Novara Safari is the ultimate adventure-touring bike, built for dirt roads, heavy loads and exploring new abodes.
I Stand Corrected
Pros: Comfortable, Responsive, Good Geometry, Handles Well, Sturdy
Best Uses: Long Distance Touring, Commuting, Casual Riding
Describe Yourself: Avid Cyclist
Was this a gift?: No
I originally wrote a review of the 2011 model prior to taking it on tour. After logging 600 miles of pre-tour riding, I toured from New York City to the Oregon coast fully loaded with panniers on front and back. While I did make some alterations to the bike (Tubus rear rack; Jandd front rack; clipless pedals) the bike would have performed just fine without them.
Some of the best features of this bike are the grip shifting, wide tires, and trekking handlebar. The shifting is precise and allows you to run through a range of gears quickly and accurately. The tires can go up to a 45mm and at one point on tour I replaced one of them with a 42mm. This allows for a nice smooth ride at the cost of some speed (touring is slow anyway) and for a guy my size (240lbs prior to trip) having a sturdy tire under a heavy load was important. The tires it comes with are nothing special. I would ride them until they start producing flats but then replace them with Schwalbe or Vittoria tires for less fuss.
The handlebars are great because they do allow for a multitude of different hand positions which is crucial when you're on the bike for hours each day. As with any bike, much is personal preference so upon purchasing this product, give yourself some time to tinker with the saddle height, saddle tilt, and handlebar tilt to dial it in just right.
I will also note that under heavy load this bike is a tank, and not in a bad way. While it was difficult to get up hills, the gearing is enough to allow you to gear down into a manageable gearing that enables you to keep pedaling while the bike is moving slowly. Once you get the bike moving it likes to stay very steady and can be a joy to ride on the flats once you pick up some momentum, yet this bike is very responsive when you want it to be and still very reliable while flying down steep hills (reached upwards of 45mph).
All in all this bike is a dream and I must change from my original 4-star review simply because for the price this bike does everything you would hope it would do. Even though those I rode with were on more expensive bikes (Surly LHT and Fuji Touring) I felt my bike was better for me personally than their models. Consider this bike a dark horse and give it a test ride.
(legalese)
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