Here are the compiled ratings for all the touring bikes we’ve rated here on the blog.
- Surly Long Haul Trucker…. 14.0
- Trek 520…. 13.7
- Koga-Miyata Traveler…. 13.5
- Raleigh Sojourn…. 13.3
- Cannondale Touring 2…. 12.9
- Cannondale Touring 1…. 12.8
- Fuji Touring…. 12.4
- Rocky Mountain Sherpa 10…. 12.1
- Jamis Aurora…. 11.8
- Kona Sutra…. 11.6
September 7, 2008 at 9:13 am |
[...] Notes. I like the value of the Touring 2 and have given it a high rating because of the components and low price. Also, the lifetime frame warranty is boosting the quality rating on both bikes. We’ll be compiling all of the ratings on a new page, look for it to be complete shortly. Check it out here. [...]
September 7, 2008 at 9:14 am |
[...] be compiling all of the ratings on a new page, look for it to be complete shortly. Check it out here. Greased Lightbox [...]
September 7, 2008 at 10:28 am |
[...] Notes. I’ve heard some talk about Fuji Touring frames cracking, not many, but enough to lower the quality rating a bit. Also a lot of broken rear spokes when under load as well as front brake failures. Again, not a lot of them, but enough to raise a little concern. The price is pretty low but the quality of components are as well. As far as compliance, the bike comes equipped with a rear rack but the gearing is a little higher than I like, so that accounts for the low rating. The compliance rating is a bit low because of the bike’s shorter wheelbase and gearing issues. We’ll be compiling all of the ratings on a new page, look for it to be complete shortly. Check it out here. [...]
September 7, 2008 at 11:28 am |
[...] is a truly dedicate touring bike. It is basically ready to go. Check out the complete ratings here. Greased Lightbox [...]
September 7, 2008 at 11:41 am |
[...] Overall though, still a decent score. Check out the complete ratings here. [...]
September 7, 2008 at 11:55 am |
[...] Compliance. This bike is well equipped for touring. We’ll be compiling all of the ratings on a new page, look for it to be complete shortly. Check it out here. [...]
September 8, 2008 at 12:05 am |
[...] be compiling all of the ratings on a new page, look for it to be complete shortly. Check it out here. Greased Lightbox [...]
September 17, 2008 at 4:42 am |
[...] be compiling all of the ratings on a new page, look for it to be complete shortly. Check it out here. Greased Lightbox →←+-↻ Loading [...]
January 26, 2009 at 7:16 pm |
Well, I’m a little biased toward the Kona Sutra, but maybe that’s because I own one. Scratch that – I own two. Unfortunately, the first one was stolen, but I still consider it mine…
My notes, for what it’s worth:
-My first was a stock 2005. Didn’t come with racks; I put ToPeak on the back only. Did a month around Germany and France with it. Loaded with ~60 lb of camping gear, plus me (200 lb). I had zero problems. I chose the bike because I wanted (a) steel frame – and I can’t say enough about the Kona frame – the more you load it, the better it feels. It’s heavy, but with all the camping gear on it the extra 5-10 lbs isn’t that big a deal. (b) Disc brakes – yes, I prefer these. The Avid BB7s are easy to maintain and adjust, grip extremely well in all weather, and most importantly work even if your rim gets banged. Didn’t happen to me, but one of my cohorts also had disks which saved him after a tumble that warped his front wheel to the point where canti’s would be useless.
-After the first was stolen, I needed a replacement for the next trip around Europe. Still wanting Steel and Discs, it came down to the Sutra or the Marinoni Turismo Extreme. I would have gone with the Marinoni, as I don’t like the bar-con shifters ont he new Konas. As it happened, I couldn’t source a Marinoni in time, and Kona was able to find a 2006 frame in my size and built it up using Ultegra/XT components for me. I got it just in time for my trip, and again the bike was great, even without much time to break it in. I did have rear-wheel spoke issues, but seeing as I rode over gravel roads from Munich to the Danube fully loaded, that wasn’t really unexpected. The wheel stayed true, and I was able to re-tension it and had no problems since.
I commute with it now, and the disks are awesome in the frequent NorthWest rain…