Salsa Journeyman - A versatile adventure bike

[@holymoly1235]

I own the 2018 Salsa Journeyman Sora 700 and I absolutely love it! I purchased it for the versatility and price point - $1100 USD. Effortlessly goes from road to off-road, quick-release panniers gets the groceries home, carbon post helps with chatter. I am absolutely in love with the bike. It has been everything I was looking for and more. I struggle with not making upgrades because it will then be a few grand bike locked up in front of the store, which is in part what I was trying to avoid in getting this bike. The struggle is real!

[@madcapper6]

If you love the bike, that's all that matters. Hard to put a price tag on that. I know the feeling. I found it on a 20 year old Trek 8500 that I paid $160 for. It's the bike I've been looking for for years but never found it even when paying far more for other bikes. Cheers to ya.

[@whyeven3722]

If you'd rather have mechanical discs, go for the base model of this bike. You can always swap the Claris out for something better, and the $949 USD price tag is much more modest.

[@costasmandylor1565]

Honestly, not bad for the price, and it's pink!!

[@lennymatuszewski]

It must be export prices which makes the disparity between US and GB because I just ordered one today for $1399 USD, which translates to £1084

[@nathancdm4]

I was able to test ride this bike a few months ago. It was a great bike, a joy to ride, but ultimately I went with another bike due to the mechanical disks and quick release axles. It was just a preference point for me, but both seem outdated at this point. All of the other bikes I was looking at in the category had hydraulic and through axles. Again, great bike, just needs a few small updates and it would have been my bike of choice.

[@stewartsummerside8131]

Great looking bike and colour 👍

[@martinmartin5904]

Love Qr , I've got no trouble with that on my Pine Mountain .

[@Velofil]

OK it's cheap but I have seen much nicer welding 2:43 and finish on bikes in that price range...

[@Dark_Templar28]

Velofil just curious which bikes you speak of. I want to buy a entry level gravel bike.

[@Velofil]

@@Dark_Templar28 Bombtrack Hook 2 or a Scott Speedster Gravel 20 with hydraulic brakes!

[@richardgreen4062]

1650 quid for this bike. Ok if your desperate for a name maybe. Merlin cycles has just released their new malt G1 gravel bike. Yes it's only tiagra but when you have every other spec as the salsa including front and rear through axles for 700 quid I think the salsa would be back of the que. Check out merlins new bike road cc. Would.love to see a review of it. Colour scheme is cracking too

[@mazditzo]

Wish Merlin available worldwide

[@pinonoir7287]

Would be nice to know the height of the rider & the size of the frame.

[@madcapper6]

At that price point, there's no excuse whatsoever to spec it with mechanical rather than hydraulic disc brakes. Other than that, it looks like a pretty sweet rig.

[@FrankNolf]

For 1500 gbp you have a canyon grail with sram rival and hydraulic discs. No idea why you go for this 1650 gbp salsa with mechanical discs and sram apex

[@nycLPplayer]

and both have blobby welds

[@FrankNolf]

@@nycLPplayer true but this salsa is simply way too expensive for what is. You are basically paying for the brand name.

[@nycLPplayer]

@@FrankNolf agreed

[@robertcantrell7132]

Thats not expensive

[@madcapper6]

@Frank: Isn't the Grail spec'd with Shimano 105 roadie stuff? The Salsa just looks like it's built for a little bit more of the rough stuff, particularly the 650. As for the 650b can the Canyon clear that type of wheel set?

[@david78212]

Putting all the arguments aside about price point and other bikes available, I personally think you put WAY too much emphasis on hydraulic brakes... IF you plan on touring (as this bike has points for everything you want) you may want mechanical disc, NOT hydraulic... depending on where you go, one crushed brake hose will end your trip for days while you sit there waiting for parts. Hydraulic brakes ARE NOT available everywhere. Though they are nice to have, it may be an issue where you are going... Something to consider, not just "I want hydraulics", and you can't possibly carry spares for EVERYTHING. Even top-end touring bikes DON'T have hydraulics, I wonder why... Carrying a few spare cables is a LOT lighter than carrying all the tools and parts you may need to fix hydraulics.

[@LeoInterHyenaem]

I like the geometry, except for the crude bend in the seat stays. And the welding of way too crude. In this at and age, every single aluminium frame must sport welds so smooth that one can only guess whether it's carbon or, indeed, aluminium. As far as I'm concerned, crude, for welds are the most visually repelling attribute of aluminium frames. Check out the Trek Émonda ALR Disc (especially in the beautiful Purple Flip colour!) and current-generation mid- and high-end Kogas for how proper welds are supposed to look.

[@Weixlbam]

For adventure only steel is real!

[@juanluisbp7878]

Beautiful and expensive

[@MrMatishoshani]

Less talk. More ride.

[@BikeLife154]

Expensive! My Caad X has TRP disc brakes and to be honest rim brakes are better! For that price you should get hydraulic brakes. Imagine being fully laden on a muddy downhill and trying to stop with those useless brakes!

[@martinmartin5904]

Invest in compresionless housing

[@tomas7403]

Kross Esker 6.0, better components, hydrobrakes, full of 105... Tired of paying brand name...