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Thinking about getting a frame & looks like I’d need a medium (on the borderline between medium and large). Have you got/had/ridden one? Your thoughts? Would be used for bike packing, shopping, off road and on.
Ok, guess nobody has one then……..
I looked long and hard at one but in the end decided it was too close to my stooge. They look perfect for your intended use. I think STW did a review of one?
Double post
They were on my radar and in the end i bought a Stooge Rambler. Personal to me they are a very long bike for a drop bar bike. So depending on what bars you run that might be an issue. It’s 4 cm more reach than my Rambler in my size, although with lots more stack. I think Bikepacking.com did a video where they talked about building one flat bar because of the reach. But maybe you wanted a flat bar bike?
I don't own a Grappler but having looked at the geometry closely and read lots of reviews I can echo that the top tube is long for the size (like lots of Surlys). I'd recommend comparing the effective top tube or saddle to bar distance of a bike you are comfortable with, rather than using their own sizing chart that is based on your height.
I see an awful lot of Grapplers converted to flat bars, I suspect in no small part due to the top tube/reach being so long (as long as their Krampus, a flat bar bike).
Thanks folks - medium looks pretty close to my Speedball on geometrygeeks, so I’ve gone with that. I think rocketdog did a review too, which was helpful. I’m just under 6’, but short inside leg, and 18” Stooge sizing is usually pretty spot on for me. I’ll run it with beacon bars or renthal bars, depending on what mood I’m in. Will need plenty of luggage and water carrying ability for Spain later this year.
It’ll replace a 54cm Midnight Special, which is a bit too ‘roadie’ for me, which I’ll put up for sale (along with a Dirtbomb) once it’s had a good clean. next question is where to sell the old bikes……
cheers
David
Thanks folks - medium looks pretty close to my Speedball on geometrygeeks, so I’ve gone with that. I think rocketdog did a review too, which was helpful. I’m just under 6’, but short inside leg, and 18” Stooge sizing is usually pretty spot on for me. I’ll run it with beacon bars or renthal bars, depending on what mood I’m in. Will need plenty of luggage and water carrying ability for Spain later this year.
It’ll replace a 54cm Midnight Special, which is a bit too ‘roadie’ for me, which I’ll put up for sale (along with a Dirtbomb) once it’s had a good clean. next question is where to sell the old bikes……
cheers
David
The Stooge Owners Facebook group would be a good place to sell the Dirtbomb, It'll find a good home. I think there's a Midnight Special group too, but I'm not in that group so not sure if they allow selling bikes.
Great idea - not considered Facebook. Guess I’d better sign up
cheers
David
I had a grappler for review, back when they were called a ghost grappler. Being 6ft the medium felt much too small for me
https://ukgravelco.com/2022/09/13/surly-ghost-grappler-review/
Ah, didn’t notice that in your review. What size would you normally aim for - larger, obviously, but what reach/stack/ top tube length would you normally ride & In what way did it feel too small?
I looked them after having a spin on one at Bothy Bikes, bottom line it can't take decent sized 29er tyres, so I moved on..
Take a look at the Cotic Cascade.
27.5 x 3” and also 29 x 2.4 look like they’ll both fit, which is fine for me & can be run single speed. I’d looked at the Cascade & decided it didn’t fit the bill for me
29x 2.4 will not fit in the fork
Ah yes, only mentions the frame on the website….. looks like 2.2 then - it’ll be on 27.5 2.8s and probably a new set of 29” tyres then
In what way did it feel too small?
Too short and the dropper was at the least amount of insertion. I'd have been fine on a large.
I reviewef the cotic cascade too, then bought one. MOTWYW