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Surly Disc Trucker gets first update in years, still built with long haul touring in mind

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The Long Haul Trucker has been a staple of the Surly Bike line since way back in 2007. It wasn’t until 2012 that the platform was updated with a disc brake version, and since then it’s been relatively untouched. Since nothing ever stays the same, the Disc Trucker is finally getting an update. Don’t worry though, the purpose of the bike remains unchanged – only it should fit more riders better and is a little better at carrying heavy loads.

Surly Disc Trucker gets first update in years, still built with long haul touring in mind Surly Disc Trucker gets first update in years, still built with long haul touring in mind

In order to offer better fit, the new Disc Trucker frame has a lower standover height along with increased stack height at the front. To do that, the top tube slopes to a shortened seat tube, and the head tube extends past the top tube to reduce the amount of spacers you’ll need to get the bar up nice and high. Since world tourers couldn’t care less about the ‘slam that stem’ aesthetic, Surly’s Truck Stop riser bars and a riser stem help to get the bars even higher.

Surly Disc Trucker gets first update in years, still built with long haul touring in mind Surly Disc Trucker geometry

Tire clearance on the frame has been increased which allows it to run either 26″ x 46mm or 700c x 47mm tires. With 700c x 47mm the frame even has clearance for full fenders. The geometry includes slightly shorter chainstays at 450mm to liven up the ride a b it, and 26″ wheels for smaller sizes and 700c wheels for larger sizes. The 56cm size has the option to choose either 26″ or 700c wheels.

Surly Disc Trucker brakes Surly Disc Trucker thru axle

To increase the frame’s stiffness when fully loaded, the dropouts move to 12mm thru axles front (12 x 100mm) and rear (12 x 142mm). To make wheel changes as easy as possible, one side of the dropout is the captured, threaded bit and the other side has an open slot so you can drop out the wheel without completely removing the axle.

Note that the 4130 chomoly steel ‘Natch tubing frame has moved to the flat mount disc brake standard, while still running mechanical disc brakes for easy maintenance around the globe.

Surly Disc Trucker fork mounts

The Disc Trucker was already adept at carrying cargo, but now it’s gotten even better. Three pack mounts have been added to the 4130 chromoly fork, and there is also now an internal routing option for dynamo lighting. Spoke holders have been added in case you manage to break one on the 36h rims, and there’s also an updated kickstand plate to maintain compatibility with the shortened chainstays.

Surly Disc Trucker complete

In terms of spec, the Disc Trucker is still smartly equipped for lugging all your gear around the world. A 3 x 9 drivetrain with a Shimano Alivio crank with 48 x 36 x 26t chainrings and a 9 speed 11-34t cassette provides a massive range, and Surly ExtraTerrestrial ties help keep you rolling.

Surly Disc Trucker complete build spec

To be sold in Pea Lime Soup or Hi-Viz Black, the Disc Trucker will sell for $1675 complete or $725 for the frame and fork. Both the frameset and complete builds will begin shipping in Mid-July.

surlybikes.com

 

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16 Comments
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AP
AP
4 years ago

Although there are some things I like about the spirit of what they have done here, that’s a bike only a mother could love.

Francisco Alvarez
Francisco Alvarez
4 years ago
Reply to  AP

It’s like a Problem solvers edition bike

JBikes
JBikes
4 years ago

Ha! Gold.

…for the record I own what I think it a hideous Disc Trucker built up from parts laying around.

SomeGuy
SomeGuy
4 years ago

For being a house brand of a major distributor, I’m always kind of surprised by the low spec value of Surly bikes (or, conversely, the high-ish price point for what you get). Sora for $1700? Machined rims? Massively heavy frame and fork? The entry carbon framed Giant Revolt with Tiagra and hydros is $175 more, Trek Checkpoint AL 4 with the same for $75 less… yeah different audience and fewer bolt holes, but it shows what can be done.

Shafty
Shafty
4 years ago
Reply to  SomeGuy

From my understanding, the trick with Surly’s spec is that you can buy replacements for everything on it. Not always the case with other bikes. This is also a relatively low volume product. It’s distributed by QBP, but they don’t come even remotely close to the numbers Giant and Trek produce.

From my point of view, your argument is that somehow this bike is overpriced, but other bikes cost more, and some also cost less than it. You literally compared it to 2 of the highest volume brands, in categories that aren’t remotely similar.

Giant makes the most carbon, but it’s still carbon, and it’s also $175 more on a basic bike. That’s a huge difference, the next price point up in fact.

Trek makes their money on aluminum bikes and it’s really where they shine price wise. The difference in hand work and hardware attaching all those bolt holes is immense at this price point(those aren’t rivets!). Not to mention testing and backing it for its intended use.

Give Surly some credit here. The LHT has always been able to take a beating with heavy cargo. Something that many purported similar bikes can’t often do. It’s heavy BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE.

SomeGuy
SomeGuy
4 years ago
Reply to  Shafty

I’m pointing out how far off the component spec is at the price point, and how bike in the same ballpark of price are far better spec on other brands that have frames at least as expensive to produce if not more. Since there’s not a lot of bikes out there with the frame use intent, it’s hard to point to a competing model that’s 1:1 on audience, but having once sourced bike assemblies and steel frames from overseas for a manufacturer, I can tell you that frame isn’t special, even with all the brazed-in threads. Making it extra tough and heavy isn’t difficult or expensive (tough and light-ish, with steel, isn’t particularly difficult but is expensive). So I’d think what it’s built up with should be on par with other gravel/tour-ish bikes in the general price range.

IMO, the bike should have proper disc rims and Tiagra at $1675, at least. This thing doesn’t even come with racks, like some of the competition does. I’ve always liked the Surlys but found the value lacking ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

JBikes
JBikes
4 years ago
Reply to  SomeGuy

Pricing comments are valid, but the fact that QBP is a distributor is somewhat meaningless. Just because you are a distributor, doesn’t mean your ordered volumes allow for a lower price.
QBP shouldn’t nor likely can legally just latch on order counts to take advantage of a volume buyer.

Beaker
Beaker
4 years ago
Reply to  SomeGuy

For a like comparison;
Trek 520 Disc- $1679 with very similar spec, but includes front and rear racks; TA front only

Jamis Aurora Elite: $1699 3×10 105/DA barcon shifting; includes rear rack and fenders; Reynolds 631 frame; QR only

REI Co Op Cycles ADV 1.1- $1399 but with 3×10 Lx/barcon shifter mix, includes racks; TA front only

So for the pricepoint, I think it’s fair to say the Surly does seem a little underspec’ed.

Hurricane
4 years ago

It looks like Surly had a bunch of framesets from 1989 that they needed to unload.
” I know what we can do with these Yakota frames we bought for pennies on the dollars 25 years ago, we can put drop bars on them and call them a gravel bike”

Dockboy
Dockboy
4 years ago
Reply to  Hurricane

Yeah, all those 80s bikes with disc brakes and thru axles.

Hurricane
4 years ago
Reply to  Dockboy

Don’t take it literately dude….

John
John
4 years ago

After (stupidly) selling my Trek 520 touring bike several years ago, I went looking for a replacement, and was disappointed that the 54cm LHT only supported 26” wheels. What the …?

So when I saw today that Surly had updated the Disc Trucker, I was disappointed again that the 54cm still only supports 26” wheels. What the …?

JBikes
JBikes
4 years ago
Reply to  John

Lucky for you, Trek still makes the 520. Disc only but that seems okay given your comment.

John
John
4 years ago
Reply to  JBikes

The “new“ 520 weirdly has an aluminum (alloy) fork.

JBikes
JBikes
4 years ago
Reply to  John

Yep. The cantilever frame is still steel. My guess is that the Al fork is noticeably different given the bikes design intentions and I wouldn’t be afraid of it. Lots of serious tourers run Al forks

threeringcircus
threeringcircus
4 years ago

“Tire clearance on the frame has been increased which allows it to run either 26″ x 46mm or 700c x 47mm tires.”

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