Originally Posted by
Cyclebum
As for which 'real' touring bike to chose, do the research and pick the lightest one within your budget. Just a frame with a bunch of replaceable components. Bunch of hair splitting between brands.
Most of the time, bikes within a price range will be close in terms of quality and components. But there is a difference in the specific fit of each one. One may feel a lot better than another, but a different cyclist would not necessarily enjoy the same bike.