Surly Asked Me To Send Their Bike Back

Quick Overview

The creator ultimately decided not to send the Surly Moonlander back to the company after realizing how uniquely capable the bike was for extreme off-road conditions, despite the initial administrative burden and the company's less-than-ideal handling of the review process.

Key Points: The creator borrowed the Surly Moonlander, described as the fattest production mountain bike ever made, for video reviews. The bike features a Pinion C1.9 gear box and extremely wide tires (Surly Molenda 24x6.2"), making it highly capable in rock crawling and creek crossings. The creator found the low gearing (52-tooth rear cog) impractical for sustained riding, often needing to pedal hard just to move a little bit. The creator initially planned to return the bike after the review period but decided against it because of the hassle involved (shipping label, RMA process). The creator ultimately kept the bike because of its unique capabilities and his personal enjoyment of riding it, despite acknowledging the administrative burden of returning it. The creator contrasts the Moonlander's simplicity and durability with newer, high-tech bikes, noting that Surly/QBP still supplies components directly to bike shops.

Context: The video centers around the creator's experience with the Surly Moonlander, an exceptionally wide-tired fat bike that he borrowed for content creation. Having used it for various challenging rides, including rock crawling and deep creek crossings, the creator reflects on the company's loan process, the bike's unique features like the Pinion gearbox and massive tires, and his ultimate decision regarding its return.

Detailed Analysis

The creator recounts the process of borrowing the Surly Moonlander for videos, noting that he initially intended to return it after the filming was complete. He explains that getting the bike required contacting the marketing department and receiving an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) shipping label, which he found cumbersome. He describes riding the Moonlander, which is characterized by its massive 24x6.2" tires and Pinion C1.9 gearbox, through very difficult terrain like rock crawls and deep creek crossings, noting the bike's impressive ability to handle these obstacles without getting bogged down or tangled. However, he also points out the impracticality of the lowest gear ratios (a 52-tooth rear cog) for normal riding, requiring constant pedaling effort. After filming, he considered sending the bike back to avoid storing it, but ultimately decided to keep it because he enjoyed riding it so much, concluding that the bike is historically significant as one of the last non-electric, highly specialized fat bikes from Surly/QBP. He praises Surly for making simple, customizable bikes and contrasts this approach with the current industry trend toward newer, specialized technology.