February 25th, 2010

We’ve just got a nice new bike in, but in very limited numbers. It’s
a KHS Flite Tr-101.  It’s very similar to the Long Haul Truckers
(LHTs) we build a lot of (including two recently for a couple doing a
trip through Mongolia).  Like the LHTs we can customize them to meet
specific needs (the Mongolia trip bikes needed stronger wheels and
dyno hubs).  However, it’s ready as is, to take touring, with both mud guards and a rear rack.

Like the LHT it has room for wide 700c tyres and fenders, drop bars
with bar end shifters, all the braze-ons you need for racks,
mud-guards, etc and very wide range gearing with a triple chainring
crankset.  Both are made out of oversized cromoly tubing which should last forever if it’s well looked after.

Here are the specs for the KHS out of the box:
http://www.khsbicycles.com/05_flite_tr_101_10.htm

Overall, the KHS is a small step down from the LHT.  That said, there
are some differences that make the choice between the two less
clear-cut.  The KHSs have V-brakes (with Dia-Compe drop-bar levers )
which offer a bit more braking power and easier pad adjustment.  The
KHS comes with a rear rack.  It also has slightly more offset on the
forks, which should make the steering a little bit livelier and make
it better for taking a load on the front.

At the end of the day though, the LHT has nicer parts overall.  The
two bikes are normally similar in price, and because the LHT is such
great value the KHS didn’t sell that well.  But now we’ve got a few
KHSs at a lower price which we can sell for $1000.  At this price
they’re the best value touring or commuting bike we know of.  In fact, you could have a pretty heavily customized KHS for the price of a stock LHT.