My 2023 Surly DiscTrucker: A Brutally Honest Review 

That fast cadence, upright riding style is perfect for touring. Although speed seems to run the industry, touring is best at a moderate pace. Well done!

If you voiced commercials, I would practically never skip them. You have a naturally great cadence and a great set of pipes.

Love your sense of humor, and not acting like a bike nerd. But a good level headed view from someone with experience. Much appreciated!

I just discovered your channel! I'm a much younger but pretty experienced bicycle tourist from Europe. Very cool to see the US perspective, and your no-bullshit common sense approach is rare to see these days. Thanks a lot for the entertainment and education 🙏

First thing I thought was the handle bars are ugly! Then I watched and listened to you explain them. Sometimes you have to ignore aesthetics in the name of comfort. Even if that means your handle bars look like a little girls bike san pink streamers 😂. Haven’t bike toured since I was 15 on my Shogun 18 speed I bought after a summer of mowing lawns in 1984 😊 Enjoy watching your videos. Next summer Paul! Spend this summer dialing in your bike and plans. Next summer Alaska. What a hoot to watch you accomplish this dream. The time is now Sir!

A great deal in a touring bike right now is the REI house brand, Co-Op Cycles ADV 1.1. Overbuilt steel frame, nice mid-range Shimano components, fits up to 50mm tires, and it comes with nice front and rear racks.

Thank you, Paul! I always look forward to your videos. Glad you are enjoying your 21st century bike!

That extra stem idea is great, gonna have to steal that one

Always good to sit down and listen to some bike talk Paul. I think the thing I like most about thru axles is not having to line things up, the wheel will be centered every time. Hope to keep pedaling up to and beyond my retirement. For now I’ll get ready for my first trip this year, Sydney to Brisbane. Look forward to the next video Paul

This guy is my hero.

Toeclips! I thought I was the last person still using ‘em. Ride safe and happy!

Nice shot of Makanda about 17 minutes in! I rode a Panasonic sport 1000 as my daily commuter for over 30 years. It was parked outside every workday and finally rusted through near the bottom bracket. Those 1980's Japanese frames were the best ever made. Thanks for the review.

A great review of this iconic model of a Surley! Your points about desirable upgrades are spot on. Your bike as you have it set up now appears to be ready to tackle just about anything you would throw at it!

Would have been cheaper to have your shop order the frame, and build the bike to your specs. Then the shop could have built the wheels, or ordered Velocity touring wheels; plus set up all of your cockpit, along with the crankset and gear changes. They basically stripped your original bike down to the frame and started over. I've owned two LHT's, built from frame up, great bikes, but they are dead feeling and overbuilt unless you're carrying a lot of weight. I tour with 25 pounds, so a lighter steel frame like a Black Mountain Cycles Monster Cross rides better, and cost the same when built from frame up with good components. Good review, I agree with your take on cheap components from Surly, especially SRAM Apex junk they use on some bikes.

Dude... I looooove my disc trucker. Ive been touring since 1981 and this is my forever tour ride. I did the Nevada loop with Irene (my bikes name) and couldnt believe the comfort factor. This bike is truely the finest bike Ive ever toured on. Great review.

I just binge watched 6 videos in a row. The way you speak it's so fluent and clear that even someone who never heard a word in English would understand!

I always enjoy watching your videos. I lived in Marion for a time and on the weekends, I used to ride across 13 to Harrisburg and ride Tunnel Hill down to Vienna and then turn around and go back. I moved to Florida a few years ago and miss being able to do that now. Seeing some of the scenery in your videos scratches that itch a bit.

Have a 2017 version. It's gotten me from Pittsburgh to DC, DC to Pittsburgh, Cumberland to Pittsburgh and back, across Missouri, and many places in between. One flat tire and one broken chain (my fault). Also found that the decals come off easily. Interesting experience pedaling fully loaded all day and then pedaling into town for dinner unloaded. Overall, love the bike.

I could listen to for hours on bicycle touring Thanks for all you do, Garry Raleigh NC

Hey Paul! Excellent review of the Disc Trucker bike. The Disc Trucker I was riding in 2019, when I met you, was gifted to a new rider I met in New Jersey after finishing my Portland (OR) to Portland (ME) ride. This new rider was just starting to plan his first cross-country trip after finishing college and was in need of good equipment. I did love that Disc Trucker bike, but am happy that someone else is using it to create their own memories and adventures with it now. I remember your Miyata bike; a true classic indeed. Your handlebar setup on the new Disc Trucker looks similar to what I remember from your Miyata. You have certainly found what works best for you. I totally agree with your 'build good wheels' over provide spare spokes approach :-) Being a bike mechanic myself I've always gone with the proven parts, simplicity, and durability approach. It helps while touring in the USA and especially in far-flung countries where bike shops (and parts) are more sparse. I shy away from 'new' and 'improved' and 'lightweight' options until they've been around for 10+ years. Shimano XT or Deore at a minimum, along with 36h wheelset built with double-butted spokes. I thought it was interesting that you went with 105 hubs, nice choice. Schwalbe tires are my 'go to' touring tire on every trip. I've made a few recent trips on Continental tires and like a few of their offerings, when Schwalbe isn't readily available. Enjoy your upcoming ride plans, and I do look forward to the chance that our cycling paths may cross in '24.

Ordered that saddle from Terry as soon as you showed it and now I can't wait to try it out. I hope they sponsor you.

47mm is actually 1.85", not 2.4" as mentioned in the video, if that makes a difference for anyone.

Interesting review, I definitely agree with you as regards the wheels! Personally the lower end drive train is less of a problem for me, I find Shimano's entry level kit to be pretty bomb proof!

What a great review and upgrades. Nice to hear from someone who knows touring bikes. There were no Surly touring bikes here in Vermont so I went with a Trek 520 in 2017. Sadly they have stopped making the bike now. Love the bike but would like the ability to go with a wider tire. At 64 I think it's time to go with the more upright position. Thank you for an outstanding review and sharing you knowledge. Take care, AL

Useful comments on spokes and wheels; thanks. There seems to be a movement toward shorter cranks, so it's good to hear a contrasting view. It is difficult to get arguments with measurable data; I'm still waiting for the dust to settle on that. Best wishes on the Alaska thing.

Great bike! I’m currently riding a 650b Trucker with SRAM 2x10. I agree about the entry level components. I just build them up from a frame set. May cost a little more but you get exactly what you want. Enjoy your videos.

Goodman Paul great post she looks like a great bike. I am looking forward to seeing your adventures on her. God bless.

Congrats on your new $7,544 expedition bike.

Really clever handlebar setup. That’s a slick rig.

All of your weird choices are well considered and completely appropriate to your needs. They all make sense. I strongly agree with you about good wheels. Shimano makes very good hubs, and I might have chosen Ultegra or Dura Ace for the rear hub. Maybe it's overkill, but that's OK since you know you might respoke or re-rim the wheel, but you don't want to re-hub it. Hand built wheels really are great, but you can't expect them to come on a $2,000 bike. You did the right thing.

Good looking bike and as always I like your unique style. Always inspiring to see how people make their bike their own.

It looks comfortable. At 61 my MTB flat handlebars caused me issues. I opted for a 40 deg swept back style and have found it more comfortable on my shoulders and hands. I'm more interested in riding all terrain aside from extreme off road. Your new bike has caught my eyes and idea's! thank you! Rails to trails route in Wisconsin looks appealing to me.

Nice! HUGE Surly fan here. No doubt in their quality! You’re gonna get some great mileage outta that puppy! Set up wise, you do you. 95% of the haters couldn’t hang with you through a tour.

I'm a veteran touring cyclist.. April 11th was the 38th anniversary of the conclusion of my first trip... 3,142 solo miles. For the past 12 years I've used a Long Haul Trucker with Surly racks. It came with Deore LX rear and Soro front derailleurs. They have worked just fine. I wrenched on bikes in a shop back in the late '70s and early '80s. That said, the only time I haven't been able to deal with a mechanical problem on the road was when my son took a bad crash in Frisco, CO. This while we were riding the Transamerica route from La Junta, CO to Pasco, WA. We needed a shop with a skilled tech. Working together we literally bent things back into shape and repaired what was broken. From listening to your story on the evolution of your DT I think it would have made sense to buy a bare DT frame and build it up from there. I've built a few bikes for myself over the years. I even built the wheels--with DT Swiss spokes--and assembled the parts into a bicycle. It was fun to get what I wanted at the time. Today... I wouldn't recreate any of them as my riding interests have changed! Me... I got away from my tech junky roots. If it wasn't a Reynolds 531 frame with Campy and tubulars I wasn't interested 40-50 years ago. 😉 Now... reliability and being able to find parts on the road in remote places are the priority. That means staying with readily available, reliable, plain vanilla, components. I've toured on 700C from 32-40, and 26" from 1.5 to 2.2... all with tubes. I've encountered people touring on tubeless tires who were living nightmares. Something easily dealt with at home, or with ready access to urban areas, can be a huge problem in remote and rural areas. For example, I rode with a woman for a few days a couple years ago who had tubeless tires. I happened upon her while sorting out a new route as the chosen route wasn't available due to a bridge closure. Someone else had "helped" her by over inflating her tubeless tires and ruining them. She installed tubes but couldn't get them to seat with the pump she had... she rode for days on lumpy tires. I used every tire seating trick in the book I learned while wrenching and did manage to get them to seat. However, it was a time consuming and unfun experience. Now speed is secondary to the experience. When I tour it's mostly solo. I'm never lonely, I have spoken with literally 1,000s of people while on my tours. Back in '86 I literally attracted a crowd at Shark Valley in the Everglades. Compared to now there were not many bicycle tourists in the U.S. back then and certainly not in the Everglades. Even fewer of us went into the Everglades Back Country on an NPS permit.🤪 The crowd was made up of people who just got off the tram ride where they got to see gators, snakes, etc., and here is a guy on a bicycle. He must be nuts. LOL It's those encounters and seeing different areas of the country up close that I value. Speed is of little import these days.

Always enjoy the vids. Always good stuff 🔑🤙🏼

I love the through axels on my Surly Wednesday.

Very good review Paul! I just finished a 4,700 mile cross-country ride on an older Surly Disc Trucker. I was riding with a very heavy load and experienced some wobble. My main gripes were the standover height, the front disc brake mouting, and very hard shifting (bar end shifters). The new model seemed to address these issues and more. However, as you pointed out, why build a premium bike with entry level components. I need max reliability when I am on tour 300 miles from the nearest bike shop. And the pukey pea green... yeah... why... when there are so many beautiful colors out there like your gorgeous Myata.

Thanks for the new video, Paul. I look forward to your videos!

A true custom set up. I love the personality.

Great review. For a touring bike, at least mid-level components, or better, are a must. I'm glad you brought that up. The people at Surly aren't going to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a broken and wonky wheel or a broken derailleur, so they don't care. They should be called out on that shortcoming.

Paul, if you want an integrated kickstand for your new Disc Trucker, it is possible. I bought the KI0010 Kickstand Plates from Surly for my 2007 LHT, and a Pletscher Twin Leg Kickstand on Amazon. I tossed out the bracketry that came with the kickstand. There is a raised ridge running across the flat top of the kickstand's mounting surface, so I modified one of Surly's mounting plates by machining a corresponding receiving channel across it. I also applied a little bit of Park Tool's Supergrip Carbon Assembly Compound (SCA-2) between the plate and top of the kickstand. These mods help the pieces mate, and also increases the friction between the components when you tighten the bolt, and prevent the kickstand from rotating and or loosening when you operate it. It probably goes without saying, but you REALLY want to keep this stuff from getting between the mounting plates, and and bicycles chainstays... You may also have to change the fixing bolt the kickstand came with to a shorter one, with a hex head and throw in a lockwasher for good measure. I torqued to 15Nm as directed. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN. Unless you want to crush your chainstays. Surly is not kidding about this. After 2 years, the assembly has not slipped or loosened in the slightest. Surley makes an updated version of the plate specifically for your newer generation Disc Trucker (KI0011 Surly Disc Trucker Kickstand Plate Set). I bring the bike inside, so I also bought a set of Pletscher's Unisex Rubber Feet to protect my floors. These feet have the added benefit of keeping the bare aluminum legs from digging or sinking into the ground. When is all said and done, you will also want to shorten the kickstand legs until the tips, or feet, and both tires contact the ground roughly together. There are other feet out there, but the angles are wrong, and they don't fit the peculiar cross section of the kickstand legs, making them very hard to find. So when that was completed, I epoxied them into place.

I bought a bike I replaced everything It’s a great bike I fully recommend it 😁 I’m hoping to do a long distance tour sometime soon. Probably on a cheaper box store bike. They have pink tassels there. Nice review. 👍😎

What a great video. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your review.

I am looking to get a new touring bike, this was very helpful. Thank you

Man I wish I knew what all this means. I am doing 50-60 miles per day on my 12 year old $500 non electric Electra Townie. It's upright, a nice comfy seat, fat tires, fully upright, and the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. Every time I try to go back to traditional bikes, they feel weird. Good news is I finally did two days in a row with an overnight at a hotel in between. I would upgrade but I haven't a clue. In the meantime, keep on riding Paul. You do a great job with your videos.

Nice upgrade. Congrats on your new ride. Everything about your touring bike seems reliable and nuke proof. 4:00, if I may add my personal experience as a bike mechanic and cyclist. yes, disc brakes do warp under heat, use and unilateral piston compression. It is not much of an issue and noise doesn't bother me. One solution is to install hydraulic brakes with symmetrical piston compression. I use Hope Tech hydraulic disc brakes, they run on DOT 5.1, automative oil. Highly temperature resistant, viscosity does not fluctuate significantly with changes in temperature. Did not need to bleed for 5 years and still going ... It is a myth that brakes need to be bled. They are in a closed cylinder, with seals on both ends, they should not leak, nor be contaminated with air if seals are torques properly. High quality hydraulic brakes rarely fail. Most mountain bike crashes will destroy the frame and other components before damaging the hydraulic because it is a supple and resilient housing. It is simply to add more reliability and bomb proofness to your bike, also to stop disc warp.

thanks Paul, nice bike, hopefully you get to do your Alaska tour very soon, I'll be watching, great stuff

Good luck with that Alaska trip! 😉👍 Thanks for the review and great videos.

As always I enjoy your video. I suppose that since the front panniers on the Surly were mounted much lower than your other bike that it would give a more stable feel as well. My bikepacking bike has a Sora derailleur and at first I was concerned but it has been a good one. I love the idea of how you mounted your front pack off of the stem. Great idea! I am planning on a cross country trek next year and have pretty much decided on a Kona Sutra. We'll see. Also in 6000+ miles of riding, I have never broken a spoke! I'll probably freak out when that happens.

lol, I bought the same bike. Have kept it stock for now except I upgraded the pedals to Shimano dual-sided and the saddle to a Brooks Canbium C19. I have about 2000 miles on the bike and love it. Thanks for the vid. I really love your perspective and dry wit.

I had a straggler , it was perfect in every way for camping, loved it. Bought a frame, built it 700c and could have fit 650c for fatter tires.

Good honest review . Good choices on upgrades.

Say that's a nice bike. If I had the cash, I'd buy one. And yes, I'm riding my bike. I'm currently set up for tent, tarp and hammock where the ground's too wet, we've had a lot of rain this side of the pond and more than enough storms, so while there's a few breaks in those clouds, I'm going out. I'm on a Trek 3700 MTB. I have Ortlieb style panniers, front roll bag and two front panniers and tube bags. I'm all set, my only quandary, what to take. One set of clothes and water proofs. Trangia kitchen set, although I'm tempted to use my Pathfinder Ranger kit. Water straw and 3 litres to take with. Food is fast and dry and 2 MRE's and part of a UK Army ration pack. As this is the first of the year, I'm probably not doing more than 30 miles.

Thanks for sharing how you made this bike your own. I've been touring on my 1980s Fuji racing bike with upright handlebars on paved and packed gavel. Then there is my Jones love it. There's really not one setup for all.

Excellent review Sir - I echo your opinions and beef!

Loved this video Paul! And that you made it your own with the modifications! Couldn't agree more about a more upright position! I modified the stem and handlebars on my 2017 Kona Sutra Tourning bike and now it finally fits and feels right. So right about quality components!!! Deore at least! Same with spokes. Every bike tourer knows it and Surly should too!

Great video Paul! I recently had the RedShift Stem installed on my Endurance bike. Its fantastic! It really takes the shock off of unseen potholes. Very thorough video. Hope you're having a great time touring my friend! Adios! Alex 🤗

If anyone needs upright but still wants dropbars, I just bought Redshift's Topshelf handldbars, the 70mm ones. Took them out for 15 miles yesterday while taking my dog and his trailer and they were much better than regular dropbars. I was using the Kitchen sink ones and love the loop but I have really long legs and a short torso and trying to get the ride saddle height, a good reach and not have the handlebars way too low made the Topshelf a much better choice. Just a thought to anyone watching this.

Dude, your cockpit is so sick. I'm legit envious.

from your comments, I would buy the frame set and build with my choice of components. Odd for a bike with that price tag..and entended use..

Dear Paul; It is not that far; Alaska I mean. I rode a bike to Alaska from Vancouver (Seward Alaska for work). I rode that bike south too, all over the place. My meaning is jest go... soons as you can... 100 km / 60 mile a day on average camping most nights. I be gitting on now -a-days, needing a nap but still ridin. I really like your videos and hope to see one of you riding to Alaska. As a side note; I found I needed a real purpose for months long rides..e.g. needing to get to a place for work or to escape the winters onset.... hell of a thing though riding to the south across the praires... fall colors... snow geese... mule deer. Hows' about you fly to Alaska and ride home with the winter jest to the north of you... spurring you on... With respect Ivan In New Zealand.

Terry Saddle goes with the little girl’s bike! Ha! You are great really enjoy the content and your style. Thanks.

Your comments about expensive bikes with lower tier components was right on target.

Thanks for this Paul. I'm looking for a bike to take on the veloroutes through France, Spain and Italy from the UK, and a neighbour is offloading one of these (hence my checking the review). He's specced it up, but I now have some informed views as to what where to look - thank you. Come and ride in Europe sometime - I think you'd love it!

Greetings from Poland, Spyre mechanical brakes, I love them. I'm currently looking for a new frame, Surly seems to be a good solution, steel, stiffness. Currently, my touring frame is made of titanium, and when loaded, especially on descents, feels like I'm on a spring. Thanks for video.

You have a well set up bike now! I debated between the disc trucker and a bridge club. I went with the Bridge club. My only complaint is the bike came from Surly with the fork cut! Too low for me. I tried 40 mm high-rise bars and it's almost where I want it to be. Almost. I've considered just buying and uncut fork for it. But seeing your handlebar setup has me reconsidering. Sometimes #Surey does strange things.

A well thought out rig! ✔️🚴

For extra comfort, you can try these ergonomic handlebar grips, especially the ones made with cork which reduces vibrations

You have the magic formula.

Paul you've got the bike of Theseus over there! Goodonya!

You have built a great bike there

Hi Paul! Love your bike touring videos! Just wondering if you have any adventures planned for 2024? Looking forward to your next video!

Love your easygoing style - your narration is great. Seems slow, but then poof the video is done. Very relaxing to watch and listen - keep up the good work. It's all about getting out there - whatever rig it takes to get you there. 1200 miles is no slouch of a test! I have a Redshift stem as well. I love the way it prevents ulnar nerve numbness from road buzz. Not so much a shock absorber as a buzz absorber. My stem has a 30 degree up angle. I'm probably in your age group but I still use drop bars. They're Redshift Kitchen Sink bars that have a bit of a rise and a nice flare that makes for easy shoulder positioning when on the drops. With the rise of the stem and bars I can be quite upright on the bars, but going into a wind I can get a bit aerodynamic. The drops are much higher than they are on my old racing frame - the point is that I can actually reach them as my own frame isn't as quite as bendable as it used to be! I may be riding between Washington DC or Raleigh NC to Des Moines Idaho (I know it's Iowa, but it bugs my cousins when I say - close enough). Would it be Ok to pick your brains on nice routes in your neck of the woods should my plans come to fruition?

Having quality wheels that... goood quote. I'm chubby so this was always on my mind but my fixie wheels never needed trueing for years, even my friend who was also my bike mechanic was always shocked, year after year. I really enjoyed your video and the fact that your touring bike has double butted spokes is awsome, most older touring guys would rather wait for 36h rims and hubs than put double butted spokes on 32s. Now I ride a Surly Karate Monkey in Bucharest and will start to tour a little bit. The problem of spokes breaking is iet again on my mind since I have DT Swiss wheels with 28h straight pull spokes that are really hard to come by arround here... we'll see.

Paul, Just a small suggestion. Do like I did and buy the frame and then build it with the components of your choosing.

Any color you like... As long as it's black, hahahaha!🤣🤣🤣 In the 1970's, only the coolest people tilted back their drop-bars on 10 speed bikes. Great/fun video Paul, we hope to see you on another adventure soon.

Could not agree more on your point of quality wheels. Then I saw recently a picture from the 70's of your reverse handlebars. Ranks right there with putting a playing card in your spokes.

Nice job. I’d argue that those Alivio components would hold up just as well as anything else… but I too am the kind of guy who would rather have Deore or XT.

Seems like you should of said you had a custom bike built. About all you used was frame. So for most people we have no clue what you did bought whatever. I do know you can buy just a frame of certain brands. I have seen you have video about building a bike. Which is what your bike is. My bike has handle riser because that bending down is hard on back. A seat bounce post. Which helps a little. Raised seat up which I didn't like. I keep seat low because that fits me. Also put on a new tougher front tire with supposedly tougher tube. I put some Run flat stuff in tube. I took vise and bent the seat saddle post 'no it's bike seat post saddle goes on my horse' because seat would not level up and adjust to sit straight. That's how people that don't know all your stuff fix a bike.

Butted spokes, whether single or double, are not necessarily stronger than straight gauge. Many wheel builders also labor under this impression, but quantitative analysis proves otherwise. Assuming the spokes are stainless, the advantage in longevity goes to the straight gauge. The two advantages in butted spokes are weight and flex. The weight advantage is small, and the added flex doesn't suit every riding style. Flex also puts addes stess on the rim. Increasing the number of spokes on a wheel reduces the frequency of breakages considerably. I like your choice of Surly frames. I also keep a Troll in my stable and it's probably my favorite. I don't recall Surly making a black Troll, however. Did you paint it?

wonderful video, as always. You seemed to have invested quite a bit in your new bike, both @ purchase and w/add-ons. 1) **Any thoughts about bike w/internal gearing and carbon fiber belt, vs. derailleur & chain??** Seems like a lot less maintenance. 2) Love the fact you're using toe clips; after watching your videos, I've gone the same route. Thanks, and keep those videos coming!!

Watching in Ireland great review happy touring

Got a Kona SUtra 2023 SE instead as cheaper, added redshift pro seatpost and stem suspension, added a stem riser to raise the handlbars for comfrort, but not too much as effects handling due to lackof weight on the front if position too upright. Prefer the ICE Sprint X 26 Tour Recumbent Trike with rearsuspension, as recumbent riding postion alot more comfortable, plus in the recumbent position you dont fight the wind with your body, it slides of you. On a trike you are not effected by crosswinds, weight does not effect handling, just improves rear tyre grip. It has 47mm marthon plus tyres. Changed the gearing from 11-34 cassete and 48-36-26 chainrings to rohloff hub and 44-32-22 giving it the ability to climb anything, particularly as you can go as slow as you want on a trike as can't fall over. An advantage to a trike is roadusers give you lots ofspace. Gonna get a recumbent bicycle next for going places the trike can't go such as an Azub 6 or 26

Thanks for the video, not going to get a Surly Trucker, love my Priority 600. However, I am getting DT Swiss double butted spokes, I have broken to many spokes (on the road). Anyway Paul thanks again another GREAT video.

I love the video and review when I built my long haul trucker the only thing I did different was I went with 48 spoke tandem wheels and Jones h bars

You should have bought the Kona Sutra! For all the issues you have with this bike is exactly why I bought a Kona over the Surly (and I own A Surly ECR) I do hope the new bike treats you well though.

Those spire brakes are super easy to adjust

When is Surly going to put front shocks on the bike. Come on Surly, we are all waiting. Thanx.

Your review style and delivery were excellent. Thank you.

Nice honest review, thank you.

Without 700c in my size, means no SDT for me. I have Trek 520s and a 920 that gets it all done.

Personally, I wouldn't go with high-end drivetrain on long distance touring bike. You only win in weight, but not in durability. There are new Shimano CUES drivetrain components - more durable, inexpensive but also allow easily shift gears under heavy load. Which is really helpful on steep climbs.

Thanks for the review Paul! I always look forward to your videos! But I do have to chuckle that you probably could’ve saved a lot of money just buying the frame itself without any components 😂

This was awesome. Genuine.

Great review. I totally agree about the parts and wheels. I ended up with two German trekking bikes because they came with XT group sets and all the extras like racks, fenders, generator hub, lights etc. all this for around $1000. I love your stable of two wheelers Hope to see you out there.

Very well done review. Nice job. Super cool you like your new surly bike. As a former bike mechanic I felt a bit apprehensive hearing you call it high end though. $2k is a good amount but nowadays a high end bike does cost more than that. I feel bad for you having to upgrade and change so many parts that it may have been a better approach to build from the frame up. More expensive yes but more in line with your preferences from the start. My impression of the surly bikes has been that people love them and treat them like their Swiss Army knife of bikes. However I’m more of the type of rider who likes to cover distances fast and doesn’t mind a long climb between descents so for me the surly line has always seemed a compromise. They are pretty stout and thus heavier and less responsive to pedal input than some frames. I have changed my opinion some lately as I’m aware they’re making some frames with lighter “higher end” steel which adds some spring to their step. I imagine you will get a nice improvement in ride quality upgrading to tires that have a more supple casing. Tubeless is a nice improvement too but you may like the ease of sticking with tubes. My mechanic’s eye thinks that old XTR front changer was made for larger chainrings so the cage radius is a bit large for for the rings you use and it is mounted fairly high about the big ring. I own several bikes for various types of riding. Mtb’s in all three wheel sizes, road, all road and Randonneur so I have my own rabbit hole of parts mixes and compatibility issues but I enjoy those challenges and once I’m out riding a crisp shift or non squeaky brakes are joyous. Ride on!

love your bike paul !! and it is great to see a educated american using the metric system !!

Love your videos. I have to wonder…do you really like Surly bikes. You ended up changing everything but the frame, headset and brakes.

Great vid, but when is surly going to put shocks on the front fork. Come on Surly , get on the ball.

Another great video Paul been waiting for you to release some new material. One thing about your bike I cannot figure out is. How can you ride that bike with the nose of the saddle that high? I actually had one of these bikes years ago and used it for touring. I thought it was an amazing touring bike.