Surly Karate Monkey – Loam Gold Custom Build

Some bikes show up ready to party. Others come alive only once you start shaping them into what they were meant to be. This custom Surly Karate Monkey in Loam Gold sits firmly in the second camp - a trail-slaying, bikepacking-ready, summer-adventure machine built the Bicycle Junction way.

Built for Wellington’s mix of steep climbs, rooty singletrack, and long gravel missions, this Karate Monkey blurs categories in the best possible way. Call it a mountain bike, call it a bikepacking rig - it wears both labels proudly. With a RockShox Pike Select+ 140mm fork, the front end feels planted, plush, and confident when the trail gets rowdy. Add a SDG Tellis dropper post, and you’ve got a Monkey that’s patient when it needs to be and aggressive where it counts.

We wrapped the wheels in Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.6 tyres for that sweet balance of grip and fast rolling - perfect for summer missions across everything from tiptoe rock gardens to dusty fire roads. The drivetrain is classic modern reliability: a Shimano Deore 12-speed setup with a huge SunRace 11–51T cassette, spun by a solid Shimano MT500 crankset. Simple, tough, and easy to service anywhere.

The frame itself is peak Surly. Designed as a 29er long before it was cool, the latest Karate Monkey plays just as nicely with 27.5+ if that’s your flavour. Its Gnot-Boost rear spacing, thru-axles, 44 mm headtube, and suspension-corrected geometry keep things future-proof, playful, and adventure-ready. With clearance for 29 x 2.5” or 27.5 x 3” tyres, you can choose your own chaos.

We finished the cockpit with an Answer ProTaper handlebar, H.L. 31.8 stem, WTB Volt Sport saddle, and a set of Tektro hydraulic brakes on 180/160 mm rotors for controlled, confidence-inspiring stopping.

This custom build comes rolling on WTB ST i40 rims, ready to carry racks, bags, or whatever mischief you strap onto it.