Space Horse vs. Satellite Comp?
 

Any strong opinions on virtues of All City Space Horse vs. Jamis Satellite Comp?

I'm currently on a hard tail MTB, but need something more efficient/faster.

Bike will be used for commuting (20 miles each way) and weekend rides/CC touring in the 50 mile range. No off-road, no racing.

Thanks very much for any thoughts.

If the 2 bikes were the same price (or even close in price), I'd get the Space Horse. It has a nicer frame, better parts, and it is the more versatile bike as it can take fatter tires. But the two bikes are not the same price as the Space Horse retails for $450 more than the Jamis. The Jamis is the better deal since both are steel bikes that can take reasonably fat tires and will do well what the OP wants the bike to do.

Satellite chainstay length = 415mm in all frame sizes
Space Horse chainstay length = 440mm in 55cm frame (longer in bigger frames)

I assume if you are doing some touring with this bike, you will want to fit panniers. The All City offering seems to be better suited to your needs.

I found the Space Horse for about $400 more online but you do get a better groupset. The Satellite comes with Sora while the Space Horse comes with Tiagra. The latter of which is better, but $400 better? Me thinks All City gets marked up for it's hipster street cred, but I got to say, their frames are clean.

I've had my space horse for a few months now. Love the crap out of that bike. I ride about 120miles week on it. Fast yet has no problem carrying a load. I built mine up from the frame, so not sure of the parts you get but I think it's a great bike. Fast/option for big tires/can haul some weight around is a great combo for commuting. I know 5-6 others with the space horse and everyone is very pleased.

Thanks for all the feedback. I know the Space Horse has a very loyal following, and it is a beautiful bike, IMO.

What leads you to say that the Space Horse has a nicer frame than the Satellite Comp? My understanding is that Space Horse is made from 612 steel, All City's 4130 version, while the Satellite is 520. I'm no expert, but I would think these materials would have similar weight and ride quality. Space Horse also uses a 4130 fork, while Satellite goes carbon. Is there something in the design or manufacturing process that further elevates the Space Horse frame? I'm aware of the special dropouts.

Both of the bikes are getting close out pricing at LBSs in my area to make room for next year's models, so my decision will definitely be guided by what kind of deal I can strike.

Thanks again!

The Space Horse looks nicer and has some rust treatment; I think from what I've seen that it is a little better made with more attention to detail (which is typical of more expensive frames). But yeah, Reynolds 520 is very nice stuff and fully comparable is my guess to the "612" chrome moly used by All City. Personally I like the steel fork over the carbon but you may feel differently about this. I'm not convinced that the Space Horse is worth the xtra money over the Jamis. If the Jamis does everything you want and price matters to you (it does to some people obviously), the Jamis is a "better" bike.

I still think it's a close call between the 2 bikes. The Space Horse is just a good looking bike. I don't like burning through cash when buying a bike but it is something that you will have and use for a very long time. That bike looks like a keeper to me.


Edit: you could write All City and see what they have to say about what makes their steel special. Also not all manufacturers spec their steel framesets the same way. There are a lot of different variations and All City provides a lot of detail about their tubing which is part marketing and part a sign that the chrome moly was selected for the job at hand:

Frame | All-City Space Horse
612 Select ChroMoly steel. Double butted down, top, and seat tubes. Externally tapered, ovalized, and dimpled chain stays, tapered seat stays
130mm rear spacing, 1 1/8th headtube, English bottom bracket, 27.2 seatpost
Fork | All-City Space Horse
100% 4130 ChroMoly tapered fork blades, lugged crown and matching dropout.