Touring - KHS Touring bike for 2009,

While not really cheaper than any of the other touring offerings, This looks really promising. Going from no offerings to several different brands. Hmm, must be a market for them.

www.khsbicycles.com

Look at the TR-101


MSRP: $1199 • COLORS: Black • SIZES: 17", 19", 21", 23", 25"




Frame
Reynolds 520 Double Butted full Chromoly w/carrier and cantilever bosses
Fork Full Crmo w/rack bosses
Headset Cane Creek A-Headset
Rims Weinmann SP17 Alloy Doublewall
Hubs Formula Sealed Bearing cassette, QR
Tires Kenda Kwest 700x32c, w/K-Shield Anti-puncture
Spokes 14G Black 36°
Front Derailleur Shimano Tiagra
Rear Derailleur Shimano SLX Shadow
Shifters Shimano Dura-Ace 9-Speed bar ends
Chain KMC Z9000 w/Missing Link
Crankset Shimano FC-R453, 50/39/30, Octalink
Bottom Bracket Shimano Octalink cartridge
Cassette Shimano HG50 11-34, 9-Speed
Pedals Shimano PD-M505
Seatpost Alloy Micro-adjust
Saddle KHS Ultra Comfort, Soft Shell
Handlebar Alloy Butted, 31.8mm
Stem Alloy 3D Forged, 31.8
Tape Cushion Tape
Brake Levers Dia Compe #287 for linear pull brakes
Brakes TektroLinear Pull
Color Black
Frame Size 17, 19, 21, 23, 25"

Looks pretty good.

http://khsbicycles.com/05_flite_tr_101_09.htm

How hard are cartridge hubs to service?

How are linear pull brakes (compared to standard cantis)?

What's the tire clearance?

People are going to complain about those chainwheel sizes!

Cartridge hubs are very easy to service, because there is nothing you can do. You ride them until the bearing go bad and have new cartridges installed.

Some people will say that linear brakes are more powerful than canti's. I think this is because people either have poor canti's or don't have them set up correctly. Either way, linear brakes are very good. I also like them because I think setting them up is much easier.

You ride them until the bearing go bad and have new cartridges installed.
Are all cartridge replaced in the same way on all hubs? Is this something that every shop can do? What's required to be able to do it yourself?

You gotta love it when they can't even level off the rear rack for the photo :roflmao2:

http://www.khsbicycles.com/Images/Bike_Images/Mid09/flite-tr-101-09.jpg

People are going to complain about those chainwheel sizes!

:lol:

I'm normally one to complain about such things! That combo isn't so bad. I have a bike with similar gearing but wtih the the 30 tooth granny swapped out for a 28. That has a 22 inch low and even works with STI. You can put a 26 tooth on there and go down to around 20.5 inches, and that would work with the bar end shifters. No it's not so bad.

Speedo

:lol:

I'm normally one to complain about such things! That combo isn't so bad. I have a bike with similar gearing but wtih the the 30 tooth granny swapped out for a 28. That has a 22 inch low and even works with STI. You can put a 26 tooth on there and go down to around 20.5 inches, and that would work with the bar end shifters. No it's not so bad.

Speedo
This summer I met so many people who had brand new off the peg touring bikes with 30t granny gears struggling in the Appalachians.

I cycled with a guy through the KY portion of my tour. We were both fully loaded (~30-35 lbs). I cycled up every steep grade with a 26t granny while he walked up several with a 30t. I think we were equals in terms of strength. I only wished for a lower gear once in CA and that was on an 18% grade.

It's sad to see yet another touring bike with gearing that is too high for steep climbs and heavy loads. ::(:

Are all cartridge replaced in the same way on all hubs? Is this something that every shop can do? What's required to be able to do it yourself?
As far as I know, they are all pressed in. To get them out, you need to push them out. This is rarely needed. Good cartridges should last a very long time. But, if you buy a cheap hub and want to have it run very smooth, you can buy very good cartridges for a little bit of money and replace the cheaper ones.

If you want to give it a try, look at this blog (http://projekto-b.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-replace-your-cartridge-bearings.html), It should give you the information you need to know.

As far as I know, they are all pressed in. To get them out, you need to push them out. This is rarely needed. Good cartridges should last a very long time. But, if you buy a cheap hub and want to have it run very smooth, you can buy very good cartridges for a little bit of money and replace the cheaper ones.

If you want to give it a try, look at this blog (http://projekto-b.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-replace-your-cartridge-bearings.html), It should give you the information you need to know.
Nice. Thanks!

You gotta love it when they can't even level off the rear rack for the photo :roflmao2:

http://www.khsbicycles.com/Images/Bike_Images/Mid09/flite-tr-101-09.jpg

I like this bike.

One of the few companies that provides good fenders already with the bike. It comes with a Reynolds frame and retails what the Trek 520 was going for two years ago!

retails what the Trek 520 was going for two years ago!
It pretty much is what the Trek 520 was two years ago.

I don't see fittings for the third water bottle.

For all you industry wonks who care about this sort of stuff..... the KHS brand now carried bt Seattle Bike Supply (big parts wholesaler). I'm betting you can now walk into to your LBS and order this bike now.

There's a good chance you can't order a Surly bike though QBP any longer, unless you local shop is Sulry dealer.

Oh, well, Slap some Avid V-brakes and a 36t chainring on the KHS and it's as good as the LHT most likely. (I haven't rode it yet)

Looks like it has disc brake mounts on the fork. I wonder if the frame does too.

Surly products are still available to nearly every shop with a QBP account. Your favorite shop can get you a Long Haul Trucker.

No need to fret.

Skip
Surly

Even if QBP doesn't restrict Surly bikes or frames--- there's always the problem of having those bikes in stock. I thought LHT stood for out of stock....

You just have to know the secret handshake.

...or be able to come up with a more creative jab.

:)


Skip

Gosh, I wish I'd of known about that secret hand shake when I waited 4 months for a Salsa Casseroll frame.

If I'd have known the wait was going to be that long, I'd of bought a Soma ES. Although I do love the Casseroll, it's a nice bike and riding it makes me happy when I ride it. But looking at the supply problems/success QBP has had with the LHT, having other brands of touring bike at your local shop can't be a bad thing.

:lol:

I'm normally one to complain about such things! That combo isn't so bad. I have a bike with similar gearing but wtih the the 30 tooth granny swapped out for a 28. That has a 22 inch low and even works with STI. You can put a 26 tooth on there and go down to around 20.5 inches, and that would work with the bar end shifters. No it's not so bad.

Speedo

A 26 or even a 24 will work with STI.

:twitchy:Who do these guys think they are selling the bike to? While roadies might be embarrassed to ride a bike with a low gear less than a 30/11, tourists aren't! We want low gears! It'd be nice to get a bike from the shop without having to pull the damned crank off to get a useful low gear! Put a low enough gear on the bike to begin with!:twitchy:

1...2...3...4... Now that I got that out of my system, the bike doesn't look half bad (although they could get a level on the rear rack for the picture:rolleyes:)

Nice. Thanks!

I've done this a few times...a very few times. It's not hard nor is it needed that often. I use a threaded axle to drive the bearings in rather than a block of wood but I have a kit from an old set of hubs that includes a tool to drive out the bearings and aluminum disks to press them back in.

If you had Phil's, you just loosen a 5 mm retaining nut and the whole thing falls apart in your hands:thumb:

The crankset is 50/39/30 with friction shifting on the F. derailer, so it's not a huge deal to swap out a 26t third chainring. I think Surly has a 46/36/26 square taper drive crankset. The KHS has Octalink. Because the middle chainring is 39 and not the standard road 42, it's easier to go lower on the small ring if you swap it out.

I'd like to test ride the KHS..

Looks like it has disc brake mounts on the fork. I wonder if the frame does too.
me too

Does anybody know if it has the disc mounts?

At least it has 36 spoke wheels.

Anyone find the geometry on their web site?

I really like the KHS but I wish the top tube was level to carry it up and down stairs! Plus it looks much nicer!!!!

Wish I could find it to try out. Jsut another bke I like, but needs to be ordered in my area. If anyone finds a touring bike in a store near darien, CT (near Norwal/ close to NYC) please tell me!