Originally Posted by
Marc40a
The Marakesh looks nice, I looked into Salsa myself at one point (the Vaya) .Don't quote me on this but I'd be wary about the the frame's compatibility with other racks and more importantly, fenders. For some reason I remember reading a review that pointed out the owner's frustration with the lack attachment points near the rear dropouts. Maybe it's been resolved since then.
thanks for your description of the Aurora vs Hillborne. even though the Marrakesh is different than the Hillborne, it still definitely helps in understanding some of the geometry differences in relation to ride feel etc.
i've been reading similar concerns about the rack compatibility of the Marrakesh. sounds like only Salsa's racks are compatible with that frame, and the rack that comes with it isn't rated very high for weight capacity. they have alternator plates that allows for fender mounting, but doesn't resolve the mounting issue for third party racks. a shame really as the rest of the bike seems more or less what i was looking for.