Surly has updated its Straggler gravel bike. It’s still made of double-butted 4130 chromoly steel tubing and retains its on/off-road and light-bikepacking mandate.
However, after 10 years without an update, there was a lot of catching up to do on the standards front, with today's gravel bikes very different from those of a decade ago.
According to Surly “the new Straggler is for the rider who sees challenges, not obstacles", aimed at those looking for a do-it-all gravel bike that’s equally comfortable on- and off-road.
Updated geometry for wider tyres
While the previous-generation Straggler, which we reviewed in 2023, had a classic double-diamond frameset with a horizontal top tube, the new bike leans into gravel design with a sloping top tube.
Surly says this offers better standover and more travel for riders who choose to fit a dropper post, which wasn’t an option with the previous frameset.
The sloping top tube and shorter seat tube are part of a geometry update that sees Surly also raise the stack for a more upright ride position. It says this should be more comfortable and improve visibility.
With riders fitting ever-wider gravel tyres, Surly has also increased the bottom bracket drop, with the aim of improving stability.
Tyre clearance is upped from 42mm to 50mm. Surly has done the inevitable and converted from 100mm front/135mm rear quick-release dropouts to 100mm/142mm 12mm-diameter thru-axles.
It’s also changed from brake post mounts to flat mounts, and the rear caliper sits inside the rear triangle rather than on the back of the seatstay, again in line with modern gravel bike standards.
The Straggler still comes with a steel fork as standard, but the 44mm non-tapered head tube opens the option to fit a carbon fork or a gravel suspension fork.
The steel fork has an array of bosses, and there are also three sets of bottle bosses on the frame, along with rack and mudguard mounts.
There are no top tube mounts, though, and the frame is designed for external gear/brake cabling with full outers rather than bare cables, as was the case with the previous Straggler. You can route a dropper cable through the frame, though.
Surly Straggler size and pricing details
While the previous bike was available in 11 sizes, Surly has pared down the sizing options to eight. There’s still a good size range, though, with frames from 46 to 64cm.
The price for the Straggler frameset is £899.99 in the UK and $899 in the US.
US riders can also choose from two full builds: Shimano Cues 1x11-speed and Alexrims on Novatec hubs, priced at $1,999 or Shimano GRX RX820 2x12-speed and Teravail Washburn wheels, priced at $2,499.
Full builds of the size 46, 49 and 52 frames are fitted with 650b wheels in place of 700c.
