What is the cheapest new touring bike worth getting?

[Tangled Metal]

Just curious as to people's views on touring bikes. Looking to see what the cheapest, new touring bike you would consider if you must get one and have not much spare cash.

This is just for fun (on my part), but also I'm thinking I could be lured into getting one if cheap and good enough.

Ground rules (my thread sorry) include must be new, must be something you consider capable of touring (4 panniers style), must be available to buy in a variety of sizes today and looks capable of providing an enjoyable ride on tour.

I know there will be many on here with £1000+ bikes purr who re-purposed an 80s MTB or other second hand bike I'm not looking for that just a new, shop bought bike at the lower end of the market.

As I said, it's for fun since I'm curious as to people's thresholds with regard to price of bikes and the lowest acceptable specifications. It's about perception as much as anything. I appreciate your indulgence with this query.

[pete75]

The Fuji Tourer isn't well known in the UK but gets excellent reviews in the USA and elsewhere. https://www.evanscycles.com/fuji-tourin ... e-EV241592. The problem is only Evans seem to stock them in the UK and they seem to sell out fairly quickly each year.
I've a 2001 version still going strong.

Spa cycles have an extensive range of tourers and always have some on offer with big discounts. Someone with say 600 quid or so to spend on a tourer, and not knowing much about them could do a lot worse than going to Spa and being guided by their advice.

I mostly build bikes up but if I was after an off the peg tourer I doubt I'd spend any more than the £985 needed to buy a Spa Steel tourer though if I wanted a "trekking" style machine I'd be look at vsf fahrradmanufaktur products.

[horizon]

It's a good question. I would also go straight to Spa and look for a lower end, discounted Ridgeback or Dawes at around £700. But the £1000 threshold gives you a Surly (just about) or the Spa Tourer.

However the main thing about touring bikes is that they sell for pitiful prices second hand so there's really no excuse not to have a decent bike.

[RickH]

I'll throw a couple in the ring

If you don't mind/ prefer straight bars, Decathlon's Hoprider 300 would be hard to beat as a tourer on a tight budget - £230 for a bike with mudguards, rear rack, 3x7 gearing, (basic) pedals AND dynohub lighting (admittedly halogen).

Ridgeback's Tour is maybe a contender for something a little better - £549 including rear rack mudguards & (if the photo is to be believed) pedals.

Rick.

[TrevA]

EBC Country traveller 1 is £499.

Dawes Galaxy AL is £599 but you might get it cheaper.

Spa have the Roux Etape 150 for £400 and the Viking Coniston for £480.

These are all aluminium frames with low end Shimano kit.

[horizon]

EBC Country traveller 1 is £499.

Dawes Galaxy AL is £599 but you might get it cheaper.

Spa have the Roux Etape 150 for £400 and the Viking Coniston for £480.

These are all aluminium frames with low end Shimano kit.

Yes, there is a sub-steel market but the format remains the same which is good.

[pwa]

If I were on a budget I would look for an affordable bike with a frameset I like (4130 steel or similar) and compromise on the rest. Then I would upgrade the wheels when I had some more dosh. I can live with a cheap rear mech, levers, etc but don't like any doubts about the wheels.

[Tangled Metal]

So, if I read the above right, all steel and the cheapest you lot might consider worth getting is the Fuji at £599. Or an aluminum frame with steel fork for only £50 cheaper.

However all aluminum alloy will get you down to under £300 if you're happy travelling to a Decathlon for flat bar bike.

I think second-hand is a good way to go with touring bikes for some. I can easily imagine people buy at the cheaper end only to really take to touring. That leads to saving up for a better tourer. I think that approach would be my way, but it would see cheap or mid range coming into the secondhand marketing guess.

My concern with secondhand are confidence related. I am not mechanically minded with bikes. I could do it but have no interest. This gives me concern over secondhand. The worry that I'd end up with a bike needing work to be done on it. That would factor in with shop mechanic costs. Plus a new bike with problems are a return to vendor job. Another thing is superficial, a new bike is yours and has never been owned or used by anyone else. That's a nice feeling that you lose out with secondhand.

Still, it seems like £549-599 is the cheapest bike suggested that.I'd consider. I'd want at least steel forks. Thanks for your opinions.

[chocjohn9]

Stock sizes are patchy...but

Roux Etape 150 £299
Ridgeback Voyage £497
Raleigh Royal £574
Dawes coast to coast 26" £899
....and drum, roll, Surly LHT from £799 (one size)

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/categ ... ring_Bikes

[Tangled Metal]

Wow! Would a LHT 2013 version in 62cm size fit me? £799 seems a good price I think. I'm 6'5" tall with a trouser inside leg of about 34" to 36", guess that means standover height would be a bit higher.

Hmmm! I think I got a 57cm London Road from PlanetX but that's a compact frame so perhaps I'm a 60cm really so doubt I'd fit a 62cm LHT.

[Spinners]

The Fuji Tourer isn't well known in the UK but gets excellent reviews in the USA and elsewhere. https://www.evanscycles.com/fuji-tourin ... e-EV241592. The problem is only Evans seem to stock them in the UK and they seem to sell out fairly quickly each year.
I've a 2001 version still going strong.

+1 for the Fuji Touring bike. I must qualify my comment by saying that I never toured on mine but I thought it was ace.

[pete75]

Wow! Would a LHT 2013 version in 62cm size fit me? £799 seems a good price I think. I'm 6'5" tall with a trouser inside leg of about 34" to 36", guess that means standover height would be a bit higher.

Hmmm! I think I got a 57cm London Road from PlanetX but that's a compact frame so perhaps I'm a 60cm really so doubt I'd fit a 62cm LHT.

I'm 6 3 ish with a trouser inside leg of 33 - 34". No problems with a 60cm LHT and about a hands breadth of seat pin showing. You should be fine with a 62 frame. My bike is set up with bars very slightly higher than the seat and is comfortable.

Chose my frame size after looking at this https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... dit#gid=23

[Brucey]

The Fuji Tourer isn't well known in the UK but gets excellent reviews in the USA and elsewhere. https://www.evanscycles.com/fuji-tourin ... e-EV241592. The problem is only Evans seem to stock them in the UK and they seem to sell out fairly quickly each year.
I've a 2001 version still going strong.

+1 for the Fuji Touring bike. I must qualify my comment by saying that I never toured on mine but I thought it was ace.

I have always thought it was pretty well specced for the price, and in most versions has sensible things like 36 spoke wheels and so forth.

However I would say that the geometry is usually a bit more 'sporty' than 'load lugger'. The angles are fairly steep, the chainstays are shortish, and the clearances for fat tyres and mudguards are not overly generous. But if you ride the bike every day/weekend and tour on it with a heavy load one or two weeks a year, maybe that is a good compromise.

cheers

[loch eck steve]

I had a Claud Butler ' Regent ' for a while , not bad bike , think there retailing for £599 at the min

[pete75]

The Fuji Tourer isn't well known in the UK but gets excellent reviews in the USA and elsewhere. https://www.evanscycles.com/fuji-tourin ... e-EV241592. The problem is only Evans seem to stock them in the UK and they seem to sell out fairly quickly each year.
I've a 2001 version still going strong.

+1 for the Fuji Touring bike. I must qualify my comment by saying that I never toured on mine but I thought it was ace.

I have always thought it was pretty well specced for the price, and in most versions has sensible things like 36 spoke wheels and so forth.

However I would say that the geometry is usually a bit more 'sporty' than 'load lugger'. The angles are fairly steep, the chainstays are shortish, and the clearances for fat tyres and mudguards are not overly generous. But if you ride the bike every day/weekend and tour on it with a heavy load one or two weeks a year, maybe that is a good compromise.

cheers

Mine will take 37-622 tyres easily enough. My Raleigh Randonneur, a well regarded tourer, won't manage anything bigger than 32-622.