It's complete overkill, I admit when I first saw it I thought, hey this is kinda cool. It's almost like the evil polar oppisite of the xo bikes Grant Peterson was doing at Bridgestone in the early 90's. Well I ragged on those back in the day now I ride one, so who am I to say. Application as a offroad tourer far as I see, still isn't gonna be able to handle real singletrack loaded, but then again most bikes can't. I'll stick with my xo-2 till i can get my Waterford custom done someday. As a commuter? maybe if you haul large amouts of fluids to work...cassarole is a far more suited machine to commute on in my opinion. Fargo is like the 'spruce goose' of touring bikes.