 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Have fancied a tourer for cycle camping/long distance laden rides for ages now and can't really face the idea of going back to rim brakes - just seems like a backward step TBH.
New 2010 model Sutra looks superb on the Kona website - would love to know what existing owners think of theirs.
Can anyone recommend any alternatives (I've seen the Salsa Fargo, but it's a bit pricey - Edinburgh Bike Co-Op do something similar with an ally frame, but I'm a bit of a steel fan - willing to be converted though).
I've modified my old steel framed Rockhopper with a rigid P2 fork, rack, and road tyres, but the flat bars feel wrong for extended road work, it needs a new (shorter) crank and it's not particularly stable with loaded panniers. The brakes are a bit marginal fully loaded in the wet too.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Genesis Croix de Fer. I was also looking at a Trek Portland in Wheelbase today:
[img] 
[/img]
The portland is an aluminium alloy frame I think.
Another aluminium option is the Kona Dew Drop.
The Sutra is nice, but I don't like them bar end shifters.
My money would be on the Croix de Fer.
For a proper "touring" bike, rim brakes make sense: 'tis a damn sight easier trying to source brake cable and/or (approporiate) pads in the middle of nowhere than it is, say, a bleeding kit and exotic disc brake pads!
pads than it is, say, a bleeding kit and exotic brake pads in the middle of nowhere!
There aint no hydros for drops - Most use BB7s or Shitmano mechanicals.
Jimbo, it's a very valid point, but a few sets of spare pads don't weigh much, compared to the all up weight of a fully loaded tourer.
Think I'd feel safer with discs TBH.
I might give Hewitt a call and see if they could put something together - their custom builds seem to come in at a similar price to a new Dawes Super/Ultra Galaxy and not that much more than the Sutra.
Will let you know if the mention of discs gets hollow laughter, derision or a considered response.
Geoff, the Genesis does look good, but the rear brake caliper is in the wrong place for a non dog-leg, strong traditional rack. One of the reasons I fancy the Sutra.
Kinesis seem to be doing some interesting stuff at the minute. Decade tripster is an alloy disc tourer frameset with clearance for biggish tyres. Fargo lite?
[img] 
[/img]
I've got a 2007 Sutra. It has Tiagra sti levers rather than bar end shifters which makes more sense. The avid bb7's give much more confidence when fully loaded(or when your doing 45mph and some **** decides to overtake the car on the other side of the road)
They aren't the lightest of bikes but the steel frame does absorb a lot of the vibration from the road and the drop bars make it easier to find a comfy riding position.
Mine might be up for sale if you are interseted
I have a 2007 Sutra too. Lovely bike and will do all you want of it. Very comfy over longer distances. It's a bit of a heavy old beast though. You might want to think about one of the new Marin Lombards (alloy though). Some of the componentry is a bit low-key, but it's a lovely bike (I'm tempted to see if I can get a frame from Marin to replace the Sutra). If you're in Edinburgh, PM me and I can arrange to let you see one.
The Kona Dew Drops is very similar.
The Marin Lombard looks like a great commuting bike but i wouldn't like to use one for long distance touring. If your fully laden aluminium isn't really the best material to use, as it's prone to fatigue at places like the rack mounts, due to the movement of the panniers on the rack. I don't think your Sutra frame would be giving up more than a pound or so to the Marin, i'd hang onto it if your planning any proper touring.
They are certainly heavy, but they are built as a back country tourer, ie like a brick sh1t house. They've always had STI's with road discs, don't know why Kona have gone for bar end shifters now. Maybe to simplify even more, by using conventional hooded brake levers withe bar-end shifters for maximum survivability? The Avid mechanical discs are very tough and reliable.
Thanks to everybody for the replies.
Guy, ta for the offer, but it's a 2010 one I'm interested in, as they've moved the rear caliper to a better position between the stays creating the possibility of a much stronger rack mount:
[img] 
[/img]
Looks like you should be able to fit a standard Blackburn/Tubus type rack if required, although I believe Tubus make the racks (at least for the previous models) anyway.
No idea why they haven't done this with all their road bikes - shame as the Honky Inc looks fantastic otherwise:
[img] 
[/img]
Surely all disc braked bikes will adopt the 'between the stays' position for the rear caliper eventually? Seems no reason apart from the aesthetic not to. Ah well.
Druidh, sadly nowhere near Edinburgh or would take you up on your kind offer - ta anyway.
hi - not sure if the post is still active - I'm also looking for a winter road bike / touring bike and have short-listed the above. Also seen a Devinci Caribou 2 for the same price, no disc brakes but has a triple chainset which I would prefer. Anyone any experience of them??
Another option: Van Nicholas Amazon with a set of Kinesis DC19 forks.....
I've thought about putting something together along the same lines using an Inbred 29er. Bloke I know has a 2008 Sutra and loves it.
I've been pondering what to do for a while and think I'd either get a Ridgeback Panorama for a heavy tourer or a Planet X Kaffenback for lighter tourer/winter road bike.
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Blazing Saddles in Hebden have had a Sutra in the shop for ages now and it still looks like the perfect touring bike for the money.
Sadly, I can't justify the extra bike having recently bought a second hand road iron.
Still using the old Rockhopper for distance duties and TBH it's held up pretty well. Not the fastest thing on the planet, but neither am I.
Buying the Sutra would mean selling the Rockhopper and I'm just too attached to the old thing for that. But for just under a grand the Sutra looks fantastic value for money.
wow some classic looking bikes here! anyone know if you can fit panniers on a fork which has only eyelets beside the hub?
Dawes make a tourer, rides really well and looks fine too. Forgot the name sadly..
I looked hard at this same question back along, and had the Sutra / Kaffenbak / Caseroll / Fargo / Double-Cross (et cetera) debate with myself, but then found, and bought a Peregrine, and I've never looked back.
Not in expedition mode here, granted, but here's a photo anyway.
[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2489/4086810532_cbf1db282f.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2489/4086810532_cbf1db282f.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Has anybody bought and tried the Kona Sutra? Does the new caliper position solve the rack issues?
I've got one in a box out the back.....I'll let you know when I build it if you like!
The rear caliper is chainstay mounted, making it easy to bolt the rack on.
Mate at work got a Sutra on cycle to work scheme. Nice looking bike apart from the fact that some chump - presumably a Kona designer ignored the bosses on the forks and has used JUBILLEE CLIPS to mount the front rack. Once I'd noticed that I couldn't get past it.
Is that a one off or are they all like that?
Hmmmm, you're right Rich - it's a cheesy fitting system - there's enough braze ons on the fork that you'd think they could find a rack to fit em.
Still, apart from that, it's gert lush, innit!
I replaced my Sutra with this...
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4528792164_d39e68acdc_b.jp g" target="_blank">
I have a Sutra from 2005, Bit heavy in the rear but I don't think I'd notice with it loaded up.
Its really stable, love the mech disc, steel frame seems to absorb a lot of road vibration. Suprisingly its been amazing off road too, I believe I could take it anywhere it would stand up to plenty of abuse.
I'd like to change the forks to carbon to see if there is an improvement but thats all.
Great tourer I'd say
Plum
Not the best pic for a view of the disc mount, but have a look as a general overview. It still has a couple of design niggles, but, hey, nothing's perfect!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43121659@N06/4660774606/
Hi Reluctant, have you got a 60cm in stock? Might come and have a look....
Shermer - sorry, haven't got any in stock now, the pictured one has gone. 😥
How would a Haro Mary compare to the Sutra as a tourer? Tempted by one as I can have it cheaply, very cheaply.