Monster, Monsteur, Monstour , 26/29+ and Expedition and Adventure bikes

29+ is dead, 2015 is all about 650b+ ;)

In which case I think the Krampus is the cheapest option for the slackness and clearance. Longitude geo is closer to the ECR if I remember correctly, more stable etc.

Could the new Genesis be interesting? 27.5+, available in the next 6 months or so I think and there's a bouncy option version...

Thanks that thing looks great!

I've just ordered a Krampus in small.

My girlfriend is going to kill me.

Balls, bike shop called me and turns out Surly don't have any left at all.

The 2014 version that is, can't afford this years.

Where's your shop? Ison (distributor) show stock of the green ones in all sizes and should do for a good while yet... Charlie has them listed online, no idea how accurate his stock is.

It was Westbrook cycles, and I was getting a 2014 model for £1300

Ah, I was looking at framesets, sorry!

I'm 6ft with 33 inseam and I have a large Krampus. The medium was rideable in a trail-happy-BMX sort of way, but I'm definitely a better fit on the large especially for XC and bikepacking.

I'd test ride one before you order (again). Also mine came with a stupidly long stem from the factory, I think it was 90 or 100mm...

does my Kona qualify

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Would buy, but too big for me... someone, do it.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KUWAHARA-HI-PACER-52-retro-Cyclocross-Frame-and-Fork-steel-/321754421688?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4aea0ed9b8

There might be one at Neil's Wheels in Kingston. Don't know what year it is or if it's even available, it appeared on their instagram, but worth a try @Baileyoh ?

So tempted by those ridiculous stems

Had one on my Trek in the early 90s, bloody useless things.

I realise they must be gash for actual suspension duties.. just wondering if one would take the buzz out of towpaths on a tourer?

No more than letting a couple of psi out yer front tyre. Doesn't inspire confidence going up hill out of the saddle either.

Suspected as much. But.... I still kind of want one?! haha

Surely better than letting your tyre down. Don't fancy running a low psi any real distance..

How low do you run em? I'm only talkin a few psi, say from 50 to 40-45, I'm not recommending you run em flat.

Anyone else having trouble fitting brakes to 29+ front ends? I am fitting (said with conviction) XT brakes to my Krampus, but even with a 203mm rotor, the spokes only clear by a credit card's thickness...

Options are machining a new caliper adaptor (not enough material in the current one to just face it off) and spacing the rotor out, or cross-lacing the wheels (i.e. right flange goes to left spoke hole). Has anyone else overcome this?

Haven't had any problems with Krampus forks, XT hub, Kris Holm rim and various brake calipers (XT 4pot, Hope E4, BB7, Gatorbrake 6pot) on 160mm and 180mm rotors.

Mmhmm, lucky you. I think the spoke offset on the Rabbit Hole rim is greater than that on the Chris Holm, plus the Surly front hub has high flanges. Unfortunately unless someone is nice enough to post a Chris Holm or Hugo rim to me, the Rabbit Hole is the only rim I can get in NZ.

BB7s fit but they're tight even on a completely stock Krampus. Elixirs are completely out of the question, the wheel won't even go round.

Unfortunately unless someone is nice enough to post a Chris Holm or Hugo rim to me...

Is it just that the postage costs are exorbitant or will shops not even post to NZ?

Yeah the postage would cost rather more than the rim itself. I'm an engineer so I can CNC up a new adaptor easily enough. Or cross-lace. Neither is ideal though.