kesroberts

I am thinking about having S&S Couplers installed on a Surly LHT frame. I know this will cost more than the frame itself. Aside from the cost, is there any reason not to do it?

Thanks.

Mr_Super_Socks

hack happily away!

aroundoz

I am pondering the same question w/ my LHT. Having a hard time spending $400 on couplings when the frame cost that much. However the alternative, a custom bike w/ couplings, is out of the question.

Whatever it's worth, Bilenky has the best price for adding couplings and have done more retrofits than anyone else. If I decide to do it, they will be get the job. When I called last week, they had just done a Surly.

I have never heard anything negative about adding couplings. The only thing is, is that it will void your frame warranty but with Surly, that's only 5 years anyway.

Let us know what you do and how it turns out.

ink1373

i've heard mention that the buttings on some steel tubes can be too thin in the areas that couplers are added on retrofits.

just something i picked up on MTBR, i think, so it may or may not be a well founded notion. i don't think i've heard of a specific case where a retrofit didn't turn out well.

i'm considering doing the same for my crosscheck, one day.

aroundoz

The above is true but at least on the LHT, the tubing is more than thick enough according to both Sandsmachine and Surly.

Bekologist

sure, why not, surly frames are inexpensive.

have you seen the ultimate travel bikes from Rodriguez cycles? 1600 bucks in the box. m/l, nicely outfitted with a bottle opener even.(check em out!)

Willie Weir rides one, I hear.

Sorry, thread drift!

LHTs are great bikes. I'd go for it!

canamdad

I suspect that there are a number of framebuilders that you could use to put the S&S couplings in but I would definitely recommend Bilenky. They did a fine job on my 1982 Mercian. They're in Philadelphia but UPS goes everywhere!

nrixez

Hey, I *just* did this to a LHT frame. Beware, there's a small snag with the process. The top tube is ovalized, and it makes putting a coupler there difficult. Bilenky said they could do it, but two local frame builders (Bob Brown and Curt Goodrich) suggested replacing the top tube as the best way to get the job done.

Here are pics of my ride:
https://raven.subsume.com/SurlyWebPage.html

I did quite a bit of research when I started this project, and never once did I find a picture of a LHT with couplers online. Not saying it doesn't exist... but I couldn't find one before I put up my pics. Now there are several though!

Enjoy!
-keith

aroundoz

Nrixez, so who did you use to install the BTCs?

nrixez

Curt Goodrich (Riv frame builder) did the work. He replaced the top tube, the dropouts, installed the BTCs, and changed some of the cable-guide braze-ons. I didn't work with him directly; my local bike shop (Calhoun Cycle) has a relationship with him and they sent him the frame.

-keith