An odd Surly LHT question.
 

If you have read my previous posts, you would know that I am trying to circumvent the hideous cost of shipping from US to Asia. Shipping the complete LHT will cost around 370, while the frame alone will cost around 130. So here's my question, how much will it cost to build up the LHT using almost the exact same parts as the complete set? Are there any viable downgrades? I am planning to use the 9 months I have before college to cycle around South-East-Asia, China and America. I would have around USD$6600 to spare for this little adventure.
Anyone have any other saving tips for touring?

Are you now in Asia? If not, just take the bike on the plane with you.

Yeah, I live in Singapore.

IIRC there is a Singapore based webshop that sells the LHT.

Here's the Singapore distributor of Surly bikes.

Bike Boutique (distributor, S. E. Asia)
71 Tras Street (Boutique & Bike Lodging)
Singapore 079010
Tel / Fax : +65 6298 9528
www.thebikeboutique.com

Yeah, I called them, and according to them, they don't stock them anymore.

Another shop said they will ship it over for me. The problem is that it will cost USD$1325.

That's not a bad price, considering.

I heard you can buy parts cheaply in SE Asia. Have you not found good prices on components locally?

If you know how to turn a wrench you should buy the frame and build it up with whatever functional parts you can buy cheaply. Though, if you have to pay a shop for installation you will probably spend too much piecing the bike together.

You might want to talk to Sulaiman fom Rebound centre, the frame will cost you about 700 SGD. If you know how to build, you might be able to procure components and set up your bike for the same price you mention (1325 USD). Else, if you like the stock bike and can get it shipped to SG for the price, then you should do so. It is not too bad a price. if you want any cheaper, you would have to get some one to carry the bike with them when they travel.

Alternately, Treknology3 will be able to get you a 520 if you let them know. It is a real pity we do not have a surly distributor anymore.

Bikes and components are relatively cheap in Singapore. Depending on prevailing exchange rates, they're sometimes less in Malaysia and Thailand. Just got to know where to look, and more importantly, know what specs you want.

This 46 cm LHT was built for about SG $1500.

http://lovethefold.blogspot.com

2008 XT RD, FD, V brakes, cassette, chain, LX shifters, AVID levers, Shimano 505 wheelset, Maxxis tyres, On One Mary Bars, Brooks B17, Cane Creek SS2 headset, XTR brake and shifter cables. Only recycled bits were 1995 LX std drive 26/36/46 crankset, UN 72 BB and a Trek rear rack. A pretty good deal considering.

Rebound Center cld easiy do the same, but I can't vouch for prices, though Sulaiman is quite an easy going and knowledgeble guy. It will certainly be more than the 2 LHTs I built in Jan this year.

Nadesh, I think a local build shld cost 10-15% less than a US import, before freight charges. And you get to choose some nice XT parts too.

Trek 520 is going for a bit over $2200, but it's too 'mass market' for me.

Is anyone knowledgeable about the kind of components I'll need for the tour i described above? I'm on a very tight budget. And not very familiar with parts and groupsets too. Any recommended sources of information? Thanks

Maybe something like this would help you:
https://www.vpost.com.sg/vpostusa05/index.html

Depends where that big shipping cost is coming from.

Yeah, it'll cost around SGD500(368USD) on vpost. =(

The cheapest so far though. Heh

Maybe you can find a Koga-Miyata cheap?

My LHT build cost me about 1800SGD with a full LX setup + fenders + surly rear rack. Of course, you will be able to save $$ if you avoid some of the frills. I am in the process of setting up another bike (may be a LHT or somthing else) and a quote for the components (LX) ran to about 1200 SGD. You add the cost of the frame and it would work out to about the same price too. Check with som local shops to see if you can get a better price. Else you can check out the forum (www.togoparts.com) for some 2nd hand components. I dont think you will save much by shipping from the US anyway.

As for the 520, it is a nice bike too. I test rod one and found the top tube slightly longr. Apart from the fact that it comes in 2" increment in sizes, I see not much difference in terms of the ride. I suppose setting up a LHT would be cheaper than getting a stock 520 and I would do that...

Nice. I really need to read up on touring bicycle components. Any reccomended sources?

Anyone can guess how much will an almost complete Deore (Hubs and RD LX) built cost? I will use straight-bars with bar-ends. Discounting stuff like fenders and racks. =)

You can use the Speedgoat bike builder on their website to configure a bike with real time pricing:

http://www.speedgoat.com/lab.asp

Check out http://www/crazyguyonabike.com, http://www.mtbr.com & http://www.roadbikereview.com for some reviews on touring gear or specific bike parts.

Do you have the specs for your 1800 SGD LHT built? =D

Odd. The Surlys are actually made in Taiwan. Why not email the company and ask where a
retailer/distributor is in the first country that you are going to?
I've got good and quick answers from the reps.

As I understand though, the complete bikes are handled by a second company.
So, the complete bike in the USA may not be the same bike in an Asian country.

The LHT is an excellent choice for touring. I've test ridden them myself. Nice!

If you are relatively new to biking, I would definitely want to get fitted and do real
test rides. Before going on a tour with a bike full of weight. And then adjust the
stem, seat, etc. before and during the tour.

My bike is setup as follows:

0. 58cm LHT Frame+fork
1. LX drive train with XT RD
2. Cane creek Headset
3. Salsa Delgado rims with LX hubs (32h) + panaracer 38m tires (Crosstown i suppose)
4. OnOne Midge Bars with Shimano barends
5. Avid SD5 brakes with diacompe levers
6. SKS Fenders and Surly Nice Rear rack
7. Shimano SPD pedals with platform on onesid (M534 or something)

I guess the specs are not something to worry about. Go to a good bike shop (TR Bikes, Sulaiman etc...) and they will be able to advice you with a decent setup.

Thanks! Where did you built yours?

4 LHT blue frames in last week at Rebound Center, Singapore. 1 sold as LX build yesterday to a friend of mine. Another serious enquiry from Jakarta, Indonesia will drop by as soon as he is here on business.

TR Bikes. talk to Lynten about your needs and he will be able to recommend something within you budget. Dont hold the shop with the prices you see here though. Sometimes you might have bargains dpending on overstocks etc... At the end of the day, a 100$ here and there might not be a big deal when spread out over few years and few thousands of Km of riding.

Oh, how much did that LX built cost? How much are the frames going for? I'm most probably riding a 54cm.
Would going over to malaysia's shops be cheaper for building up? Bikepro, etc.

Thanks. : )