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Just days after I’ve completed a list of off-road adventure touring bikes, Salsa has brought a new bike to the table. The 2016 Salsa Deadwood.
Update: This is a discontinued bike line.
The 2016 Salsa Deadwood
It’s based around Salsa’s Fargo off-road touring bike if you compare frame geometry, frame material and components. The biggest difference between these models is tyre clearance. The Deadwood is a 29+ bike, meaning it will squeeze in 29×3.0 mountain bike tyres; the Fargo maxes out at 29×2.3.
What that means for you, dear reader, is that this bike will take you to places you haven’t been before. Fatter tyres provide more traction, more comfort and a larger footprint for stability on softer surfaces. Think of it like taking a dedicated 4×4 on a rough track, rather than an urban SUV.
The frame is made from double-butted cromoly tubing, the fork is carbon fibre. There are 3-boss luggage mounts on the fork (2) and downtube (1), there are two more bidon mounts on the frame. The frameset also features thru-axles for both wheels.
The price on a complete Deadwood with SRAM components is US $2599. If you’re looking for just a frame only, that’ll be US $1099.
To compare this bike to other off-road adventure bikes, click HERE.
Want To Compare This Touring Bike With Dozens of Others?
Check out The Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide which compares touring bike steering, sizing, gear ratios, specification, pricing and more. The Bikepacking Bike Buyer’s Guide does the same thing, however, with a focus on lighter bikes and models with more off-road capability. Both of these guides are updated annually with the latest models at no extra cost!
Helpful Resources
All About Touring Bike Brakes
Frame Materials for Bicycle Touring
How to Select Touring Bike Gearing
Understand Bicycle Frame Geometry
What’s the Difference between Cyclocross and Touring Bikes?
Touring & Bikepacking Bike Overview
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2016 Basso Ulisse
2016 Bianchi Volpe and Lupo 2016
2016 Bombtrack Beyond
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2018 Bombtrack Beyond
2018 Bombtrack Arise Tour
2019 Bombtrack Beyond
2016 Brodie Elan Vital
2016 Cannondale Touring
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2020 Cannondale Topstone
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2018 Co-Op ADV 4.2
2017 Curve Grovel V2
2017 Diamondback Haanjo EXP Carbon
2016 Fuji Touring
2017 Fuji Touring
2018 Fuji Touring
2018 Fuji Touring Disc
2016 Genesis Tour de Fer
2016 Giant ToughRoad
2017 Giant ToughRoad
2018 Giant ToughRoad and ToughRoad GX
2016 Jamis Aurora and Aurora Elite
2019 Jones Plus SWB
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2016 Kona Big Rove
2016 Kona Roadhouse and Sutra LTD
2016 Kona Sutra
2017 Kona Sutra
2018 Kona Sutra
2018 Kona Sutra LTD
2019 Kona Sutra and Sutra LTD
2020 Kona Sutra and Sutra LTD
2020 Kona Unit X
2016 Marin Four Corners
2017 Marin Four Corners
2018 Marin Four Corners
2016 Masi Giramondo
2018 Masi Giramondo
2016 Niner RLT9
2016 Rawland Ulv and Ravn
2016 Salsa Deadwood
2017 Salsa Fargo
2018 Salsa Fargo Ti Frameset
2018 Salsa Journeyman
2016 Salsa Marrakesh
2017 Salsa Marrakesh
2018 Salsa Marrakesh
2020 Salsa Marrakesh
2017 Salsa Vaya
2019 Salsa Warbird
2016 Specialized AWOL
2017 Specialized AWOL
2017 Specialized Diverge
2018 Specialized Diverge
2019 Specialized Diverge
2017 Specialized Sequoia
2018 Specialized Sequoia
2019 Specialized Sequoia
2018 Surly Bridge Club
2017 Surly Troll
2016 Traitor Wander
2019 Trek 520
2016 Trek 920, 720, 520 & CrossRip
2017 Trek CrossRip
2018 Trek 920
2018 Trek 1120
Is this called the Deadfish or the Deadwood? The article seems to use both as the name.
Deadwood. Must’ve been talking about aquatic animals with a friend while I was penning this out!
This bike looks amazing, but seems like overkill for most types of loaded off-road touring. Where would this bike be preferred over the Fargo? For a ride like the Great Divide the Fargo seems just about perfect.
You’d want the roads to be on pretty rough for the Deadwood to be the fastest option! The Deadwood is best suited to deserts and super rough and rocky trails.
What’s the downside compared to the Fargo?? There must be something. Are the chain stays flared out such that it is hard to use standard compact low-Q-factor cranks or something? Or hard to use a 52T or 50T chain ring (should one want to)?