AZORCH

Does anyone have any experience with the Soma Saga? I've got all the detailed specifications, so I'm more interested in hearing opinions about ride quality, general fit, steering under load, and other rather subjective thoughts.

MileHighMark

I commuted on one for about a year. Not the liveliest ride, but it's not to be expected. I experimented with small panniers on the back, and up front, and found that I preferred them up front (mounted to Tubus low-riders).

The frames are a good deal at $400. I wish they'd have paid more attention to the brake boss spacing (for better compatibility with wide rims). Also, I had a bear of a time keeping my seatpost from slipping. Finally resorted to carbon assembly paste and Loctite on the binder bolt. A separate clamp ala Surly would have been better, IMO.

I'm building mine back up for commuting duties, and this time I'm going with a 29/44 crank instead of a triple.

SlimRider

I've heard nothing but good things about the SOMA Saga here in the Bay Area. However, I would also pay close attention to any other extraneous information, as well.

I think that MileHighMark has some information that should be seriously taken under advisement. I'm glad to see that he's keeping his Saga and building up.

I am defintely planning on purchasing the Stanyan within the year, if I don't purchase a Bike Friday NWT, first.

fietsbob

Merry Sales Imports under the Soma Brand and have others, they are in SoSF,
same source as Surly, imported by QBP another importing wholesaler.

Big frame making factories fill contracts from many importers and brand companies.


Bike Friday, OTOH, is all welded up in Oregon..
Recent buy a BF , with a 'thud-buster' seatpost seems excellent.
they do a you pick drivetrain choice, BTO built to order.

I like the IG hub I got in mine, though,
you may prefer a dual drive, or 3 by 9,10 derailleur set-up.

MileHighMark

One other thing, take their geometry specs with a grain of salt. The seat tube angle on my 58cm is closer to 74-deg than the stated 73.

fietsbob

build factory being mass produced, seat tube ream could have been a bit oversize, by say 0.1mm,
to an odd number, say 27.3mm?
putting it off from seat posts, usually sized in even. 0.2 mm increments.

MileHighMark

Part of the problem was the Velo Orange seatpost that I was using. Undersized, and inconsistent in diameter. I needed an offset post due to the steeper-than-claimed seat angle, and the VO was one of the few available silver (I'm using a Kalloy Uno for this new build).