you

I'm eyeing a 1993 XO-2 and am wondering how it would compare to 80s 27" wheeled tourer for the long haul. I currently have a 1989 Schwinn Voyageur which is very cool, but short enough in the reach that I don't really want to undertake a risky 700c conversion attempt . The B-stone I'm looking at has a longer reach and more modern components, as well as 26" wheels, which seems exciting to me for the improved tire selection and dirt capabilities (although ostensibly nothing wider than 2" will fit) over the 27"x1.25", but lacks low-rider mounts on the fork blades, which is sort of a drag. Has anyone used an XO-2 for long tours? How did it stack up to any other touring bikes you've owned?

Chris_in_Miami

I wouldn't get too hung up on the lack of lowrider mounts unless you've got a rack that uses a through-fork type boss (Salsa Downunder, etc...) In my experience, only a few racks line up with the mid-fork mounts, so you'll be using U-bolts or adapters of some sort. I haven't owned a Bridgestone yet, but I've used a few MTBs as commuters and prefer 90s-era bikes for the more nimble steering and lighter weight (compared to 80's-era bikes.) The downside is that the top tubes tend to be longer on the 90s bikes, and you'll likely need to use a smaller frame.
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fietsbob

NB the Ortlieb clamp on mount is almost perfect for that, situation.

noglider 

What's the Ortlieb clamp?

Grand Bois

What's NB?

Grand Bois

I've had the same thought about my '88 MB-2. I've never done anything about it because I don't really have any desire to do any loaded touring. It would be fun to try setting it up for touring, but decent racks and bags are too expensive to buy and never use them.

balindamood

2 thoughts:

1). There is nothing "risky" about converting 27-inch wheels to 700C. It works easily 98% of the time.

2). Mountain bikes by about 1990, particularly ones tilted towards racing like the MB-2, moved to short chainstays, long top tubes, and steaper angles; none of which lends themselves to touring. The lack of rack mounts has also been mentioned. Tbhis is in sharp contrast to MTB's from the mid-80's which had longer stays, some had a bunch of mounts thinking they were to be used for touring, and were oftentimes over-built. If you are going to turn a MTB to a loaded tourer, I would subtract 5-7 years from the MB-2 yo are looing at.

3). (bonus thought) Get a longer stem for the Voyageur.

you

Oh man! I'm such a space cadet- I meant XO-2! Whoops

balindamood

Thoughts 1 & 3 still apply.

7speed

NB means "Nota Bene" which is Latin for "Note Well."

BluesDaddy

I have a couple of these. They come with U-bolts that fit most "normal" steel fork blades.
Blackburn FL-1

image credit: https://www.slanecycles.com/images/kalr1b.jpg

Grand Bois

Here's the MB-2 I'm talking about. I think it would make a great loaded tourer with that long wheelbase.

Kaos thinks so, too.



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balindamood

I agree with the dog.

chi-james

super cool cattle dog mix?

Grand Bois

Queensland Heeler.

Preynmantis

I can't really answer the question about extended touring, though I can offer an opinion on the XOs in general.

IMO, I love the XOs and I would like to own a XO-1. That said, so does a large portion of the population who has significantly more disposable income than I. When they come up for sale, they go for much more than I would consider reasonable for a bike of that quality. Seriously, look at the components of the XOs and you can see some compromises to cost. That is not to say they are poor, only that I feel you can build a bike much better for less than the XO will cost. I can't say for the XO-2 you are considering, but look around. I just finished building a bike on an old DB Ridge Runner frame for much the same purpose as what you are describing and I couldn't be happier.


Before you go to far, you owe it to yourself to look at the early/mid 80s MTBs for this.