thepetester

Hello I'm checking for opinions on touring bikes and this one fits my criteria perfectly because I have never toured before and I'm willing to spend for the complete package with front and rear racks,gearing for hills,fenders and pretty much everything right out of the box.

$2500 doesn't sound too bad as it will be my only transportation also should I buy some special tires to avoid flats?

I'll be travelling for maybe a week through the Rocky mountains at first and where I am now has "goat heads" are there any tires that will be effective for these things?

Thanks for your help

10 Wheels

Neat bike.

Have the dealer change the 30T Change Ring to a 24T

The New 2017 Specialized AWOL Touring Bikes - CyclingAbout

Timequake

Stupidly expensive.

seeker333

AWOLs have a long top tube (57.5cm ETT on a Medium). Specialized builds the bike with a short stem (50mm on a Medium) and a short reach drop bar to mitigate the issue. If you try an AWOL make sure the fit is to your liking WRT reach, because there's no way to make it any shorter unless you ditch the drop bar, controls and brakesets and convert to a flat bar with compatible levers, shifters and long-pull brakesets (all MTB components), which would be an expensive proposition.

Mr IGH

Can't, nothing fits, not 74mm BCD. Stuck with the 30t.

10 Wheels

Thanks I had one crank set that was not changeable.

rickyk76

While you're entitled to this opinion, it's not very helpful since you've provided no insight as to why you believe so. It's also a moot point considering the OP already explained why he doesn't consider the expenditure to be anything less than reasonable.

The 30t should be fine since the gear inch range with the stock gearing and tires give you a decent touring range. It even comes with a dynamo hub too. Looks like you'd be ready to go right out of the gate, though I'd have to throw a B17 on it still.

Squeezebox

I've never seen one in person. But heat treated tubing, racks and fenders, brifters, positives. I have no need for a dyno-hub, and at the price I would expect better deraileurs.
Have you looked at Co-motion Duschetes?

Mr IGH

It is expensive at $2500, it does have everything, all working. I can understand how a purchaser may prefer the kit. I have all of that on my Saga Disc but it took time and effort to make it all work together, it all done on this bike.

It is a nice bike, stable, touring geometry, heavy steel like LHT/DT/Saga/Vaya. I rode one several times when I was working at a Specialized dealer. Glad to see they migrated to a triple, that way if you need a lower gear you can just swap out the Tiagra triple for a mountain/trekking crank with a 22T (~$70 on ebay/UK sellers), everything else is compatible.

Mr IGH

The 11-36 cassette is a beast, the steps are huge. The owner could purchase a second, tighter cassette for non-touring tides if it bothers him. Also includes a suspension seatpost, Brooks might be redundant.

alcahueteria

That expert looks solid. If you're interested in all that it offers, I definitely think it's worth it. I definitely think you should test ride it if you haven't. I got one of the transcontinentals and it's been phenomenal, but it was definitely a lot of money for a weird build. But it was the weird build I've been wanting. Which is extra nice, because as has been mentioned, composing all the pieces that work together has already been done, and when you're talking about a touring bike, I think there's a lot of value in that.

The one thing that's unsatisfactory about the bike is that I get a shimmy or speed wobble. It's not really problematic beyond the fact that it's hard to ride with no hands. So take that for what it's worth. I've enjoyed it otherwise.

FrontRanger

I put quite a few miles on a lower-spec AWOL, and I never got on with the long top tube/short stem geometry. You may want to read some of these comments regarding racks/handling/etc.

Squeezebox

Specialized says that the awol Expert is made from heat treated tubing. That puts the tubing quality far above that of the LHT, I don't know what the Saga or Vaya is claimed to be made of.

The Saga is Prestige heat treated, very nice stuff, top end. The Vaya says cro-molly but does have a carbon fork with eyelets no less.
So your talking apples and rocks.

Mr IGH

Interesting comments. The rear stays are all bendy, I didn't realize they flex so much when loaded. For all that frame weight I expected the rear stays to be stiff. It would be a deal breaker for me.

Mr IGH

The frame is just as heavy as all the Maxway offerings, thick-as-a-brick tubing doesn't benefit from all that alchemey, thin tubes do.

FrontRanger

Yup, the bike does not like rear loading. Low-riders work fine, but a porteur/rando-style rack will make for LOTS of wheel flop.

I, personally, would go with something like a Salsa Vaya, Marrakesh, or even Fargo.

Tourist in MSN

I was unaware of any touring bikes that were sold off-the-shelf with a dynohub and USB charger, until now. Yes that stuff is available on the custom builds, but custom does not count. I suspect other manufacturers will take notice of this.

But if I was buying I would rather have a lower climbing gear. If you have to change out the crankset to accomplish that, I see that as a negative.

Weird looking front rack, your panniers would sit pretty high with that. There are pros and cons to that. I like them a bit higher on my expedition bike for ground clearance, but on the Expert they will be higher than I have run them.

Interesting that they use the hybrid braking system, cable and hydraulic. I was unaware of anyone using it on an off-the-shelf bike.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bi...-expert/115663

veganbikes

It is certainly a neat bike and is well spec'd in many cases. However like all production bikes, I do have my own personal things I would change but I wouldn't hesitate to get one as my first touring bike. Having the dynamo set up is excellent and I wish I had one way earlier! The Tubus rack is really strong but quite light and the bar, tape and saddle are pretty comfortable.

FrontRanger

If you want an AWOL-style bike but don't want to drop a ton of $$$ look at Marin's Four Corners. I'm demo'ing one and it rides very similarly to the AWOL.

NormanF

Thanks for the tip. Go down one size from the size you usually ride to get the best fit.

As for converting, least expensive conversion is to a mustache bar. Don't have to change the entire drivetrain.

NormanF

I'm considering it for a future touring/backpacking bike as my current commuter bike is more of an all-rounder like the Specialized Sequoia.

thepetester

Excellent! I figured that you guy's would be the one's to ask,I'll definitely check out that Marin and if there will be any problems with load weight or balance with the AWOL as stated then that is definitely a deal breaker,thanks for the heads up.

veganbikes

The paintjob on their elite makes me really love that bike.

djb

Its interesting that the stock 23 g.i low gear thing really is something that they are sticking with.
I don't get it, but I have always figured its a manly macho take on things why so many manufacturers have their "touring bikes" not geared lower.
I understand the marketing reasons, most folks ride unloaded, so my now favorite mtn triple crank setup may be a bit undergeared for really strong guys without a load, and the companies dont want to be seen as wusses, so they overgear them....and fit into the whole racer thing that still is a big motivator for sales pitches and buyers imaginated views of themselves.

edthesped

I've had an AWOL around the house for going on 3 seasons now and haven't noticed much of an issue with rear loading though I do notice it's a bit noodly if for out of the saddle mashing up steep hills. I will say that for me it's one of the more comfortable bikes I've ever ridden, my daughter must feel the same way as she absconded with it. I would take the comments in the Gravelbike article and compare them with owner experiences on the specialized forum over at MTBR if you're seriously interested in it... Would I buy another at this point? Not sure as there are so many bikes that seem as good or better and I've learned I'm more of a carry 30# tourer than a carry 60# tourer. If I had the cash I'd be building up an RLT 9 RDO right now and continue using my 2013 Vaya as a light tourer. I love the dynamo and if you use electronics at all it's a great thing to have.