scotch

They're beautiful bikes, and you're lucky you got your hands on one. They are
selling like hot cakes. Have a blast!

zaxmalloy

Think I am getting finished with upgrades for 2017 on my Vaya for this year. Some additions:

Brooks B17 Saddle
Salsa Flip-Lock Seat Clamp
Shimano A530 flat/SPD pedals
PDW Sparrow Bottle Cage
Planet Bike Fenders

Banzai

This is a frame that I think cries out of "alternator" dropouts, which unfortunately Salsa only did for about a year, and only on a very expensive model; the Ti frame.

Bubbathump

I just bought the cream colored 2017 vaya and am looking to kit it out with a similar set of accessories. I want to get the 700x44 sized compass tyres but am not sure what size fender to buy. I suspect the smoother tread on the compass will have the same or possibly smaller clearance as the stock tyres. I really like the look of the planet bike fenders you bought. What size did you purchase?

Benzie

What do you make of the gray vs orange colors? I'm buying a Vaya shortly. I'm leaning orange. I'm also looking at bags and racks

katsup

I like the orange better.

I ended up with the dark green (2017 model).

zaxmalloy

I would have preferred the orange with Shimano 105 group set but it was out of stock everywhere when I was ready to buy late summer - last fall. That said, the brown color looks surprisingly good and Claris gearing works better than expected at about -$1,000 retail.

Benzie

Thank you both. I'm going orange. Now to decide on racks and bags

elinskaja

Hey,
Thanks for report.
Your handlebar seems to sit very high above the frame. Was this standard when you bought the bike or did you add a stem?
/Elin

ph0rk

Damnit, I want a cream, brown, or dark green steel fork Vaya frame so bad.

intransit1217

cs1

Abe_Froman

Yup. Hand down best brown bike i've seen.

JOHNHOF

I also drank the cool aid and joined the club. I purchased a new to me Salsa Vaya 2 with Shimano 105. I have not ridden far but from what I have ridden it feels like a good choice.

Wattsup

They did it on the stainless version, the 2013 Vaya Travel. Might have done it on the Ti version too, I don't know.

Lava

That's the new purple model with the carbon fork, right? I'm curious to know what you think after a few more miles! I test rode a 2018 Tiagra model a few weeks ago and really liked the fit and feel, but decided I wanted to wait and test out the new 105 group and carbon fork since those seem like pretty big upgrades.

nomadmax 

Some shops and assemblers have started mounting the QR lever on the drive side (on disc brake bikes) because customers have taken to using the front brake rotor for leverage to close the skewer, bending the rotor. It makes no difference which side the lever is on.

JOHNHOF

Hello Lava,
What I bought is a new to me but used 2015 Vaya 2. It is blue with blue anodized hubs... The 105 group works well for the type of riding I do. As for the carbon forks I would be interested as to how they are on the Vaya steel frame setup. In my mind at least this seems like strange bedfellows for thistouring bike but the Vaya does not fit squarely in any one slot and maybe there is a benefit.
So far I like the bike.

Wattsup

I'm a cult member as of a few weeks ago, a new-to-me 2016 Vaya Ti. This photo was taken after a recent muddy trail ride....it cleans up real nice...but I have to admit, it's looked like this more often than not recently lol. I don't baby it! I can't say enough good things about the Vaya. The geometry and the versatility is fantastic. I love the thing to death...perfect for the kind of riding I do. It's wearing a Jones H bar, Thompson seatpost, a Shimano XT group set w/ hydros, 36t chainring with a 11-46 in the back, Teravail Canonball Light&Supple 42's.

I need to put some fenders on the thing soon....

Troy Winter

Here's a crappy pic of my recently acquired 2018 Vaya.

Troy Winter

Here's a better pic... with bonus All City goodness.