WTB: 59 Susie frameset

[Teague Scott]

Sitting here, still nursing a broken heart after missing out on Bones' Susie a couple of weeks back. Joined the group some years ago but have held out on getting a Riv ($$$; been rocking the Riv-adjacent). I thought this might be the one! Was emailing back and forth, deep in contemplation, and just before I decided to go for it another Riv-nut with their mind made up and ready to go snapped the beauty up.

So, here I am on the hunt for a 59cm Susie frameset. I'm hesitant to drop the big bucks on a pristine frame that’ll serve as a rough-stuff Idaho bikepacking rig, so some beausage is OK especially if it means forking out a little less. Gold or green (or any other color if there ever was one), either is fine. Fillet would be preferable but down for whatever.

Let me know if you've got a big Susie you’re considering moving along!

Thanks,

Teague

[Richard Rose]

Teague, must it be a 59? C&L still has a 56.

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 21, 2024, at 11:59 PM, Teague Scott <tksc...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Teague Scott]

Alas, it must be a 59. 94cm pbh here.

[iamkeith]

Being a Susie owner, AND being familiar with Idaho rough-stuff bikepacking conditions*,  AND considering your size, I'd suggest focussing your search toward finding a Gus Boots-Willsen.  It will hold up better.

In case you're not completely familiar, the Gus is the original version of the hillibike and was all fillet brazed. It had larger diameter tubing and a 1 1/8 threadless headset.  The  Susie was originally intended as a lightweight version of Gus, for lightweight people who would NOT use it for heavily loaded or rough riding.  In the final iteration, the two versions were sort of merged into the Susie.  This is the partly-lugged version.  I think it had the smaller diameter tubing, but slightly more stout than the original Susie.  It also had some VERY subtle geometry refinements - though not necessarily conducive to loaded, backcountry bike packing.  

This all happened because the original lightweight Susies were holding up better than expected, under heavier riders than originally expected.  But that's probably because people weren't riding them as hard as anticipated, either.  (I'm a prime example - large, but baby the bike. ) When pushed to the limits however, there WERE examples of the Susie frame failing.  There's a pretty good discussion of one such case, here in the forum posts, from a member who had been doing a cross-country tour, if you look hard enough.

(*I'm from closely-neighboring part of Wyoming, at one time also from closely-neighboring parts of Montana.  One of my oldest, closest friends, is heavily involved in Idaho trail building.  He is Dave, featured in this recent article, which seems appropriate to share:  

https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-trails/youll-have-the-trails-all-to-yourself-in-salmon-idaho-but-youd-better-be-prepared/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0UsgDTsUMJdG81wspKrqI-LrObT5sATjvs8H46PHyfF3WMoYieD94l9y4_aem_y0LkgZI3nES4oEYtiWSXRg   )

[Garth]

I have a 59 Susie that I'd like to sell Teague. It's from the original 2019 batch, burnt orange and fillet brazed. It's brand new and in the box, with protective wrap still on it. I have it all well packed , so only have a few photos of it in the box. You can contact me offlist if you're still looking about details. I'm not tethered to electronic media, so don't expect prompt replies, at most the next day.

(If anyone else is reading this is interested, unless you've been here on this list with a participatory history, I'm not interested.)

[brendonoid]

Fillet brazed 59cm owner here chiming in to say it isn't a great choice for tough bike-packing bike. Light loads will make the frame notably flex. 

You'll want a Gus Boots or one of the new lugged ones.

The new lugged ones have thicker tubes but most importantly top tubes connect higher up on the seat tube greatly improving frame triangulation and strength.

[Teague Scott]

First off, I want to thank y'all for reaching out/chiming in here or directly. Garth, I've had a couple leads on Susies come in already, thanks for the offer.

I've had some phone chats with a couple potential 59cm fillet sellers (always great connecting with folks from the bunch that way) who reckon I'd get away with using the Susie for my purposes. That said, Brendonoid & Keith, you've both had me going down the RBW list wormhole - found the frame failure post & a number of threads documenting loaded down Susies and general ride quality.

Sounds like regardless of my slender build (6'3", 175lbs soaking wet) the Susie will be a bit wiggly loaded down. To date I've been doing most of my bikepacking on a 64cm Black Mountain monstercross. I wouldn't say that frame is well suited for massive loads either and it has taught me a lot about paring down my kit for a lighter ride, a habit I'd carry over to a fatter tired bike like the Suz. Also, the "rough-stuff" I intend on riding isn't a bunch of singletrack like you'd find in Salmon, ID. I'm more into forest service roads (sometimes a bit bumpy/pretty washboarded) with the occasional short, speedy descent down rutted out sections. Probably not going to do something like the Smoke and Fire race on a Susie. Or ever.

Keith, I may have met your buddy while hiking a trail out Salmon ways a few years back. I bumped into a crew doing trail maintenance - one or two guys on motorcycles, one on horseback, and a couple on foot. They were getting way out there with all the gear. Pretty impressive! Brendonoid, I commented on one of your reddit threads recently. Your setup is similar to what I'd be rocking. Sounds like you're not the happiest with the way that setup rides?

Seems a lugged Susie might be best for my purposes, but not crossing fingers many of those are going to hit the used market too soon.

- Teague

[brendonoid]

Teague,

I have a very light loadout and weigh 79kg at just over 6ft. The Susie rides great with less than 10kg in the back and ~less than five on a rack/basket, a bit more in just a handlebar bag. The frame will flex even without a load in a very pleasant way that I get used to immediately and find very comfortable. With loads in a basket I have induced cascading shimmy which has scared me. Only on high speed, asphalt surface descents. I really like how the Susie rides and it surprises me with how capable it is frequently but with no triangles in that big long front end physics eventually wins.

However, I am aware of my own limitations and have a practiced technique that allows me to confidently underbike.

It sounds like you are going into this with your eyes open and will be fine. I just worry that people see pics of loaded Susies on the internet and get the wrong ideas.

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[Sam Scoville]

I think C&L has one in dark gold: https://www.clcycle.ca/en/rivendell-cadre-et-fourche-a-raccords-susie-w-long.html

I emailed them thinking about buying one as well and they can ship to the US for 150.

I posted an ISO of on here and received a scammer's offer. BEWARE. I've received such emails every time I've posted an ISO or WTB conversation on Google Groups bicycle pages and other bicycle forums.