Surly Moonlander Review: The Perfect Bike For A Bucket List Trip

[@johnprolly]

Shed talk with Spencer is the best. Also, WOW. This scratches my canyonitus!

[@bucketosudz]

"It's heavy!" So was the Pugsley, V1 Moonlander, and Big Fat Dummy...but they make you grin ear to ear riding them! I've loved all of mine and hope to one day add this to the mix to try.

[@maocycle]

The shots from Utah are insane! You're making me romanticized fat biking

[@slowwerthensnot]

Great stuff Spencer!

[@antonroux6737]

6.2 inch tyres are great, midtail design is great BUT overall geometry needs to be refined and it NEEDS A STEEPER STEERING ANGLE to dial out the crazy autosteer and heavy handling on this bike (ie the constant and heavy hand pressure on the inside hand when cornering); get rid of the GripShift too as it makes the grips too uncomfortable for any actual riding; Pinion gearbox was pretty solid from what I could tell; look forward to seeing the design and geometry refined over the next couple of years 😊 colour could be improved too; feel like steel is probably the best material for this design because the frame is so long and it needs to go offroad and carry weight so the frame must be super strong especially with those super long chainstays - not sure I would feel secure or comfortable with a carbon fibre frame or carbon fork for this bike - it doesn't need to be fast, it just needs to be able to comfortably ride over and up everything so perhaps tweak the gearing to be a bit lower?? would be important to try and make the riding position really comfortable as it doesn't need to be aggressive - not sure the handlebars are ideal but my wrists didn't hurt and the Ice Cream Truck riding position is too aggressive and the handlebars are unnecessarily wide making the ICT position uncomfortable for longer rides. I think Surly needs to REVERSE THE INDUSTRY TREND FOR SLACKER STEEP ANGLES ON THIS BIKE AND THE RIDE AND HANDLING WOULD BE IMPROVED BY HAVING A COUPLE OF DEGREES STEEPER STEERING ANGLE!!!! SURLY NEEDS TO KEEP LEANING IN HARD TO KEEP IMPROVING AND CREATING ADVENTURE FAT TYRE MACHINES LIKE THIS. IT ALSO MEANS RETHINKING INDUSTRY ASSUMPTIONS AROUND GEOMETRY BECAUSE THIS BIKE AND ITS BIG TYRES ARE SO DIFFERENT TO EVERYTHING ELSE - IN A GOOD WAY. THE ICE CREAM TRUCK EVOLVED TO BE A SWEET RIDE (ALTHOUGH STILL HAS TOO MANY TRAIL AMBITIONS) AND SO MY HOPES ARE NOW IN THE FUTURE OF THE MOONLANDER TO BE A MORE PURE ADVENTURE MACHINE. The reason comfort and ergonomics are so important is because you can't push bikes like this too hard or you waste a crazy amount of energy, therefore the designers need to make the ergonomics of the thing SUPER COMFORTABLE. It could also do with a belt drive and a more advanced Pinion gearbox if this can be made to work and it is a more durable setup.

[@markday1714]

this is so in my wheelhouse!! I run an Orge/Rohloff as my everyday ride and have a necromancer stashed in the shed for when things get odd. great content, thanks

[@Deanosaurous]

I cannot wait to see this bike on my local blue flow trail this spring.

[@GHinWI]

…going 4mph

[@LG_Miller]

I broke two pugsley frames so that kinda has me scared to buy a surly framed bike. Ended up getting 22 cycles to build me a ti fat bike frame that I designed! Their welds are art. Anyways, the be point of this message is, whenever anyone asked me where I ride that bike. I answer by saying wherever you point it!! Love a fat bike!

[@oceanlover294]

Hey Spencer!! Great video! "Living in a fat bike down by the river."

[@bigdee6207]

Love my Surly rig. The first two things i got rid off was the boomerang handlebars and silly wheel reflectors. Having a set of wide straight bars on the bike gave me way more positive feedback and no steering chatter at all compare to the boomerang bars. And i added a small rechargable tyre inflator. Much better then the traditional bicycle pump. 🤣

[@TheHavnmonkey]

There's a hiking trail in northern California called the Lost Coast Trail... It's been on my list for a few years, most of the trail is on the beach.... One of the logistical concerns for these types of hikes is the tides cutting off sections of not timed correctly. A bike like this could open up other sections of remote beaches for adventures!

[@Fiberface]

I've hiked the lost coast, (northern section) the only issue I can see the moonlander not handling well is the bigger rocky parts. But, it would be amazing in most other sections. That black sand is energy draining, moonlander would float beautifully across it.

[@spencerjharding]

that is unfortunately an area that is managed as wilderness and it is not legal to ride a bike there. I had the same idea many year ago

[@JohnKrakatoa]

exactly what I planned to do with mine you just beat me to it :D

[@tongpocalypse]

What up speen! Huh, freewheel at the gearbox and at the hub🤔 🤯 Riding down the stream = no sprained ankles from trying to walk it? 😁 Anyway, interesting review👌

[@spencerjharding]

no sprained ankles!

[@cwitt483]

I have a yeti full suspension but I love and ride my Trek Farley 9.6 Fatbike a bunch even in the summer on tamer singletrack trails. Love my fatty, fatter the better!

[@reidh]

Cheers surly

[@davemeise2192]

I ride a long trail cargo bike but I love the fat bike models. I would like to buy the Surly Moonlander and use it as my long tail cargo bike. Surly already have a lot of racks for their bikes so outfitting the Moonlander as a cargo bike would be easy to do. I need to get my hands on one to see if the step over height is OK for me (motorcycle injury makes it too difficult to step over the bar and ride my Pugsly) VERY cool bike and good review.

[@Guevara1015]

The step over should be fine, not least for the fact that it comes with a dropper seat post as standard!

[@richardwolf6269]

I had the original Pugsley. Really didn’t like it. Could have been the stock tires which sucked in my opinion. Next up was the Trek stache which I liked but I thought the chain stays were too short and instead of being an awesome climber it felt like it wanted to flip over. Fast forward to today. Aluminum fat bike with 26 by 4.8 inch tires, Bluto fork, thudbuster and a bafang hd1000 electric motor. This thing is the bomb for our local desert washes which would be a no go on a regular MTB. On one 700 watt hour battery I get 40 to 50 miles of range since I keep the power level low and do my “fair share” But when you need that extra oomph I can throttle through.

[@MrQuestful]

I’ve been keenly waiting for this review, I feel like you did it justice taking it somewhere that is both beautiful and otherwise unrideable. I’d be curious (and willing) to take it on a bikepacking trip loaded up. In regards to its deficits, do you think it’s possible to improve the engagement with a different rear hub, or are there no other hubs available at that size at the moment?

[@spencerjharding]

Ive ridden Pinion gearboxes paired with high-engagement Hope hubs, but the gearbox is still lacking. Outside of technical uphill (ratcheting up rocks) I doubt most people would notice it.

[@jedunboxing4127]

This is the bike you take when you go to planet mars 😂

[@garyonnen7634]

Looks like one of the slot canyons off the Paris river?

[@Tanooki13]

How were the 2 pot tektro brakes? Did they feel like they had enough stopping power?

[@spencerjharding]

worked fine, rarely went all that fast.

[@Tanooki13]

@ thanks for the reply. I’ve just ordered one, hence the question.

[@spencerjharding]

@@Tanooki13 hope ya enjoy it!

[@antonroux6737]

have the Tektro brakes on my Ice Cream Truck and the brake pads are so bad that the rear wheel doesn't have enough stopping force to even lock the tyre. Then the pads started horribly screaming. With new decent quality brake pads the brakes are okay and I don't feel I need to change them (though not as good as the Magura brakes I had on my PIVOT) but they should not be sold with the completely unsafe and rubbish brake pads they come with. (and no I did not compromise my braking surfaces to affect them in any way.)

[@ジョニージョニー-x1l]

😀

[@DANZIGWOLF]

Ultimate creek-tech weapon? I think maybe so!

[@zhuyouan0412]

if this is compatible with pinion MGU it will be a killer!

[@regarcher3376]

On your next Moonlander video, please talk a bit about tire pressures. Thanks.

[@spencerjharding]

Low pressure good! runs over things real nice.

[@CSNCSNCSN]

But people need to recalibrate what "low" pressure is for these! Like 4-6psi. (I own an Ice Cream Truck and have run it as low as 5psi for the 26x4.8" tires.)

[@ianprice3932]

1-4psi on the moonlander 2.0 will get you to places you shouldn't be.

[@lovelessjams2720]

A bucket list trip sounds like you better have money. Have fun rich folks😂😂😂😂😂

[@MnJaLo]

Why no belt drive Surley?

[@davemeise2192]

A belt drive on that bike would be awesome. Probably a bit too wide at the crank though. Lots of people already talking about their hips and knees with the crank width if they got one. A belt would make it even wider I think.

[@MnJaLo]

@ ah, the dreaded Q-factor.

[@luisramirez2263]

Spencer!

[@jmilton5842]

An aluminum, carbon or ti frame might save 2-3 lbs, so then it's around 50 lbs v 53-55 lbs in steel. Just sayin'

[@jefftoonstra5087]

Yup just like when the Pug came out. Still love mine with heavy Large Marge rims and all! Hope this is a trend for Surly

[@mazditzo]

And adding 3k to the price? Surly motto is affordable reliable and adaptable

[@jefftoonstra5087]

@@mazditzoI agree but I think the high price has to do with that drive system

[@jmilton5842]

@jefftoonstra5087 indeed; it requires a proprietary frame designed around it. Definitely not a mainstream design.

[@JouTuubi]

Dude, where is your helmet?

[@SixGunTodd]

I wish someone would actually review this bike verses all these "this is how it makes me feel" reviews. Yeesh

[@theradavist666]

Yeesh. We wish people would read, too! We linked the "actual review" in this video's description: theradavist.com/surly-moonlander-v2-review/ Just in time for Christmas. You get your wish! ;-)

[@spencerjharding]

I wish someone would read (review linked in description) verses all these "I don't know how to read" comments. yeesh

[@marnig9185]

HI,is it pinion MGU compatible;)❤

[@RMR-u2b]

Yeah! whoa! It would be awesome to be quietly enjoying such an awesome spot and see some 'rad' cyclists come through! Lets further degrade one of the best places on the PLANET. Think about where you're bikes boys and girls. Respectfully, of course.

[@FATKEVMTB]

👏🏼🤘🏽

[@CSNCSNCSN]

This sucker is niche as hell. This is a bike you buy as a one-off build for one epic adventure and then retire. I've ridden my Ice Cream Truck in rivers like that too, and it's also fun on single track, and weighs 10lb less than this when you're climbing steep fire roads.

[@antonroux6737]

hear what you're saying but I like the idea of this bike having a more comfortable riding position and leaning away from the aggressive trail bike vibes of the ICT

[@roadkill_toronto]

Riding a bike down a dying river sounds cool, just dont let the conservationists catch you. 😅