I am in the market for a new touring bike and I am looking at the Gunnar Grand Tour. I am wondering if anyone out there has any experience with one.
It is made in the USA by Waterford. They offer them in sizes bigger than 62cm (hard to find these days) which is good for me because I ride a 64-66cm touring frame. They fit tires up to 700x38c with fenders. The price might seem a little steep for a "stock" frame, but really, I don't see much else out there that can really compete for the larger frame sizes.
What do you all think? Any reviews?

If it's not an LHT, people here don't have much to say

Since you're a big guy, I'd contact Gunnar/Waterford and ask if the tubing is stouter for that size frame. Otherwise, that bike looks like a potential badass.

I've spoken to Richard Schwinn (owner of Waterford/Gunnar) and the frame uses very good materials. His workmanship & finish are excellent also. I'm 220 lbs and the frame is beefy enough for a big guy without being a pig.

Michael

Yea, hopefully the tube-set is even thicker wall on the biggest sizes.. ,
but it looks like they put on the reasonable fittings for touring Kit.

I looked hard at those. I only chose otherwise because I wanted disc brakes and wider tires than it would take.

Less significant: I didn't care for the brazed-on eyelets on the fork. I wanted low rider mounts, but those look like afterthoughts. If not for the 1st matters, I'd have bought one in a flash. I'm 6', 1" and went about 220 at the time.

a made in the usa touring frame like that is a winner, but the fork has got to go.

F U G L Y.

Send them a LHT fork to get painted to match, and i think you'd be cooking with gas.

Can't say I disagree with the comments on the fork, It isn't my favorite part of the bike for sure. I know they have other fork options, but I am not sure what else they have in touring forks. Using a LHT fork is not a bad idea though, the Gunnar touring fork cost $325 and the LHT fork is $100 or less! And, the LHT fork has a lugged crown and curved fork legs vs the Gunnar fork's uni-crown and straight blades. Hmm. Maybe I can get a Waterford fork for not much more?

I emailed Gunar and they assured me that the larger frame sizes have progressively heavier tubing, and that frame flex or lateral stiffness is not an issue with their bigger sizes. Looking like this bike is the way to go for us bigger guys.

+1. Those brazeons look weak. If you're going to spend the money for it, grab a lugged fork. Soma makes some nice ones too for a good price (here's one)

I'd take that over an LHT anyday of the week,hands down! The fork is worth more than an LHT frame,don't touch it! You could have them make you a lugged fork if you have to have one. I'd stick with function before form on a touring bike

Function over form is fine but I'm not sure that those brazed-on eyelets fit the bill. It's gotta be a high quality fork but the eyelets really look like an afterthought. Perhaps they work just as well as the thru-fork variety - can't really say without personal experience with the bike.

IMO a quality bike like this deserves a lugged fork though.

Word of warning: I've had three Gunnars (currently own a Rockhound) spanning many years (a '99, an '05 and a '10), and in every case, the paint was very, very chippy, and the seatpost slips. They ride nice, but these little details can frustrate.

So every one of your Gunnars have had a slipping seat post? That seems very odd. Have you contacted Gunnar about this? And does the paint seem to chip much worse then on other bikes?

Yes, all three need a small section of pop can shim to keep the post in place. Since the first two I bought used, there was no point in contacting Gunnar. And if you visit their forums, you'll see it's a pretty common complaint.

The paint is worse than most. My Surly Crosscheck (powdercoat) and Salsa Fargo (paint, I believe), are much, much more resistant to chipping than the Gunnar. With the Gunnar, it's take the wheel out...chip the dropout. Bolt something onto the eyelet... watch the chips of paint flake off. I waxed it per their instructions, but that doesn't seem to do anything.

On my Surly, I use the long dropouts quite a bit to adjust the single speed gearing, and it's dropouts still look much better than the newer Gunnar's.

Old thread but I'm seriously thinking of buying a grand tour that is available on a local shop. The bike is built up with decent mid-range components that I'm happy with (bar ends, cantis, sugino triple, deore stuff, mavic touring rims, etc.)

It already has a few paint chips (the bike is a bit shop worn) which goes to the point a few have made that the paint job on these bikes could be better. Weird since this is an expensive bike.

The fork on the bike I'm thinking about is a bit nicer since it has a fork crown but it has that same odd eyelet facing backwards as in post no. 1. I'm not certain how well that works as opposed to a more conventional low rider mount.

I also wish the bike had a pump peg for a full sized pump but I know those aren't used that much anymore.

Decisions, decisions . . .

I toured a couple times with a friend (big, tall and strong) that owned the Gunnar, he bought it because of the large sizes available and the reputation of Waterford. I don't remember the paint chipping easily? but I do know that he later bought a 64 LHT and the last time we toured together 2 years ago, that's what he was riding.

btw, agree, that is an ugly ugly ugly fork.

Bolt on a Low rider front Rack and bags & you wont see the fork, (or pay for a different one.)