cvee

Hello, first time poster here. I'm looking to get a new bike, and I'm leaning strongly towards the TR SLR 2. Are there any significant differences, (aside from the color) that I should consider between the 2017 and the 2018?

Thanks!

Juggy_Gales

Hey How are you doing? I bought the 2018 Toughroad SLR2 and I will tell you.. I do Love it..

Saying that.. I do not think the 2018 offers any serious advantages over the 2016 and 2017 models.. I would say.. Go with which one you feel looks best to you and if you can get the 2017 or 2016 model at a great price.. I do not see why they would not work out just great for you.
I almost bought the 2016 but missed the sale by waiting too long and the guy sold it.

The 2018 Really is sexy looking.. The Black and Red Mix really looks sharp in person.. people check out that bike all the time when I am riding it.

Which do you feel looks best? and What prices have you found the 2017 model at?

cvee

Hi Juggy. I've seen the 2018 at $870 US. I haven't owned a bike in many years, and to tell you the truth, I'm hesitant to ride one on the street very much at all...looking mostly at local trails. Easy stuff. That's why I'm also considering an entry-level mountain bike, a Trek Marlin 5, or 6. The Marlin's seem to be a lot of bike for the money.

Juggy_Gales

The Toughroad is great for both.. I ride mostly on the street and paved bike paths..
But The bike rides confidently over gravel and dirt paths..

I don't know where you want your budget to be.. But.. If you want to save some money and have
a Bike that is pretty tough and rigid and you get a suspension fork that can lock out..


I think back and consider should I have just saved the money and bought a lesser bike?
Mind you, I love the toughroad.. I just think that it should be a bit lesss $$$.. great bike..
but I feel It should be a $650-$700 bike. (I feel many bikes are priced a bit higher than they should)

The Giant Talon 3 which is available as a 27.5 in tire or 29er tire'd bike.. and you can get it tubeless.. and comes with Hydraulic Brakes..
yet only costs about $530 compared to the Toughroad's current $900 price tag..

If you did go with the Talon Id say say get the 29er.. You will be great for road and dirt trail with the help of some suspension..
Plus if you later want to make it more road oriented.. you could always get thinner road friendly tires.. Plus.. it really is a sharp bike..

I brought up the Talon 3 because when I bought the Toughroad.. My buddy Bought the Talon.. and I have ridden both..
They are both about Equal with quickness.. and I don't see myself as havingany advantage over the Talon 3..
I do not know if his bike components will wear out quicker etc..
The weight of his bike isn't even that much heavier.. just about 2-3lbs at most. which is really not noticeable..

The Trek Marlin series are also great bikes.. I don't think you will go wrong with any of these choices to be honest.
If you go with the Marlin.. Id say.. Go 6 or 7.. I was just looking at them.. That Marlin 7 is SICK! Well Equipped.. and Very sexy too..

cvee

Well apparently it is higher than I thought! I just bought me a slightly used, 2015 Salsa Fargo in excellent condition for a few hundred more than a new TR 2. I came across a green one, (really love the yellow mustard though,) so I snapped it up. It's very difficult to find these bikes used. Big selling point for me was the relaxed more-upright geometry, plus the additional hand positions available on a dropbar bike. The thing is amazingly versatile. Although mine has 40c tires, it can accept up to 2.3' front and rear, and even wider on the front. The bike has been designed to accept an optional front suspension if desired. Just go out and buy a 100mm suspension, and install. These bikes have a cult following it seems. It's more an off-road tourer, like the TR1. If I really like it, and find the large fits me well, I might paint it yellow over the off-season. It's a steel frame, so maybe I'll do it myself! It is heavier out of the box than the TR2, (29lbs) but I hope that doesn't affect the kind of riding I expect to do...pretty much all moderate off-road stuff, with the occasional bike around the small town I live in.

You can check out the specs here.


salsacycles.com/bikes/archive/2015_fargo_3_mustard

GLJo

When you drill down and look at all the components, pretty much everything on the Toughroad is of a higher spec. The spec increases add a few dollars/tens of dollars to each item, but when you add them all up, all of a sudden, you've gone from a $500 dollar bike to a $1000 one! such is the way of the bike industry.
Just consider the frame - the Talon has the standard ALUXX offering, the toughroad isn't even the next one up, the SL, its the even higher SLR type!
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the Talon is a great bike for the price, but Giant, like all manufacturers have different tiers of offerings, and they've simply pitched the toughroad at a certain level, and even the lowest TR SLR2 isn't at a particularly 'low' level! If it was "a bit less $$$", then it wouldn't be such a "great bike"

GLJo

So your post has prompted me to look into the Fargo a little more. Seems like an awesome bike! Congrats on finding a good used one - I can't see anything at all available over here in the Uk at the moment. I'm going to be doing a whole lot more reading over the weekend, but keep us updated on how you find it!!

prj71

Whats the weight of the 2018 TR SLR 2?

cvee

Hi GLJo, yes, I'm very excited! I received the bike yesterday, put the box in the car and immediately drove down to the bike shop to have them fully inspect it and tune it. The very knowledgeable bike shop guy said "Oh, you're gonna like that bike!" I can't wait to try it out. I'm shopping for a good flat pedal now.

Anyone know where I can find rubber-soled shoes for flat pedals that come with wide widths? I always have a problem finding shoes that fit. My running shoe is a 12.5 EE. Fits like a glove. I also have a great pair of clipless shoes from Lake, wide size, that also fit like they were custom made for me. Took weeks to find them! I can't find any rubber-soled flat-pedal shoes in wide widths.

Here's the color I have.

salsacycles.com/bikes/archive/2015_fargo_3

Here's a 60 page Fargo thread going back ten years:

forums.mtbr.com/salsa/salsa-fargo-thread-467422.html

Here's another great Fargo resource:

g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/p/salsa-cycles-fargo-conclusions.html

GLJo

I'm not an expert here as there are so many brands out there, but I also have wide feet and often find racing clipless offerings too narrow. The wife did get me for Xmas a pair of specialized shoes - Cadet I think? that seem fairly 'normal' and fit like my ordinary shoes. They are clipless compatible, but you have to cut a hole in the rubber grip to reveal the cleat mechanism. So they are flat(ish) and rubber if you don't do that! Stiffness value of 4 IIRC. Have a look. I think they're discontinued so are on blowout at the moment.



Whoa! you've bought the Green Lanterns bike
Looks awesome. Post some pics soon!



Dear god. There's nearly 6000 posts there! lots of reading. I didn't realise the model had been out so long.
I've checked some more, and they do come up now and again for sale where I am. Maybe its a bit too much bike (in terms of its touring ability) for me, but the geometry and wheel size looks spot on. I will be keeping it on my radar. You have lots of fun there!!
Cheers

Juggy_Gales

That does make sense.. I do just feel many bikes are priced a bit higher than they should be.
And my opinion could be dead wrong. Im sure I will enjoy the TR for many years

Grinstead

I wanted a general do it all bike and so pitted for the Toughroad SLR GX1 and for the money i am mightly impressed. Comfortable on the gravel and road and I love the drop bars it makes such a difference on the road. I can't really think of anything I would want to upgrade even the wheels which is unusual for the off the shelf bike.

Might look into a few different tire options later but that's it....

andrei_r

Pictures or it didn't happen...

Grinstead

You can see them on the Giant website there not 'that' special ...