Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

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RonK
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Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby RonK » Sat Oct 18, 2014 6:14 pm

Few tourists will ever do a world tour, or even a long tour, and it's unlikely that field repairs will be necessary.

I built one of my ti tourers with a CF fork.

I would be happy to buy a 10kg carbon fibre tourer if one existed.

KTM did have one in their range but not any more.
Last edited by RonK on Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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il padrone
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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby il padrone » Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:05 pm

RonK wrote:Few tourists will ever do a world tour, or even a long tour, and it's unlikely that field repairs will be necessary.
S&^$ happens

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page ... 45088&v=9Q" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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RonK wrote:I would be happy to buy a 10kg carbon fibre tourer if one existed.
People have tried it.

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Wingnut
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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby Wingnut » Tue Nov 25, 2014 11:30 pm

It's when people do things like this to touring bikes that makes them ugly...actually bikes in general..,

The problem with some tourists is they can't leave most of the electronic crap behind...

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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby il padrone » Tue Nov 25, 2014 11:39 pm

"Roger, ten-four good buddy!"
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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby Gordonhooker » Wed Nov 26, 2014 8:29 am

BaldPatch wrote:Im on the wrong side of 40 and touring is starting to look attractive, BUT i just can't get past the looks of touring bikes, they are BUTT ugly compered to modern roadies.
Why do they still use Cro Mo?, i can appreciate these bikes need to be strong but surely technology has advanced enough that you could get a strong touring bike down to 10kg.
It appears the R&D departments of many manufacturers are obsessed with flash road bikes and the touring bikes get hit with the ugly stick and neglected in the corner.
Obviously beauty is in the eyes of the beholder - I actually prefer the simple lines of touring, suburban, and single speed bikes it the over the top flashy road bikes that I think are ugly... :shock: :)
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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby warthog1 » Wed Dec 03, 2014 7:40 pm

il padrone wrote:Another excuse to post photos of my bike [emoji14]

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Just looking at that Nomad with all that gear (I'm sure you could shoehorn another bag on there somewhere [emoji14] ) and trying to guess what it's all worth?
I've no idea but I'm guessing 15k?

I dont see them as ugly, they are a purpose built piece of equipment. There is beauty in something that is well engineered to perform a task.
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il padrone
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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby il padrone » Wed Dec 03, 2014 11:39 pm

warthog1 wrote:Just looking at that Nomad with all that gear (I'm sure you could shoehorn another bag on there somewhere [emoji14] )
Haven't got one of those funky tri/bikepacker stash-bags on top of the top tube near the head-set.
warthog1 wrote:and trying to guess what it's all worth?
I've no idea but I'm guessing 15k?
Noooo, well short of that. $3.8k for the bike as I bought frame and all parts (but maybe $5k to buy built from Thorn and shipped), about $700 for the panniers and handlebar bag, maybe $2-3k for all the camping gear - so maybe $9k overall.

Yeah, do not want it nicked :|
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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby outnabike » Thu Dec 04, 2014 8:33 am

il padrone wrote:
warthog1 wrote:Just looking at that Nomad with all that gear (I'm sure you could shoehorn another bag on there somewhere [emoji14] )
Haven't got one of those funky tri/bikepacker stash-bags on top of the top tube near the head-set.
warthog1 wrote:and trying to guess what it's all worth?
I've no idea but I'm guessing 15k?
Noooo, well short of that. $3.8k for the bike as I bought frame and all parts (but maybe $5k to buy built from Thorn and shipped), about $700 for the panniers and handlebar bag, maybe $2-3k for all the camping gear - so maybe $9k overall.

Yeah, do not want it nicked :|
Looks great to me IP, and a very visible bike as well,it all helps and is distinctive. I once read that the safest colour for a car was yellow.
And you have most likely recouped a lot back in fuel costs for the kays done. Not even considering the health benefits in the long term.
I have plenty of camping gear but all useless for cycling. I am thinking of a motel trip for fun as the longer distances have me at a bit of a disadvantage. :)
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il padrone
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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby il padrone » Thu Dec 04, 2014 9:56 am

Consider YHAs for some lower costs. A great easy ride from Melbourne is: Met train to Frankston; ride down the coast roads to Mornington, Mt Martha, Dromana, and on to Sorrento; overnight in Sorrento YHA; morning ferry to Queenscliff; ride the Bellarine Railtrail to Drysdale and Geelong; V-line train to Mebourne. About 90-100 kms all up.

Touring does not need to be camping, nor be a huge physical effort.
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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby warthog1 » Thu Dec 04, 2014 2:33 pm

il padrone wrote: Noooo, well short of that. $3.8k for the bike as I bought frame and all parts (but maybe $5k to buy built from Thorn and shipped), about $700 for the panniers and handlebar bag, maybe $2-3k for all the camping gear - so maybe $9k overall.

Yeah, do not want it nicked :|
Still a fair bit but better than I expected, and it is built to last I'd imagine.
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il padrone
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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby il padrone » Thu Dec 04, 2014 4:04 pm

Oooh yes, it'll last OK ;)
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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby recumbenteer » Sun Dec 07, 2014 8:59 am

They're ugly because they're functional......

And comfortable..Image
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Road bikes...... Soooo 19th Century!! :mrgreen:
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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby Mike Ayling » Tue Dec 09, 2014 1:10 pm

warthog1 wrote:and trying to guess what it's all worth?
I've no idea but I'm guessing 15k?
Noooo, well short of that. $3.8k for the bike as I bought frame and all parts (but maybe $5k to buy built from Thorn and shipped), about $700 for the panniers and handlebar bag, maybe $2-3k for all the camping gear - so maybe $9k overall.

Yeah, do not want it nicked :|
Today's replacement costs may be a bit above that the way the AUD is sinking!

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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby Leaf T » Tue Dec 09, 2014 4:40 pm

recumbenteer wrote:They're ugly because they're functional......

And comfortable..Image
Image


Road bikes...... Soooo 19th Century!! :mrgreen:
They look like fun but I think I would get pretty hot without the breeze from moving you get on a regular bike.

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Re: Why do touring bikes look so ugly?

Postby il padrone » Tue Dec 09, 2014 6:41 pm

I don't believe that is as much of a factor as regular cyclists like to make it out to be. My brother does not complain of it overall, and he's toured 140-160 km days, routinely riding at 40-50 kmh on the flat. The velomobiles do have floor air vents, plus another very significant aspect in Aussie summers is that you are largely shaded from the heat of the sun.

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