Touring - What is the best expedition bike out there?

I'm planning a serious ride and I need a serious touring bike for it.

What is the best expedition bike out there?

This is like asking what the best road race bike is................ good luck with getting a straight answer.

Co-Motion Americano.

No, wait, Bruce Gordon Rock-n-Road.

No, no, it's the Salsa Fargo.

Or, it could be the Rivendell Atlantis.

Or perhaps a Thorn Sherpa.

Cannondale T2? Surly LHT?

Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30?


What's important to you? How much do you want to spend? What color paint do you like?

Speedo

Thorn Raven Nomad is what I'd buy. All £2100 of it.

I'm planning a serious ride and I need a serious touring bike for it.

What is the best expedition bike out there?

Bruce Gordon Cycles makes both Rock n' Road Tour and California BLT's in 26" and 700c wheels.

Also we are having a version of the BLT from Taiwan.
The Taiwan BLT will be 26" wheel in the 2 smallest sizes - 700c in the larger sizes.
Check them out a: http://bgcycles.com/BasicLoadedTouring.html

Regards,
Bruce Gordon

By "expedition" bike, do you mean something you can ride to China and back over dirt roads? For that kind of riding, I think the Giant Expedition 1.0 is a very good bike. Well, more like a tank than a bike. Very heavy and very durable. If you don't mind riding 8 mph everywhere you go as you haul 80 lbs of gear, this bike will get you there every time without breaking down. That's my idea of an expedition bike. The other bikes listed are touring bikes.

I'm planning a serious ride and I need a serious touring bike for it.

What is the best expedition bike out there?

Welcome to BF. One thing I've noticed is that you've started three threads asking (basically similar) questions in the past day. It might be easier to get more directed help if you consolidated your questions in one thread and offered a little more for the folks here to go on --

-- what's your budget?
-- where are you going?
-- what bikes have you liked/disliked in the past?

I'm planning a serious ride and I need a serious touring bike for it.

What is the best expedition bike out there?

the one you can afford. People have been cycling for a long time, getting the latest and most expensive equipment doesn't have a direct correlation with having a successful trip.

http://www.withoutaclue.netfirms.com/img/winder015sm.jpg

This couple (http://www.withoutaclue.netfirms.com/) rode 4000 miles across the US in 7 months on $129 Wal-Mart bicycles.

That's probably the low end of acceptable bikes. Others have spent in excess of $6000 on custom built expedition bikes. I really couldn't say which was the more successful touring bike.

I am waiting with bated breath for this answer.

I am waiting with baited breath for this answer.

fixed........... i'm bored.

You may be baiting us, and we're drifting off topic, but the correct word is "bated.

Mine is :p

You may be baiting us, and we're drifting off topic, but the correct word is "bated.

But I like fishing :)

By "expedition" bike, do you mean something you can ride to China and back over dirt roads? For that kind of riding, I think the Giant Expedition 1.0 is a very good bike. Well, more like a tank than a bike. Very heavy and very durable. If you don't mind riding 8 mph everywhere you go as you haul 80 lbs of gear, this bike will get you there every time without breaking down. That's my idea of an expedition bike. The other bikes listed are touring bikes.

An expedition bike usually refers to a touring bike designed on a rigid MTB frame with 26" tires as compared to road style 700cc tires. Generally, the chain stays and the wheel base is longer then a typical MTB but the BB height is slightly higher then a road style touring bike like the LHT. The framed is designed to handle a load with out shimming, something that may be a problem with a converted MTB tourer. Many times these bikes come with trekking bars and disk brakes and are designed for rougher terrain but not necessarily hard core technical MTB riding. For what ever reason this style is more popular in Europe. The only mass produced expedition bike in the US that I am aware of is the Novara Safari but even that is being produced in 700cc tires in larger sizes.

The Cannondale offroad tourer is quite nice. I like the headshock. Feels fine on the road, haven't taken one off road but it is good on cobblestones and jumping off curbs (DON'T tell the bike shop I did that on a test ride...). I prefer it over the Koga Miyata, which is also nice, but they wouldn't let me test ride it in Cairns...

What is the best expedition bike out there?

MINE!!!

http://www.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/~ad327/pictures/bike-800.jpg

See http://www.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/~ad327/india2008/kitlist.html for details.

I'm planning a serious ride and I need a serious touring bike for it.

What is the best expedition bike out there?

Can you tell us what you mean by "best" -- in what way or ways, exactly (or at least more specifically)?

I cringe every time I see the word "best" in a question. I just know that we're not going to get anywhere with it. What's the best shoe? What's the best pencil? What's the best car? What's the best dog? What's the best bread? What's the best beer?

I cringe every time I see the word "best" in a question. I just know that we're not going to get anywhere with it. What's the best shoe? What's the best pencil? What's the best car? What's the best dog? What's the best bread? What's the best beer?

That's the "best" post so far in this thread.

BTW, in terms of "best dog," the answer is Springer Spaniel. Just thought I should clear that up.

BTW, in terms of "best dog," the answer is Springer Spaniel.

British working cocker, surely...

Hi Cosmicsurfer - the others make a good point as the answer for the best bike is not easy... assuming you are looking for a serious tourer in terms of long term reliability, check out the german company tout terrain. they are sold by peter white http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/tout-terrain.asp and are specialized on touring bikes and make suspended and unsuspended models of touring bikes.

I think everyone knows Avaghon makes the best expedition bikes.

Hi Cosmicsurfer - the others make a good point as the answer for the best bike is not easy... assuming you are looking for a serious tourer in terms of long term reliability, check out the german company tout terrain. they are sold by peter white http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/tout-terrain.asp and are specialized on touring bikes and make suspended and unsuspended models of touring bikes.

Wow, those truly are bikes you could ride to China and back over dirt roads. I've never seen a rear rack built into the frame like that. Very interesting. And not as heavy as I thought. It's a specialized application, though. If I were to embark on a 3-year journey around the world or something ambitious like that, then I'd want one of these (with the Rolhoff hubs, of course). On the other hand, if I just wanted to go across the country on paved roads and use it for commuting to work when not on tours, I'd choose one of the many fine versatile touring bikes listed above.

I think Thorn makes the coolest expedition bikes.
If I were to buy another bike for touring or in general
actually I would buy a Thorn. Great reviews and relatively
affordable.

The best beer is probably Fat tire, at least where I'm at.

The best dog is a absolute tie between my Belgian Malinois, and my Miniature Poodle.

At least thats what "I" think!

Which doesn't ammount to more than thought...
Mark

I'd think the Pugsley would make a great expedition bike.

I'd think the Pugsley would make a great expedition bike.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3437/3202769784_6375171bc1_b.jpg

+1

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum/board/message/?o=3Tzut&thread_id=108821&v=p&page=1&nested=0

Is there more than 3 people on any one contintnt that has seen that german contraption? For every new gadget that makes it to 1000 miles there are probably dozens of obsoleat parts that have gone a million miles. As a certified (german) car mechanic since 1975 I woud want a bike on expadition that I could field strip with a swiss army knife. that tout thing looks like you would need a Snap-on tool truck for a sag wagon!

Ooh Vik! Great minds... uh I mean Surly nutjobs think alike. ;)

Sakkit expedition 26

I'd think the Pugsley would make a great expedition bike.

Indeed: http://www.wildworks.co.nz/csr/home.php

I wanted an "expedition bike", and I bought a LHT, which has 26" wheels for my size.

The best one is the one you really like riding. People have ridden all sorts of bike all over.

Mostly .... It's in your head. :)

If you break a rim in Bula Bula..... no big deal. Maybe you'll meet the nicest people and have an experience you'll never forget.

If money is no object I'd say a Thorn Exp.
Failing that if you can find an old steel frame mountain bike in good condition and start with that.

vik do you still have your Thorn Raven Nomad or was it usurped by the pugsley?

The best one is the one you really like riding. People have ridden all sorts of bike all over.

Mostly .... It's in your head. :)

If you break a rim in Bula Bula..... no big deal. Maybe you'll meet the nicest people and have an experience you'll never forget.

Although I own a couple of high end touring bikes, I tend to agree with Garthr. Better to just go.

Is there more than 3 people on any one contintnt that has seen that german contraption? For every new gadget that makes it to 1000 miles there are probably dozens of obsoleat parts that have gone a million miles. As a certified (german) car mechanic since 1975 I woud want a bike on expadition that I could field strip with a swiss army knife. that tout thing looks like you would need a Snap-on tool truck for a sag wagon!


I can't say that I know a lot about the Pugsley but it is sold as a frame and built up. The original design concept was built around the extra big tires but it does not have to be built up that way. From what I can tell, the only exotic part that is required is an eccentric bottom bracket, but it apparently is designed for a normal drive train. It will take a normal fork and normal front hub. Hopefully Surly gives you the option of buying it that way as the Pugsley fork is 135 mm spacing, the same as a MTB rear hub. Otherwise that frame specs out pretty good for an expedition bike. The chain stays and wheel base is not that that much different than an LHT with a slightly taller BB height. The frame is only about 1/2 pound more than an LHT and it has tabs for disk brakes. And the real kicker, with normal rims there should be plenty of room to run up to 2" MTB tires with fenders. All in all it is an intriguing frame with a lot of potential.

[Edit] I forgot to mention the most important part and that is the frame is designed for 26" tires. Even the extra big tires are 26" by 4".

salsa fargo (http://www.salsacycles.com/fargoComp09.html)

Is this turning out to be a really stupid thread? I sure think the question to begin with is never going to get a good answer. So many bikes could do this job. Pick one that fits and that you like the looks of and go ride.

I can think of approx. 10 bikes off the top of my head that I would own and ride on such a trip. All of them would do the job. We are only talking about a frame here. The bits that you attach are going to have more to do with success than the frame.

I consider the wheels more important than a frame....... Maybe I'm missing something here. How many times do we hear about a frame failure that isn't involved in hitting something solid? How many times do we hear about wheels going bad while on tour? I'd rather have a kick butt set of wheels for a epic adventure than a super bling touring frame..... It's just a damn pickup truck for your gear.

I don't know about the collective but frames breaking without a solid object hitting them is very rare indeed.

What am I missing? Flame away.

BTW, in terms of "best dog," the answer is Springer Spaniel.

Nope. Australian Shepherd ... with panniers

As far as bikes -- my "expedition" bike in top photo here. (http://www.veloweb.ca/tourpages/tourvelo.html)

Is this turning out to be a really stupid thread? I sure think the question to begin with is never going to get a good answer. So many bikes could do this job. Pick one that fits and that you like the looks of and go ride.

I can think of approx. 10 bikes off the top of my head that I would own and ride on such a trip. All of them would do the job. We are only talking about a frame here. The bits that you attach are going to have more to do with success than the frame.

I consider the wheels more important than a frame....... Maybe I'm missing something here. How many times do we hear about a frame failure that isn't involved in hitting something solid? How many times do we hear about wheels going bad while on tour? I'd rather have a kick butt set of wheels for a epic adventure than a super bling touring frame..... It's just a damn pickup truck for your gear.

I don't know about the collective but frames breaking without a solid object hitting them is very rare indeed.

What am I missing? Flame away.

I think it is a good, interesting thread because most of the touring bikes talked about on this forum like the LHT or the 520 are road bikes. I am not sure you appreciate the difference between a road bike and a MTB, and it is not always as straight forward as loading up a true MTB for touring. MTB's that are not designed as tourers can have problems in that they have shorter frames and your heals can strike the panniers in the rear. Loading up a frame that is not designed for loads can cause that frame to shimmy on down grades. There are more then a few reasons why one would want an MTB tourer.

1.) Touring on dirt/unimproved roads in China, South America, Austrlia, etc.

2.) There are more then a few place in the US where a multi-day off road tour can be done.

3.) If you also want to use the bike for commuting and you want a sturdier bike for that.

Mine... :)

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/kuwietour1.jpg

The Kuwahara Cascade was sold as a mountain bike but in every respect, it is really a 26 inch wheeled touring / expedition bike.

We have a local builder her who specializes in building custom touring bikes (Arvon Cycles) and anyone I have met who has one has been nothing but immensely pleased... he also makes his own hubs which are exemplary in quality.

His long tail touring bikes are brilliant in their design and the builder is a life long rider and ex racer who understands bicycle geometry and design exceptionally well.

http://www.sandsmachine.com/a_arv_r1.htm

I would have to agree with the folk that mentioned the Sakkit Expedition 26. I almost bought this bike but was just a tad more expensive then I wanted to spend so I got a Mercian instead. But go to the website and read about the Sakkit Expedition 26, if your not impressed with it's abilities then nothing will impress you!