If you ask me there is no better way to reset and get that new perspective on life. Then getting on your touring bike and just riding for days and days on end. Camping in the most peaceful environments and riding through challenging mountains. Nothing more rewarding then getting weeks into a adventure and looking at where you started from, and having that sense of accomplishment knowing that you travelled all that distance on your own steam. There is something romantic about it.
Touring is not about how fast you can get to a destination. It is about the journey itself, taking in the moment, activating all your senses and being here right now. Carting all that you need to thrive for months or even years on end, this type of self-sufficient exploration demands a bike that provides comfort for the many hours in the saddle.
There is no need to buy many multiple bikes, the right touring bike can be a great commuter while also being that rig that transports you to all the corners of the world. Touring bikes come in about three or four different categories which are dependant upon your preferred type of exploration.
The quick list of the top 10 touring bikes of 2020 is as follows!
- 2020 Salsa Marrakesh Sora
- 2020 Trek 920
- Trek 520 Disc 2020 Touring Bike
- 2020 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 1 Drop Bar
- Koga WorldTraveller-S 2020 (Custom Build)
- Kona Sutra – 2020
- Genesis TOUR DE FER 20 – 2020 & Genesis TOUR DE FER 30 – 2020
- Bombtrack Arise Tour 2020
- 2020 Salsa VAYA GRX 600
- Norco SEARCH XR STEEL RIVAL 1
There are traditional or classic, adventure, expedition and light touring or gravel touring bikes.
Traditional touring bikes are much different compared to a road bike. They are built to be tough and withstand the intensity of long daily distances compounded over many days. months or years. You could just put panniers on your road bike and be on your way. You should be okay for a couple weeks. But they are simply not built for the demands of bike touring. Touring bikes have stronger parts, made to withstand all the strains over time. They are typically made from steel, have upright geometry, longer chainstays, and often have fenders and a rear rack for panniers. The wheels of traditional touring bikes are usually 700c and have a high spoke count of (32 or 36-hole). Traditional or classic touring bikes used to have rim brakes, but mechanical disc brakes are starting to take over the category. Classic touring bikes can have either a flat or drop bar. And they can look vintage even if they’re brand new. As they don’t change that much in-terms of design as they just work and continue to provide year after year.
Adventure touring bikes, are made for that rough stuff in mind. You know the loose dirt, the single tracks, the off-road wilderness paths. They are for exploring those roads less travelled. On a long tour you are most likely going to come across some of these types of road conditions so having a adventure bike is very handy. They are essentially a mix between a road bike and a mountain bike. They typically have a drop bar, mechanical or hydraulic disc brakes, and varying option of wheel sizes with clearance for a variety of tire sizes. Especially the wider kind. And many adventure touring bikes are equipped to handle a dropper post.
Expedition touring bikes, are those type of bikes that you take on a around the world adventure spanning for two years. They are as the name suggests bikes built for one epic bike trip. Expedition bikes are almost always made of steel, with 26-inch wheels and rim brakes. Making them easier to repair and replace parts, even when you are in remote corners of the world.
Light touring bikes are similar to gravel bikes they offer eyelets for attaching racks and are used for bikepacking. Better suited to off-road environments. They are interchanged with the term light touring bikes. As they are designed for carrying lighter loads and travelling for shorter bike tour lengths. And because they are generally lighter in weight to.
If you want to learn more in detail about what makes a touring bike a touring bike, I recommended you get our FREE, touring bike buyers guide. It will go through with you, what aspects your should look out for when buying a touring bike.
Bike Material
All three of these types of touring bikes can be made from steel, aluminium, carbon or titanium. However, the most preferred amongst bike tourers is a steel bike. Steel is strong, and has a resistance to breaking but is also repairable if it breaks. Although heavier then other options. Aluminium is not a tough as steel but also a option. Carbon is becoming more and more popular for touring and adventure bikes. And titanium is a little rarer only due to how much more expensive it is.
Bike build, parts and components
Like I mention in the Free guide to understanding touring bikes. The parts that make up a touring bike are important to how comfortable the ride is. As you will be riding for days on end. You need a steed that has comfortable parts. Especially on the main body contact areas. A quality touring bike should have a comfortable saddle, handlebars that offer comfort and a varying amount of different hand positions. Also the gearing on a touring bike must have eyelets of some kind for mounting racks or bike bags and panniers if they don’t all ready come with them. Most importantly the gearing on the bike must be capable to riding easily enough to ride up steep grades as the bike might be fully loaded with gear.
Bike Geometry
A touring bikes geometry is general more upright and offers better comfort. Often referred to as either a “endurance” or “adventure” geometry. What makes up a more comfortable touring geometry. Is the the wheelbase and chainstay being typically longer to make room for rear racks and panniers, and the bottom bracket is typically lower to the ground, which increases stability. Also the head tube is typically longer on a touring bike, elevating the handlebar. Touring bikes also generally have a shorter top tube.
So if you are reading this as soon as this article was published it is still 2019. However 2020 is not that far around the corner. So what touring and adventure bikes options are out there for 2020?
I love a good touring bike, and have done some research to find some of the best 2020 touring bike options out there. The bikes in this list are nice but not in any particular order. They are all good in their own right.
2020 Salsa Marrakesh Sora
Traditional / Classic Touring Bike
Price $1,799 USD (MSRP)
Salsa
Marrakesh Sora
The Marrakesh is a purpose build touring bike that will have no trouble carry a full load. Build with a Cobra Kai CroMoly, externally and internally butted 4130 Tubeset. Equiped with Shimano Sora drivetrain components. Dropbars are standard. Includes many attachment points for mounting whatever you please. Comes stock with Salsa Down Under front racks and the Alternator 135 Low-Deck rear salsa rack. COmes with a adjustable chainstay length. On top of the left chainstay the Marrakesh comes with spare spokes. Comes with a kickstand plate. Designed around a 700c/29 (622 ISO) disc brake wheel and is compatible with 700c x 40 mm tires with fenders or up to 29 x 2.0″ tires without fenders.
2020 Trek 920
Adventure Touring Bike
Price $2,062.50 USD
Trek
920
The Trek 920 is a go anywhere kind of adventure touring bike. Comes with drop-bars and 29er mountain bike wheels. Bontrager Duster Elite wheels, 29×2.0˝ XR1 Comp mountain bike tires. Built from a lightweight 100 Series Alpha Aluminum frame and alloy fork. With 2×10 SRAM mountain drivetrain with integrated SRAM DoubleTap hydraulic brake/shift levers, helping you get up those off road hills. It comes with front and rear racks for heaps of mounting potential.
Trek 520 Disc 2020 Touring Bike
Traditional / Classic Touring Bike
Price $1,500.00 USD
Trek
520
The Trek 520 is a steel built touring bike that is the longest running model in Treks lineup. Coming with rack and fender mounts, and the racks themselves. A wide range of gearing for climbing, 27-speed drivetrain that’s great for hauling a heavy load up hills. A stable touring geometry make it the perfect choice for loaded multi-day trips. Includes Shimano Sora brake/shift levers, Bontrager Tubeless Ready wheels, puncture-resistant tires with reflective sidewalls, and all-weather mechanical disc brakes. Available in a red or new silver color option.
2020 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 1 Drop Bar
Somewhere between a Classic Touring bike and a Adventure Touring Bike. Probably more Adventure though!
Price $1,270 USD (MSRP)
Giant
TOUGHROAD SLR GX 1
A value option adventure bike that is similar to the earlier mentioned Trek 920. Made from a lightweight ALUXX SLR aluminum frame, and composite fork, with drop-bar positioning. Comes with 700c wheels with high-volume 50c Giant tubeless tires. Making you able to run a lower tire pressure. D-Fuse seatpost absorbs road vibration to help minimize fatigue on long rides. Comes with powerful disc brakes with 160mm rotors. Offers an array of mounting options, coming with front and rear racks.
GIANT TOUGHROAD SLR GX 3 BIKE 2019
$840.00 – SAVE 20% MSRP $1,050.00
Koga WorldTraveller-S 2020 (Custom Build)
Expedition Touring Bike
Price available from €2700 or $2,953 USD
Koga
WorldTraveller-S
This WorldTraveller-S is a rig and a half. A more expensive expedition style touring bike option. You get the option to customise to your liking. The base is a Aluminium 6061 frame with Smooth Welded Triple Butted tubes and internal cable routing. With a aluminium fixed front fork with integrated steering angle limiter. Eccentric bottom bracket for easy belt or chain tensioning. With the renowned and low-maintenance Rohloff gear hub you have 14 well-diversified and usable gears with a range of up to 526%. Available in 5 frame heights and 10 standard colours, you can pay extra for your own custom colour.
Kona Sutra – 2020
Classic / Traditional Touring Bike
Price $1,499 USD (MSRP)
Kona
Sutra
The Kona Sutra is a beautiful looking touring bike. Made from Cromoly steel the frame comes stock with a comfortable Brooks saddle, cork bar tape, BarCon shifters, fenders and rack. Also comes with Shimano Deore 3×10 drivetrain to give you maximum gearing and smooth-rolling WTB STi23 36h WTB rims. Making this rig ready right out of the box for an epic bike touring adventure.
Genesis TOUR DE FER 20 – 2020
Expedition Touring Bike
Price £1499.99 (MSRP) or $1,845 USD
Genesis
TOUR DE FER 20
The Tour De Fer 20 is a expedition machine, that comes in a Reynolds 725 frame and with no-nonsense components, is able to take you pretty much anywhere. Included is Tubus racks, custom length extra-long Chromoplastic mudguards and a Shimano dynamo hub with B&M front and rear lights and a flat bar set up. Powered by a Shimano Deore M6000 3×10. When fully loaded will be able to get you where you need to go with ease. Rolling with some Schwalbe Marathon 35c tires and Promax DSK-717 Disk brakes.
Genesis TOUR DE FER 30 – 2020
Classic Touring Bike
Price $2,250.00 USD
Genesis
TOUR DE FER 30
Bombtrack Arise Tour 2020
Classic / Traditional Touring Bike
Price $2,999.95 AUD (MSRP) or $2,013 USD
Bombtrack
Arise Tour
Title ‘the perfect bike to escape on’, Bombtrack’s Arise Tour Touring bike is just that. Build is a Double butted crmo frame and fork. With Twin Tubus racks, mudguards, and Supernova dynamo lighting. Bombtracks new Lyre direct mount crankset, its sub-compact 30 / 46 T chainrings combine with a huge 11 – 42 T cassette giving you a large range of gears. Operated by utilitarian bar-end shifters, which are easily repaired in remote spots. Similarly the TRP Spyre disc brakes are easy to service while out on the road.
2020 Salsa VAYA GRX 600
Adventure / Gravel or Light Touring Bike
Price $2,299 USD (MSRP)
Salsa
VAYA GRX 600
These last two bikes in this list are more gravel / light touring bikes and are more suited to that traveller that wants to tour but very minimalistically. The Salsa VAYA GRX 600 is designed to take on any kind of road surface you throw its way. Including a durable steel frame and a premium Shimano GRX 600 groupset for smooth and confident shifting. The VAYA has a lightweight carbon Waxwing fork featuring Three-Pack mounts. Feels great fully loaded or not, this VAYA is a versatile light touring and any-road adventure bike.
Shop Clearance – Salsa Vaya 105 Bike
$1,598.93 Compared to $1,999.00*
Norco SEARCH XR STEEL RIVAL 1
Adventure / Gravel / Light Touring Bike
Price $3,199.00 USD (MSRP)
Norco
SEARCH XR STEEL RIVAL 1
The last bike in this list is a beast of a steed. The Norco Rival 1 is a strong but lightweight steel frame touring bike. With a ride feel that is unique to steel as a frame material. The vibration-damping material properties combined with thoughtful frame design make the bike a pleasure to ride. Made from a Reynolds 725 Chromoly Steel frame and Norco Search SL High-Modulus Carbon Fork. Available in a 650b or 700c option.
About The Author
