on this forum the surly lht would be recommended over the thorn model X, simply because the lht frameset costs ~350-500 USD and thorns cost about 3 times as much in the US, so guess what sells the most?
personally i think the thorn is probably worth twice as much or more. the surly is tig welded in china from inexpensive tubing. the thorns (the ones you'd want) are carefully handmade by nigel or gregory (i made those up) from a reynolds tubing produced exclusively for thorn. thorn frames are fillet brazed with all kinds of bosses, they're basically a custom frame, made the way fine bikes used to be made. so one is hyundai, the other is lexus, and priced accordingly. except for the sherpa model, which is their low end model made in china (probably same factory as the surlys, ha).
first, surly LHT avail in 42, 46cm 44 not made. best price i know of, honest businessman:
http://parts.spicercycles.com/page.c...and=405&type=T
alternately, contact aebike.com by telephone; their website quotes msrp on surly products but they used to sell em at ~290 USD until all their competitors started complaining.
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if you can physically pick up a nice thorn at sjs cycles in uk that would be the best deal; opccasionally they sell an odd model on ebay but you'll never find what you want that way
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bike friday - pretty reputable folding bike company in US - they make a touring model, and an accessory travel case (bike fits in it for travel) that converts to a trailer for the tour;
http://www.bikefriday.com/bikeMMI.cfm?bf=4&cat=3
see denise in action:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journ...ge_id=4041&v=r
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dahon folders - they have a slick touring model
htt
p://www.dahon.com/intl/speedtr.htm
http://www.dahon.com/images/bikes/la...l/speedtr4.jpg
and a conventional looking mtb with clever frame coupling, apparently they fit it with eyelets for rack, fancy parts, expensive wheels, really trick
http://www.dahon.com/intl/flo.htm