What is the best touring bike in Australia in 2023?

There are many different touring bikes on the market, but which one is the best for you?

This blog post will look at some of the most popular touring bikes and compare their features. We’ll also discuss what to look for when buying a touring bike and give you our top picks for the best touring bike in 2023.

So, whether you’re seeking to buy your first bike or are simply interested in what’s available, keep reading!

How we tested:

To determine the best touring bikes for 2023, we looked at various factors, including speed, weight, comfort, and accessories.

We also consulted with experts in the cycling industry, including professional riders and bike mechanics, to get their opinions on what makes a touring bike great.

Here are our top shortlisted best touring bikes under $1500.

Top 8 Touring Bikes In Australia 2023

 FUJI Touring Disc 

The Fuji Touring Disc is the best bike for long-distance touring and the perfect way to explore the old-fashioned way by loading panniers. The affordable price tag might compromise higher-quality finishing kits, and bar-end shifters may not be everyone’s cup of tea. However, we can easily upgrade it over time.

You have a few options if you’re looking to strap some baggage to your bike for a long trip. You can attach it to the frame, handlebar, and seat post or use a sturdy rack with front and back panniers.

With all the different mounts available on this frame – bottle cages, kit cages, and a rear rack – you can carry everything you need without issue.

The Fuji Tour

The Fuji Tour is a great bike for anyone looking for a reliable, comfortable & calm ride.

Out of all the bikes compared, the Fuji Touring provides exceptional value. It is constructed with high-quality Reynolds 520 steel tubing, features durable Shimano components, and has excellent tires.

Other bikes may be more reliable for trips heavily loaded with expedition gear, but this is still a great first-touring bike for anyone just starting out falling under budget range bikes.

The Kona Sutra

The Kona sutra is one of the most popular touring bikes on the market, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a versatile bike that can handle a variety of terrain, and it’s outfitted with all the features you need for a comfortable ride.

The frame is made from lightweight aluminium, so it’s easy to carry when not pedaling. And the suspension fork and disc brakes make tackling rough roads a breeze.

Best of all, the Kona sutra has a comprehensive warranty, so you can rest assured that your investment is protected. The Kona Sutra is a great option if you’re looking for a high-quality touring bike that won’t break the bank.

Vivente Touring Bicycles

Vivente bikes have been designed to be all-road and adventure bikes with wider touring handlebars. They also include accommodation for bigger tires, lower gears, and increased tolerance for harsher use.

However, they retain the status of classic Australian on-road touring bikes built for both those who pack lightly and those who are adventurers who may come across rougher roads.

Schwalbe Almotion tires and a dynamo lighting system make riding safer in the city. If you’re caught in the rain while out on a ride, mudguards keep the cyclist behind you clean, and the Tubus rear rack is perfect for carrying cargo on long bike trips or short errands.

Vivente Bike’s comfortable touring bike handlebars and timeless style will make your next adventure everything you need and more.

 Allegro T1

The hallmark of an Allegro bicycle is its high-quality custom butted steel or aluminium tubing that is both lightweight and compliant for excellent ride quality. Every Allegro is equipped with either Shimano or SRAM drivetrains and components specially chosen for the Aussie commute.

The Allegro T1 is a great all-around bike perfect for commuting, cyclocross, and even light touring. It’s made with a lightweight workhorse steel frame and features wide tyre clearance for larger durable tyres (up to 38C without fenders), powerful Tektro brakes, and a full SRAM Apex 10-speed groupset.

The bar-end shifters are standard, but you can upgrade to DoubleTap brifters aftermarket. The FSA Omega build kit and Kalloy Seatpost make this bike both comfortable and durable, and it comes with an alloy rear rack and fenders for added utility. Whether you’re riding on the road or the trail, the Allegro T1 is up for the challenge.

Ridgeback Panorama 2023

The Ridgeback Panorama shares many similarities with the Fuji Touring Disc, such as a Reynolds steel frame, Chromoly steel fork, a triple Shimano chainset, and Shimano gears.

The TRP Spyre mechanical discs provide great braking power whether you’re coming down from the top or dropping in. While hydraulic discs will always be better than cable-actuated discs, the latter still offer consistent and controlled stopping. Plus, they work much better in rainy conditions than rim brakes do.

Ridgeback’s Panorama is perfect for long, leisurely rides. You don’t notice that it only has a 9-speed cassette rather than a 10-speed one. It comes complete with three bottle cages and full-length mudguards. It’s a fine tourer and, although heavy, it’s a supremely comfortable commuter – no need for a backpack.

Salsa Vaya

The Salsa Vaya Tour Bike is one of the best budget touring bikes that is a perfect choice for those looking to do serious touring, both on and off-road. It features a steel frame, fork for durability, and Sram gearing for smooth shifting.

The wheels are also great for touring, providing good traction and stability. The only downside to this bike is that the double road crankset needs to achieve bigger gear for steep climbs with gear. STI shifters can also be problematic on remote tours.

The Vaya is a popular choice for anyone looking for an any-road adventure bike that can handle light touring. With its ample tire clearance, cargo capacity, and smooth steel ride, it’s comfortable and capable on all terrain. Plus, its steel frame makes it zippy on the road too.

TREK 520 

The TREK 520 is a great tour bike for anyone looking for a comfortable, reliable ride. I’ve had mine for about a year, and it’s been on plenty of longer rides.

It’s a great gravel bike for both paved roads and gravel paths. The frame is lightweight aluminium, making it easy to maneuver. The bike also comes with front and rear suspension, which helps to smooth out bumps in the road. The brake levers are responsive and provide plenty of stopping power. The bike has plenty of gears for climbing hills or cruising on flat terrain.

The 520 comes with a steel frame, rack, and mudguard braze-on for stability when loading gear onto the front or back of the bike. It also has a wide range of gears to manage steeper inclines. Finally, tubeless-ready wheels and mechanical disc brakes make this classic bike more modern without sacrificing its tried-and-true design features.

How to choose the best touring bike for your needs?

A lot of people look for a touring bike is comfort and durability. It means that you should consider factors like the frame material, the fork type, touring bike should offer in terms of features depending on how you plan to use it. For example, you will be covering a lot of terrains, and the touring bike should include the following:

• A lightweight & durable frame, material such as steel or aluminium.
• An efficient and responsive suspension system in a good touring bike can help absorb shock from bumpy roads.
• Wide, durable wheels with good traction can handle paved and unpaved roads.
• Carry heavy loads, such as panniers or a trailer. Whether you need to carry many goods, these bikes should have to depend on your needs and budget.
• High-quality materials used in construction, gearing options, wheel size, and suspension system are great choices for the best touring bike.

 What are the best features of a touring bike? 

Some of the important features to look out for in a touring bike are:

Bikesories: A quality touring bike usually comes with a handlebar bag, front and rear panniers, and mounting brackets for additional accessories.

Gearing: These bikes typically have a wide range of gears to ensure smooth pedalling regardless of the terrain. It is achieved through either multiple chainrings or an internally geared hub.

Handlebars: Touring bikes are typically outfitted with wider, puncture-resistant tires for added stability and comfort, especially when touring on dirt or gravel roads.

Suspension: Many modern touring bikes come equipped with a front suspension fork to help smooth out bumps in the road, making your ride more comfortable and enjoyable riding experiences. If a full suspension system is unavailable, some running models can be upgraded with an aftermarket suspension seat post for extra cushioning.

Tires: The tires on a touring bike are designed to be durable and puncture-resistant, so you can ride on any surface, including unpaved roads or gravel paths, without worrying about flats. Typically, touring bike tires also have reflective sidewalls for visibility in low-light conditions.

Frame: One of the most important features of a touring bike is that it’s built forgeries: In addition to the basic component choice of a touring bike, many useful accessories can help you make the most out of your riding experience.

Other features may include:

• Disc brakes for improved stopping power.
• Mounting points for racks and fenders.
• Provisions for carrying water bottles and other gear.

When choosing the best touring bike for your needs, it’s important to consider all of these factors along with your budget.

Accessories you’ll need for your touring bike.

Based on our experience with bikes, the following five accessories are a must-buy for your touring bike:

• A bike computer or GPS for tracking your speed and distance travelled.
• Fenders and mudguards to help protect you and your bike from road spray.
• Hydration packs, water bottles, or other hydration systems to stay hydrated on long rides.
• Rear rack, panniers, or front basket for carrying gear like camping supplies, clothing, or food while touring.
• Lights to increase visibility and safety when riding in low-light conditions.

 Touring Bike Geometry

We cannot stress enough how important it is to understand the frame geometry of a touring bike. There are some of the important aspects of bike geometry that are important for touring in touring bikes:

• Head tube angle, which affects how responsive and stable the bike feels. A slacker head tube angle will provide more stability, while a steeper head tube angle will promote more responsiveness and agility.
• Top tube length, which impacts how comfortable the rider is when they are in an upright position or leaned over to tackle a steep downhill or climb
• Bottom bracket height determines how well a bike can maneuver on rough terrain. A lower bottom bracket height provides better clearance when riding over obstacles but may be less comfortable when pedalling on flat ground.
• Wheelbase length affects how stable and agile the bike feels. Shorter wheelbases Tour Bikes are the perfect choice for exploring and discovering new places on two wheels.

 Features, making them distinctive and special.

One of the key features that sets touring bikes apart from other types of bicycles is their geometry. Touring bike geometry is designed to provide riders with a stable and responsive riding experience while also being comfortable enough to handle long rides on rough terrain.

Other features that make touring bikes unique include durable components, such as puncture-resistant tires and disc brakes for improved braking power; versatile backpacks for carrying gear and water; and lighting systems for increased visibility in low light conditions.

Whether you are looking for an adventure bike or want to explore your local area, our top-rated touring cycles are equipped with everything to provide you with the best experience of long-distance touring.