FYI -

I just received this intel in an email from extracycle....

Got a mad hankering for a Big Dummy?


Big Dummies will be available on www.xtracycle.com as of Jan. 7th


Surly's been taking their time dialing in the Big Dummy to be the haulinest, all out brawniest bike on the mass market. We've been getting your calls wondering when you can get your paws on one, and we are excited to announce that we will begin pre-selling the Big Dummy complete as of January 7th. We can't say exactly how many Dummies will hit the US shores in February, but we can say that it's fewer than there are days in a leap-year. How do you reserve one? Several ways -- you'll be able to place your pre-order for one on our website as of the 7th, or call our toll-free line and order with Laughter or Peter. Once you're on the list, you're guaranteed a Dummy when they're ready (probably sometime in March 2008). We'll have 58 total to sell, so anyone with a number higher than 58 will have to wait until later in the year when the second production run arrives.

We will keep you posted as the pre-selling launch date nears.

what a tease. I hate this pre-order crap. Very soft delivery date, and no mention of pricing.

I wonder what the total first production run will be ? Oh well, I've already decided to jump off the big dummy bandwagon and build out my own sub with my old mountain bike (and this info just reaffirms my decision).

Good luck to any that jump on this however.

From what i've heard based on the information given to me by the local dealers, its going to cost far too much in the end to work into a student budget.

My Freeradical has 1-3 days left in delivery :)

Don't get me wrong, I think this might be one of *the* coolest and most useful bikes on the planet, but the LBS wants $500 for the Instigator, $1400 for the Big Dummy. That seems like an incredible discrepancy considering that from what I understand the BD is pretty much just an instigator with a built in freeradical.

what a tease. I hate this pre-order crap. Very soft delivery date, and no mention of pricing.
[...]

I thought the frame+fork price has been pretty consistently mentioned at US$800.

I've already decided to jump off the big dummy bandwagon and build out my own sub with my old mountain bike (and this info just reaffirms my decision).


Yeah, I made the same choice a few months ago. I want the Big Dummy, but I can wait a few years before purchasing.

The extracycle email makes it sound like the initial production run is going to be very small. I am not that exicted about paying $1.5k to $2K for a complete set up of a bike that every bike theif in the Bay Area will be targeting. I am going to wait for the initial Big Dummy frenzy to die down.

Of course, with this frame hitting the streets, I suspect that freeloader theft will be on the rise.

-Stax

Plus the important question... what color(s)???

:D

Plus the important question... what color(s)???

:D

It looks like jensonUSA is taking online pre-orders.

Their specs show military green.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/FR308A03-Surly+Big+Dummy+Frameset.aspx

Intel? LOL!

Speedgoat is taking pre-orders at $895.00. Includes frame prep and qualifies for free shipping.

I'm going to hold off until the Stokemonkey becomes available again.

I'm going to hold off until the Stokemonkey becomes available again.

stokemonkey is designed to do essentially the same thing as the http://www.cyclone-tw.com kit. As far as I can tell, the main difference is that stokemonkey became available earlier, and was only compatible with xtracycle bikes.

stokemonkey is designed to do essentially the same thing as the http://www.cyclone-tw.com kit. As far as I can tell, the main difference is that stokemonkey became available earlier, and was only compatible with xtracycle bikes.
The 2 systems are similar in that they allow the assist motor to take advantage of the same variable gearing that the rider does. The implementations are very different, with each having its own unique strengths relative to the other.

Stokemonkey unique strengths:
- Motor can use all of a typical MTB drivetrain's gears, including those based on triple front chainrings (Cyclone uses only those at the rear wheel, and in fact compels you to replace your triple crank with a single). This means a typically broader spread of torque and speed for SM, befitting its emphasis on heavy hauling. Cyclone can access a more-than-adequate gear range for personal transport, but add heavy cargo or passengers and hills and let's see.
- SM is virtually silent. Cyclone sounds like a cordless drill.
- SM has far fewer moving parts for reliability. All of SM's wearing parts are standard bike parts; Cyclone's are more proprietary.
- SM is a 36V system vs. Cyclone's 24V, meaning that for a given level of power assist, SM permits a wider selection of batteries and stresses them less, with fewer electrical losses and longer cycle life.
- SM's hardware is designed for year-round exposure and is meant to look good, too.
- SM compels the rider to pedal and shift normally, so your biking skills don't go soft with extended use. Aerobic exercise and staying "on top of the gear" at all times is not optional (this is a pro for some and a con for others). Please note that you can of course coast normally too, just not while the motor is helping.

Cyclone unique strengths:
- It's lighter and smaller, fitting a wider range of bikes (SM was designed from the outset as an Xtracycle accessory, not a generic bike conversion kit. SM can provide a stupid/useless amount of torque for anything but a heavy hauler).
- It doesn't make you pedal if you don't want to.
- It costs about $250 less with equivalent-capacity batteries.

I think Cyclone is intended to appeal more to casual/non bikers who want to leave the car at home some days. Stokemonkey is designed for avid bicyclists who want to stay or go car-free, for the kinds of errands that normal bikes and human power alone, as well as other assists, just can't handle in a safe and attractive way.

Both companies have chronic supply chain issues so the stuff is frequently unavailable anyway. :^)

Cyclone kits are simply not on par with Stokemonkey's performance, as mentioned. There *are* excellent systems out there that can rival Stokemonkey, and even best it in certain areas, but overall, its one of the best designs out there.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with Cyclone, but tfahrner's summary is pretty good.

Back to the Big Dummy, the initial reason i'd even wanted one was to have something that would handle the long distance expedition tour I was wanting to do, and still perform usefully at home. The Freeradical looks like it'll do all of that with some light welding however, and my bike shop wants an unbelievable markup for the BD in the first place.

If time for the tour comes, and it end ups giving out, it'll be nice to have the bags from the Xtracycle kit and everything already. However, it looks like the plain freeradical may do quite nicely. We'll see, because its supposed to be here either today or monday :D

Todd~

Any word about when Stokemonkies will be available again?

Back to the Big Dummy, the initial reason i'd even wanted one was to have something that would handle the long distance expedition tour I was wanting to do, and still perform usefully at home.

Same reasons I want a Big Dummy. Plus it'll move the gear after the SHTF or TEOTWAWKI. :D

Hoping to pre-order one from Speedgoat this week.

UPDATE: Just got my updated Rider Fit Profile back from Speedgoat. I hope to pre-order the BD tomorrow.

It is on like the Donkey and the Kong.
:love:

Big Dummy> ordered! I haven't been this stoked about a bicycle since I was a little kid...

good stuff....Surly updated their blog with some new information..... http://www.surlybikes.com/spew19.html
Anyone else order one yet?....

I ordered mine on Dec. 4. Can't wait to get it. I just finished building my rear wheel with a Shimano Alfine hub. Just need a few more bits and pieces.

I ordered mine on Dec. 4. Can't wait to get it. I just finished building my rear wheel with a Shimano Alfine hub. Just need a few more bits and pieces.

I think that's my 'plan of attack' as well (if I'm hearing you right): one piece/part at a time. Still debating about whether or not I'll strip parts from my dual suspension Heckler and sell the frame/fork for Big Dummy parts money.

Did you score the black Alfine hub?

My hub is silver. I didn't know they had them in black.

I currently have an MTB with an Xtracycle Freeradical so I will be transferring many components from that. I'll Ebay whats left.

I hope I get mine this month.

My hub is silver. I didn't know they had them in black.

They're extremely hard to get in the U.S., according to my LBS's.


I hope I get mine this month.

You and me both, man. Gettin' that little monster in my hands in January would rock my face off. But then...how would I ride? :p

I am stoked to see the Big Dummy builds you guys put together! Pics are definitely a must.

I'm so tempted to get one but its just too much damn money for a frameset

We've all been down on Kona's offering because the lack of Xtracycle attachments but the one thing they did get right is the price

don't see any dummies on the xtracycle site, and it's the 7th.

I'm so tempted to get one but its just too much damn money for a frameset

We've all been down on Kona's offering because the lack of Xtracycle attachments but the one thing they did get right is the price

Don't think of it as a replacement for a normal bike. Think of it as a replacement for a car. It doesn't seem so expensive, then. Also, QBP has several packages, my LBS says, that are less than buying the individual components separately.

I am stoked to see the Big Dummy builds you guys put together! Pics are definitely a must.

Will do. For now, here's my working (and obviously incomplete) parts list:

- Rohloff Speedhub and rotor
- Avid Juicy 7 Hydraulic Brakes
- Thompson Elite seatpost
- Time Z clipless platform pedals
- Chris King headset

I'll be selling my Santa Cruz Heckler and a kidney next week to fund this venture. PM me if you're interested in the kidney...

PM me if you're interested in the kidney...

I'm a vegetarian. ;)

But seriously, that sounds like a sweet set up. I look forward to the pics.

It looks like Xtracycle has updated their blog with specs and more info on their complete big dummy. I can't seem to zoom in enough to get all the juicy details though....
http://www.xtracycle.com/blog/

Yeah...um, that lack of zoom thing sort of, well, BLOWS.

Granted, my pre-order's in at Speedgoat, so I can sit here and be all smug and stuff. But still...dang! No need to be teasin' a fella like that!

Don't think of it as a replacement for a normal bike. Think of it as a replacement for a car. It doesn't seem so expensive, then. Also, QBP has several packages, my LBS says, that are less than buying the individual components separately.

Well I already drive quite seldom as it is with my normal bike (and trailer at times). It ultimately would not be a car replacement for me, I would still choose to own a car for the times I need to travel long distances, ferry people/bikes and carry huge items.
A longtail would be convenient over a bike+trailer but not a car replacement for me

I would still choose to own a car for the times I need to travel long distances, ferry people/bikes and carry huge items.

When I have to do any of those things I rent a car or truck. It is still cheaper than owning/maintaining a car of my own. (BTW, the Xtracycle is rated to carry a passenger on the snapdeck, and if you have a 'Tray Bien' attachment you can carry a bike on the outer wideloader.)

http://www.xtracycle.com/blog/

1799.00 doesn't seem too bad for the components.

Whoa...had to read the fine print. For a moment, I thought the BD's were IN...alas, Xtracycle's just advertising the pre-sale.

Man...(or woman!)...I'm excited!