Salsa Touring Bikes: best models in 2021

A foreword about Touring Salsa Bikes

The company from Bloomington (Minnesota), born in the late '70s by the genius Ross Shafer and his passion for hot spicy salsa, is definitely one of the most known brands in bicycle touring. Salsa bicycles' quality and diffusion made them one of the most used in bicycle touring and adventures by bicycle. We included one of its models, the Marrakesh, in our best touring bicycles list and I am myself a proud and happy owner a Fargo (in my case a customized 2018 Rival), for sure one of the most known models of this company.

Salsa touring bikes are mainly four: the most known Fargo, two travel/gravel bikes such as Vaya and the newest Journeyman, and lastly the Marrakesh. Like we did with Trek Bicycles, Genesis and other brands, we decided to include what we consider as touring models. Salsa produces other types of bicycles: gravel and road ones, as well as fat and MTBs - and we'll try to write about them too. Among these, we can list Warbird, Cutthroat, Stormchaser or the newborn Mukluk. Maybe we'll take into consideration these models too, but for now, we'll analyze these new 2021 Salsa Touring Bikes:

• Salsa Journeyman (2020 model)
• Salsa Marrakesh 2021
• Salsa Fargo 2021
• Salsa Vaya 2021

Salsa (touring) bikes distribution in 2021

Before going deeper and listing features, prices and impressions about Salsa touring bikes, we have to write a foreword, valid especially for Europe and Italy in particular: considering the pandemic situation, the new 202 models have just been released on the official website. So the models considered might not be available yet, and in one case we included a 2020 bike. 

Salsa Journeyman: technical specs

• Type: Gravel Bike
• Frame: Aluminum 6061-T6
• Fork: Salsa Fantail Deluxe Carbon
• Saddle: WTB Sport Volt
• Dropbar: Salsa Cowbell Drop Bar 
• Transmission: Shimano Sora Sunrace 2x9 46/30 - 11/34
• Brakes: Promax DSK-330R - mechanical disk, 160mm rotor
• Rims: Formula 32h 100mm, WTB STP i19 TCS 700c 2.0
• Tyres: WTB Riddler 700x37c
• Weight (size 54): 11,1 kg
• Accessories: compatibility with Wanderlust rear and/or front rack, eyelets to mount bags or water cages
• Price: 1199 $

Salsa Journeyman: let's start with a gravel bike!

Among Salsa touring bikes, this Journeyman which we bravely include in this 2021 touring list is actually a gravel bike. In my opinion, the right model between quality and price, to start riding and bikepacking. Typical aluminium frame and carbon fork combo, drop bar, double chainring, mechanical brakes, lightweight and reactive. Available in its Sora 650b and Sora 700c, Claris;650b and Claris 700c versions, with drop bar or flat bar, it's getting more and more difficult to find around here, especially in Italy (since our dealer has its own import policies for Salsa bicycles).

This model is ideal as an entry-level bike to start enjoying the creaking of the gravel, for a single-day adventure without going offroad too much. 

Salsa Journeyman Sora 700 - 2020 model

Salsa Marrakesh 2021: technical specs

• Type: Touring Bike
• Frame:  Triple butted 4130 CroMoly Steel
• Fork: Triple butted Salsa Marrakesh 4130 CroMoly Steel
• Saddle: WTB Volt Steel Medium
• Dropbar: Salsa Cowchipper 
• Transmission: Shimano Alivio 3x9 48/36/26 - 11/34
• Brakes: TRP Spyre C - mechanical disk, 160mm rotor
• Rims: Shimano 36h M475 100mm QR, WTB STP i19 TCS 2.0 (front), Shimano 36h M475 135mm QR, WTB STP i19 TCS 2.0 (rear)
• Tyres: Teravail Rampart 700c x 42, tubeless-ready
• Weight (size 54): 14 kg
• Accessories: Salsa Alternator Dropout, Salsa Down Under front rack, Salsa Alternator 135 Low-Deck rear rack
• Price: 1799 $

Salsa Marrakesh 2021: discovering the world

If you're looking for stability and reliability, this is the right model. Salsa conceived everything: touring geometry, Alternator dropout for a better tires versatility, the stiffness of the steel (fork and frame), the certainty of the Shimano transmission with a great gear ratio, numerous positions on the Cowchipper dropbar, compatibility with 700c x 40 up to 29" x 2.0" tires. This Salsa touring bike, with front and a rear rack, is the perfect one for your adventures around the world, giving you the possibility to take advantage of the wide central triangle, perfect for hosting a bikepacking frame bag. 

Among Salsa touring bikes, Marrakesh is the perfect one for long journeys fully loaded exploring the world on your saddle. Color of the new Salsa marrakesh 2021: golden-sand.

New Salsa Marrakesh 2021

Salsa Fargo 2021: technical specs

• Type: Adventure Bike
• Frame: Triple butted CroMoly Steel
• Fork: Salsa Firestarter 100 Carbon
• Saddle: WTB Sport Volt
• Dropbar: Salsa Cowchipper
• Transmission: Sram Apex 1 1x11 11/42
• Brakes: TRP Spyre C - mechanical disk, 160mm rotor
• Rims: WTB Serra 15x100 mm, 32h, WTB ST i25 TCS 2.0 (rear); WTB Serra 12x148mm QR, 32h, WTB ST i25 TCS 2.0 (front)
• Tyres: Teravail Sparwood 29" x 2,2", tubeless-ready
• Weight (size 54): 11,1 kg
• Accessories: compatibility with rear and/or front rack, Salsa Alternator Dropout
• Price: 2399 $

New Salsa Fargo 2021: cycling on a comfy sofa

I'll be biased: being a happy Salsa rider myself, I can say that riding a Fargo introduced me to long and pleasant journeys (making me happy of the sport in itself and the touring side of the journey). On it, I could try my first gravel bikepacking experience and then travel to Greece and Latvia or in the provinces of Parma and Piacenza.

Many features make this Salsa touring bike what I call a "wheeled couch": first of all, its touring geometry extremely comfy, together with the light Firestarter carbon fork, then the dropbar (Cowchipper for the 2021 model or Woodchipper in my case), allowing many positions while riding and great for technical paths, then the clearance of the fork, allowing me to use it as gravel but also close to a fat bike. The only thing about which I'm not totally sure is the single chainring - that's why I customized mine with a double. 

All things considered, taking into account its price which is not low at all, this could be "your lifetime bicycle", for multiple terrains and able to carry big loads, and for long adventures around the world. New 2021 Salsa Fargo colour: electric blue.

Salsa Fargo 2021

Salsa Vaya 2021: technical specs

• Type: Gravel Bike
• Frame: Triple butted CroMoly Steel
• Fork: Salsa Waxwind Carbon
• Saddle: WTB Sport Volt
• Dropbar: Salsa Cowbell Drop Bar 
• Transmission: Shimano GRX600 2x11 46/30 - 11/34
• Brakes: TRP Spyre C - mechanical disk, 160mm rotor
• Rims: WTB Serra Hubs 135 mm QR, 32h, WTB ST i19 TCS 2.0 (rear); WTB Serra Hubs 12x100 mm, 32h, WTB ST i19 TCS 2.0 (front) 
• Tyres: Teravail Cannonball 700c x 38, tubeless-ready
• Weight (size 54): 11,3 kg
• Accessories: Wanderlust rear and/or front rack
• Price: 2499 $

Salsa Vaya 2021: the gravel bike with a touring soul

For almost every type of terrain, this alternative steel gravel bike comes with high-level components, like Shimano GRX 600. Its carbon fork with eyelets allows carrying Anything Cage or other supports. Double chainring, clearance for 700c x 45 or 700c x 28 tires, typical dropbar for this category, reactive and ready for every type of terrain for your bikepacking journeys, with saddle bag and handlebar bag: among Salsa touring bikes, Vaya is maybe not as known as Fargo, but it deserves more attention. During one of my adventures, my fella Davide has been riding it happily. New Salsa Vaya 2021 color: aggressive black with yellow finish.

Salsa Vaya 2021

These are the main models known as new 2021 Salsa touring bikes... As you noticed, we included two light bikepacking and gravel models together with two touring bikes. I am a happy owner and tourer... what about you?

We'll try to include more models in other lists about gravel and all-road models by Salsa.