Why are Surlys so special?
10-09-09, 03:15 PM
#252
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Not to beat the BikesDirect dead horse, but here are two CrMo and steel bikes with similar/better specs and cost half as much as the Surly.
https://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm
https://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/galaxy.htm
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ier_corvus.htm
(I'm comparing to the Surly: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/surly/longhaul.htm)
What are the reasons to still go with Surly? (A lot of folks here apparently do.)
https://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm
https://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/galaxy.htm
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ier_corvus.htm
(I'm comparing to the Surly: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/surly/longhaul.htm)
What are the reasons to still go with Surly? (A lot of folks here apparently do.)
I am not reading through all 11 pages, but in these links they are lower speced than a complete Surly. I will focus on the Tourist for this post. The tourist has no name hubs and rims, Tiagra shifters and front derailleur, Deore rear derailleur , road triple, cheap Kenda tires, and is 1" threaded. LHT has XT hubs to Alex rims, Dura Ace bar end shifters, the same Tiagra front derailleur, Deore XT rear derailleur, an actually useful triple crank with touring gearing, mine came with Continental Contact tires, and 1 1/8" threadless. Yes, bikes direct bikes are cheaper and some of them are bargains. But, saying they are better speced than Surly completes is a lie. They also might be lighter, but I will take a little extra weight knowing my frame isn't going to break in the next few decades.
I have owned three Surly bikes. I previously had a Karate Monkey but eventually upgraded to a higher end steel 29er frameset and then sold the KM. I still own a Long Haul Trucker and a Steamroller. Surly bikes are extremely well thought out, well built, decently speced (skimping on cheaper parts in the right places), and affordable. To some spending $1000 on a bike seems excessive, but this is bike forums so everyone here should have some form of bike problems where $1K is nothing in the overall scheme of things.
and for some pics:
Karate Monkey that has a new owner now and my LHT. I don't have any pics of the Steamroller as it is only a few weeks old.
10-09-09, 03:55 PM
#253
cherish the day
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10-09-09, 03:57 PM
#254
cherish the day
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Yep, those are the ones. I originally had some bar end shifters on a Noodle bar but wanted a more upright position. So I just ordered a pair of these Paul Thumbies and put them on a VO Milan bar. I'm really pleased because shifts are easy and precise.
10-09-09, 10:01 PM
#255
Frame Catastrophizer
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I've broken every mountain bike frame I've ever had, with the exception of my surly instigator, which I also use to commute. I've been on it since 2001.
It's freaking indestructible.
It's freaking indestructible.
10-10-09, 12:17 AM
#256
Share the road.
Cross trucker
I think Surly's are special because they are so versatile. My Cross Check is bombproof.
10-10-09, 04:50 AM
#257
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I love my LHT it has a ride quality that just works for me. This is what she looks like full loaded but for normal commuting I only use the rear bag and handle bar bag.
Last edited by 12bar; 10-10-09 at 04:21 PM.
10-10-09, 05:06 AM
#258
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I absolutely love my Crosscheck. I have to force myself to take out my road bike on the weekends. I have had my surly since spring. Wonderful bike.
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10-10-09, 08:07 AM
#259
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I went with a Surly Big Dummy. It was my first longtail bike and I was impressed by the ride. Smooth as silk. There's not a lot of bling on a Surly and its value priced. They're not called the Toyota of the bike world for nothing.
10-13-09, 08:13 AM
#260
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10-13-09, 01:16 PM
#261
DancesWithSUVs
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Problem Solvers Travel Agents. Used them to convert my old cross bike to V's. Worked like a charm.
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C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
10-13-09, 01:24 PM
#262
Senior Member
Love mine too. Nice ride.. But, since my Fuji has better rims , spokes and tires for weight- I ride my Fuji tourer the most.. If I did not use my bikes so much for errands, I'd ride my Surly all the time.. My race bike is for Club rides and that's it.
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10-14-09, 07:34 AM
#263
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What's in a name?
I got my email address from my 29er: surlymonk@.
