Whatever your path, Salsa continues to have your covered. Along with the mountain bike line up fro 2017 that includes some wild bikes like the 3-in-1 wheeled Woodsmoke, Salsa has a number of updated bikes for the road with drop bars. Thanks to the adventurous nature of their bikes, just because they have drop bars doesn’t make them a road bike. Instead, the curvy bars can be found on bikes that will take you any where you want to go – even on bikes with plus sized tires. Obviously, Salsa isn’t the first to run drop bars on essentially a mountain bike, but the rise of bike packing and adventure racing is making what was old, new again.
When it comes to the Salsa Fargo, the bike meant for bike packing, or just cruising offroad gets updated for 2017 with another 3-in-1 wheel set up. Thanks to Boost spacing and additional frame clearance, the Fargo is now capable of running 27+, 29″, or even 29+ wheels and tires making it easier than ever to pick the right wheel set up and getting out of town…
With the launch of the Cutthroat last year that was meant for Tour Divide type racing, Salsa had a chance to go back and redesign the Fargo to make it more adventurous. The Cobra Kai chromoly frame features external butting and includes either a carbon Firestarter or steel fork which includes Lowrider and Triple mounts, as well as mounts for dynamo lights and fenders. The Alternator dropouts adjust for the difference in wheel size between the three sizes and are capable of running Boost, 142×12, or even 135mm hubs with the Alternator reduction plates. Frame clearance is listed as 3.0″ on an i45 rim.
All of the sizes except the XS will be able to run 29+, though the bikes will be sold in either 27+ or 29″. The 27+ Rival 1 build will go for $2,299 with a frameset available for $899, and the 29″ GX build with a 2×10 will sell for $1,699.
Even though the Cutthroat was just introduced, it’s already getting a few upgrades. Notably, the addition of top tube mounts for the new EXP top tube bag, and a new fork. The fork includes internally routed wiring for dynamo lights and a center mount for the light as well as three pack mounts on the legs. The carbon frame continues with their Class 5 VRS vibration reduction system and is thru axle front and rear with the Carbon Force 1 hydro build above selling for $3,999 or $1,999 for the frameset.
Built more for all road, gravel, or light touring, the All Road Vaya sees a few updates for 2017 including an all new $1,099 price point with Shimano Claris 8 speed. The chromoly frame is paired with either a steel or carbon fork, that is front and rear rack compatible, fender compatible, and will fit up to 47mm tires with 3 bottle mounts. Pricing will range from the $1099 Claris build to the $1,399 Deore build which includes better spec this year with tubeless ready rims and tires for $100 less, and the $1,799 GX build with framesets available for $799.
The Warbird continues as their Gravel race bike with either carbon or aluminum frames and a carbon fork. New for this year is the addition of fender mounts on the frame and fork so you can race your gravel and train in the wet as well. Tire clearance is limited to 42mm for the aluminum frames and 44mm for the carbon frames, and pricing will range from $2,299 to $3,999 with carbon framesets available for $1,999
For the Marrakesh drop bar builds, Salsa is partnering with the Adventure Cycling Association for a Limited Edition build that will be auctioned off in limited numbers to benefit the ACA. The ACA LE build will include a custom matched Brooks saddle and ACA graphics on the chromoly expedition, world touring frame.
Non ACA LE builds will still include a matched Brooks saddle and include Alternator Low Deck rear racks. The frames are Rohloff compatible, kickstand compatible, and will fit up to 700 x 50mm tires with a $1,599 retail.
Salsa will also be offering a flat bar Marrakesh with specific flat bar geometry for the same price.
