Take a look at the mtbr forums, too. Surly is just a solid company that makes solid bikes. I know two people that have sold their Karate Monkey's for a Niner, Salsa, etc., but both regret selling them. They're not the lightest bikes out there, but they perform solid. I've found the same with the Steamroller. You'd probably have lots of fun with the other bikes, but definitely won't regret getting teh KM or SR.

So you post ONE aluminum-framed bike from England that has no brakes and set up as a track-only bike?

Track geo has nothing to having fun on a bike. Why does this matter so much to you? More aggressive and lighter does not equal more fun! I have just as much fun on my Steamroller as I do on my Klein Quantum Race and Redline Monocog to my Spec. FSR Comp. ALL fun bikes, no matter the weight, geo, etc.

I have yet to ride a Surly that I haven't enjoyed. It's not the kind of thing that shows up on spec sheets, but those guys crank out some fun bikes.

I don't think you can go wrong with one.

yeah. i think so. especially if you're itching to have a fun bike to ride. It can be frustrating building up a bike waiting for parts and money and what not. Eventually you are going to want both anyways, so just get the steamroller now so you can have a fun bike to ride for the summer and then build up the KM over winter so you can have it to ride next summer. Besides, that deal won't last forever. Just whip out the credit card, and don't think about what you're doing, and get it. Every healthy American does it sometime!!

and this is only part of the reason why this country is in this situation now.

Save up, there'll be deals coming around again since the bike isn't rare. I found a Trek T1 before complete with upgraded parts for less than $550 so you'll find another deal on a SR.

lol I was just kidding when I said that, but I do think that for a first bike, or first fun bike, you should just buy one. I don't know his financial status, and hopefully he won't be charging something he can't pay. It's already summer and you want to be out there riding. If you can afford it, might as well get this one now and be out there riding.

I understand. I was actually debating whether I wanted a KM but went for a CX because of the fender issue when changing a tire

I ride a Surly Karate Monkey as my winter commuter and sometimes as my summer do-something-different bike.

I think Surly designs the best frames in the business.

Really, for the money, nothing comes close.

The Steamroller will accept fat tires (like studded 35mm Nokian 106's) and makes a fantastic year around bike.

Where do you see this Surly Steamroller for $550.00 shipped? I want in on that..

I'll post that as soon as I either buy it or decide on the KM

OK guys, I think it's safe to say the 59cm size is too big for me so here's the link:
https://greatadventuresports.com/item...s.cfm?ID=10765
$535 plus shipping!!!

I just got a steamroller, and it's great at what it does, but I wish it did more. I'd rather have bought a KM or crosscheck.

I am a surly owner, and I certainly would praise their frames, but I wouldn't call them the best in the biz. They do design some of the most adaptable, no-nonsense, durable, utilitarian frames available. The guys at Surly are smart, but really the products are just cheap TIG welded Tiawanese steel frames. Good, great in fact, but not the best frames, not even close. In some instances, they aren't even the best frames for the money.

And what if you had the trek for commuting, long distance, and family outings. I really don't need a do anything, but a toy. Nevertheless, I am gravitating towards the KM for versatility. I can't help think that I'd have a whole lot of fun tooling around on the Steamroller. I probably would have went for it if the 59cm would fit me.
My trek is a 58 it I could even go bigger w/o problem, but the top tube is considerably longer on the steamroller.

lol, it comes too big for me too! But thanks for the link, seems like a great deal to me for a new complete bike. Oh well.

I say get the KM, because mountain biking rules and that's an excellent frame to get into it on, very versatile and capable. It's not over the top to start on, and you'll be racing at an exceptionally high level by the time your mountain bike needs outgrow it.

I also have this impression that most of the rich countries in Europe (you're in Germany, right?) have 80's race bikes floating around like we have 70's "ten speeds". This is probably a bit of an exaggeration, but I'm amazed at the awesome road bikes that people pick out of the trash over there. So, when you want something for the road, just grab yourself an old race bike that's a good price and convert it. The Steamroller has "road geometry" anyway (whatever that means) so you'll end up with a very similar, but far more interesting, machine.

I've yet to find them. I went with the trek 520 because stole a deal for $800 complete with quite good components. It's lighter than the long haul trucker, but I couldn't get the 35mm tires with fenders on it: a big disappointment. The crosscheck would have fit my needs much better

So why not do this here too? I've looked at steamroller and Karate Monkey competition. I'm sorry but I've yet to even like the competition. Any suggestions?

The Steamroller is $612 shipped from Universal Cycles (if you're in the States). It's not $560 from that linked site above, but at least they have every size available and they're this year's models. Only $50 more. Not too bad at all.

And I agree with you that I wasn't overly impressed with other bikes/frames. Like that other poster said, no, it’s not the best bike, but at this price point, do you expect it to be? It’s not an exotic frame material, just tested and true steel. At $370 for the frameset, I couldn’t find anything that I’d rather have. Fits 38’s, no cable guides for a clean look, etc. Plus, I could get it straight from my LBS, which was a big plus for me.

Oh, and I love the little things that they do like put the stickers over the clearcoat, so taking them off is easy. I just removed all the decals the other night and love it.

Grand Total: $570.19

I'm seeing an automatic shipping discount of $41 and then there is a coupon code for 15% off. That seems pretty reasonable.

It implies a similar coupon for the same discount won't work, but this one appears to work in the shopping cart. Also I read on some coupon site its only for customers who have shopped there before, but again it appears to work in my shopping card and I never shopped at this website. Maybe they would charge my CC for the full amount and its just displaying wrong I don't know.

No, it will work. It's a coupon code that they always have used. You don't have to be a return shopper. But if you're paranoid about it, you can just buy a cheap water bottle or something, then buy the bike after that.

Also, you have to remember that the $570.19 does not include shipping charges. What they do is automatically give you a $41 credit, but after you type in your shipping info, the same amount is charged so basically means $0 shipping. So after the shipping charge is applied, you're right at ~$612.

Examples?

My local bike shop, Webcyclery, carries the largest inventory of any bicycle shop I've ever visited.

On the past two occassions when I needed a new fixed gear frame, I looked at everything available, and the Surly products stood out in terms of quality and thoughtfulness of design.

Calling them "cheap TIG welded Tiawanese steel" amounts to a characterization and has no meaning.

Surly's manufacturer uses butted 4130 and the welds look good to me; I haven't seen any better robot welds, and neither have I seen worse robot welds.

Robot welds = robot welds.

Butted 4130 = butted 4130.

In the one case I purchased a Karate Monkey frameset and built my winter bike around it, and, in the other case I decided to go with a custom frame built by a local frame builder.

If the current Surly Steamroller had come in a color I liked (and if it had a 1" steerer tube so I could move my King headset over to it), I would have gone with the Steamroller.

However, having the Steamroller powder coated a new color, and a new headset installed, would have put it within spitting distance of the custom frame mentioned above, in terms of price.

A Steamroller frameset goes for around $420, a quality powder coating cost about $150, and a new 1.125" King headset (installed) would cost around $150; and, which comes to $720.

Because of the economy, I can get a custom TIG-welded or fillet-brazed frameset in True Temper OX Plat, powdercoated with a King headset installed, for $890.

$170 difference: too close.

Otherwise, I'd like to know about a better frameset than the Steamroller for $420 or less, especially if it had a 1" steerer tube (I like pre-2009 Bianchi Pista framesets, but Bianchi has changed the geometry for 2009 and won't sell me a frameset, anyway).

My framebuilder hasn't started my frameset, yet, and I still have a few weeks during which I could back out of the deal if I find a better frameset in an acceptable color.

Who did you pick to build your new bike, Ken?

Ken Cox - IRO Angus has a 1" head tube, but I don't know of their quality. Their framesets are $320. Reynolds 631 steel. Seems like a decent frame, if that's what you're looking for.

https://www.irocycle.com/index.asp?Pa...ROD&ProdID=108

I went with a Steamroller, because my LBS had a complete sitting there and I was able to examine it beforehand. Are you sure you wouldn't like a black Steamer? Thought I was going to like the cream color, but did not like it when I saw it. Black is nice, though. The framesets are $370 shipped from Universal Cycles.

I just now finished building up my karate monkey (2x9, 700x60 big apples, mary bars), and it's a total grin machine. I'm kind of afraid it might displace the 2x7 mountain goat I've been beating around town.

Warren Rice of Realm Cycles.

https://www.realmcycles.com/

Warren attended the UBI frame building school in Ashland, Oregon, about two years ago.

https://www.bikeschool.com/

He has since built 20 frames, all TIG-welded True Temper OX Plat.

This Sunday he plans to go down to New Mexico and spend two weeks with Dave Bohm of Bohemian Cycles.

https://www.bohemianbicycles.com/

Dave Bohm offers a very expensive one on one two-week school for frame builders.

When Warren gets back, we'll decide whether he'll use TIG-welding or fillet-brazing to build my frame.