Me, I am more familiar with MTBing, and if a friend asked me "what full-suspension MTB should I buy for general trail riding" I'd tell them Specialised Stumpjumper – obviously not the only great choice, but no messing around, they'll like it, easy and done….
…but I can't see to find the equivalent general purpose bike for bikepacking, is there one? What would you tell a new bikepacker to get?
(I want to ride the GDMBR and the Western Wildlands route – but wow I'm sick of research! Link showing the GDMBR and WWR. Not fussy, $3k budget, 6'2" tall.)
by King_Jeebus
15 Comments
IMO it’s the Surly Bridge Club
Can’t go wrong with the OG: salsa Fargo.
I think the most popular bike on the divide has been the Salsa Cutthroat for the past few years.
[REI looks to have a deal on one in your price range.](https://www.rei.com/product/199794/salsa-cutthroat-grx-600-bike?sku=1997940004&store=239&CAWELAID=120217890015295533&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=111891561318&CATCI=pla-932006817759&cm_mmc=PLA_Google%7C21700000001700551_1997940004%7C932006817759%7CNB%7C71700000074092800&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_DTlwkBmfffYD02mtEAYIjqIK3P&gclid=CjwKCAiA0rW6BhAcEiwAQH28IpZOIJVHF6-UALvMsnaCxx0VdH57pF5BpUnyS4qM2az9bQdjtc-oGBoCKWsQAvD_BwE)
I have a surly krampus, I like it because I used to mtb and it feels the closest to that while still being good for bikepacking.
For that price point, tough to go wrong with a Lynskey Ti bike on sale. Currently 35% but they’re pretty much always on sale right around your price point. I have a GR300 and like it well enough. In all reality, there’s a lot of options that could work.
Marin Pine Mountain 1 or 2 depending on budget are a good value trail capable but high cargo option bike.
That said I’ve seen guys mid Western Wildway route on 1990s steel bikes with minimal upgrades. IMO ride what you have or can get cheap and then refine what you like and/or specialize in features from there.
Salsa fargo/cutthroat. Plenty of other options, but
Aside from all the other good mentions? Kona Unit, Sardinha if you don’t mind straight steering tube. Canyon Grand Canyon 8/9 for tapered.
Feel like this is team Salsa but I’d go Specialized Diverge (I got a second hand hardly used 2022 Comp Carbon which I’ve ridden thousands of miles on with rack and panniers inc front panniers. Absolutely love it.) edit – I’m 6’2” and have the 58 frame
I feel like this is about like asking what the best football team is. 🤣
I’d check out a few iterations of the Bikepacking.com “Rigs of the Tour Divide” series from the past few years to see what most racers have been riding.
Tour Divide isn’t exactly GDMBR, but the route has a lot of overlap.
First decision is probably if you want a drop bar mtb, a flat bar hardtail, or a flat bar full sus. That will inform what options might fit your needs.
If you’re good with a drop bar, Salsa Cutthroat is the gold standard here. It was designed for this route.
So I took my 2001 Cannondale Jekyll SL1000 with Bob trailer on the GDR in 2004 (?).Worked OK except for the Cannondale ( Tektro) single piston discs overheating & total loss of brakes!
Titus Silk Road. Titanium for steel price. Suspension corrected so suspension fork can be run as desired. Lots of mounts. No tax covers shipping from UK.
Sounds like a Surly Karate Monkey !
This thread is funny. Everyone is just going to suggest the bike they ride or like.
It’s also funny that you think a Stumpjumper is synonymous with trail riding, as it would probably be the last thing or brand I’d want to ride. I’m thinking it might just be going back to my first point.
I’m going to say Kona Unit X, because I have one and like it.