Last Updated on 6 January 2026 by Cycloscope
Surly Pugsley Review! Tire clearance, wheel size, gears, drivetrain, weight, geometry. A Legendary Bikepacking Fat Bike.
The Surly Pugsley is a fabulous bikepacking machine that, unfortunately, was discontinued from production in 2021. In this article, we’ll review the Surly Pugsley and explain why it’s worth looking for a second-hand Pugsley.
About Fat Bikes
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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.
Fat bikes are exactly what they sound like, bikes with very fat tires – typically 3.8″ (97 mm) or even wider.
Fat bikes are designed 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, snowy mountains, or arctic latitudes in winter, a fat bike is what you want; otherwise, look elsewhere.
Our favourite bikepacking fat bike
Surly Pugsley [+/- $1,900]
- 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 is 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, 26×4.3, 60 TPI, Tubeless Ready Tires, they are a semi-invincible couple.
The longer chainstay 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 are ready as bikepacking cargo cages.
The Surly Moloko Bar offers a 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? Are gravel bikes good for travel? What’s the best type of bike for touring? Are all the basics to go long-distance cycle touring? What about folding bike adventures?
Cycloscope got you covered! Just follow the links above and explore the extensive 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 weigh?
The weight of a complete build on a Surly Pugsley, size M, is 15.35kg / 33 pounds 13 ounces.