bootskelsey62

After much debating I bought a new Raleigh Sojourn. I looked at all the major and minor brands of touring bikes and I felt the Raleigh had the most "bang for the buck" for ME. These are just my opinions on this bike (not in any great order). It may help someone make up their mind on the bike they are looking at. #1, yes it's heavy..but not as heavy as my old Schwinn Sports Tourer. #2, rides damn nice. #3, I do run out of gears on the flats unloaded..no top speeds here, but walks like mountain goat uphills loaded. #4, The disc brakes are VERY nice going down hill..wish I had them on my tandem. #5, The Brooks saddle is just now breaking in..lots of neatsfoot oil and 100+ miles..hope this works out..my tail is sore. #6, The factory rack is a monster..don't think I'll be able to tear this one up. #7, lots of talk about the spoke count on the rear...I'll let you know when or if I tear that up...I'm 235lbs plus my gear...I'm a great test mule. #8, The fit and finish are good. #9, my LBS was willing to order one for me to look at (most won't)#10, It's just a good looking bike.

sherbornpeddler

Cool. Thanks. Did you look at Fuji Tourist, Surly LHT or on the lighter side, Aurora Elite, Gunnar, Sam Hilbourne?

kayakdiver

Pic's or it didn't happen

Sounds like your happy. After a few months and a bunch of miles report back with your impressions down the road.

Many happy trips for you!

Enjoy

bootskelsey62

To the doubters out there here is the picture requested. Yes I did look at the others. I really looked hard at the Surly LHT. The only problem there way my nearest dealer is 150+ miles away. I really like LBS support, no playing phone tag or UPS shuttle. Again, the bike gave ME the most "bang for the buck". I'll post any problems or successes with this bike.

xcapekey

nice looking ride! don't go too crazy on the neatsfoot..i've seen a few brooks that were too quickly softened and sagged pretty bad..

kayakdiver

Good lookin bike! Thanks for sharing a pic. Many happy miles to you!

jmio

they are on sale for 999 at REI, hmmmm I still haven't made up my mind on which touring bike I want! So many choices!

jmio

ooops, i mean $999.93

sherbornpeddler

I think it comes with the pre-softened version of a B17. My Raleigh Oneway did and it needs no treatment for break-in. Might be a good idea for preservation.

Dahon.Steve

The Sojourn is one of the nicer touring bikes out there and certainly better looking than most. This bike has been torn apart on these forums for everything from being too heavy, poor Brooks saddle choice, terrible brake selection, horrible fenders, rack, tires, frame etc, etc!

However, I want you to continue to keep this thread alive because we all need to know about the miles of trouble free riding this bike provides. In particular, I want to know how the OEM disk brakes hold up and the rear wheel too. You have the touring bike of my dreams so don't forget about updates.

OH, the comment about this bike walking like a "mountain goat" fully loaded was interesting! We've been hearing all along how it was too high geared, now we know different.

tacomee

Well, I've serviced several Sojourns with over a 1000 miles on them, and the bike seems to be holding up well. The drive train is great, the Avid brakes are great. The 32 spoke wheels, with those *Freedom* brand rims, seem to be holding up OK for just riding around. I'd get some better wheels for loaded touring, but then every stock touring bike needs $100 plus upgrades.

It's a great bike.

staehpj1

Lots of people are happy with the Sojourn and that is fine. OTOH, I think that to call it a touring bike is a bit of a stretch though. Raleigh doesn't mention the word touring anywhere in their literature for this bike and I think that is because it is not designed as a dedicated touring bike. I don't think that they would have put 32 spoke wheels on it if it were supposed to be a dedicated tourer.

I would say that if you will be touring where there will be much steep climbing that something smaller than a 30T is a very good idea. That is not a huge problem to rectify and is the case for many touring bikes though.

Booger1

When your destination is ‘nowhere in particular’.When your direction is ‘that way’.When you expect to get there ‘when I get there’. The only certainty is the road ahead of you, the sky over your head, and the Sojourn carrying you there

The above wording is right from their website.If that isn't wording for a touring bike,than I don't know what is!

That's a great touring bike for the money,good looking too.I don't like 32 spokes on the rear but I would ride it until it failed,then build something stronger.Great bike.

jmio

hahah, I was gonna quote that too, but I knew I didn't have to, you beat me to it.

jmio

that is unless your a street person and your job willl take you nowhere in particular, or you will get to your corner when you get there, I guess that means the sojourn was meant to be a 'commuter' a homeless commuter! lol

bootskelsey62

Small update...I have yet to do a multi-day tour, but I load my bags & rack with approx 25 lbs of crap for my day rides of approx 20 miles. I live in SW Indiana where there is no lack of hills. I have yet to need any lower gear that what it has. This is not to say if I ride in the Smokies I won't be cussing like a sailor! Hope this helps.....

staehpj1

That would seem to me to indicate that you indeed don't know what is.

To me it looks like a hybrid with some fancy dodads attached. Kind of a pig with lipstick so to speak. That said you certainly can tour on it and if YOU like it that is all that matters. I still maintain that it was not designed as a touring bike.

Lopton

Just shy of 500 miles on our Sojourn's and they are working great with no issues at all.

-Matt

jmio

I'd be careful, 32 spokes on an uncategorized bike will xplode leaving you dead and lifeless on the side of the road, better pull of and immediately end your journey asap and get a bike that has "touring" in its description! I'm kidding people!!!!!!

all kidding aside, I think the raleigh is an awesome looking bike and seems to be holding up everywhere people report on them, good luck with your journey and be safe.

pmseattle

The wheels are not suitable for loaded touring. Also, the fork should have had an extra set of eyelets on the dropouts for mounting a front rack. And the cassette should be 11-34 or 12-34, which is easy to change although it may need a new derailleur for the wider range such as the heavy but durable Deore. Perhaps Raleigh will tweak their design in the future to make it more suitable as a tourer.

Lopton

The front fork has eyelets for mounting a rack, as you can see by looking at my picture. The rear cassette is 11-34, and finally the rear derailleur is a Deore... So perhaps you should look at the specs before you ask for these things it all ready has...

https://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/road...rn/?page=specs

I did choose to swap out the smallest gear from a 30 to a 26 and it works fantastic

-Matt

bootskelsey62

Matt, what brand of front rack are you using? Any problems mounting? I'm still recovering from the original cash out-lay and almost ready to buy. Thanks, Boots...

kayakdiver

Glad to see your enjoying the new ride. The 26 is a nice choice. I have climbed a ton of mountain passes with a 26/32 and never felt I needed lower. Some do like lower....... Some like brooks... some don't.... Some like disc and some don't.

Thank god we have choices in life.

Now to get that first weekend tour under your belt!

tacomee

The Sojourn has a great rear rack stock and it's easy to fit a front one. I haven't had any trouble with with toe or heal clip with any bike I've worked with. It's a great touring bike. As far as the wheels go..... I think they could be stronger, but they seem to hold up ok. I can think of several touring bikes with 36 spoke wheels that don't hold up well as the Sojourn's wheels.

https://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-LX-Mavic...3A1%7C294%3A30

Funny how some people think nothing of buying a Surly LHT (a bike I really like) and then paying $200 or so to replace the worthless stock saddle, but can't see spending the same amount of cash for a better wheel set for the Sojourn.

Agentbolt

oops.