LHT frame build-up or Fuji World?
 

All - I'm currently trying to decide on my first serious touring bike. My previous experience is commuting (~11 miles/day), and weekend 50mi rides. I've only done single-night tours, but plan on doing the SF to LA ride late summer.

I've looked around several LBS in the Bay Area, and have done a bunch of homework, and have boiled down my touring bike options to the following. My original choice was to get a Surly LHT Complete. I put my deposit in at the LBS, only to find out that Surly is out of stock of the LHT Complete, but does have LHT frames available. The LBS did let me know that they have a 2005 Fuji World, in my size, in stock, which they'd sell to me at a discount (around $1100).

So here lies my dilemna - do I go for the LHT frameset and build up from there, or do I go for the 2005 Fuji World? I've heard great reviews on both bikes. The carbon fork on the World is a bit weird, but doesn't disqualify the bike.

What do you all think?

thanks!

Go with the World,the Surlys ARE on back-order.I like the Fuji Elios,it's steel,if the Worlkd is steel,I'd say yes,if it's not,I'd say maybe.The carbon fork is a plus (opinion) Traditionally,steel forks are the fork of choice for touring,that's why Fuji offers steel on the Elios(theory).It appears that you're not a dedicated "loaded tourer" rider,I'd say you'll appreciate the virtues of a "better " fork,carbon.The allure of Surlys is "building your own bike",not a bad notion,not really a "better" way,I opted to do such on a future bike.I'd be hard pressed to come-up-with a better design than most bikes,save for reasons, downtube shifting for example.A man rode thousands of miles last year on a Bianchi,a $1,500 steel of the shelf bike,it was in the papers,he was quite old,the bike had a carbon fork.Again I'm not familiar with THAT Fuji so...?

In the Bay Area? Are you ever lucky! Just run up to Petaluma and run your lusting hands over some of the prize winning eye candy Bruce Gordon has sitting in his office at this moment. Just promise to ride anything you buy, he really dislikes the thought of his bikes sitting on a wall somewhere on show. See some of them at www.bgcycles.com before you make any decisions.

Strong choice ken,insider imfo.,very cool.

I have a 2005 Fuji World - it's great for light touring due to its 853 frame, carbon fork and decent gearing. But for fully-loaded, self-supported, long distance touring it's not in the same class as a LHT with the same components. LHT has a more reliable steel fork (I can't bring myself to load the front bags with more than 20lbs between the two of them on my Fuji), better geometry and more braze ons. I do use my Fuji for loaded tours...just saying that if I had to choose between just those two for that specific purpose, I'd go with the LHT.

Yes, a BG would be great, but is waaay outside my budget. The $1100 for the World is already pushing it...

I built up my own LHT. I ordered the frame in November and got it a week later. I really like being able to get whatever components I wanted on the bike. At first I was disapointed that the offered the LHT in 2007 for such a good deal. But I would have had to change out a lot of stuff to get the bike I wanted and it would not have saved me any money. Also I had a lot of parts from another bike and I got a buch of stuff for cheap off ebay. The rest I got new for the LBS.

If you want your bike the way you like it then get the frame and build it up.

I spent about $1500 for the LHT.
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My LBS said that next batch of LHT completes was due in 'in May', don't know what your timeline is (or if that 'in May' was accurate when I heard it, or is still the operative arrival date even if it was accurate).

Hey Skeelium, I've had a World for about 1.5 years now and have been very happy with it. I've swapped out a few things to dial in the fit (saddle, stem, handlebars) and built up some new wheels for it, but mostly I've been very happy with the stock setup. It's served me quite well for fully loaded tours, centuries, and daily commuting. I'll be taking it on a 6+ month tour next year, and I'm confident it will handle anything the road throws my way. With all that said, the LHT looks very nice too, and you'll be able to set it up how you want it from the start. I guess I'm not much help. Good luck!

I have a 2004 Fuji World which I use for anything from Audax rides and loaded touring. On my first loaded tour I did discover fine cracking in the fork in the interface between the aluminium steerer and the carbon. I rode on with it and happily it didn't fail (not that I'm advocating taking a punt like that), and I got it replaced under warranty when I returned home. I suspect the cracking was due to damage inflicted in transport on the plane, but I guess I will never know. It is worth thinking about though as a carbon fork will be more susceptible to damage, and this might be important if you are doing a lot of touring including loading it on transport many times over. Having said that, the replacement has been fine since on subsequent tours. It is a great bike and a shear pleasure to ride through mountainous terrain. It does give a bit harsher a ride than the LHT would, although I have managed to do long distance Audax rides on it without it bothering me particularly.

Hi All - so I ended up getting the Fuji World. It would have been several weeks before the LHT came in, and I was able to get a good deal on the World, immediately. If the LHT would have been available sooner, I'd have gone for it, but I'm happy with the World.

Thanks for the feedback!

Good for you,you HAVE a bike, weeks turn into months when it comes to ordering bikes in my experience.