if you can't do it yourself and thats a total of only $2,895 plus shipping...thats a far cry from $7,000!

I like the Sakkit design better then the Silkroad because first off I'm a lug freak and the Silkroad is not, second the Sakkit comes with 4 water bottle holders while the Silkroad has only 2-not much water for touring, third the Sakkit comes with a longer wheelbase design for more comfort, and actually has a host of other stuff the Silkroad doesn't even consider.

Beckman's prices reflected on the web have not been updated for 7 yeears. You get your price when you call him. I have a Sakkit. Found the frame on ebay and it was the first Match built frame. I believe I paid $1100 for the frame and later commissioned Beckman to build me a set of racks. The Beckman panniers I have, also from ebay, had their mounting hooks set for Bruce Gordon Racks so I need to re-position them. If you want a frame, be very patient. He says that he is now building them himself. Yes, mine is lugged, with s and s couplers.

Beckman's prices reflected on the web have not been updated for 7 yeears. You get your price when you call him. .

Any idea what his current price is?