The drop bar mountain bike battle! (What’s the difference between a gravel bike and drop bar MTB?) Which bike out of the two is the best? We are going to compare these two adventure gravel/touring bikes side by side and see what the difference is between each. When it comes to price they are very similar with the Sutra (LTD) being $70 pricier.
Both bikes come in different build options, with the Fargo available in a titanium build if you so desire. And the Kona Sutra is also available in a traditional touring bike spec. But for the sake of this article, we are comparing the Kona Sutra LTD 2022 to the Salsa Fargo Apex 1 2021 model.
Both bikes seem to be built with an adventurous DNA, and it’s difficult to right away which is better. On first inspection, these bikes look rather similar in design. So let’s get into the nitty-gritty.
When comparing the Kona Sutra and Salsa Fargo, the Fargo is lighter by approximately 1.7 kg, weighing 24.47 pounds or 11.1 kg while the Sutra is 28.3 pounds or 12.84 kg. This weight difference makes sense as both bikes are built with a steel frame. However, the Fargo has a carbon fork which is where the weight saving comes in.
Both are focused on adventure geometry which means more comfortable the longer you stay in the saddle. Both bikes also offer mounting options to carry all the necessary gear you may need for a bikepacking trip. The Fargo offers many more eyelets on the fork while the Sutra has top tube mounts while the Fargo doesn’t.
When it comes to tire clearance the Fargo comes out on top with max tire clearance up to 29 x 3.0″. While the Sutra can fit up to 29 x 2.3″ tires. Both vary when it comes to gearing and brakes. The Fargo offers 3 gear inches better climbing ability. Offering a 21.96″ climbing gear and 84.06″ largest gear. While the Sutra has 24.93″ to 94.79″. Sutra has hydraulic disc brakes while the Fargo has mechanical disc brakes.
When it comes to tires, the Sutra comes stock with the Maxxis Rekon Race EXO TR 29 x 2.25″ tires and the Fargo comes with Teravail Sparwood 29 x 2.2″ tires. Out of the box, the Sutra tires are slightly wider.
When it comes to the bike’s geometries. The Fargo features a very upright stack/reach ratio compared to the already upright Sutra (1.75 vs 1.54), the chainstay is the same for both bikes (445 mm on medium-sized) and Wheelbase is approx 11 mm longer on the Sutra. Both bikes are considered planted and ready to carry extra weight in the form of gear for touring trips.
The trail for both bikes is considered high on the Sutra and very high on the Fargo. With a 9.3 mm difference, the Fargo is the longest. (78.9 mm Sutra vs 88.2 mm Fargo) meaning the Fargo would have a slower and calmer steering response compared to the Sutra. However, the Sutra is still rather calm and slow compared to other gravel bikes with a mid-range trail. So that begs the question of the Fargo could then be almost too slow and potentially sluggish.
Between the two and the standover height is 4 mm higher on the Sutra. The Bottom Bracket drop on the Sutra is about 2 mm lower than the Fargo and the Fargo has a higher bottom bracket height with a 5.8 mm in difference.
Salsa Fargo
- Category: 29er Gravel / Off-Road Touring Bike
- Price : $2,649
- Frame/Fork : Steel/Carbon
- Bike Weight : 11.1 kg (24.47 lbs)
- Tire Clearance : 29 x 3″
- Wheels/Tire Size : 29 x 2.2″
- Low/High Gear Inches : 21.96″ to 84.06″
- Stack/Reach Ratio (M) : 1.75
- Chainstay (M) : 445 mm
- Wheelbase (M) : 1083 mm
- Trail (M) : 78 mm
This bike could be considered an off-road touring bike at heart but it still makes a great adventure gravel bike. Just like the Cutthroat it’s made for exploring. It does offer wide tire clearance of up to 3″ rubber. You also get different build options when available if that’s what you’re after, with the choice of titanium for those epic and fast adventures. Could also be considered a drop bar mountain bike. The steel frame and carbon fork build offer a lighter option, weighing in at around 11.1 kg. Priced at $2,649 for the 1×11 Apex model you get mechanical disc brakes on 29 x 2.2″ tires.
Kona Sutra
I am personally a big fan of the Kona Sutra. As this is my steed of choice. I spend a good 12 months trying find the ultimate bike that could suit my needs for off-road adventuring. But still maintain some speed on the roads. With the amble 2.3″ tire cleareance this seemed more then enough at the time for what I needed. I can take this bike on fairly challenging MTB trails (when riding with the 29 x 2.3″ tires) and it eats it up. I would suggest checking out my long term review here.
Geometry – Sutra Vs Fargo
Geometry can play a big part in the difference between how a bike rides and feels. It is definitely something to consider when buying a bike. Just by looking at the illustration above, the Salsa Fargo in black is much more upright, giving you a very upright riding position. While the Sutra in White is slightly longer in the wheelbase, meaning a more stable and planted ride.
Want to learn more about understanding bike geometry? Read this article which goes through all the jargon and what it means for a comfortable ride!
| Bike | Kona Sutra LTD | Salsa Fargo |
| Stack | 609 | 643 |
| Reach | 395 | 368 |
| Stack/Reach Ratio | 1.54 | 1.75 |
| Top Tube Length | 575 | 656 |
| Seat Tube Length | 455 | 457.2 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 73.5 | 73 |
| Head Tube Length | 160 | 140 |
| Head Tube Angle | 69.5 | 69 |
| BB Drop | 72 | 70 |
| Front Center | 658 | 647.3 |
| Chainstay Length | 445 | 445 |
| Wheelbase | 1094 | 1083 |
| Rake | 55 | 51 |
| Trail | 78.9 (high) | 88.2 (Very high) |
| Standover Height | 781 | 777 |
If you plan to mostly go on adventures with gear both these bikes are great options. But if you plan to ride terrain that is steep off-road, the Fargo might be your better options, thanks to the lower climbing gear and room for 3″ tires. As with the Sutra I own, I changed the front chainring for better climbing. However the Fargo is still a surperior bike. Due to; wider tire clearance, extra upright for comfort, carbon fork. You just can’t beat a bike that has proven itself in endurance bike events, like the tour divide!
However you do get a better quality spec rating level on the Sutra with the Rival, NX compared to the Fargo’s Apex 1. And you also get dropper post, adding to the drop bar mountain bike intension of the Sutra.
It seems the Fargo leans more towards being a drop bar mountain bike that is more touring bike then gravel bike. While the Sutra is still techniqually a drop bar mountain bike but more of a gravel bike then the Fargo is a touring bike. And this is where the main difference is. This is eveident in the geometry of both bikes.
We can see that the Fargo’s trail is very high making it more sluggish and less responsive when cornering, as expected if you are running front panniers. As the Sutra is still high it would be more responsive which lends to its manuvariobility if you want to ride single tracks fast.
So if you want a bike more for touring and riding long distances and want to be super comfortable the Fargo is you better option. But if you want a more balanced/do it all gravel/touring bike. That will alow you to go bikepacking, but also shred trails, and ride road rather capability. Then the Sutra might be a better option. But having that said I don’t know why you could take the Fargo on trails it defiently has more then enough tire clearance for it.
However both bikes are amazing in there own right. And at times it can be difficult to recommned one bike over the other when they are both great bikes and offer something special. But I hope this article clear up some question you might have had.
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