"Good" is in the eyes of the person looking for a custom framed touring bike, for any number of reasons, and finds this list. I am a person currently looking for a custom framed touring bike…for a number of reasons and so I started this "service to the touring community" with a starting point of my ideas of how to make such a resource legit for others.

In response to some of your points in your first reply: This list is alphabetical for a very good reason; all other orders are subjective, or arguable, in regards to who should be on the "top of the list". I think that's about as bloody fair as it can be, right?

AFAIK: You *can* get a custom built frame and customize the build of said bike though Rivendell, can't you? It's what I thought but if this is wrong, they're off *this* list but can still likely be found on the list of every touring bike made, or whatever that list is called. Again, an objective measure.

I agree that it would be great to know the number of touring frames delivered (in the last few years) as a way to better guarantee that everyone on it truly does have a depth of recent experience in providing for and dealing with touring buyers. Nailing down such numbers with any real assurance that they are accurate would require I be paid for this effort. In other words, it would take a heck of a lot of work, if it's even possible. This is why I'm counting on some of the other criteria to somewhat assure that builders are actively building custom touring bikes today.

I was first only considering builders who take it from raw tubes to a complete bike but realized it would be a shame to rule out active touring frame builders who just enjoy building the framesets, but in these cases, there has to be significant evidence that customers have been able to take these frames, have them built up and successfully tour on them. Dave Yates is the example of being able to easily find plenty of evidence that he'd be providing a proven touring frameset.

Edit to add: Why did I make "at least two models" part of the criteria?
It goes back something of proof that they are truly catering and adapting to the touring market. I think any good touring bike builder will offer a 700c based touring bike as well as a 26" based tourer, simply based on the fact that there's a division of the market there. Also, perhaps an internally geared hub model, again because a large segment of the touring populous have interest in such options. Just seems to me that any builder with enough experience will see the value in offering more than just one frameset.