Hi all, just after some opinions.

Looking at buying a new bike this weekend, mainly for bikepacking.
I've narrowed it down to, the sonder broken road TI or the salsa Fargo (steel).
I like that sonder is a uk brand, love the fact it's a reasonably priced ti bike and it's versatile, an the salsa is a nice bit of kit, just as versatile but not ti, it does have the drop bars which I do quite like.

Thanks in advance :)

Aid

Never ridden a Broken Road so can't comment ... apart from saying that I no longer trust Ti frames, no matter who made it.

However, I did have a good look at the new Fargo the other week in that strange silver colour and sporting B+, I was most taken by it.

Cheers, well I do love the look of the Fargo, did it seem heavy? What's your problem with TI just out of interest? It seems to be the IN material.

well I do love the look of the Fargo, did it seem heavy?

Given that it had + wheels / tyres, not too heavy.

What's your problem with TI just out of interest?

Seen far too many crack over the last eight or so years. I know every frame material can fail but Ti seems to be very vulnerable.

It seems to be the IN material.

Asbestos was once.

Haha cheers well I'm heading to slam 69 in Gloucester tomorrow to check the Fargo out, would be a good bike for the central belter I reckon. Asbestos was and still is a very good insulator.

What about the Genesis Vagabond? British brand, drop bars, don't know if it'll take B+ wheels though?

The vagabonds smart, not sure why but I'm just not that into it, maybe get a frame and build it up would be quite good.

The other bike I've seen is the on one space chicken, good price an you can run 29er wheels on it, its undoubtedly light, could easily stick some road wheels on an use it for abit of training on the dark side. It's a hard call buying a new bike.

Had a fargo since 2013 and they are very good bikes. Super comfy tourer, ace handling on twisty road descents (I know someone who put schwalbe fat alberts on theirs and reported much silly cornering speeds as a result) and surprisingly capable off road, even on single track. Thats their main fault - they encourage you to try to ride stuff they aren't really suited to! But I guess that could be interpreted as a good thing. The new version looks to be better still as it will take 29+ which is well worth a go on a rigid. Put a set of jones loop bars on it to make it even more capable off-road

If Slam 69 is your local ship that'd be enough to clinch it for the fargo, for me. Graham rules and so does steel.

Does the Marin Four Corners elite tick enough boxes?