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Our Rating: 10/10
Model
Thorn Raven Tour
Purchased August 2008
Description
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Built by touring bicycle specialist
SJS Cycles in the UK, the Thorn Raven Tour has
a steel frame, a Rohloff hub and strong 26 inch wheels. For full specifications refer
to our kit list. When we ordered our bicycles we
requested a few upgrades including more durable Rigida rims, Brooks leather saddles
and Thorn steel front and rear racks.
Review
Bicycle trouble is one of our worst fears, especially in remote locations. Fortunately
the Thorn Raven Tour has risen to every challenge we have thrown at it, it truly is
a well thought through touring bike. We have spent countless days slamming into
potholes at speed, riding through thick mud, torrential rain, extreme heat, nothing
seems to worry them. After about 15,000 km of intense use, the only maintenance
we have done was to increase the chain tension once in a while (10 minute job),
complete an oil change on the Rohloff hub every 5,000km (half hour job), and replace
the brake pads once (half hour job). At about the 17,000km mark we will reverse the
chain ring and sprocket and fit a new chain, effectively giving us another 17,000km
for the purchase of just one chain (cost of £10).
The ride is smooth and predictable under heavy loads and also manages well for light
weight commuting, a tribute to the versatility of the frame. The ergonomic Mk2 comfort
handle bars offer a natural upright position that we find comfortable however drop
bars were not presented as an option at the time of purchase if you also wanted
the Rohloff hub.
We have full confidence in the Raven, and we believe the Rohloff hub is an integral
part of this as it simplifies our bike setup (no derailleurs) and gives us extra
strength on the rear wheel (refer to Rohloff hub review for more information). In
countries like India where locals like to fiddle we had no concerns with roaming
hands and we happily check in our bikes un-boxed whenever the airlines permit it.
Customer
support is fast and very comprehensive, and SJS Cycles will quickly answer queries by email
or phone. They will also ship parts all over the world. Fortunately we have not
had to make use of this service so far, as it can be quite expensive and sometimes
unreliable to have parts shipped to a faraway country.
Initially it took us a while to get the setup spot on, as we both felt the bikes
were a bit too big for us. Replacing the stem with a shorter one fixed these issues.
On very steep hill climbs when fully loaded we sometimes feel as though we could
do with one more gear. A slightly smaller chain ring than our standard 26x16 size
would have been beneficial as we would happily forego one of the higher gears. Of course
this depends on the terrain you are riding in and your ability to push the bigger
gears. A chain ring is easily replaced and relatively cheap.
If in doubt, try out the Thorn Raven Tour bicycle, SJS are so confident that offer a 100 day moneyback guarantee.
Pros
- Reliable
- Comfortable
- Durable
- Low maintenance
- Smooth ride
- Excellent customer support
Cons
- At 15kg the steel framed bikes are reasonably heavy
- The inner tube valve holes only fit Presta and not
Schrader (car valves). It would be nice to have the option
for both so ask SJS to drill larger holes into the rims to support
both types.
Reviewed On
28th March 2011
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