Touring - any last minute sugestions before my trip to Taiwan?

Hello

I will be in Taiwan next week. If anyone has any last minute suggestions, w.r.t. my upcoming bike build, I'd love to hear them!
I have, more or less, been focusing my attention towards the Thorn Sherpa frame-set. It will be a very expensive purchase including delivery costs (approx.$800).

My requirements are:
- 26" wheels
- sturdy build to handle a tour of Asia
- long wheel base
- I am 184cm tall

so if anyone thinks that there may be a alternative/better value frame out there that is cheaper or within the above price range including delivery to South Korea, then please let me know.

My plan is to purchase all necessary components in Taiwan, currently to suit the Thorn Sherpa frame-set.

I was in touch with Thorn in the UK regarding information on the Sherpa, but unfortunately they would not tell me what factory in Taiwan assembles the Sherpa frame-set (Thorn stated that is was "commercially sensitive information"). That info would have been handy because I might have been be able to source an alternative steel frame of similar specs (considering steel frames/touring frames are very hard to find in Taiwan).

Collie

Can you do some sort of internet search on Taiwanese frame builders? Or on taiwanese frame builder + Thorn? Or look at the list of trade displays from an industry convention?

Surly also have a good reputation at a lower cost, but at your height the LHT frame will use 622 (700c).

Be aware that buying new components + new frame + cost to assemble + good wheelbuilding will be more expensive than buying complete bike + quick wheel true and tension.

In Australia most people seem to be touring on MTBs; you might look for hardtail XC frames/bikes to see if you can find one with appropriate geometry and rack eyelets.

If you are going to build anyway, how about an older MTB frame as discussed in many posts; Shogun and Giant have some OK older frames; the Americans seem to like Trek and Specialized frames from early 90s.

BTW, the Thorn blog has a picture of their new Raven Nomad frame in front of a box. The box is labelled Thorn but has some Chinese writing on it, which may give a clue. (It may just say "sign on delivery" or "fragile" or something like that, of course!)

Yeah, like I said, I was in touch with Thorn and they told me that the Sherpa is assembled in Taiwan. So I got excited thinking that maybe I could reduce my expenses and collect the frame at the factory in Taiwan (saving the delivery cost from Taiwan to UK and then to me in South Korea). But Thorn said that it wasn't possible : (
To be honest I like the Sherpa frame-set and I've heard good things about it, but I would like to reduce my costs so I will have a look for a similar frame in Taiwan before I buy the Sherpa online.

I know building is more expensive than buying a complete bike, but I enjoy the construction, and I would like to hand pick all the components for the bike, so that I won't be needing an upgrade of certain components before the tour, and it's supposedly difficult to source touring bikes in Taiwan

No worries!

can't wait for the trip to Taiwan though!

Yeah, like I said, I was in touch with Thorn and they told me that the Sherpa is assembled in Taiwan. So I got excited thinking that maybe I could reduce my expenses and collect the frame at the factory in Taiwan (saving the delivery cost from Taiwan to UK and then to me in South Korea). But Thorn said that it wasn't possible : (

I'd be very surprised if you couldn't get the exact same frame coming out of the exact same factory but missing the Thorn decals. Taiwan is well-known for these kind of back door of the factory deals. I'd either find a bike seller close by the factory and ask them what they can do for you, or go to factory directly. Good old capitalism will come through for you in this situation, I think.

thanks for the consideration... but unfortunately I do not know the name/address of the factory. I heard before though that Surly LHT's were made/assembled in the same factory.
anyone any ideas?