Can Anyone Explain the Appeal of Surly?
09-12-16, 07:39 PM
#101
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My thoughts...someone said something about beer early in the thread. I've been to the brewery twice which is right around the corner from Surly Bikes (QBP) in Minneapolis. I do enjoy the beer as well as the bikes. I bought my LHT about 1 year ago from today and have almost 5,000 miles on it. Not too bad for a guy that didn't ride 200 miles in the the last few years.
The last picture is of a CC hanging out at the brewery in the swag shop.
The last picture is of a CC hanging out at the brewery in the swag shop.
09-12-16, 07:52 PM
#102
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09-12-16, 07:59 PM
#103
Riding like its 1990
Rode a Cross Check for a few years as an SS commuter, quick do it all bike. Yes it was somewhat tankish but the lighter fork helped. It did all perfectly well. Versatile, fit great, steel and comfy. Versatile too.
Sold it and regretted it due to the long drop outs making it super easy to go SS or geared. As was said, any modern component fit no sweat. Raced a few SSCX with it, and it wasn't the limiting factor, I was. I have a Soma Double Cross now that I can add disc brakes to in the future and its a bit nicer tubing with Tange Prestige so I'm fine.
The CC was a "do it all" that could...
Sold it and regretted it due to the long drop outs making it super easy to go SS or geared. As was said, any modern component fit no sweat. Raced a few SSCX with it, and it wasn't the limiting factor, I was. I have a Soma Double Cross now that I can add disc brakes to in the future and its a bit nicer tubing with Tange Prestige so I'm fine.
The CC was a "do it all" that could...
09-12-16, 08:02 PM
#104
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Me too. As I understand it, the two companies don't actually have anything to do with each other, but don't mind the association. 
09-14-16, 01:33 PM
#105
Senior Member
Surly isn't the "best", but who says one always has to go for the "best"? How about "good enough". I think their bikes, at least the ones I'm interested in, are good enough. Decent value for what I want to spend.
No need to become attached to an idea of "best". Having it doesn't make one a more forthright, compassionate, decent human being.
No need to become attached to an idea of "best". Having it doesn't make one a more forthright, compassionate, decent human being.
09-14-16, 02:00 PM
#106
Senior Member
Yeah, good enough is sometimes just right. I was thinking about this yesterday and realized that if I was going to go tour Patagonia, or go on an around the world trip, etc; I'd take a LHT before I'd take my fancy Mercian. A couple extra lbs would be irrelevant, and I'd rather not worry it might get stolen or broken.
For overnighters, sport riding, long distance riding, and ~week long domestic (NA) camping trips -- I'll stick with my speedy gentlemens' GT machine, thank you very much. Because I don't really enjoy going slow.
For overnighters, sport riding, long distance riding, and ~week long domestic (NA) camping trips -- I'll stick with my speedy gentlemens' GT machine, thank you very much. Because I don't really enjoy going slow.
09-14-16, 02:01 PM
#107
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I'll throw in my experience:
I don't know exactly why, but when I was shopping gravel/ all-surface bikes, I rode a surly cross-check, and a Specialized Diverge.
The Surly just felt "fun". By comparison, the Diverge felt boring. Don't know why.
I don't know exactly why, but when I was shopping gravel/ all-surface bikes, I rode a surly cross-check, and a Specialized Diverge.
The Surly just felt "fun". By comparison, the Diverge felt boring. Don't know why.
09-14-16, 06:23 PM
#108
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1. Inexpensive but still relatively good quality
2. A pretty wide range
3. The whole steel is real thing
4. At the forefront of the fat-bike/adventure-touring trend
5. Simple colors and graphics instead of astrobright paint-jobs/decals
6. Ride a Krampus and you'll see the appeal
Basically I think Surly has capitalized on being the opposite of more flashy neon-soaked brands like "The Big Bad S" or even other MTB companies like Niner, Santa Cruz, Pivot, etc. etc. etc.
At the end of the day I think all of these companies make good bikes but Surly has skewed toward the more punk rock side of the cyclist psyche, which appeals to a large group who wants to rebel against the lycra-clad roadies that hang out at the local cafe comparing their KOMs (no offense). Plus QBP has sort of taken on this more simple/rugged cycling aesthetic as a whole and done a damn good job selling it - though some people will still say they are an evil souls conglomerate...
2. A pretty wide range
3. The whole steel is real thing
4. At the forefront of the fat-bike/adventure-touring trend
5. Simple colors and graphics instead of astrobright paint-jobs/decals
6. Ride a Krampus and you'll see the appeal
Basically I think Surly has capitalized on being the opposite of more flashy neon-soaked brands like "The Big Bad S" or even other MTB companies like Niner, Santa Cruz, Pivot, etc. etc. etc.
At the end of the day I think all of these companies make good bikes but Surly has skewed toward the more punk rock side of the cyclist psyche, which appeals to a large group who wants to rebel against the lycra-clad roadies that hang out at the local cafe comparing their KOMs (no offense). Plus QBP has sort of taken on this more simple/rugged cycling aesthetic as a whole and done a damn good job selling it - though some people will still say they are an evil souls conglomerate...
09-14-16, 07:06 PM
#109
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Likely that the Diverge just caught you on an off day.
I've ridden two different versions of the Diverge and I think Specialized has cooked up a real winner.
Both used Compass tires, so that may have spruced up things a bit.
09-14-16, 07:40 PM
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I wanted a steel frameset with a 1 1/8" threadless fork and clearance for really fat tires. I also wanted somewhat "sprightly" geometry. The Surly Karate Monkey fit the bill. It has the same geometry as the Treks I've been riding since 1995 with the exception of having a 3cm longer top-tube, which is a plus for me.
I want to upgrade to a Thomson seatpost, wheels with Blunt 35 rims and then to an ECR frameset.
I want to upgrade to a Thomson seatpost, wheels with Blunt 35 rims and then to an ECR frameset.
09-14-16, 10:46 PM
#112
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I'm sure there are differences, but yeah, if I was to buy one I feel like it would serve the same function as my Stumpjumper. Probably heavier too. Nothing against them; they seem like solid utility bikes. I just think you can get at least 80% of the utility for a fraction of the cost.
09-15-16, 12:56 AM
#113
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Surly isn't the "best", but who says one always has to go for the "best"? How about "good enough". I think their bikes, at least the ones I'm interested in, are good enough. Decent value for what I want to spend.
No need to become attached to an idea of "best". Having it doesn't make one a more forthright, compassionate, decent human being.
No need to become attached to an idea of "best". Having it doesn't make one a more forthright, compassionate, decent human being.
09-15-16, 01:11 AM
#114
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No-nonsense, utilitarian come to mind
...as opposed to image-laden, bling-y.
09-15-16, 04:56 AM
#115
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I've seen posted here that Surlys come from China (presumably Mainland China), and from Taiwan.
Different models from different places, or do they all come from one source? I'd like to know.
EDIT: Can owners tell me where their Surly was made (based on a sticker/tag on the bike)?
TIA.
Different models from different places, or do they all come from one source? I'd like to know.
EDIT: Can owners tell me where their Surly was made (based on a sticker/tag on the bike)?
TIA.
Last edited by NJgreyhead; 09-16-16 at 04:56 AM. Reason: crickets chirping
09-17-16, 09:13 AM
#116
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Don't imply that I am somehow not part of this conversation.
09-17-16, 09:28 AM
#117
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100+ posts on why people would buy practical, versatile steel bikes that are marketed well and readily available at nearly any LBS.
09-17-16, 09:32 AM
#118
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09-17-16, 09:33 AM
#119
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09-17-16, 09:38 AM
#120
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Who's in the mood to start a "why would you buy a Rivendell when you can buy a used bike" thread?
09-17-16, 10:11 AM
#121
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They are only eclipsed by fixie threads..........
But, back to the Surly thread.
Most of the customers at the shop I frequent don't want to buy thirty year old Treks.
They don't wind their binder.
Surly makes a nice, basic bike for reasonable $$$$. imho
In addition, my ECR is so overbuilt my kids will likely inherit it.
So, so beefy.
09-17-16, 11:25 AM
#122
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They are only eclipsed by fixie threads..........
But, back to the Surly thread.
Most of the customers at the shop I frequent don't want to buy thirty year old Treks.
They don't wind their binder.
Surly makes a nice, basic bike for reasonable $$$$. imho
In addition, my ECR is so overbuilt my kids will likely inherit it.
So, so beefy.
But, back to the Surly thread.
Most of the customers at the shop I frequent don't want to buy thirty year old Treks.
They don't wind their binder.
Surly makes a nice, basic bike for reasonable $$$$. imho
In addition, my ECR is so overbuilt my kids will likely inherit it.
So, so beefy.
09-17-16, 11:44 AM
#123
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09-17-16, 11:51 AM
#124
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Ride the wheels off that nice bike.
I think it's an incredibly over built frameset.
Short of dropping it off the back of the car on the interstate, it will likely be around much longer than you want it to be.
You will want a new one far sooner than you will need one.
At least that's how I look at it.
Btw We have many models of Surly bikes available on our local CL. Surprising how much of their value they hold.
I think it's an incredibly over built frameset.
Short of dropping it off the back of the car on the interstate, it will likely be around much longer than you want it to be.
You will want a new one far sooner than you will need one.
At least that's how I look at it.
Btw We have many models of Surly bikes available on our local CL. Surprising how much of their value they hold.