Touring - Koga Miyata World Traveller?

Is there anyone out there who has one of these bikes?
What is your general opinion of it?
Any specifics?

I'm thinking of purchasing one. Based on specifications and pictures alone, I like the 26" wheels for going off pavement. Shimano XT group for quality, Mountain bike gearing (particularly the 22 tooth granny gear for touring loaded)

But I can't see one, and take it for a ride. That is why I'm depending on you.

I know someone who owns one -- he doesn't tour; he uses it as a heavy-duty "around town" bike and commuter. It's really a beautiful, fully equipped bike. Very rugged. Not a lightweight bike (check out the weight -- I think w/lights, fenders, racks, etc., it weighs almost 40 lbs).

Am wondering, though, w/dozens of other good touring bikes on the market that you would settle on a model that you can't even see in advance...there are other places to get low gearing, 26-inch wheels, Shimano XT-quality components...

Good question.
I am a clydesdale. Over 200 lbs. and want the 40 spoke rear wheel.
The only other touring bike that I know of with a 26 inch wheel is the Long Haul Trucker.
But that is only in the small sizes. Large sizes have a 700 wheel. I need a 60 cm frame because I am tall.
The world traveller is similar to old model mountain bikes called "Expedition". (I think Specialized and Nishiki had them.) I like the geometry and upright riding position. It is a real endurance bike rather than a fast bike.

I've seen the World Traveler upfront and I've never seen a touring bike built more complete and stout than that bike.

Good question.
I am a clydesdale. Over 200 lbs. and want the 40 spoke rear wheel.
The only other touring bike that I know of with a 26 inch wheel is the Long Haul Trucker.
But that is only in the small sizes. Large sizes have a 700 wheel. I need a 60 cm frame because I am tall.
The world traveller is similar to old model mountain bikes called "Expedition". (I think Specialized and Nishiki had them.) I like the geometry and upright riding position. It is a real endurance bike rather than a fast bike.

Not so anymore...check the website again.

Cut and paste from their site...
We’re continuing to offer the LHT as we always have, with 26" wheels on the smaller sizes and 700c wheels on the larger frames. New this year, we’re also offering 26" wheels for the larger frame sizes too.

Good question.
I am a clydesdale. Over 200 lbs. and want the 40 spoke rear wheel.
The only other touring bike that I know of with a 26 inch wheel is the Long Haul Trucker.
But that is only in the small sizes. Large sizes have a 700 wheel. I need a 60 cm frame because I am tall.
The world traveller is similar to old model mountain bikes called "Expedition". (I think Specialized and Nishiki had them.) I like the geometry and upright riding position. It is a real endurance bike rather than a fast bike.

Thanks for clarifying.

First, let me say, I think the World Traveler is a great bike, as near as I can tell from looking at my friend's bike and what I have read. I was simply wondering why you wanted a bike you hadn't seen.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, the Surly LHT, just in the past year or so, started making bikes with 26-inch wheels in larger sizes (see geometry chart)....though I did notice that on their website in one place they still say that 26-inch wheels is only on their small sizes, their (new) frame geometry chart shoes it in larger sizes as well:

http://surlybikes.com/frames/long_haul_trucker_frame/

There are a couple of other *very* stout bikes made with 26-inch wheels for you to consider:

1. The Co-Motion Pangea.
2. Bruce Gordon has a 26-inch touring bike.
3. The Rodriguez Adventure Cycle (www.rodcycle.com).

Plus a range of European makers -- Thorn, Roberts, etc.

Thanks Bengeboy
I had limited my looking to the bikes that were available in my town.
Surly LHT, Trek 520, Cannondale t1 and t2,Marinoni tourismo
Koga Miyata was the only company I looked at on the internet.
There is room for more research which is enjoyable... dream, dream, dream

Google : Curtis World Tour............www.cgoab.com

Thanks for the suggestions.
I spent about 4 hours comparing Koga Miyata World Traveler to Co-motion Pangea, Rodriguez Adventure and Thorn Sherpa.
Co-motion have a dealer right in Victoria, my home town. I can get measured and order through them.
Thorn is in England.
Koga Miyata dealer is in Toronto. Rodriguez is in Seattle. All have 26" touring bikes in my price range.
Shopping has been fun. First time I have really shopped for an item on the internet.

Hi Skilsaw,
I'll give give you some Info.

The Koga is BULLETPROOF with top notch components. If you go to the website it's a wet dream.
There are only 2 dealer in the US. One in California and the Other in Maryland.
On the official website you can customized the bike and then you can send it to the dealers.
http://www.koga-signature.com/en/Koga-Signature.aspx

I got mine from Eric, at
Commuter Bicycles
ph. (805) 569-5381
www.commuterbicycles.com (http://www.commuterbicycles.com)

Excellent guy, great service.
Anyway I'm 5'11" and my bike is a 57cm 26" wheels and I had most things included.
If I had an extra grand I would have ordered the Rohloff gear hub on the bike.

Mark Beumont broke the world record on February 15th, 2008
with a Koga and a Rohloff. If you have a chance check out the BBC videos "The Man who Cycled the World"
Also on February 18, 2010 Beaumont completed his latest quest cycling from Anchorage, Alaska (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorage,_Alaska), USA to Ushuaia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ushuaia) in Southern Argentina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina), in record time but he added an extra bonus.
He climbed the 2 highest peaks on Alaska and the one on Argentina in one single season. Again he did it on his trusty battle proof Koga.
The BBC video of this ride is called "The Man who Cycled the Americas".
BBC makes excellent videos and those 2 is a MUST for any Adventure Rider IMO, but the video is about His adventure and the KOGA Bike. :D
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/cyclingtheamericas/

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Magestyk, You are one happy customer.

What kind of a headset and stem does your bike have?

There seems to be a lot of taper where the stem comes out of the head tube. Kind of like the old threaded headsets.

With a threadless headset, the steering tube pokes right through the top of the head tube on a threadless headset. No taper.

Its a threaded headset with a Koga Adjustable stem.

Hey Skilsaw. I can't recommend the KWT enough. It's a tank. I'm 14,000 miles into a tour from Florida to Alaska and then down to Guatemala. I have the 60cm Koga with 26" tires. When I left I was just over 200 lbs (6'3"). If you are carrying a heavy load and plan on riding off-pavement (or riding in Central America and not always having a choice) this bike is perfect. My gear load is about 70 lbs at the moment.

The stock components are extremely solid. Nothing major replaced so far other than the rear/front cassette (wear). I broke the front rack but that was my fault (pothole). I opted for Phil Wood touring hubs which I'm not too fond of so maybe the ones that ship with it are better. The handlebars were switched for the Nashbar trekking bars (love). The rear tail light broke and now I use one of those $20 flexible plastic LED ones (and avoid riding at night regardless). It shipped with a Brooks Flyer and I despised it. Replaced that in Mexico with a $5 one and never looked back. The gearing is perfect for climbing--it wasn't until last week that I had to walk a hill and that thing was so steep my bike was sliding backwards down it. Load that bike up with Schwalbe Marathon tires and you'll be set.

http://www.powercycle.net/gallery2/d/10113-2/080410+001.jpg