In defense of Surly
11-13-15, 07:33 AM
#1
meh
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In defense of Surly
I've seen some negative comments about Surly throughout the BF posts during the time I've been on BF. As a Surly owner, and a Surly fan, and a homer (Surly is based in my town)... I really like this post, great points for all the haters to understand: In defense of Surly |
1: Surly keeps inventing (or reinventing, or popularizing) awesome new stuff. Freeride hardtails? 29ers? Fat bikes? Offroad touring bikes? Bikepacking setups? Plus bikes? Cargo bikes? Yup, Surly was there. They weren’t always the first, they weren’t always the best, but they had a HUGE role in making all of those types of bike something that normal people could find out about and actually go buy and ride. And that, in turn, sparked tons of innovation (and further copycatting) from other companies. So now we have loads and loads of choice in a wild variety of bike types we didn’t have 15 or 20 years ago.
11-13-15, 07:45 AM
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So this would be a surly rebuttal ....
11-13-15, 08:29 AM
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I've not noticed negative comments regarding Surly. What are folks saying? I need to know so I can pile on. 
Seriously, while I've never owned one, they surely are fine bikes.
Seriously, while I've never owned one, they surely are fine bikes.
11-13-15, 08:33 AM
#5
meh
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I'm not certain I understand you're meaning, here are a couple quotes that I think address your statement (or maybe not)
Second line of the blog:
About author:
Second line of the blog:
a custom bike snob who should be turning up his nose at welded-overseas heavy cheap steel bikes?
I’ve spent the last 15 years building carefully designed, one-off frames and forks for serious riders, in a wild variety of configurations, styles, and sizes. I’ve built more 29ers and 36ers than anyone else on the planet, and I happily do fatbikes, tandems, full suspension bikes, road/cross/gravel/bmx/unicycle – you name it. I also spent more than a decade as a UCI elite/USAC pro racer. I also teach one-on-one framebuilding classes year-round from my home base of Park City, UT – America’s only IMBA gold-level mountain bike town.
Last edited by Hypno Toad; 11-13-15 at 08:39 AM. Reason: fixed messy quote text
11-13-15, 08:38 AM
#6
meh
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Of course I can't find one negative comment now... shame on me for not finding references. Still a good blog post.
11-13-15, 09:14 AM
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Theyre a bit heavy?
Other than that, whats there to dislike?
Other than that, whats there to dislike?
11-13-15, 09:17 AM
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Hmmm ... I don't see any fights .... how can I start one?
11-13-15, 09:19 AM
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I will add that when one is talking about modern steel bikes ( and this applies to Soma too, I think)
You can talk for Surly or against Surly...but you can't talk without Surly.
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11-13-15, 09:20 AM
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Most people I know seem to like them. One exception was the owner of a LBS that is a Trek dealer. She basically told me they suck and took the attitude that Surly owners were deluded or ignorant and that it was obvious (to her at least), that nobody in his or her right mind would consider a Surly when they could own a Trek. I lost a lot of respect for this particular LBS as I don't appreciate retailers who feel a need to trash a competitor product.
11-13-15, 11:29 AM
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11-13-15, 11:29 AM
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They seem to be nice bikes. As others said, a little heavy. Popular among the Hipsters in my area as sort of the anti-roadie.
REI seems to be digging in their cookie jar a little by producing bikes in a similar vein for same or less with a 1 year return policy. Not to mention, if you are patient, you can get REI bikes for a song during sales or clearance events.
REI seems to be digging in their cookie jar a little by producing bikes in a similar vein for same or less with a 1 year return policy. Not to mention, if you are patient, you can get REI bikes for a song during sales or clearance events.
11-13-15, 11:36 AM
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I didn't realize Surly needed defending. The only bad thing I've ever heard about them is that "they're heavy."
11-13-15, 11:41 AM
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I really wish I could justify owning a Pugsley.
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11-13-15, 11:41 AM
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11-13-15, 12:11 PM
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The two common complaints against Surly are that they are heavy and overhyped. The heavy part is a fair complaint. They tend to weigh more than comparable offerings from other manufacturers.
The overhyped part, I don't know. Some of it is justified to a degree. Surly frames ain't that special to be honest. Decent riding but straight gauge 4130 is straight gauge 4130. And their complete bikes are usually expensive for the parts they offer. On the other hand, Walt is right that Surly hasn't been afraid to go (and help develop) niche markets. The 1x1, Crosscheck, LHT all of them catered to a small market. The Endomorph tire is what opened up the fatbike market. It wasn't the Pugsley, it was the tire that changed how we all looked at riding in the snow.
In my opinion Surly does deserve some credit and respect, but some of the criticism is fair. And I don't know that they needed Walt to come and defend them, but hey publicity is publicity
The overhyped part, I don't know. Some of it is justified to a degree. Surly frames ain't that special to be honest. Decent riding but straight gauge 4130 is straight gauge 4130. And their complete bikes are usually expensive for the parts they offer. On the other hand, Walt is right that Surly hasn't been afraid to go (and help develop) niche markets. The 1x1, Crosscheck, LHT all of them catered to a small market. The Endomorph tire is what opened up the fatbike market. It wasn't the Pugsley, it was the tire that changed how we all looked at riding in the snow.
In my opinion Surly does deserve some credit and respect, but some of the criticism is fair. And I don't know that they needed Walt to come and defend them, but hey publicity is publicity
11-13-15, 12:19 PM
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11-13-15, 12:20 PM
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I don't hear a lot of negative comments or truly negative comments. They aren't super light but they generally have come with a decent build kit which a lot of others cannot match and they really have a cool vibe especially with customers. Plus most of the Surly folks are crazy about their product because they ride them and have adventures on them. They also make a ton of versatile bikes and have helped really make things like fat bikes popular.
My Disc Trucker is great and for the price was probably one of the best spec'd touring bikes on the market at least back in 2012 when I bought it. Sure it isn't the lightest thing on the planet but it has a great ride and is unlikely to let you down. I have never heard a LHT or DT owner be like "I wish I hadn't bought the thing" Most are quite happy with their purchase and that is what drew me to them.
My Disc Trucker is great and for the price was probably one of the best spec'd touring bikes on the market at least back in 2012 when I bought it. Sure it isn't the lightest thing on the planet but it has a great ride and is unlikely to let you down. I have never heard a LHT or DT owner be like "I wish I hadn't bought the thing" Most are quite happy with their purchase and that is what drew me to them.
11-13-15, 12:26 PM
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+1. And as for heavy, some of them are supposed to be heavy. I have an LHT which I ride around town on. I also use it for its intended purpose, which is fully loaded touring. It works quite well. When I am out there, possibly riding unpaved roads, I want a sturdy bike with a strong wheel set. Maybe I could have gone with something custom that weighs less, but I don't spend the majority of time touring, and I certainly wouldn't want to leave a really expensive bike locked up outside. The LHT was a nice compromise. The way I look at it, 5 lbs. isn't going to make much of a difference effort-wise considering that I am about 210 lbs. during the height of riding season. Add, say 40 lbs. of racks and gear and 5 lbs. is equal to 2% of the total weight.
11-13-15, 12:28 PM
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11-13-15, 12:44 PM
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To be honest, I don't know why anybody would buy a Pugsley nowadays. If you are looking for a low priced fatbike there are cheaper and better options. Without going to unknown brands or Bikesdirect, Rocky Mountain has a $1100 option that is pretty decent. On the price range of the Pugs Felt, Norco, Specialized, Trek... all of them have nicer bikes. Even Surly has the Wednesday which is about the same price as the Pugs.
Offset rear ends are obsolete. The only potential advantage of an offset rear is that you can use a standard hub. That was nice eight years ago when there weren't any wide hubs. But there are so many options for 170 and 190mm hubs now that there really isn't a reason to have a frame that looks like it was rear ended by a car.
Offset rear ends are obsolete. The only potential advantage of an offset rear is that you can use a standard hub. That was nice eight years ago when there weren't any wide hubs. But there are so many options for 170 and 190mm hubs now that there really isn't a reason to have a frame that looks like it was rear ended by a car.
11-13-15, 12:52 PM
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surly is pretty cool, i think i would like a Long Haul trucker if i ever got into that type of touring. I like the Idea of the ogre that they make as well. The Classic purple pugsly will never be old, its a classic! MTB hall of fame worthy.