Last Updated on 26 July 2023 by Cycloscope
Surly Pugsley Review! Tire clearance, wheel size, gears, drivetrain, weight, geometry. A Legendary Bikepacking Fat Bike. Has is been discontinued?
The Surly Pugsley is a fabulous bikepacking machine that unfortunately has been discontinued from production in 2021. In this article we’ll review the Surly Pugsley and you’ll understand why it’s worth looking for a second hand Pugsley to buy.
About Fat Bikes
Fat bikes are exactly what they sound like, bikes with very fat tires – typically 3.8″ (97 mm) or even wider.
Fat bikes are meant to ride in all terrain conditions, including snow, ice, and thick sand. They are also quite heavy though, and replacement parts can be hard to source.
Characteristics of Fat Bikes
- Fat tires/All terrain
- Natural suspension
- MTB geometry
Fat bikes are meant for unique expeditions – if planning to ride across deserts, snowed mountains, or artic latitudes in winter a fat bike is what you want, otherwise… look elsewhere
Our favourite bikepacking fat bike
Surly Pugsley [+/- $1,900]
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How we write our reviews: most of our reviews are based on first-hand long-term use or short-term test by a member of our team. For some new models or build variations, we rely on our experience with similar models and our team's experience in understanding bike geometry and components.
- Frame Material: Chromoly Steel
- Fork: Chromoly Steel
- Wheel Size: 26″
- Number of Spokes: 32
- Number of Gears: 11
- Max Tire Clearance: 4.8″ back / 4.3″ front
- Drive Train: Shimano SLX Raceface
- Max speed: 34 km/h
- Weight: 15 kg
A bicycle specifically designed to handle sand and snow. Surly claims this bike the “ultimate expedition bike tailored for off-road touring and exploration”.
The mammoth tire clearance of 26″ x 4.8″ tires in the back (with drivetrain restrictions) and 26″ x 4.3″ tires in the fork allows you to play with pressure and ride in comfort on almost any surface imaginable.
The rims are (80mm) dual hole pattern, Tubeless Ready rims custom made by Surly. Paired with Surly Edna, 26Ă—4.3, 60 TPI, Tubeless Ready Tires they are a semi-invincible couple
The longer chain stay guarantees heel clearance for panniers, although a proper rack should be used, such as the Surly Nice rack.
All the eyelets you might need are brazed-on the inside and outside of the frame. The forks is bikepacking cargo cages ready.
The Surly Moloko Bar offer a different variety of hand positions and space for electronics, which is what you want for extended bikepacking expeditions.
The gear is a 1X11 setup, with an 11/46 rear cog and a 30T chainring.
The Surly Pugsley is relatively affordable for a fat bike at just 1,900 USD.
Surly Pugsley in a Nutshell
| max tire clearance | 26″ x 4.8″ back / 26″ x 4.3″ front |
| gearing | 1X11 11/46 |
| weight | 15 kg (size M) |
Surly Pugsley Technical Specifications
Frameset and build
| Frame | Surly Pugsley, 100% Surly NATCH 4130 Chromoly steel. Double-butted main triangle. TIG-welded. Offset laced wheels. 142mm, 135mm with 10/12 adaptors. |
|---|---|
| Fork | Surly Pugsley, Tapered straight blade NATCH 4130 Chromoly. Offset laced wheels. 135mm spacing. |
| Bottom Bracket | Race Face |
| Headset | Cane Creek |
| Stem | ProMax 31.8 |
| Handlebar | Surly Moloko Bar |
| Saddle | WTB Volt Sport |
| Seatpost | 2 Bolt 27.2 |
Components
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano SLX RD-7000 GS 11 Speed |
|---|---|
| Crank | Race Face AEffect, 30T |
| Shifters | Shimano SLX-11 |
| Cassette | Sunrace 11 speed, 11-46 |
| Chain | KMC X11-1 EPT Anti-Rust |
| Brakes | Avid BB7 Mountain |
| Brake Levers | SRAM FR-5 |
Wheels
| Rims | Surly My Other Brother Darryl (80mm), black, dual hole pattern, Tubeless Ready |
|---|---|
| Front Hub | Surly Ultra New, Freewheel, Bolt-on |
| Rear Hub | Shimano FH-M525, 32h QR |
| Tires | Surly Edna, 26×4.3, 60 TPI, Tubeless Ready |
| Disk Rotors | SRAM Centerline 160/160mm |
Surly Pugsley Geometry and Sizing
| Size | XS | SM | MD | LG | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 26″ | 26″ | 26″ | 26″ | 26″ |
| Stack | 573 | 587 | 600 | 615 | 629 |
| Reach | 385 | 390 | 405 | 420 | 436 |
| Stack/Reach Ratio | 1.49 | 1.50 | 1.48 | 1.46 | 1.44 |
| Top Tube Length | 560 | 580 | 600 | 620 | 640 |
| Seat Tube Length | 327 | 377 | 427 | 478 | 529 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 73.0 | 72.0 | 72.0 | 72.0 | 72.0 |
| Head Tube Length | 100 | 115 | 130 | 145 | 160 |
| Head Tube Angle | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 |
| BB Drop | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| BB Height | 278 | 278 | 278 | 278 | 278 |
| Front Center | 624 | 634 | 654 | 675 | 695 |
| Chainstay Length | 460 | 460 | 460 | 460 | 460 |
| Wheelbase | 1,076 | 1,086 | 1,106 | 1,127 | 1,148 |
| Rake | 43 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 43 |
| Trail | 82 | 83 | 82 | 82 | 82 |
| Standover Height | 734 | 762 | 794 | 826 | 857 |
Measures in metric units (millimeters / degrees)
Want to know more about bikepacking? How to go bicycle camping with your MTB? If gravel bikes are good for travel? What’s the best type of bike for touring? All the basics to go long distance cycle touring? What about folding bike adventures?
Cycloscope got you covered! Just follow the links above and get lost through the encyclopedic amount of bike travel content on cycloscope.net.
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FAQs About Surly Pugsley
Has the Surly Pugsley been discontinued?
Yes, unfortunately Surly doesn’t manufacture this adventure fat bike anymore. You can still find it in the second hand market and it will be a great purchase.
How much does a Surly Pugsley weight?
The weight of a full build Surly Pugsley size M is 15.35kg /Â 33 pounds 13 ounces.