A Complete List of Touring Bicycle Manufacturers with Pricing

116 comments

1. Wow! great list!
   You can get the Multicycle with a Rohloff too 😉

2. Hi! Great review, we are looking for a new touring bike for my girlfriend and this list is perfect! Actually I’m riding a 2011 Cube Touring (bought used for €400!) and I never had a problem, also when doing long tours (did all southern Scandinavia last year, heavy loaded). In Italy the most known touring bike is the “Bressan terra nova” (look out for the crappy website). Last week I tested it in Expobici (biggest cycle expo in Italy), and looked like a great bike. Price around 1500€/2000€ (too expensive for us!). Bye and safe travels!

3. Opus bikes of Canada has the Legato and Largo.

   http://opusbike.com/en/bikes/road/touring

4. Great compilation! I’ve been trying to see a Raleigh Sojourn in the flesh while in the UK but no-one seems to keep them in stock! It would be to replace my 28 year old Raleigh Carlton Courette that has done brilliant service and many many miles without a hiccup. You missed the company that made Peter’s bike. It is a Mercian, also crossed the world in the mid 1980s and still going strong. Tom uses it sometimes now. Custom-made by Mercian, a small company in Derby, UK, and they still make them. A beautiful bike, with Campagnolo components. Check their website for yourselves: http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/

5. The Kona Sutra’s MSRP is $1499 USD, not $1199 USD.

6. Surly has 3 other touring bikes: the ECR, Troll, & Ogre.

7. One listing for France, the country where cycle touring was born?

   Maybe we can start with Gilles Berthoud: http://www.gillesberthoud.fr/anglais/index1.php

8. I’ve intentionally missed these out. Having ridden 2/3 of these Surly’s loaded with gear, I feel that these bikes are NOT suited to long distance touring, but more towards MTB / bike packing. Yes, they can handle racks but, no, they don’t handle heavy pannier weight very well (compared to the LHT).

9. I haven’t ridden them. Would you mind elaborating? What made you come to this judgement?

10. Sure thing.

    These bikes are a ‘jack of all trades – master of none.

    Here are three reasons in particular:
    – The front end is not stiff enough: With front pannier bags, the Troll and Ogre both demonstrated an inadequate amount of stiffness; I could physically see the front section of the frame waving under me. When I turned corners, the bikes were not direct at all with their steering.
    – The chainstays are short: The Ogre and Troll have 30-40mm shorter chainstays than I’d recommend for a touring bike. Firstly for heel clearance, and secondly for stability.
    – The head tubes are not long enough: On the bikes that I’ve ridden, the riders have almost had to put more spacers above the stem than the headtube is long! This is most likely a different story for shorter riders, but a problem none-the-less for most tourers who need their bars as high, or higher than their saddle.

    The ECR (which I haven’t ridden) is a 29+ bike, meaning it employs 3inch tyres and an MTB double crankset. It is a mountain bike with rack mounts at the most.

11. Many thanks.

12. Thanks Mirjam.

13. Thanks Michael.

14. Can’t believe I missed out Mercian! Thanks for your help.

15. Can’t believe I missed GB after showing one of their bikes in the Eurobike 2013 gallery. Thanks.

16. Thanks. I’ll add Bressen when I can gather a bit more information on them.

17. Norco of Canada also makes the Cabot 1&2:

    http://www.norco.com/bikes/road/road-endurance/cabot/cabot-1/

18. Thought Norco stopped building touring bikes years ago! Ta.

19. Great work, extremely helpful, thank you! You may want to include the “Rose” manufakturer from Germany http://www.roseversand.de/, with models like the Activa

20. You have missed Waterford Bikes, maker of the fabulous Adventure Cycle: http://waterfordbikes.com/w/

21. We initially had them on the list, but decided that they were more a custom builder rather than a complete bike priducer.

22. Hi …excellent compilation. Nice work.
    Two quick thoughts.
    -Bike Friday Eugene Oregon is missing. We have their New World Tourist models. Long distance, short distance, light weight, heavy weight, fast, slow do anything bikes. Brilliant. Big hearted bikes with small wheels. They are legendary world touring bikes.
    -And thank goodness Thorn do not have disc brakes on their touring bikes or I wouldn’t have bought a Sherpa expedition bike. The ceramic coated rims and V brakes are almost as quick as discs but nowhere near as temperamental.

23. I’ll leave Bike Friday out of this one. We’ll have to put together a folding bike roundup too!

    Regarding disc brakes – have you used a set of Avid BB7s on a loaded touring bike? Heaps more power again than a set of carbide rims (exponentially better in the wet!), and as reliable as brakes come.

24. Yes Alex … I have Avids on my MTB and have done a short, loaded tour on it. They are very good but I wouldn’t want them on my touring bikes. I prefer components which are not only effective and durable, but I can also fix (or get fixed) reasonably easily. I wouldn’t know where to start to fix Avids under field conditions. This says more about me than Avids or any disc brakes. The stopping power is not hugely different in my experience.
    The foldability of the Bike Friday is a bonus. Even without the folding function they are a strong, comfortable bike with excellent ride and touring quality. The frame geometry and gearing are brilliant. The BFs are an excellent tourer which happens to fold, rather than a folder which is an OK tourer. Like CoMotion which are from the same town, they are true blue American made bikes, so perhaps worth allocating to your U.S. list rather than a special folding category. There aren’t many folding bikes which are really versatile touring bikes like BFs.

25. I have a Motobacane Gran Turismo and from the first ride I have had issues with the wheel shifting under breaking and acceleration. The wheel shifts to the left and rubs on the chain stay. I finally fixed the issue by bolting (3mm) an angle bracket to the right side and put the skewer through a hole on the bracket.

    The dropout is facing forward some what ( bad idea) and have gotten the run around with bikes direct about the issue

26. We hope you get everything sorted our soon!

27. It will when i get my Disc Trucker

28. Arrrghhhhh! I just came across this list of touring bike manufacturers, and am gutted to find out that my company is not on there. We’re called Oxford Bike Works, and we make a 26″ wheel steel-framed tourer made of Reynolds tubing. Can someone change the list to include us please. We reckon we’re the best value touring bikes in the UK, but if people haven’t heard of us it doesn’t matter how cheap we are! Check us out at http://www.oxfordbikeworks.co.uk

29. Richard

    Thanks for dropping by. We’re happy to have added Oxford Bike Works to the list. While we’ve got you here, we’re interested in some of the geometry choices you’ve made for your frames.

    – You chainstays seem very short for a touring bicycle. Is there any reason you’ve built your rear ends on the short side, as we know that heel clearance can be an issue with panniers?

    – Your headtubes are really short, and hence require a lot of spacers to get the handlebars to the right height. Why are your headtubes so short compared to other touring frame manufacturers?

    Cheers.

30. Hi, thanks for your reply. We are a very small company with limited resources, and I decided that I wanted one frame design that whilst primarily was a touring design, could be applied to other uses. It also guarantees greater flexibility in the number of riding positions that can be adopted, and whilst most favour a more upright riding position, its not always the case. Having said that, I wasn’t aware that the head tube was appreciably shorter than the Thorn Sherpa. The chainstays are a little shorter than you would expect on a tourer, but we’ve had no feedback that heel clearance is a problem, and it wasn’t our experience whilst testing, so we didn’t lengthen the the chainstays after the prototypes were delivered.

    Its really useful to have feedback like this, as we are a new company and it really helps us move our brand and range forward.
    The key area where I think we win is on price, and that is what we’re really trying to do – bringing a Reynolds steel tubed tourer with decent wheels to the market for £850 sterling opens up a whole new range of customers to us (we hope)!

31. Where are all the recumbents?

32. Hi Mark

    Unfortunately I do not have any technical knowledge of recumbent bicycles, so I wouldn’t even know where to start. If you do have a comprehensive understanding of everything recumbent touring, I welcome you to put together a list and we can publish it under your name,

    Alex

33. WOW, that is the most extensive list I have come across… Couldn’t find a mention of http://www.bergamont.de/ though, from a quick look their bikes are suspiciously cheap, gonna try to do some more digging…

34. Hey Victor. We are missing lots of German trekking brands – will update this when I get some time! Alex

35. Belgium :
    Vlerick : http://www.vlerickfietsen.be/randonneur/index.html

36. I’m interested in the folding bike roundup!

37. You forgot the oldest and probably best touring bike we have in Switzerland : the Papalagi, made by MTB Cycletech (http://www.mtbcycletech.com/core/shop/front/prodlist.php?parmx=cGclM0Q4JTI2bGFuJTNERw%3D%3D&parmz=f5424d8d8b8dc0feaeab6da8a59b63ed). They’ve been making it for nearly 30 years now.
    It has a beautiful steel frame and is available in (almost) any version you may wish to find. V-brake, disc, Rohloff, Pinion, Reynolds 853 steel, Reynolds 931 stainless steel, titanium, on so on…
    Would be nice to see it in the list.

38. Thanks Dirk.

39. Thanks very much.

40. I notice that the “gallery of pics” for the Gran Turismo on the BD site, dated June 2010, show what appear to be holes for adjusters on the rear dropouts. Would inserting adjuster screws help stabilize the axle?

41. No! Not in my case it did not. (wrong direction) I used an angle bracket drilled a hole for the three mm bolt and a hole on the other angle for the skewer. I got rid of the QR skure and used one with an allen bolt.
    Another option I thought about was to epoxy a metal block on the drive side with a threaded hole and use a bolt to push a block against the axle. ( the block would need to be machined as the same radi as the axle)

42. You have missed the Surly Troll.

43. Decathlon Spain (B’twen Riverside 7) Shimano XT-DEORE Hydraulic Brakes Magura HS 11… (Nice price, 750€)

    http://www.decathlon.es/bicicleta-trekking-riverside-7-id_8070411.html

44. What about IDEAL ?

45. very handy list!! thanks

46. Thank so much for this site, a treasure trove of valuable info. I wonder if folding bikes wouldn’t merit a mention or even a section of their own. To many it may sound ridiculous the very idea of world touring in a folding bike but they have many advantages, easy to carry on planes or buses if needed or to hotel rooms to keep secure. They are getting better and better and there are models designed for touring and with all the specs up to Rohloff, hub dynamos etc. A minimum od 20″ wheels allows for decent stability and very compact folding like the Tern Link P24 TR, But even the Reise Muller Birdy Touring Rohloff with 18″ looks very reliable. If you plan to do a lot of off road there are folging bikes with 24 and 26 inch wheels. They are centainly less sturdy and would slow down your tour when rolling but theu open up new alternatives, like combining with public transport or other means.

    Just watch this guys, they do it with a Brompton with 16″ wheels, too small for touring beyond perfect first world tarmac though:

    http://vimeo.com/27302646

47. Hi Eric. Don’t worry, we’re sold on folding bikes, but wanted to keep this list as pure as possible so that people looking for a new bike don’t have to look past brands that won’t suit them. A folding list (and associated resources) is coming!

48. I recently purchased a Surly Troll. I agree with the chainstays problem but having the right rack (i.e. Tubus Logo) resolves the heel clearance issue and stability is maintained. I have an 18 inch frame so the head tube fits well with a butterfly handlebar but I cannot say for bigger frames. I haven’t put front panniers but I think they would stabilize the bike since most of the weight falls in the rear. The lower top tube with the mini triangle is perfect to mount or dismount the bike with heavy load. Another plus for the Troll is the off-road and mountainous ride which the bike handles brilliantly being much more nimble than the LHT, but that’s just me.

49. The Fuji Touring isn’t Japanese…It’s American.

50. I debated where to put Fuji, but ultimately chose Japan as that is where it was founded and operated for 90% of the companies life. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuji_Bikes

51. I seriously doubt Dawes represent better value than Stevens – perhaps some lazy journalism here? The component spec isn’t great on still pricey lower end Galaxies and the frame flex when loaded can be v. disconcerting on downhills. Where are the cheaper bikes with Rohloff hubs, pinion gear boxes and as good a frame as the Stevens? There are many more expensive bikes listed here that just aren’t as good.. so an odd conclusion.

52. My words across different manufacturers are not intended to be directly compared, especially across markets. Stevens trekking bikes feature at the upper end of the market, so naturally, they will not represent great value for money. Their XT spec’d trekking bikes can be double the price of other similarly spec’d German brands! Dawes may not be the best touring bikes, but they offer a lot of bike for your money in the British market.

53. Can it be that you didn’t had any complaints because those people don’t even buy from you?

    I’m in the search for our next long distance touring bikes, and I’d be interested in the price range you mention. However, I check the geometry on the web and below 45 cm chainstay, I don’t even consider the bikes.

    My wish is 46 cm (similarly to the article), as pannier clearance was a big issue on most trekking/touring bikes I tried. Below 45 cm, I have to move the panniers really to the back, in a fiddly position.

    On my current bike the chainstay is 42.5 cm, with a Tubus Logo. I have to move panniers in a strange pushed-away position to able to pedal without hitting the pannier. My VauDe Cycle 22 panier has to be configured in an awkward way. One hanger is on the edge, the other is in the middle, to be able to move the bag as far as possible from my feet. It works, but it’s not stable.

54. The Rose Activa Pro 2014 has 46.5 cm chainstay… finally.

55. What about a surly troll. Stiff front fork.

56. KTM BIKE INDUSTRIES is an Austrian manufacturer and produces also touring bikes:
    http://www.ktm-bikes.at/
    http://www.ktm-bikes.at/bikes/trekking.html

    GHOST bicycles also produces trekking bikes:
    http://www.ghost-bikes.com/bikes-2014/bike-serie/trekking/

    merényi BICYCLES is a Hungarian manufacturer who creates hand made touring bikes with steel frame:
    https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.657655794271634.1073741849.184604518243433
    http://www.merenyi.eu/en/
    https://www.facebook.com/merenyibicycles

57. Your all collection is amazing…Keep doing..zarah from bizbilla.com

58. Great list!
    You may want to include ‘Vittorio’. One of the oldest builders in The Netherlands.
    http://www.vittorio.nl

59. KTM an Austrian Company which makes bicycles and motor bicycles has just received the top award – Eurobike 2014 – for their long distance trekking bike

60. Thanks! I’ve now added a new category, MTB Touring, to cover bikes like these!

61. Thanks for all the links!

62. I’m really enjoying my Traitor Slot, it’s a rigid steel 29er with mechanical disc brakes and Shimano Deore drivetrain. It would fit into the MTB category as it could accommodate 2.2″+ tires.

63. I’m looking at buying a titanium frame & am considering a Seven–can you compare that company to the rest? Thanks for all the great information, Brenda

64. Hi Brenda. I just added 15+ companies, Seven included. Alee

65. I’d add also Pelago from Finland to the list and especially their Stavanger -model: http://pelagobicycles.com/bicycles/advanced-multipurpose/stavanger-2014.html?___store=en&___from_store=default

66. I have a Motobecane Gran Turismo . . One issue is the rear dropouts you will need Surly hurdy gurdy to keep your wheel from moving.. And the rear tire needs to be flat in order to remove the wheel because of the forward facing dropouts

67. Can’t believe you didn’t include Kenisis bikes.

68. And I’ve just noticed you don’t list the Claud Butler Dalesman, an excellent long distance tourer.

69. Thanks – I came across this bike recently, but forgot to include it!

70. Now added.

71. Unfortunately, their website no longer shows that model.

72. A bit of a design oversight! Hope you enjoy the Surly.

73. Thanks, Traitor are added. Looks like a great bike!

74. Added, thanks!

75. Look like great bikes too.

76. What about recumbents? Have you looked at any as touring bikes?

77. I’d like to do a recumbent & folding list when I get time.

78. The Cinelli Bootleg Hobo uses barends not STI and I don’t see the Kona Sutra listed.

    http://konaworld.com/sutra.cfm

79. Thanks for the Hobo update. Kona is listed under Canada. 😉

80. Look forward to see it – eventually.
    If think one of the pros of a recumbent is better weight distribution between front and rear wheels – panniers can be an issue.
    (I have a cruzbike sofrider, but never toured with it.)

81. Thanks for setting me straight on the Kona entry.

    I agree the chain stays could be an inch longer, but my heel strike issue seems to have more to do with the Planet Bike rear rack that comes as standard equipment.

    The Sutra is a really nice tourer, nice an stable fully loaded on a long fast downhill and the disc brakes are really lovely.

82. That is a great list. I’ve been looking for a randonneur or touring bike and was confused but no longer. Thanks!

83. I’m glad it’s useful for you!

84. Really nice job! Thanks a lot!
    Gebla is another fine cycle-builder, where strg+f said its not listed yet. Just have a look at the opener:
    http://www.gebla.de

85. Kama Sutra

86. Great list!

    Just a heads up, idworx are based in Germany not Netherlands.

    http://www.idworx-bikes.de/de/kontakt/impressum.php

87. Thank you, Monty.

88. Great review….sad part is I can’t find any of those in Mexico 🙁

89. It sounds like you might be due for a holiday over the border, Liz! 🙂

90. Wondering if anyone has heard of a European bike manufacturer PEGASUS? Holland maybe? I saw a mixte 12 speed cruising(?) upright handle bars, fenders and back luggage support. Anyone know of the quality or history of this bike and/or manufacturer?

91. Huge ! Thanks for putting up together this impressive list !

92. My pleasure, Herve.

93. Thank you for a long and thoroughly researched list! I miss Scotlands Shand Cycles, though. (I have no affiliation with Shand but have their Stoater Rohloff on my wish list as a fast year round commuter, 40miles 4 days a week)

94. Thanks, Floma.

95. The Spec is just as good on the 520, compared to the Long Haul Trucker. The wheels are arguably stronger on the LHT, but I’d take a Deore crank and Alivio front dérailleur over a Sugino crank and Sora dérailleur. The frame on the 520 is a nicer grade less over built chromoly. But I like the longer headtube and uncut fork on the LHT. I had to add an extender on my 520, would have preferred stacking a fork. But it did glide along so much nicer than the Surly, so I chose it. Also the decent Bontrager rear rack sweetened the decision.

96. I’ve watched the 520 evolve into a great bike over the years – I’m glad you’re enjoying yours, Kenny.

97. You forgot:
    http://www.rotwild.com/

    Many thanks for the List.

98. This is a superb list & a very useful resource. Its amazing how many manufacturers there are now offering touring bikes. I will be adding many of these bikes to my ebay searches! I hope you don’t mind, I’ve included a link to it in my book here https://github.com/yeahsmaggy/Prepare-Pack-Pedal/blob/master/prepare_pack_pedal.md and on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Prepare-Pack-Pedal-A-Practical-Guide-to-Cycle-Touring-659230044155125/?ref=bookmarks

99. Hi Andy! I’m glad you find the resource useful, and congratulations on the book. Alee

100. Hi, thanks re the book. It would be fantastic if your list was a webpage with sorting filters based on the categories you provide. By country is useful but it would be great to filter only by ‘long distance touring bike’ or ‘light touring’.

101. Thanks for sharing the list of different types of touring bicycle with pricing and manufactures. I read your blog and found it relevant for the end users. In recent days I had also purchased a hybrid bike from bestenthusiast and I really satisfied with my purchasing. I would highly recommend it to everyone.

102. I appreciate the kind words, Gracy!

103. How about Voyager is not on your list?

104. Voyager is popular here in the Philippines… but it is not on your list.

105. Here is a link of FB group of Voyager users:
     https://www.facebook.com/groups/1029971817078365/

106. The article starts with Light Touring : “This style of bike is ready to take racks and bags, however is best suited to lighter loads and road-only use.” and has a picture of the Specialized Sequoia. Actually this bike is designed for both off-road and on road bike packing and touring (ideally 80% off road 20% on road). The tyre is a wide 42 and the steel frame can take a lot of weight. I think this is more a Gravel bike which fits in between a touring bike and a Cyclocross bike. Small point but good article though!

107. Not sure if it qualifies as touring bike but the Planet X London Road looks like a great new option… single chainring, extra wide-range cassette and a rear rack mount.

108. Hi Alee,
     Great work, thank you !!
     I think VSF Fahrradmanufaktur from Germany is missing in the list.
     Here is their website : https://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/en/

109. Thanks Etienne. They’re in there, last one listed in the Germany section. 🙂

110. Hello. Great list! I believe “Cube” is German. Good work thank you!

111. It’s already under ‘Germany’. But thanks! ☺️

112. I agree, the Fuji Touring is simply the best value on the list. One that was missed is Windsor’s Tourist, only get it thru Bikes Direct for around $ 599:

     http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm
     http://www.windsorbicycles.com/tourist2.html

     It’s a rebadged Fuji Touring fork & frame set that Windsor contracted with Fuji to manufacture. Component differences, you get what Bikes Direct/Windsor builds the frame with instead of Fuji’s brand of Oval rims and whatever else. I think the price difference is $ 20-70 that the Fuji is higher priced. That $ 20-70 goes towards wheel truing and adjustments that a LBS has to do for an internet bike. Trust me, you want to have any bike trued & adjusted, you’ll feel the difference immediately.

113. It would be great to hear something about the Breezer Radar bikes

114. We have a good travel bike company in Beijing, China, called boskey. They have some pretty good travel bikes, high quality and inexpensive. https://boskey.taobao.com/

115. Thanks for sharing – haven’t seen them before. I like the classic styling.

116. I have a client that is interested in designing/manufacturing 100-200 bicycles based on specific guidelines. Would someone be able to suggest a contact at any of the major US bike manufacturers that might be able to help me?

Comments are closed.