The ultra-super fat tire [Surly Moonlander] will be arriving soon!

It's finally here! The new Surly Moonlander, a maverick that could change the history of bicycles.

When I first saw the images, I was blown away, but I was even more surprised when I checked the specs.

This is Surly! A wonderful bicycle that will loosen up your rigid way of thinking and make cycling fun and interesting is now available.

I actually saw it at the exhibition. I've also posted a video on YouTube, so please check it out.

 

This is the new Surly Moonlander.

Surly Moonlander Complete Bike

Price: 726,000 yen

Size: M (height 165-175cm)

*Grumpy will receive M size in late September.

S size (height 160-170cm) is available for order in very limited quantities.

 

It was just announced, but what's immediately noticeable is its thick tires.

To be honest, when I first saw them, I wondered, "What's up with these?"

Because it was completely different from what bicycles are usually compared to – light, fast, performance, grade... So it was difficult to judge whether it was good or bad.

So, I decided to ride it! I immediately took it for a test ride.

 

Conclusion: What I felt was that this was unlike any bicycle I had ridden before!

I tried to find a similar bike to describe the Moonlander, like "It rides like an XX" or "It feels like an XX with fatter tires," but there was none.

I felt that this bicycle was not simply a fat bike with fatter tires, but a bicycle genuinely designed to make cycling fun and interesting (even to ride on the moon).

 

Now let's check each part.

The tires included with the complete bike are Surly's new Molenda 24 X 6.2 (158mm tire width).

With a width of 6.2 inches, these super-ultra-wide tires are three times the width of regular MTB tires, and you'll probably never encounter them in normal cycling life.

These tires are tubeless-ready, so you can convert them to tubeless with tubeless tape.

Surly offers a wide range of fat tires, but compared to other models, you'll understand their unusual thickness.

https://surlybikes.com/parts/tires

 

Molenda tires have a maximum air pressure of 1.4 bar (20 PSI), which is extremely low pressure.

They feel as soft as a swimming tube, so when riding on the road, there's a unique floating sensation, as if you're riding on clouds.

Even on soft and difficult-to-ride surfaces, the ultra-low pressure allows you to surprisingly ride through.

If you look at the tires in the image below from Surly's official page, you'll understand their low pressure.

 

The Moonlander is a convertible model that can be fitted with four different wheel sizes.

It's a unique bike that can accommodate 24, 26, 27.5, and 29-inch fat tires.

It's compatible with most fat bike tires on the market.

The maximum installable width is as follows:

 

 

The drivetrain features Surly's first 9-speed Pinion gearbox.

The internal gears are located in the bottom bracket area of the frame, and shifting is done with a grip shifter (by rotating the grip).

The gearbox is a shifting system that is resistant to bad weather and requires less maintenance because the gears are enclosed within the frame.

The complete bike comes with a 9-speed setup.

Pinion gears are still rare in Japan, but they are gradually being adopted in more MTB and E-bike models.

It's a drivetrain that's being re-evaluated for its simple appearance, easy chain maintenance, and improved balance by centralizing the heavy shifting components within the frame.

It's a perfect gear for the Surly Moonlander, a fat bike that's one step ahead.

That's not all.

What I rediscovered when I saw the actual product was the presence of a rear derailleur hanger.

This means that a normal external derailleur can also be installed.

If you install an 11-speed derailleur, combined with the Pinion gear, you'd get 9x11 = 99 speeds...

However, you'll need to think a bit during customization.

 

The frame has eyelets for racks and bottle cages, so accessories can be attached.

By the way, the Surly Wide Rear Disc Rack can be attached to the rear rack. You can also refer to the custom examples posted on Bikepackng.com's Instagram.

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A post shared by BIKEPACKING.com (@bikepackingcom)

  

Only a limited number will be imported into Japan, and Grumpy will be receiving the M size.

If you prefer other sizes, please inquire.

If you've finally found your destined bike, and it's given you that "zing," then go for it!