If you are in the market for a new touring bike. You can pick up something nice for around the $2,000 mark. In this article we offer you the ultimate list of touring bikes under this budget.
All bikes are touring bikes at heart. And recommended for taking on a adventure. Some maybe be more suited for lighter tours and other across the world expeditions.
Depending on what type of touring adventure you have in mind, the bikes in this list offer it all.
When we put this list together. We wanted to just stick to touring bikes strictly. So this means opting out any gravel bikes and bikes more suited to bikepacking.
So just quickly what is a touring bike? For the purpose of selection for this list of bikes. A touring bike is one that is more suited for road cycling with some off-road from time to time. Build tough, generally from steel, although some bikes are still good when made from other materials. As the more modern materials are improved from years passed. So you can expect aluminum and carbon options. Also touring, for me, means that you will be using a pannier setup. Which means you need a bike with long enough chainstay and wheelbase. While also providing all the mounting braze ons for racks. Geometry on a touring bike is designed to offer more relaxed positioning for long days in the saddle.
So what are the best touring bikes under $2,000? Here is the list of them for your reference. Learn more about each bike further on. There is a range of expedition, light touring and off-road touring bikes. For all kinds of touring. All bikes are either 2021 or 2020 models, so you know you are looking at the newest in touring bike technology and design.
- 2021 Kona Sutra
- 2021 Trek 520 Disc
- 2020 Co-op ADV 3.2
- 2020 Polygon BEND R5
- Surly Bridge Club
- Surly ECR
- Ribble Adventure 725, SRAM NX
- Fuji Touring Disc
- Genesis Tour De Fer 20
- Surly Ogre
- Co-op ADV 1.1
- Salsa Marrakesh
- Surly Troll
- Fuji Jari 1.5
- All City Space Horse
- Surly Disc Trucker
- Surly Long Haul Trucker
- Genesis Tour De Fer 10
2021 Kona Sutra
The Sutra is a personal favourite of mine. The Sutra LTD is my personal bike of choice. The reason I got the lTD is it can be used for bikepacking and touring. As the chainstay lengths are the same on this touring sutra. However if you are just after a dedicated touring bike this boasts more than enough to get the job done. With the Dero 3 × 10 drivetrain providing a wide range of gears. With Mechanical Disc Brakes, Steel build, Brooks B17 Leather saddle, Schwalbe Marathon Mondial 700x40c, racks and fenders. All priced at $1,499
2021 Trek 520 Disc
The ll new 2021 Trek 520 is a steel frame touring bike with mid-range components and mechanical disc brakes. Those mid-range components include; a Alivio, Sora 3 x 9 groupset. However it is not a full steel bike, like the Sutra. With a aluminum fork. Total weight of the bike is 31.4 lbs / 14.2 kg. It comes with Bontrager H1 Hard-case Ultimate, 700x38c tires and racks. Price for this bike is $1,679.
2020 Co-op ADV 3.2
With this bike you get a aluminum frame touring bike with high-end components and hydraulic disc brakes. Aluminum for me personally is not desirable. Steel is real! But still for the price ad the higher quality components this is a good buy. The groupset is a 2 x 10 Shimano Deore XT. Rolling on some Donnelly X’Plor MSO, 650b x 50 tires. And weighs 25.5 lbs / 11.6 kg. Priced for this bike is only $1,078.
2020 Polygon BEND R5
The Polygon Bend R5 is a aluminum frame touring bike with high-end components and hydraulic disc brakes. Featuring a carbon fork for that extra suppleness. The groupset is a 1 x 11 GRX 800. This is more suited for gravel grinding. But if you are looking for a light touring / gravel bike. This is one worth considering. It comes with WTB VENTURE 650X47C tires and even a dropper post. While also featuring front and rear racks. Priced at $1,299
Surly Bridge Club
Not your traditional road touring bike. But a completely capable off-road touring bike, that is a steel frame touring bike with upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes. I have met a few tourers who use this bike for touring and bikepacking rides. Very versatile with the SX Eagle groupset and options for 26″ / 650b / 700c wheels. The bike comes stock with some nice and wide WTB Riddler 27.5×2.4″ tires. Making it awesome for some rough touring conditions pretty much anywhere. It is a flat bar bike, but you could easily swap them out for some butterfly bars. Priced at $1,200
Surly ECR
Another steel touring bike from Surly, which again is more suited for off-road adventures. This bike has better high-end components with a 1 x 12 NX Eagle, but mechanical disc brakes. But one of the bigger selling points for this bike is it comes stock with the Surly Moloko bars. Which offer many comfortable riding positions, which is perfect for long tours. The bikes rolls on some nice and supple Surly Knard 27.5×3.0″ tires. Priced at $1,900
Ribble Adventure 725, SRAM NX
Another interesting adventure touring bike. Which is a steel frame touring bike with upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes. Weighing in at a total weight of 26.6 lbs / 12.1 kg. With WTB Ranger 650Bx2.8″ tires and the Level Loop Alloy handlebars which are more of a swept-back handlebar design for extra comfort and upright rideability. The groupset is SRAM NX. Priced at €1,370
Fuji Touring Disc
You are after a road only touring bike, the Fuji steel frame touring bike with high-end components and mechanical disc brakes is a good choice. Popular with bike tourers. Featuring a 3 x 10 XT, Deore groupset for a wide range of gears. Rolling on skinner Vittoria Randonneur, 700 x 35c tires. Shifting of gears is done with the bar-end shifters, like more traditional touring bikes. Also includes a rear rack and a handy tie down strap. Priced at $1,199
Genesis Tour De Fer 20
If you are after a more expedition style touring bike. This Genesis steel frame touring bike with upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes, might be right up your alley. A bit heavier then most bikes on this list at 34.1 lbs / 15.5 kg. But that shouldn’t worry you if you are looking to fully gear out this bike. And it is more than capable at carry all the gear you would need for an around the world tour, with front and rear racks and fenders. Powered by a 3 x 10 Deore groupset. On some schwalbe 700x35c tires. While also featuring lights powered by a DH-3D37 Dynamo hub. Which is a big deal for a touring bike, being able to charge your electronics on the go! Yes Please! Priced at £1,499
Surly Ogre
Another Surly option steel touring bike that has upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes. If you want to compare all of the Surly’s off-road touring bikes, this article is super helpful, to help you decide which one is best for you. But this Ogre has a more limited 1 x 10 NX, Deore groupset. With Salsa Bend handlebars and Surly Extra Terrestrial 29×2.5” tires. Priced at $1,450
Co-op ADV 1.1
This Co-Op steel frame touring bike is a popular option if you are on the budget and looking for your first touring bike. Weight comes in at 30.0 lbs / 13.6 kg. Powered by a upper mid-range 3 x 10 Deore groupset and hydraulic disc brakes. With Schwalbe Marathon with puncture protection, 700 x 38mm tires. Bar-end shifters and racks. The bike is priced at $1,399
Salsa Marrakesh
The 2020 Salsa Marrakesh with the Salsa Cowchipper Drop Bars and Brooks B17 saddle is the best Marrakesh version touring bike you can get for under $2,000. It is a steel frame touring bike with upper mid-range components and mechanical disc brakes. With a weight of 31.4 lbs / 14.3 kg. Running a 3 x 9 Deore groupset. And you get the Maxxis Roamer 700 x 42mm tires, for some light off-road exploring. Priced at $1,499
Surly Troll
The Troll has the 3 x 10 Deore groupset for a wide range of gears. Making it a upper mid-range component level steel touring bike with mechanical disc brakes. Rolling on some Surly ExtraTerrestrial 26 x 2.5″ tires and featuring those Surly Moloko handlebars. Price is at $1,750
Fuji Jari 1.5
The Fuji Jari 1.5 is a light touring bike that is rather limited with its mid-range 2 x 10 Tiagra groupset and components. Featuring mechanical disc brakes, aluminum frame and carbon fork combination. With the Panaracer Gravelking SK Sport, 700 x 38c tires. Priced at $1,399
All City Space Horse
Another light touring bike options is All City’s 2020 Space Horse. A steel frame touring bike with mid-range components and mechanical disc brakes. With the 2 x 10 Apex groupset. Wheel choices for either 650b / 700c. Rolling on the VEE Speedster tires. Priced at $1,499
Surly Disc Trucker
The all new Disc Trucker has raised some questions with the extended head tube, it still has the ability for long haul touring in mind. An all steel touring bike that has mid-range components and mechanical disc brakes. Featuring the 3 x 9 Alivio, Sora groupset. Priced at $1,675
Surly Long Haul Trucker
This was my first touring bike I ever had and after travelling all over the world on it, It is the perfect touring bike for those looking for a reliable bike to get the job done. It is almost like the industry standard in touring bikes, a true classic of touring pedigree. A steel touring bike with upper mid-range components and rim brakes. With Deore, Sora groupset and the bar-end shifters. Priced at $1,350
Genesis Tour De Fer 10
If you liked that Genesis expedition touring bike from before but want something more ‘touring’ bike then this might be a better option. However it is rather limited in the gearing department. As it is a steel frame touring bike with ‘modest components’ and mechanical disc brakes. With a 3 x 9 – X9, Sora groupset. Weight of the bike is 31.3 lbs / 14.2 kg. Priced at £1,199
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