i ride as you probable know by now the thorn sherpa,ok it's a great bike and knowing what i know about it ,would i buy it again even with all all the top notch gear i have on it, NO i would not.
it's a solid as a rock loaded or unloaded but it's a dog on climbs, ok i know the pilot is half to blame ,but give me a light weight frame and 700c wheels any day.
there has to be a bike frame out there that has all the fittings for a what makes a good tourer .