TiHabanero

Anyone make a steel touring rig that will fit 700x50 with fenders out of high quality tubing? Not looking for a Surly level bike, but something with lighter tubing than a typical Surly that can handle 50c tires and fenders.

wschruba

That's a tall order. For practical purposes, at that size, the bike would probably be listed as a 29x2" drop bar bike. The closest that I know of to what you want is a Black Mountain Cycles monster cross model...it still won't fit fenders with that size, though.

Once you get to those sizes, weight starts shooting up. Think CoMotion Divide. Fits 700x50 with fenders, nice quality tubing, but it's a touring bike.

DanBell

I have a 700x54 Kenda Small Block Eight with fenders on my Co-Motion Divide right now. Fits fine although I can't really go any bigger than that.

rifraf

Sorry but I don't understand.
What is a Surly level bike mean to you?

When you talk of "high quality tubing" but not Surly level, I can only assume you mean more expensive frames made of the likes of Tange Prestige or Reynolds steel (531 and upwards) which you will likely pay through the nose for.

Your beginning to enter the realm of boutique, cottage industry or custom, last I looked.

Before I spotted the non Surly requirement, I was going to suggest you consider an ECR, Ogre or Salsa Fargo but now I'm confused.

Anyway, I look forward to reading the contributions given that I built my bike up in 2012 and open minded as to whats newer and better.

I was surprised at just how light my Ogre was when it was finished and given how heavy I tend to tour, would have preferred a stiffer (and likely heavier) frame.

When I built it, I had a budget that afforded a quality component kit or a better frame.
I opted for better componentry with a view to upgrading the frame down the track.

Given the changes in standardisation of dropout and hub widths since then, I might have chosen differently in hindsight but I'm not sorry I went with a Rohloff IGH and Son28 dyno.

veganbikes

Co-Motion is an excellent option. I wish I had more clearance on my Cascadia but at the time of order I was "skinny tires are the way to go, wider is slower" like a gotdanged idjit and have since changed my tune after going wider. Part of me wishes I had done most everything I had done but on an Americano frame but I still love my Cascadia. As people have mentioned the Divide might be just the bike in their line up for such width.

If you are looking at a cheaper (but not low quality or super heavy) route the Specialized AWOL can fit a 50c tire and I believe fenders as well. I know the Expert (the one you would want anyway) came with 45C tires and fenders and had space for a bit more. The Expert has dynamo and racks front and rear as well as a USB charger so it is the best set up out of all of them. If I am not mistaken as well the Premium Cromo tubing is Reynolds 725 which is what Co-Mo uses on many of their touring bikes.

rifraf

The Divide was the frame I would have grabbed had the budget stretched that far back when I built up my Ogre.
I thought the stiffness of those tandem level seat/chain stays a very attractive proposition.
Today I'm a little less sold on its (then) weight which from memory was a decent wack over the Ogre and owning it would have meant I missed out on my IGH, Dyno setup, stainless racks etc and would have eaten into my budget for my camping gear.
Whilst I'm sure I made the right decision for the day, I do look with lust still at the Co-Motion, especially with the S&S connectors.

saddlesores

you could check out LKLM frames made in taiwan.
i have the 318 model with fenders and 700*45 tires.
could take a bit wider if needed.

there are a couple recent threads where one complete
bike was purchased on ebay, but wrong frame shipped.

i bought mine (frame only - $90) while in china to build up.
total finished weight (58cm frame) with racks 17.0kg

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm...cket=11#detail

TiHabanero

I have read the replies to my post and will be talking to a custom builder tomorrow. I have lugged and brazed a few frames myself, but am unable to accommodate the wide tire out back. I think it will require a tig welded frame, which I am not able to do. The Co-Motion Divide is interesting, however the custom option is probably the smart way to go. Looking forward to it!

coolkat

Crust Dreamer might do it

Tourist in MSN

If the price of a custom frame is not what you are looking for, you might be able to find a hard tail mountain bike that could be converted to touring. But to find the right geometry, long chainstays, etc., could turn into a research project.

I have two touring bikes that take the tire width with fenders that you cite but both bikes use 26 inch wheels.

skimaxpower

Soma Wolverine is advertised as 700c x 45 with fenders.

If you went for 650B wheels you could have even wider tires.

veganbikes

Custom is never a bad way to go. Assuming you have a good budget you can truly get all you want (at least within the confines of reality). I am very much at the point where I know what I want in my ideal bike but it is just the financing of it that isn't anywhere near that point.

Leebo

Some kind of 29er? Kona, soma, gunnar/waterford? Looked at rivendale? They might not have disc? I have 3 Surly's they suit me well. Bike packing off road? Trying to save 1/2 lb off frame weight? Hmmm. REALLY look at hub widths and what you need and want. Fyi. @ 235 lbs plus gear, beefy bikes are all I seek out. YRMV.

corwin1968

If you are diligent, you can pick up a used Rivendell Hunqapillar or Atlantis.

Sullalto

Kona Sutra I believe.

TallTourist

The Vivente World Randonneur line of bikes may suit you. I'm not sure what you mean about surly bikes 'cause I've gotten the impression they aren't that great (just going on how common it is for their fatbikes to have broken chainstays) but maybe give em a look. They list the maximum tire size for the 700c bikes as 50 but I think you could even go wider. The bikes come with 35 front and 37 rear with corresponding skinny fenders but I'm sure one could get some bigger fenders in there or even mod the existing ones. Might be worth a look. having a hell of a time finding 700c anything in latin america but hopefully I will get some 50s soon

Abu Mahendra

Or is that still too déclassé for you?

Andrew R Stewart 

I can't speak better about Co Motion as a choice. Not specific to the OP's spec but to their attention to detail and willingness to work with the customer. They also have been and will likely be around for a long time. Last year I had my 1997 Speedster custom tandem repainted by them. Co Motion would make a nice bike for the OP.


BTW the 1997 tandem was a custom from they were just beginning to be known for their tandems. Working with Dwan was great! I am a hobby frame builder too and he respected my geometry preferences and produced a bike that rides more like my single then any tandem has.


This coming NAHBS my friend and I travel to the show. He is picking up a Co Motion Divide with Pinion and Gates. You'll see it at the CM display and then later this summer on Adventure Cycling's North Star. Andy

rifraf

Just for balance, and if your good with a search engine, on the MTBR forum, somewhere, there is a poster with both a Divide and I think a Fargo.
He doesn't think the ride of the much pricier Divide manifests much of a difference.

Found it:
https://forums.mtbr.com/29er-bikes/co...de-749246.html

Unfortunately the curse of the photo bucket manifests itself so theres no pics

denniswaite

You might look at the Rivendell Appaloosa. My Appaloosa sports VO Snake Scale fenders and Schwalbe 50's. No problem.

irwin7638

Rivendell Hunqapillar handles the tire size but with Kaisai 8630 tubing it's not the lightest bike but it will handle whatever you want. I love mine. I think the Appaloosa would be a bit lighter made with Silver tubing.


Marc

Mr IGH

If you're looking for a frame that can handle 350lbs and 50mm tyres then it's going to have thicker/heavier tubing. The reason why thinner tubing cost more than thicker tubing is that alloying elements are added and more expensive processing are required so that the thinner tubing doesn't fracture/crack. The additional expense of alloying elements and processing steps don't add any advantage to thicker tubing. It's not going to fail with or without the added expense and it will ride the same.

Surly/Salsa use heavier/stiff tubing on their touring frames. Combined that with slow handling geometry and you have an less responsive frame that some find objectionable esp when ridden unloaded. More expensive tubing isn't going to change that.

I have a Soma Fog Cutter, it's good for 42mm tyres but with the thinner, more expensive tubing it's not able to handle 50lbs of cargo. Not sure if anyone makes a road frame with lightweight tubing and takes 50mm tyres. But with the thinner tubing it's not a touring frame anymore, it's an "Adventure Bike".

masterchief

Take a look at the new All City Gorilla Monsoon. It looks like it could be what you're after, although I'm not sure if it ticks the "not Surly level" box, as All City is a QBP brand too.

It come with a nice sunset fade paintjob too.

Abu Mahendra

That bike is 27.5x2.4" max which means that it may fit 29x1.7" (700cx41mm) at most.

MarcusT

Interesting frame. Is there an English site to see more?