kuan

I'd think the Pugsley would make a great expedition bike.

vik 

+1

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum...age=1&nested=0

tgbikes

Is there more than 3 people on any one contintnt that has seen that german contraption? For every new gadget that makes it to 1000 miles there are probably dozens of obsoleat parts that have gone a million miles. As a certified (german) car mechanic since 1975 I woud want a bike on expadition that I could field strip with a swiss army knife. that tout thing looks like you would need a Snap-on tool truck for a sag wagon!

kuan

Ooh Vik! Great minds... uh I mean Surly nutjobs think alike.

tgbikes

Sakkit expedition 26

Erick L

Indeed: https://www.wildworks.co.nz/csr/home.php

I wanted an "expedition bike", and I bought a LHT, which has 26" wheels for my size.

Garthr

The best one is the one you really like riding. People have ridden all sorts of bike all over.

Mostly .... It's in your head.

If you break a rim in Bula Bula..... no big deal. Maybe you'll meet the nicest people and have an experience you'll never forget.

skookum

If money is no object I'd say a Thorn Exp.
Failing that if you can find an old steel frame mountain bike in good condition and start with that.

vik do you still have your Thorn Raven Nomad or was it usurped by the pugsley?

skookum

Although I own a couple of high end touring bikes, I tend to agree with Garthr. Better to just go.

robmcl

I can't say that I know a lot about the Pugsley but it is sold as a frame and built up. The original design concept was built around the extra big tires but it does not have to be built up that way. From what I can tell, the only exotic part that is required is an eccentric bottom bracket, but it apparently is designed for a normal drive train. It will take a normal fork and normal front hub. Hopefully Surly gives you the option of buying it that way as the Pugsley fork is 135 mm spacing, the same as a MTB rear hub. Otherwise that frame specs out pretty good for an expedition bike. The chain stays and wheel base is not that that much different than an LHT with a slightly taller BB height. The frame is only about 1/2 pound more than an LHT and it has tabs for disk brakes. And the real kicker, with normal rims there should be plenty of room to run up to 2" MTB tires with fenders. All in all it is an intriguing frame with a lot of potential.

[Edit] I forgot to mention the most important part and that is the frame is designed for 26" tires. Even the extra big tires are 26" by 4".

jgsatl

salsa fargo

kayakdiver

Is this turning out to be a really stupid thread? I sure think the question to begin with is never going to get a good answer. So many bikes could do this job. Pick one that fits and that you like the looks of and go ride.

I can think of approx. 10 bikes off the top of my head that I would own and ride on such a trip. All of them would do the job. We are only talking about a frame here. The bits that you attach are going to have more to do with success than the frame.

I consider the wheels more important than a frame....... Maybe I'm missing something here. How many times do we hear about a frame failure that isn't involved in hitting something solid? How many times do we hear about wheels going bad while on tour? I'd rather have a kick butt set of wheels for a epic adventure than a super bling touring frame..... It's just a damn pickup truck for your gear.

I don't know about the collective but frames breaking without a solid object hitting them is very rare indeed.

What am I missing? Flame away.

Randochap

Nope. Australian Shepherd ... with panniers

As far as bikes -- my "expedition" bike in top photo here.

robmcl

I think it is a good, interesting thread because most of the touring bikes talked about on this forum like the LHT or the 520 are road bikes. I am not sure you appreciate the difference between a road bike and a MTB, and it is not always as straight forward as loading up a true MTB for touring. MTB's that are not designed as tourers can have problems in that they have shorter frames and your heals can strike the panniers in the rear. Loading up a frame that is not designed for loads can cause that frame to shimmy on down grades. There are more then a few reasons why one would want an MTB tourer.

1.) Touring on dirt/unimproved roads in China, South America, Austrlia, etc.

2.) There are more then a few place in the US where a multi-day off road tour can be done.

3.) If you also want to use the bike for commuting and you want a sturdier bike for that.

Sixty Fiver

Mine...



The Kuwahara Cascade was sold as a mountain bike but in every respect, it is really a 26 inch wheeled touring / expedition bike.

We have a local builder her who specializes in building custom touring bikes (Arvon Cycles) and anyone I have met who has one has been nothing but immensely pleased... he also makes his own hubs which are exemplary in quality.

His long tail touring bikes are brilliant in their design and the builder is a life long rider and ex racer who understands bicycle geometry and design exceptionally well.

https://www.sandsmachine.com/a_arv_r1.htm

froze

I would have to agree with the folk that mentioned the Sakkit Expedition 26. I almost bought this bike but was just a tad more expensive then I wanted to spend so I got a Mercian instead. But go to the website and read about the Sakkit Expedition 26, if your not impressed with it's abilities then nothing will impress you!