I almost bought one when I was looking at drop bar bikes.
Pros:
* tough as nails
* all the mounts you could ever want for racks and fenders
* 26″ tires/tubes/wheels are cheap and plentiful
Cons:
* Heavy
* Bar end shifters aren’t great for city commuting
* Rim brakes (this one is divisive. I wanted disc brakes for ease of wheel/tire changes and wet weather)
I ended up going with an adventure/light touring bike for commuting. It was a bit more aggressive geometry and lighter with brifters instead of bar end shifters.
Milters711 on
I 100% agree with the above comments.
RE: price, it’s too high IMO.
I wouldn’t pay more than 750$ max for this, and even then I’d try to be patient to find another similar option.
While Surly is super reliable, and that steel frame can last you the rest of your life, it clearly shows signs of heavy use. Eg, the decals are heavily worn, and while that doesn’t matter for the ride it is reflective of the general wear and tear. I’d carefully inspect the drive train and other mechanical parts. If those are in great condition, then you may feel comfortable spending more. If not, consider whether you are willing to pay another chunk of change to get them replaced/maintained in the future.
2 Comments
I almost bought one when I was looking at drop bar bikes.
Pros:
* tough as nails
* all the mounts you could ever want for racks and fenders
* 26″ tires/tubes/wheels are cheap and plentiful
Cons:
* Heavy
* Bar end shifters aren’t great for city commuting
* Rim brakes (this one is divisive. I wanted disc brakes for ease of wheel/tire changes and wet weather)
I ended up going with an adventure/light touring bike for commuting. It was a bit more aggressive geometry and lighter with brifters instead of bar end shifters.
I 100% agree with the above comments.
RE: price, it’s too high IMO.
I wouldn’t pay more than 750$ max for this, and even then I’d try to be patient to find another similar option.
While Surly is super reliable, and that steel frame can last you the rest of your life, it clearly shows signs of heavy use. Eg, the decals are heavily worn, and while that doesn’t matter for the ride it is reflective of the general wear and tear. I’d carefully inspect the drive train and other mechanical parts. If those are in great condition, then you may feel comfortable spending more. If not, consider whether you are willing to pay another chunk of change to get them replaced/maintained in the future.