h_curtis

I looked at a Surly long haul today and liked it, but I have a nicer road bike and it got me thinking, I wonder if there are any US made steel bikes that are set up like that long haul? My road bike is a Chas Roberts that I love. Chas is still in business, but it would be extremely expensive and who knows about duty???? I wouldn't even know where to start. Anyway, there has to be something made more local. Ideas? I would like to stay under $2K. The long haul was about $1K, that was even better, but I am a sucker for something different and really well built.

Northwestrider

Sure there are, Rodriguez Bicycles is but one of them. They are a bit pricey however. https://www.rodcycle.com/

arctos

Bruce Gordon RNR
https://www.bicycles.com

h_curtis

Thanks. I ride with someone that rides one of them... I think, but I haven't seen him in several months.

I wish I could find a used Chas Roberts, but I search every Craigslist and ebay. I even searched ebay's completed listings. There is a Roberts on there right now, but it is $1500 for the frame only. I can't hang with that!!

Doug64

Co-Motion, Eugene, OR
https://www.co-motion.com/single_bike...ikes_tour.html

lucille

NWT from Bike Friday. Eugene, Oregon.

jdom

Don't forget Rivendell,Waterford,Independant fabrications and Velo Orange,to go with the ones allready mentioned.Wait Gunnar,I think is also made by waterford.
But my question is why do you need a bike that is made in the USA?There are many other very well made touring bikes made in other countries.Such as Robert Yates,Thorn and Koga to name just a few.
Also I don't think there is anything wrong with bikes made in Tiawan.

Oh and one last thing,for the price you are looking for something made in Tiawan is most likely to be in that price range,maybe Thorn or Koga will also fit that price range,I'm not sure.

rothenfield1

Yes there are, but those companies are probably really suffering with our economy because their excellent artisan bikes cost so much to produce. If you mean American made completely, probably will never happen again if it ever did. Even most of the bikes mentioned here get there tubing drawn overseas and probably wielded as well. If you have issues with buying products made outside the U.S., you are in for a rude awakening and a very expensive existence. As far as I know, we don't make tubing for bikes in this country anymore. You'll have to look really hard to find a 'Made In America' decal on a bike in the future.

nun

I doubt you'll find a used Roberts in the USA. But on the bright side there are loads of US frame builders that make steel tourers. 30 seconds on Google. Knock yourself out!

https://urbanvelo.org/framebuilders/

Don't discount UK builders. The exchange rate is really good and a Mercian is a great deal.

rothenfield1

+1 on the Mercian, I looked it up some time ago and the shipping is quit resonable.

duckforcover

+2 Mercian, rode one... loved it.

Went back for a second look, it was gone.

BengeBoy 

Since you are in Pennsylvania, try Bilenky:

https://www.bilenky.com/Midlands_Main_Page.html

There are at least a billion guys making bikes in the Pacific Northwest, at random, here are Mitch Pryor's stunning touring bikes:

https://mapbicycles.com/touring-bicycles.html

Bill Davidson in Seattle would make you one of these:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/huggeri...7603249891439/

531phile 

I'm pretty sure Rivendell outsource their Production frames to Japan. Their custom frames however are made by Mark Nobilette in the U.S.

531phile 

Not as well known as some as the other custom framebuilders, but Circle A cycles make some nice touring bikes: https://www.circleacycles.com/bicycles_gallery.php

My favorite is the burgundy red Oregon Manifest bike and also that lime green color frame looks cool.

NoReg

What about this guy, or whoever is currently where he was a year or so back:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ghlight=custom

Here is a fairly toury list of framebuilders since it comes off the S&S coupler site:

https://sandsmachine.com/fbplist.htm#USA

One thing to consider is that no good loaded tourer is going to compare to a road bike unloaded. It is all about how they feel loaded. Particularly if you have alternative rides for when you aren't touring.

h_curtis

Unfortunately, you might be right. I looked at several of the bikes made in the US and I don't think I could afford them. I also have just started to look at used bikes and it seems bikes set up for touring are not very plentiful on the market. I saw one Chas Roberts on ebay, but it is a racing bike. Right size too, but the price is really high, for frame and fork. I might have to just keep my eye open for a used bike. I guess I couldn't convert that Chase into a tourer? Would be cool to have two of those.

h_curtis

Is the Surly a good bike? Wish it was lugged, but I guess those days are over in my price range.

EKW in DC

Both the frameset and the complete bike have pretty darned good reputations in these parts of the Interwebz. I plan on buying a frameset in a few months to build up mostly with components swapped from my current hybrid for use as a commuter and loaded tourer.

jdom

Most rivendell frames are made buy Waterford.A few are made in either Tiawan or Japan I can't remember.
As far as I know Waterford builds all there frames in the U.S.

indyfabz

IF, Co-Mo, Rivendell, Moots (Yes. They will make you a touring bike), BikeFriday, Waterford and Bilenky are all constructed/assembled/welded in the U.S. There are probably others.

I have actually been to the Bilenky "factory." Great guys. I needed them to enlarge some existing holes in my custom rear rack that was designed for an older bike in order to retrofit it to a new bike.. No local shop would do it for liability reasons. Bilenky did. They resisted taking money for the job, offered me a sandwich and gave me a tour of the shop.

indyfabz

I love my Surly LHT. Strong enough for my 215 lb. body and lots of gear. The wheelset is very solid. I also use it to commute and for local travel.

lucille

And if you don't mind looking across the border, both True North Cycles and Mariposa Cycles make some stunning touring bikes.
https://www.truenorthcycles.com/
https://www.mariposabicycles.com/

BengeBoy 

These days, I believe that *most* Rivendell frames are made in Taiwan; a few are still made in Japan; a few are made in the US by Waterford/Gunnar. I think there is still a "custom" Rivendell, no idea how many.

ullearn

Tim Sanner will build you a custom one for a little more then a LHT - https://www.sannercycles.com/

EKW in DC

To be fair, as cool as his bikes look (and I've seen a video on the workshop/build your own class which looks awesome), his framesets start at $1400. The LHT frameset retail for $430, and a complete, nicely equipped LHT complete goes for around $1100. Not really the same ballpark pricewise.