This question started with me looking at the 2016 Salsa touring bike called the Marrakesh. I noticed that the straight bar version has a significantly longer wheelbase, reach and top tube than the drop bar version. The drop bar version has about the same geometry as most of the other touring bikes that I have looked at. I also noticed that was true on the Surly bikes as well. My question is "What advantage is gained by stretching out the bike's wheelbase by around 2" or 11cm?"

It seems to me that the bike would be less nimble and drive more "trucklike", is this correct? What do you gain?

Interesting, I misspelled geometries in the title and I can't edit the title....LOL