Would this make a good road touring bike?
11-25-08, 01:39 PM
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Would this make a good road touring bike?
If you slap some road tires on it, what are your thoughts on this monstrosity as a touring bike?
https://www.salsacycles.com/fargoComp09.html
https://www.salsacycles.com/fargoComp09.html
11-25-08, 02:03 PM
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Aren't you short? their smallest size is quite a bit bigger than the Trek 520. I'm 5'2" and couldn't ride the 16" size - effective TT too long. If it fits you, it looks pretty good to me - the XT component level is great. How much?
11-25-08, 03:51 PM
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For some reason... I like it???? huh?!?!
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11-25-08, 04:16 PM
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someone asked how much?
i think i read that the frame/fork/seat-collar will be like $650 or something. and the complete bike version is like $2000.
yeah...the bottles cages on the front are sorta dumb. i'm just put my fenders and racks all up in the front and back.
11-25-08, 04:25 PM
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It's total overkill but an interesting concept, LHT is far better deal or a Karate Monkey even. I'm not big on sloping geo's though unless I'm on a 29er I'm gonna be using off road. Now if I were to do an 'expedition' type tour on really crappy roads, I'd think about it...but I honestly can't get sold on the geo of the fargo
11-25-08, 07:27 PM
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Seems like an attempt to look cool and sell more bike than is needed. It seems like a bike intended to be sold to people who think they want a touring bike rather than a bike for people who tour.
11-25-08, 07:32 PM
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I think I read somewhere (maybe on the Salsa blog?) that their goal for this bike was to create something to be ridden on a long-distance, off-road tour - like the Great Divide Mountain Biking Route.
I'm guessing if you asked Surly/Salsa (they are the same company) which bike to take on an extended on-road tour they would suggest the Surly LHT.
I'm guessing if you asked Surly/Salsa (they are the same company) which bike to take on an extended on-road tour they would suggest the Surly LHT.
11-25-08, 08:46 PM
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that's exactly what they designed it for...the Great Divide or something similar...
11-25-08, 09:20 PM
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Surly and Salsa are separate companies owned by the same parent company (QBP iirc).
Yes, this bike is designed for off-road touring. I've seen people put water bottle cages on the fork, seems like an easy way to carry a ton of water bottles to me....
Yes, this bike is designed for off-road touring. I've seen people put water bottle cages on the fork, seems like an easy way to carry a ton of water bottles to me....
11-25-08, 09:57 PM
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They own Surly, Salsa, Civia, Dimension, and other brands.
https://www.qbp.com/brands.html
11-25-08, 11:20 PM
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It looks like a solid unit for off road or rough road touring, reminiscent of the old mountain bikes. It looks like something that would perform well on the trails and reasonably well on pavement too. I'd like to test ride it under such conditions before making a final judgement.
11-26-08, 12:01 AM
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Surly/Salsa are manufactured in the same factory some guy was telling me at a cyclocross race I attended this past weekend.
11-26-08, 12:06 AM
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i'm 5'5", so yeah...i'm pretty darn short. BUT...this thing looks like a mountain bike. supposedly, a mountain bike top tube for me should be about 22.1 inches...so the top tube is fine. the standover height...SHOULD be fine since it looks like the toptube slopes down like CrAzY...so it should be plenty low in front of the saddle.
someone asked how much?
i think i read that the frame/fork/seat-collar will be like $650 or something. and the complete bike version is like $2000.
yeah...the bottles cages on the front are sorta dumb. i'm just put my fenders and racks all up in the front and back.
someone asked how much?
i think i read that the frame/fork/seat-collar will be like $650 or something. and the complete bike version is like $2000.
yeah...the bottles cages on the front are sorta dumb. i'm just put my fenders and racks all up in the front and back.
11-26-08, 12:29 AM
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The smallest size Fargo will probably be too large for you. There are other fine touring bikes besides the Long Haul Trucker to consider as well, such as the Trek 520, Jamis Aurora, Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee, Novara Safari, Raleigh Sojourn, Kona Sutra, Cannondale Touring, and many others. The Safari, Sojourn, and Sutra all have disc brakes if you are interested in that sort of thing.
Email or call Salsa about the sizing.
Email or call Salsa about the sizing.
11-26-08, 01:31 AM
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I've never seen anything like it, but I like it. But it does cater to the 'extreme,' meaning that it may do one thing very well (touring on goat paths), and other things not so well. Only a test will tell. Meanwhile, I should say that my Rock n Road has endured many a path, with panniers, and then takes on the highway without hesitation. So I'd recommend a bike that can do many things well rather than one thing superlatively.
Yours,
Yours,
11-26-08, 05:33 PM
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The Taiwanese Thorn frames are definately made in the same factory as the Surly frames.
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11-26-08, 05:42 PM
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I wouldn't want to tour with a ride like that unless i was going to see a lot of off-roadish action. That being said, panniers don't always do well with heavy off-road duty, as the massive bumps and drops wreak havoc (or so I've been told. my own experiences bear this out to a small degree.) But, really, I wouldn't want discs on tour, i wouldn't want that geo on tour, I'd want a proper front rack on tour....unless I was doing an "adventure tour" with lots of trail.
the title of this question leads me to say yeah, you could do it...but if you're buying a new bike/frame for on-road touring, why would you buy this one?
-rob
the title of this question leads me to say yeah, you could do it...but if you're buying a new bike/frame for on-road touring, why would you buy this one?
-rob
11-27-08, 10:45 AM
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFbub...eature=related
For stuff like this. There is a whole underground unsupported endurance racing scene out there that this bike is great for. Multiple water bottle mounts for carrying lots of water in the desert. Fat tires for rough roads, and you can still put on smaller slicks for pavement. Rack mounts and disc brakes that are out of the way panniers. I think this bike would be an awesome touring bike if you like to get off road.
Sloping geometry is fine, they know how to design bikes at Salsa they have been doing it for a long time. If your doing off road tours you do want some clearance over the toptube.
Also my LHT is a big frame and is like a wet noodle when loaded up. I wish I had a sloping top tube to help eliminate the flexing and give it a more responsive ride that a stiffer more compact frame like the Fargo would give.
I still love my LHT but this is a cool bike.
For stuff like this. There is a whole underground unsupported endurance racing scene out there that this bike is great for. Multiple water bottle mounts for carrying lots of water in the desert. Fat tires for rough roads, and you can still put on smaller slicks for pavement. Rack mounts and disc brakes that are out of the way panniers. I think this bike would be an awesome touring bike if you like to get off road.
Sloping geometry is fine, they know how to design bikes at Salsa they have been doing it for a long time. If your doing off road tours you do want some clearance over the toptube.
Also my LHT is a big frame and is like a wet noodle when loaded up. I wish I had a sloping top tube to help eliminate the flexing and give it a more responsive ride that a stiffer more compact frame like the Fargo would give.
I still love my LHT but this is a cool bike.
11-27-08, 11:30 AM
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To answer the thread title, No, even with road tires that thing is not going to match a road touring bike. For rough mountain trails get a mountain bike. For jeep trail, dirt road, and paved touring a good road touring bike with adequate tires will be better. Read Jim Malusa's book "Into Thick Air" to get a feel for hard-core touring.
