The Surly and Salsa Touring bike battle! Well which bike is best? We are going to compare these two iconic touring bikes side by side and see what the difference is between each. When it comes to price the Surly Disc Trucker is $124 cheaper at $1,675 when the Salsa Marrakesh is $1,799. (Currently on sale at REI for $1,529.93 – not sure how long though!)
But what really is the difference and which one is best for you and your touring goals?
| Surly Disc Trucker | Marrakesh Sora | Marrakesh Brooks | |
| MSRP | $1,675 | $1,799 | $1,499 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Price | $1,550.00 | $1,529.93 | – |
| Category | Touring | Touring | Touring |
| Weight | 31.4 lbs / 14.3 kg | ||
| Frame | Steel | Steel | Steel |
| Fork | Steel | Steel | Steel |
| Wheels/ Tires | 26″ x 46 or 700c x 41 | 700c x 42 | 700 x 42 |
| Wheel Material | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Brake Type | Mechanical Disc | Mechanical Disc | Mechanical Disc |
| Groupset | Alivio, Sora | Alivio, Sora | Deore |
| Drivetrain | 3 × 9 | 3 x 9 | 3 × 9 |
| Climbing Gear Inches | 19.42″ (26″ wheels) 21.12″ (700c wheels) | 21.12″ | 21.12″ |
| Trail Stack/Reach Ratio | 1.57 | 1.51 | 1.51 |
| Trail | 57 | 59 | 59 |
| Chainstay Length | 450 | 455 | 455 |
| Gear Ratio | 0.76 to 4.36 | 0.76 to 4.36 | 0.76 to 4.36 |
| Component Level | mid-range | mid-range | upper mid-range |
Yes they are both considered touring bikes. So we can be clear on what they both a designed to do! The Disc Trucker is classified by Surly as a “drop bar touring bike, designed to travel all over the world mostly on paved roads.” It is a steel frame touring bike with mid-range components and mechanical disc brakes.
While the Marrakesh, is also a touring bike designed to tour all around the world and is designed to ride exceptionally well when fully loaded. So both these bikes are purpose build for touring. So what is the difference then? How do you now whether to choose one or the other?
Surly Disc Trucker
For the purpose of this article we are comparing both the 2020 touring bike models. The disc trucker has seen some new upgrades in 2020, that have been controversial to some. They dropped the bar-end shifters and added some extra headtube length, to name some changes. Depending on how these changes effect you personally, it might be worth considering picking up an earlier Disc trucker, plus it will be cheaper. Tree Fort Bikes has this Disc Trucker for $1,550!
The 2020 model comes with the same 3 x 9 Alivio, Sora groupset. The same TRP Spyre C mechanical disc brakes and a full steel build like the Marrakesh. However this Surly has the option to run 26″ / 700c wheel sizes.
The Disc Trucker comes with the Alex Adventurer 2 rims. Depending on size and wheel size choice you get either the : Surly ExtraTerrestrial 26″ x 46 tires or Surly ExtraTerrestrial 700c x 41. These tires are also tubeless capable. (Frame sizes 42–56cm are available with 26” diameter wheels, while frame sizes 56–64cm are available with 700c diameter wheels.)
The Disc Trucker has clearance for 26” x 2.1” tires with or without fenders, or 700c x 47mm with or without fenders.
What about the gear range? Often important for touring bikes to get you and your gear over a range of terrains! The Trucker has a 0.76 to 4.36 gear ratio. This means a 19.42″ granny/climbing gear and a 111.40″ highest gear. (This is for the 26″ wheels). While if you change to the 700c wheels you loose some climbing abilities. Resulting in a 21.12″ climbing gear and 121.19″ highest gear. If you want to be able to ride easier on steep climbs I recommend opting for the 26″ option if you can.
If you want to compare all bike parts side by side there is detailed tables below. And we will also compare both bikes geometry to see which is more comfortable and suited for touring and long days in the saddle!
Salsa Marrakesh
For the Marrakesh you get the same 3 x 9 Alivio, Sora groupset, mechanical disc brakes, all steel build and 700c wheels. You get the same Shimano Alivio, 48/36/26t crank but a different Shimano HG400-9, 11-34t cassette but still has the same teeth numbers. So does this mean the same gear ratios? Yes exactly the same at 0.76 to 4.36. The climbing gear inches on the Marrakesh is 21.12″ which is the same as the Disc Trucker with 700c wheels. If you want better granny gears the 26″ Disc Trucker is the best!
But both bikes are pretty much the same when it comes to gear! What other differences are there then? The Marrakesh comes with the Shimano M475 QR 36h, WTB ST i19 TCS 2.0 rims and Teravail Rampart 700c x 42mm Durable, Tubeless-Ready tires. The same WTB Volt Sport saddle on both bikes. The Marrakesh also comes with front and rear racks. Both bikes are very similar in build quality and components. The main difference comes in the geometry.
What about the all important tire clearance? You get the ability to run up to 700 X 40 mm with fenders and 700 X 50.8 mm without. if wider tires is a priority there is really not much difference between the two. You can fit slightly wider tires on the Disc Trucker thanks to the 29″ wheels. But the Marrakesh has a larger tire clearance for 700c wheels by 3.8 mm more tire width.
2020 Salsa Marrakesh Drop Bar Brooks
Ultimately if you can pick up the Marrakesh Brooks model I would get this over the other bikes! It is a cheaper bike with a retail of $1,499! You get the same geometry. But it comes with the 3 x 9 Deore groupset. Overall the components on this rig are considered ‘upper mid-range’ while both the other bikes are ‘mid-range’. You get the same 48/36/26t crank but Deore instead of Alivio. And 11-34t cassette but the Shimano Alivio HG300 not the HG400. So this sees the same gear ratio as the other Marrakesh.
Along with this it comes with bar-end shifters, which is more like a traditional touring bike. The bike comes with Deore QR 36h, WTB ST i19 tubeless-ready rims and Maxxis Roamer 700 x 42mm, 60 tpi, Kevlar Inside tires.
But the value comes in the Brooks Saddle! and it is cheaper! It is like a huge no brainer to go for this bike if you can pick it up! I personally have the B17 saddle and it is perfect for bike touring. This is a rather pricy saddle that you will be saving on! The bike also comes with Hayes CX Expert mechanical disc brakes compared to the TRP Spyre-C on the other bikes.
Side By Side Specs
Build
| Disc Trucker | Marrakesh | Marrakesh Brooks | |
| Frame | Surly Long Haul Trucker, 100% Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. Surly Long Haul Trucker, 100% Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. | Marrakesh Triple Butted CroMoly | Marrakesh Triple Butted CroMoly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fork | Surly Long Haul Trucker, 4130 CroMoly, lugged and brazed. Surly Long Haul Trucker, 4130 CroMoly, lugged and brazed. | Marrakesh CroMoly | Marrakesh CroMoly |
| Bottom Bracket | Shimano SM-BB52 | 68mm BSA, threaded | 68mm BSA, threaded |
| Headset | Cane Creek 40, 1-1/8″ | Cane Creek 40 | Cane Creek 5 Series |
| Stem | Promax 31.8 4 bolt | Salsa Guide | Salsa Guide |
| Handlebar | Surly Truckstop Bar | Salsa Cowchipper | Salsa Cowchipper |
| Saddle | WTB Volt Sport | WTB Volt Sport | Brooks B17 Medium |
| Seatpost | ProMax 27.2 350L non-offset (42-50), offset (52-64) | 27.2 x 350mm | Promax 27.2 x 350mm |
| Grips | Salsa Gel Cork Bar Tape | Salsa Gel Bar Tape |
Groupset
| Disc Trucker | Marrakesh | Marrakesh Brooks | |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Alivio M4000 SGS | Shimano Alivio Trekking | Shimano Deore Shadow, SGS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | Shimano Sora R3030 | Shimano Alivio Trekking | Shimano Deore |
| Crank | Shimano Alivio 48x36x26t | Shimano Alivio, 48/36/26t | Shimano Deore, 48/36/26t |
| Shifters | Shimano Sora 3×9 | Shimano Sora | Shimano 3×9 bar-end |
| Cassette | Shimano Alivio, 11-34t, 9 speed | Shimano HG400-9, 11-34t | Shimano Alivio HG300, 11-34t |
| Chain | KMC X9 | Shimano HG93 | KMC X9 |
| Brakes | TRP Spyre C, 160mm rotors | TRP Spyre-C, 160mm | Hayes CX Expert, 160mm |
| Brake Levers | Shimano Sora |
Geometry – Disc Trucker Vs Marrakesh
Geometry can play a big part in the difference of how I bike rides and feels. It is definitely something to consider when buying a bike. As expected both these bikes have comfortable touring geometries. However the Disc Trucker is more upright and has a longer wheelbase. As you can see from the image above the Surly is a bigger bike compared to the Marrakesh. All the measurements below are in mm and are for both 54 cm sized bikes.
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 | Disc Trucker | Marrakesh |
| Stack | 594.5 | 563.3 |
| Reach | 378 | 373.1 |
| Stack/Reach Ratio | 1.57 | 1.51 |
| Top Tube Length | 560 | 540 |
| Seat Tube Length | 540 | 520 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 73 | 73.5 |
| Head Tube Length | 205 | 110 |
| Head Tube Angle | 71 | 70.75 |
| BB Drop | 50 | 77 |
| Front Center | 615 | 606 |
| Chainstay Length | 450 | 455 |
| Wheelbase | 1060.5 | 1049.7 |
| Rake | 45 | 55 |
| Trail | 57 | 59 |
| Standover Height | 800 | 761.2 |
Taking a look at the numbers above we can see that the Disc Trucker has a much taller head tube length by 95 mm as a result this gives the Surly a 1.57 stack/reach ratio compared to the Salsa’s 1.51, meaning that the Disc Trucker puts you in a much more upright and comfortable riding position on those long hauls.
Looking at both bikes wheelbase and chainstay length they are touring friendly. With only a 5mm difference in chainstay lengths both bikes have a stable feel at the rear. The trails have a 2mm difference. Putting the front of both bikes as predictable to control in the front. The Marrakesh has 5 mm more chainstay which is a little added room for heel clearance from rear panniers. The Disc Truckers wheelbase is longer by 10.8 mm
The lower Bottom Bracket drop on the Marrakesh means a centre of gravity closer to the ground for better stability. But again the Disc Trucker has a wider wheelsbase for more horizontal stability.
You get 9 mm more front centre space on the Disc Trucker which is a little more room for clearance from toes hitting the front tire. And potentially running front panniers if you want to go fully loaded.
The standover height of the Marrakesh is lower by 38.8 mm. If this is something important to you then the Marrakesh is an obvious choice.
Overall it is tough to choose one or the other. The Salsa has slightly better handlebars with 24° flare. Which would be more comfortable for long rides. But the Surly has options for 26″ and 700c and slight wider tire clearances overall. If you want a bike that is more upright the Surly is a better choice.
But both a very capable touring bikes. It seems like you get slightly better bang for buck with the Marrakesh with racks and if you choose the Brooks Marrakesh that B17 saddle to. Personally I love Surly bikes but I would probably choose the Marrakesh out of the two! Just because of those flared handlebars and because it is a slightly better looking bike in my opinion!
I suggest you give both these bikes a test ride and choose whatever feels better to you. They are so similar in so many ways it really comes down to individual preferences. You can save a few bucks overall and get the Salsa Marrakesh for $1,529.93 at REI!
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