Blueweim

Ok I’m looking for a long haul trucker for my daughter 54cm. Now I’m thinking new. Some lht’s are going for 1350 stock before tax. Bikemon has a price drop to 360 on Grandpas Thermos. I love that color, free ship no tax. That’s a saving of 160 dollars. I have a new handle bar here from my Cross Check that I replaced for a flat bar. Can I build the trucker with good components for a decent price? The bike is going to be used mostly as a commuter.

I’m also going through the forum checking out lht builds and pricing parts out. I’m going to head to my local bike shop to talk about my options. I’ve looked at several tires...like the Maxxis Holy Roller but what do I know. I also checked Surly’s components which I think are pretty good for a stock trucker.

I’m not a tech geek. Just an old guy that likes bikes. This is for my daughter.

chime in if you have thoughts

pdlamb

In general, it's cheapest to buy a complete bike -- unless there is (are) specific component(s) you want to change. So when I see a question like this, if you don't know what you want to change out, stock bikes are pretty darn good.

Now, if you have a garage shed full of parts (like someone I might, ahem, know...), and your time is free, build it up from the frame!

Nordo

Even with the price of $360 for the frame I bet you'll end up spending more if you build it using new parts of comparable quality.

Universal Cycles has a few complete LHTs in several sizes including 54cm Grandpas Thermos for $1146. You would have to pay shipping, but it might be worth checking it out.

https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...s.php?id=91050

JayKay3000

If it's just a bicycle for commuting have you considered other options.

You may (ok, maybe not in the current climate) be able to find a really good used LHT or other bicycle that may not matter so much if it gets beat up or gets stolen depending on where it gets parked.

If your daughter has her heart set on a LHT then the stock parts are OK. You could get better parts building it yourself, but then it may cost more overall. My LBS thought they could build one for the same price with better components, but then lockdown happened and I never got their quote.

I currently commute on a regular alu cross road bike with rear rack mounts and drop bars, triple and road gearing. I don't have to do many big hills though so I don't need the mountain bike cassette that you need when you're loading a LHT to the max.

Blueweim

I’ve been looking at used lht’s on Surly Trader, eBay and some other listings. I was going to see if I could find a decent cross check or trucker used. Found several that were cool. One sold before I could offer. One bought by local buyer who had contacted owner before me...I have a offer in on a cross check right now. One of the reasons I’m thinking new is a lot of the older bikes are going for higher prices than you would think, and when you throw in shipping-for a few hundred more bucks I might as well buy new. Seems these bike retain their values or many feel they are worth more than they are, and yes owners have added upgrades.
I’m going to checkout Universal Cycles, that seems like a reasonable option.
yes it’s mainly for a commuter and I want my daughter to have a kickass bike, even though she will keep it inside it’s a college town and many bikes get stolen. Chattanooga is a great bike town.

Sorry for the ramble. I’ll post with updates later on.

Blueweim

Nordo its me again...called Universal Cycles, 200 to ship, no pedals. I’m think I’m just going down to my local bike shop and see what I can do.

adlai

Build.

Reason is very simple.

Tariffs.

There is still a 25% tariff on complete bicycles, levied by the Trump administration.

But its me 

Take a look at tree fort bikes. I was just browsing around on site and they have lhts with free shipping, no tax for TN. As someone probably down the parkway from you, I believe the closest surly dealer is in Nashville.

Blueweim

Yeah Tree Fort has some killer deals. I probably would have bit on the Straggler Blueberry Muffin Top but didn’t have the size Im looking for. Normally 1650, 2018 model new for 1050. They have a Long Haul Trucker for 1030 that may found a new home. Thanks for the info.

Doug64

We have 3 LHTs in our family used primarily for touring. One daughter rides 42 cm stock trucker, another daughter rides a 50 cm which has had significant upgrades, and mine was built from the frame up. The LHT was upgraded becasue my daughter liked the way my bike was set up. We bought it used, and it was in very good shape. The upgrades included: new saddle, Tubus rack, changing from bar-end shifters to STI shifters, changing cranket to 44/42/22 which needed a new BB, new wheels and tires. It is a sweet little bike, but I could have built a new one up for about the same amount of money. However, I do have a pretty lagre collection of parts available in my shop. She is your daughter, and all daughters deserve a nice bike; just ask one

My LTH, built from the frame up, would cost a little over $2,000 if I had to buy all the parts. I used high quality parts, e.g., Paul brakes, Hand built wheels ( XT hubs, Dyad rims, and Wheelsmith DB spokes), STI shifters, fenders, Sugino Crankset, Tubus Racks, Brooks saddle, Look pedals. etc. It was worth it to me and I enjoyed doing it.

All 3 of our LHTs, mom rides a much "nicer" bike


My LHT

Blueweim

Bit on the Straggler Blueberry Muffin on Tree Fort Website, made the purchase only to find out this morning they were out of stock, onto the Long Haul Trucker deal, Grandpas Thermos but not in her size...1050. Finally found one today in the great state of Tennessee, my daughter is the new proud owner of a Surly Long Haul Trucker. Stock yes, she can upgrade to her liken. Excited for her. Welcome to the club.

mstateglfr 

Explain, please.

Are you saying there is a 25% charge on top of the purchase price?...cuz thats not correct.

adlai

Tariffs are absorbed by retailers and then passed on to the end consumer. So you won't see a line item saying "tariff" but it will be a part of the price. It isn't the whole amount, and there is retailler markup, but it does mean that complete bicycle prices are higher than they were a year ago before the tariff.

mstateglfr 

Yes, but if the total bike price with tariff added in is still less expensive than the cost of all components individually, then your reasoning makes no sense.
it was just odd to see terrified be used as the reason to build from a frame since that ignores actual prices..

Also, many companies partially or even fully absorb tariff pricing as it completely depends on market competition at the time.
Further, some bike components are affected by tariff wars over the last couple years, which further challenges your reasoning.

adlai

No, I'm not going to go into a line-by-line comparison of costs, But generally speaking, higher tariffs = higher costs overall, and complete bikes face the most tariffs it looks like.

My general sense looking at the market right now is that complete bikes do appear more expensive for what you get compared to a few years ago.

It is also possible, with a bit of work, to score a good deal on components.

But right now, complete bicycles are hit with a 36% tariff. It takes time to move production out of China, too, even though many of the components are made elsewhere, oftentimes final assembly is in China, just like the iphone.

https://www.bicycleretailer.com/indu...e#.XqLyGshKjiA

Kapusta

I’m pretty sure Surly gets their stuff from Taiwan, not China.

.

adlai

And just like how FoxConn is a Taiwanese company with Chinese factories, likely a lot of Taiwanese OEM's have their supply chain reaching into China.

Blueweim

Well I found the lht bike and color I was looking for in Nashville. I was about to pull the trigger and the same bike appeared on Tree Forts website. 2018 color, new for 1030, free shipping vs Nashville 1350 before tax. I saved 455. It’s a done deal

Kapusta

Do have any actual evidence that Surly bikes are assembled in China and subject to the tariffs, or are you just guessing?

In any event, if you look at the cost of a new complete Surly, there is no way you are building a bike with new components for anywhere close to that price.

adlai

I'm guessing, but it is a good bet that is the case, given economic trends of the past ten years.

phughes

Then stop guessing. Surly Bikes are made in Taiwan. In addition, the current price of $1350 is not bad considering in 2011 the bike was around $1275.

Blueweim

Yeah not bad but I like the 1030 price tag even better. I’m all about local bike shops, I’ll upgrade my new ride there

phughes

Definitely. You can always find a deal. I was just quoting MSRP. I got mine in 2011 for $899, so I got a fantastic deal. Enjoy the new bike.