The Salsa and Surly drop bar mountain bike battle! Which bike out of the two is the best? We are going to compare these two adventure gravel bikes or some could call the Fargo (an off-road touring bike) side by side and see what the difference is between each. On first impression, both bikes look rather similar in design. The first thing that stands out is the upright geometry angle of the top tube. You know these bikes are built not only for adventure but comfortable for long days in the saddle.
But when it comes to price the Surly is almost $1,000 more affordable. So is it a no-brain to just get the Surly Ghost Grappler then?
The Fargo varies in some build options, however, the Surly Ghost Grappler comes in mainly what you see. For the sake of this article, we are comparing the closely related Fargo model which is the Apex 1 2021 model.
Both bikes seem to be built with an adventurous DNA. On first inspection, we can see that the Fargo features a carbon fork and steel frame. While the Surly has a full steel build.
The Fargo is considered a touring and bikepacking bike, while the Ghost Grappler is described by Surly as a drop bar bikepacking trail bike. Both bikes are purpose-built to go bikepacking or bicycle touring with all your gear. As these bikes are rather similar in build intention it makes for a great comparison. From this description, we can make the assumption that the Ghost grappler is going to be better suited to MTB trails compared to the Fargo. But let’s dive deeper into the bike’s geometries to see if this rings true.
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.
When it comes to tire clearance the Fargo comes out on top with max tire clearance up to 29 x 3.0″. While the Ghost Grappler has an official tire clearance for 27.5 x 2.8” or 29 x 2.1″ tires. Both vary when it comes to gearing and brakes (depending on what model you opt for).
Both bikes come with mechanical disc brakes, the Ghost Grappler has a dropper post while the Fargo doesn’t (proving the Ghost Grappler’s better suitability for MTB riding).
The Ghost Grappler is powered by the 1×10 microSHIFT Advent X drivetrain while the Fargo boasts a 1×11 Apex, Truvativ Stylo drivetrain. With just this information we could assume the Fargo has better gearing for climbing, and this would make sense as it’s better suited for touring which requires better gearing. But as a drop bar trail bike you also need adequate gearing on a bike like the Ghost Grappler, but let’s compare them.
The Ghost Grappler has an 18.75″ climbing gear to 81.46″ largest gear (0.67 to 2.91 ratio). This climbing gear is amazing and perfect for applications like shredding MTB trails and singletrack. The Fargo is actually not as good for climbing with a 21.96″ climbing gear and 84.06″ largest gear. (This is still decent and acceptable for off-road adventure cycling, especially when loaded with gear.) If you want the bike for ease of climbing then the Surly might be your better choice out of the two.
When it comes to tires, the Fargo comes stock with Teravail Sparwood 29 x 2.2″ tires while the Surly has the Teravail Ehline, 27.5 x 2.5″ tires.
When it comes to the bike’s geometries. The Fargo features a very upright stack/reach ratio compared to the somewhat upright Ghost Grappler (1.75 vs 1.48), the chainstay differs with the Fargo again being longer in the rear making it less twitchy (445 mm vs 425 mm on medium-sized) and Wheelbase is approx 26 mm longer on the Ghost Grappler. The wheelbase on the Fargo seems rather short compared to other similar bikes. Both bikes are considered planted and ready to carry extra weight in the form of gear for bikepacking adventures. However, the Surly’s 425 mm chainstay makes it better applicable to faster cornering and control at speed in the rear which is better suited for the singletrack type of riding this bike is capable of.
The trail for both bikes is considered high but is also where we see some differences. Having in mind that the trail is where the steering axis of the front wheel intersects the ground and the point where the front tire contacts the ground. The higher the trial number the better suited it is similar to the use for MTBing. As standard MTB’s have around 75mm trails. The lower the trail the better suited it is for carrying a load up front. The Surly has a 79.5 mm trail vs the Fargo’s 88.2 mm (meaning the Surly would have better controllability if you want to run front panniers.).
Between the two and the Fargo has a 19 mm lower standover height compared to the Ghost Grappler. The Bottom Bracket drop is 20 mm longer on the Fargo. Meaning the Surly is lower to the ground offering better stability and helping make the bike more planted compared to the Fargo.
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. 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.
Surly Ghost Grappler
A drop bar touring mountain bike, built for single-track sessions, all-day dirt rides, bikepacking excursions, and off-road touring adventures. Thanks to the 27.5 x 2.5″ tires and tire clearance for up to 27.5 x 2.8” or 29 x 2.1″ tires, you can just about explore anywhere on this thing.
Custom dropouts ready to run single-speed or internally geared hub setups like Dynamo hubs. All the mounting options you could ask for with seat stay mounted bottle bosses, plus three-pack mounts at the top and bottom of the down tube, not to mention fork mounts.
Price : $1,949
Weight : 13.34kg (29.4 lbs)
Frame/Fork Material : Frame – Chromoly Steel. Fork – Chromoly Steel
Groupset & Drivetrain : 1×10 microSHIFT Advent X, Samox 2PCS Boost 32t crank and Microshift 11-48t
Gear Ratios : 18.75″ to 81.46″ (0.67 to 2.91 ratio)
Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.48 chainstay 425mm – wheelbase 1,109mm – (steering) headtube angle 69.5 deg – trail 66mm – Fork offset/rake 50mm. Bottom bracket drop 50mm
Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) : 27.5 x 2.5″ With a max tire clearance 27.5 x 2.8” or 29 x 2.1″
Geometry – Ghost Grappler Vs Fargo
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!
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, with a shorter reach, giving you a very upright riding position. While the Cutthroat in White is slightly longer in the wheelbase, meaning a more stable and planted ride.
| Bike | Surly Ghost Grappler | Salsa Fargo |
| Stack | 623 | 643 |
| Reach | 420 | 368 |
| Stack/Reach Ratio | 1.48 | 1.75 |
| Top Tube Length | 610 | 656 |
| Seat Tube Length | 437.2 | 457.2 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 73 | 73 |
| Head Tube Length | 200 | 140 |
| Head Tube Angle | 69.5 | 69 |
| BB Drop | 50 | 70 |
| Front Center | 688.8 | 647.3 |
| Chainstay Length | 425 | 445 |
| Wheelbase | 1109 | 1083 |
| Rake | 50 | 51 |
| Trail | 79.5 (high) | 88.2 (Very high) |
| Standover Height | 796 | 777 |
As we mentioned earlier there are some significant differences when it comes to these bikes’ geometries. You can see in the white, the Ghost Grappler has a longer wheelbase, shorter chainstay, and a much longer reach. But is not as upright as the Fargo. The Ghost Grappler looks almost too stretched out compared to the Fargo.
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 Surly is better on paper, thanks to the lower climbing gear. Tire clearance is rather similar but different sizes. The Fargo has gearing that is more suited to touring, with gear and slow, steep climbing. While the Ghost Grappler is capable of climbing that steep stuff with more ease.
With very similar spec levels as we compared very similar bikes. The Fargo has slightly better-quality components. But for the $1k price difference, I would argue that the Ghost Grappler is better value for money! As you get a dropper post, better gearing and depending on the type of riding you plan. It allows you to better shred trails compared to the Fargo (which on paper would be more sluggish).
It seems the Fargo leans more towards being a drop bar mountain bike that is more a touring bike than a gravel bike. While the Ghost Grappler is a drop bar bikepacking trail bike, still technically a drop bar mountain bike but more of a bikepacking bike than it is a touring bike. And this is where the main difference is. This is evident in the geometry of both bikes.
So if you want a bike more for touring and riding long distances and want to be super comfortable the Fargo is your better option. But if you want a bike to also have the benefits of being rather comfortable and provide you with all your gear-carrying abilities. That will allow you to go bikepacking comfortability enough but with the intention to ride even further off the beaten track. Then the Ghost Grappler might be a better option.
However, both bikes are amazing in their own right. And at times it can be difficult to recommend one bike over the other when they are both great bikes and offer something special. But I hope this article clears up some questions you might have had.
About The Author
