crandress 

I saw the Salsa Marrakesh at a local bike shop. Looks pretty sweet! Anyone riding it yet? Any reviews, either here or in a magazine?

Thanks - Chris

Squeezebox

Nice looking bicycle!!

crandress 

Agreed. Would love to find a review. The one in the shop looked pretty sweet!

Squeezebox

Same here, would love to hear from someone who has one.

GeoKrpan

I saw a couple riding theirs last Sunday. They looked sweet.

fietsbob

You tried the rest of the internet on your own ?

Salsa And Surly are QBP brands Frame Big Batch made in TW by Max Way . a quality manufacturer of steel Frames for many brand companies.

the complete bike's parts can be changed at the Bike Shop you order through.

crandress 

Yes with limited results. Plus I would prefer to hear from those on the forum who own and have been riding the bike. Thus I am trying to create a discussion here.

I plan to ride one when I travel back to Seattle. The problem here in Iowa I have found is limited availability. And it sounds like if I order I may be stuck with the bike. Though driving to a better shop in Iowa city it Madison may be worth the trip.

All comments and discussions welcome!

mstateglfr 

Oh hey, i remember reading a post or two of yours in the c&v forum...you were looking you move to the driftless area.
How goes it so far? Not sure if it was mentioned, but there is a yearly ride in SW WI which a good number of the c&v posters participate in. Pain and gain in WI or some title close to that.

crandress 

So far so good here in Dubuque. Though my bikes are still in Seattle, which is a bummer now that the weather is improving. Thanks, I will look up the ride. A friend wants me to to a portion of ragbrai with him as well. Chris

edthesped

I haven't ridden one and though I was initially intrigued I was turned off real fast when I learned the only rear rack that will fit worth a darn is the alternator rack.

kc9eog

What does this mean?

BobG

There is a lengthy review of the Marrakesh in the April issue of ACA's Adventure Cyclist magazine. Just received mine in the mail today. Also available online to members.

OP- If you are not a member send me your name, email and street address via PM. As an ACA member I can have them send you a free sample copy.

edthesped

The bosses for the rear rack are located much higher than on a typical frame. The alternator rack is the only rack that, in my opinion, will sit properly on the bike. The Vaya travel is the same. I tried to find pictures to show what I'm talking about...

Lt Stonez

still nothing new about this bike? Would love to see some more pics off it. This bike is high up on my list!

SalsaShark

Free Flight had one here in Dubuque, sold to a local rider. Not sure if they have restocked the model yet. So there is at least one riding around town. I checked it over pretty good last time I saw the owner, but didn't steal it from him for a ride or anything! Very cool bike.

crandress 

That's the one I saw at Free Flight. It was too big for me. The main reason I was asking for reviews is I could not get them to say if I ordered it and it didn't work for me that they would not force me to buy it. A bike and brand they carry. While reviews can't say whether the bike will work for me, I thought it might help. However, I am thinking of potentially going a different route unless I find one my size to ride.

crandress 

[QUOTE=edthesped;18646251]The bosses for the rear rack are located much higher than on a typical frame. The alternator rack is the only rack that, in my opinion, will sit properly on the bike. The Vaya travel is the same. I tried to find pictures to show what I'm talking about...

They include a rack, but if that does not work for you, I see how this could be an issue...

seeker333

Many people will buy these as framesets, like the LHT, which will not include rack. In fact, you currently can't buy the rack included in the Complete Marrakesh.

The main reason to be considering a Marrakesh is if you desire to build a 700c tourer with an IGH. Running deraillers on the Marrakesh makes the whole rocker dropout an expensive, superfluous, weight-adding complication which reverts to the problem of disc brake/rack mount interference, which were solved by the introduction of the chainstay-mounted rear disc brake years ago. If you are not seriously planning a Rohloff/Shimano IGH for your Marrakesh, then the Surly LHT/DT frameset is a better choice, since it will accommodate all normal racks.

Surly DT has a Rohloff OEM2 axleplate bolt hole inline with vertical dropout, so all you need to run a Rohloff Speedhub is an aftermarket EBB (Philcentric, Exzentriker) or easier and less costly, a chain tensioner such as Rohloff or Surly, and some of the DH tensioners would work too (Blackspire,DMR).

A Surly DT frameset with even the most expensive tensioning option (Philcentric) costs the same as a Marrakesh @ 650USD, and with a Blackspire tensioner is >100USD cheaper than the Salsa, which is enough saved to buy a Tubus rack.

indyfabz

Yeah. You have to pray five times a day. SNAP!

seeker333

I am unaware of anyone ever worshipping a bicycle. I suppose your comment is yet another attempt at trolling this forum.

Please have something useful to share with the forum, otherwise keep the wisecracks to yourself. There is a Foo sub-forum where your comments would be appropriate and perhaps even welcome.

Most people come to this forum to obtain or share good information and join in intelligent discussion about bicycle touring and related topics. Your sort of wisecracking doesn't help a bit, and many find it annoying and amounting to nothing more than plain ole trolling.

indyfabz

https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/10...hrine-lht.html

MixedRider

I un-ignored you for a day. You are still insulting other fellow touring-forum member's bikes. Back to ignore list...

IRT the salsa Marrakesh, took a good like at the local bike shop. They had the flat bar version. I liked it a lot (although I am biased since my wife rides a salsa vaya). However, if someone already has a capable touring machine, upgrading to this may not be the best option unless it is exactly what you are looking for. But for an ~$1500 out of the box tourer, it is very attractive. I guess it comes down to fit between an array of different bicycles competing for the same sub $2000 ready to go touring bike! Good to see options!

Lt Stonez

Sorry Squezzy but i think total overall the Marrakesh is better for the buck than the 920. But maybe the 920 looks better. Dont like the color on the 16 Marrakesh models.

edthesped

I have to say if it weren't for the alternator dropouts I'd probably be lusting for the Marrakesh but as it is I hope the Marrakesh fork fits the Vaya and that they sell it separately so I can put one on my Vaya.

Lt Stonez

A new YouTube video of the Marrakesh
https://youtu.be/V_ZIpHUaoEw