The SURLY TROLL is a Touring Off Road bike. It is marketed in the catalog of the American brand since the year 2011 and of course evolves with this 2017 Edition. It is the ideal bike for a world-tour as it is open to many bike standards. Difficult therefore not to find something to repair a damage on a component.
The SURLY TROLL is available since December 2016. It can be summarized as a bike to go "everywhere" ... but where is "everywhere"? The definition varies with each cyclist. So Surly has concocted a bike for both strolling in town and getting lost in the depths of a singletrack lost in Malaysia. The miracle recipe maybe. This bike has the soul and the build of a large carrier.
The frame, as in its early hours, is made of steel Cromo 4130 Double Butted with the specifications of the brand Surly. Unlike previous versions, the frame is not designed to be compatible with a front suspension fork. The reason is that the Troll is unalterably anchored in a trip spirit, its first vocation where riders prefers rigid fork for long trip. The generous tire clearance at the front and at the rear allow to set-up tires up to 26x3.0, enough volume to filter bump and lump on an off-road track. This choice allow a larger front triangle than before and leave a sufficient volume for a large frame bag.
When traveling, steel has the advantage of being easily repairable and it is easier to find a person who can weld steel than any other materials. The Troll remained faithful to the 26 "format. Why ? It is easier to find a 26 "rim or tire in remote areas. It is not the first time that i hear that it is easier to find 26" tires in South-America than any other "exotic" size. Think that the Troll target is to take you everywhere...trip-back included!
This conception around the travel bike is even more advanced on other elements. For the brakes, the TROLL is compatible with both disc (standard IS) and cantilever because it is equipped with studs (which can be removed if necessary). Thus, if jaws or the rotor is faulty, you can temporary replace it with a cantilever brake. Of course ... for long trip the braking by cable is advised. Technical note: the rear rotor must not exceed 160mm.
And even if the TROLL is in 26 ", for 2017 it is even wider. Its frame now allows to use tires 26+ up to 26x3.0". It is thanks to the use of the new Surly Gnot-Boost rear dropout that this is partly possible. The frame is compatible with a rear axle from 135-142mm up to Boost 148mm.
How does it work ? Surly designs its original rear spacing in 145mm and plays with the flexibility of its chainstay made of steel. We naturally enlarge the frame on each side of 1.5mm (total 3mm) to go from 145 (+ 3mm) to 148mm for a BOOST rear axle ... or alternatively, we "compress" the rear triangle to go from 145 (-3mm ) to Thru-Axle lenght 142mm. But then for the 135mm? ... Adaptators come to slide on each side of the 9mm wheel axle, guided by the quick release, to obtain an axis of 142x12mm. Since we are in the thematic, the TROLL is also designed (Torque, rigidity, bases length) to accept the ROHLOFF hubs.
As it is impossible to talk about a travel bikes without enumerating brazes-on and eyelets...here they are....numerous.
Front triangle: On the seat tube, a set for one simple bottle cage mount. Above and below the diagonal tube, two sets of triple bottle mounts (accepting small bottle cages). The rear triangle has, as seen above, removable post cantilever pivots, but also threaded eyelets in numbers to mount a rear rack. There is also the Rohloff OEM2 axle plate mounting slot if you want to set up the famous hub.
On the front the fork is not outdone. It is of course made of steel Cromo 4130 (1,4kgs uncut), straight and with a tapered headtube. In terms of brazes-on and eyelets, it has almost everything: mid-and low-blade fully threaded fork eyelets and a total of 4 sets of triple bottle mounts for size XL bottle cages suitable for 1.5 liter mineral water bottles or all other compatible elements. Maximum size of the tire: 26x3.0 "... wide.
About the geometry, it is quite neutral and inspired from touring bikes for those wishing to live aboard the Troll. The SURLY TROLL gets its distance from bicycles such as the Karatey MONKEY, another handyman, but more orientated for Bikepacking / fun during few days on local area. Long stem, stable geometry and all comfort. Headtube angle of 71 ° with an offset of 43mm for the fork allowing to anticipate the "stroke of handlebar" especially when fully loaded. The chainstays are 425mm long, but compensated by a rather long toptube and finally a long wheelbase: stable.
The frame is slopping enough to allow you to move easily on the bike, but especially to go off and on the bike once the whole of your equipment is loaded. There are reinforcements around the headtube, and an additional one connecting the top tube to the seat tube. This latest can also be used as a retention point to avoid the strap of your frame bag from moving around.
The SURLY TROLL is available in frameset (frame + fork) with the dark color "BLACK FOREST" or as a complete bike with the color "Get Gone Brown" in the shade ocher earth.
The complete bike is equipped with the following elements. Shimano LX triple crankset 26-36-48t that will let you climb everywhere or ride to the rhythm. Shimano DEORE front and rear dérailleurs for a 10-speed transmission coupled with a Shimano HG50 10s 11-36 cassette. The whole thing is animated with friction minimalist shifter Microshift SL-M10.
Disc brakes are the well known Avid BB7 rotor 160 and 180mm, controlled by Avid FR-5 levers. The handlebar is a Jones Loop 710.
For the wheels, Shimano DEOE M525 Hub 36 spokes, 9mm axle in the front and 10 in the rear. Alex Adventurer 2 rims are machined for rim brakes in case off. Tires are Surly ExtraTerrestrial 26 x 2.5 "tires providing a very good grip.
SURLY French Distributor : ULTIMATE CYCLE DISTRIBUTION.
Frameset (Frame+fort) is sold around 550 euros, please double check when you are on the phone with your local distributor - I have no price for the complete bike at the moment.
Surly : http://surlybikes.com
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/SurlyBikes
French Distributor : http://www.ultimate-cycle-distribution.com/
German and Benelux distributor : http://www.cosmicsports.com/
For other country: http://surlybikes.com/dealers
