{"id":1869788,"date":"2026-04-07T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1869788"},"modified":"2026-04-07T12:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T09:30:00","slug":"surly-sorceress-hardtail-review-a-long-overdue-modern-addition-to-the-brands-mountain-bike-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1869788","title":{"rendered":"Surly Sorceress hardtail review: A long-overdue modern addition to the brand\u2019s mountain bike lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div id=\"wp_content_article\" class=\"st_article_class\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1601\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%202400%201601'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-716377 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Controlled chaos. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/community\/type-2-fun-mountain-biking\/\">Type two fun<\/a>. Affordable mountain bike. These are just a few oxymorons mountain bikers have come to embrace over time. With the launch of the Surly Sorceress today, we can add one more to the list: modern hardtail. No, there\u2019s nothing electronic on this bike, and the frame is made with good old-fashioned steel, and yet\u2026 the Sorceress manifests significant \u2014 and frankly, overdue \u2014 contemporary updates to the Surly mountain bike lineup.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-surly-sorceress-key-specs\">Surly Sorceress key specs<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Double butted Chromoly steel frame<\/li>\n<li>140mm front suspension travel<\/li>\n<li>Singlespeed compatible<\/li>\n<li>2 bottle mounts inside front triangle, accessory mounts on top tube<\/li>\n<li>Geometry highlights: 65\u00b0 head tube angle, 484.1mm reach (size large), 429mm chainstay length<\/li>\n<li>Price: $2,199 to $3,199 ($2,499 as tested). $999 frameset.<\/li>\n<li>Buy from Surly dealers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-12.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1600\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%202400%201600'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-12.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up view of a cyclist's leg and foot on a mountain bike, showcasing a brown bike frame with a water bottle holder attached. The cyclist wears dark shorts and a pair of colorful socks. The bike features a thick front tire and a visible chainring, with gravel and foliage in the background.\" class=\"wp-image-716367 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-12.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-12-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-12-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-12-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-12-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-12-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-12-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-12-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Aaron Siegler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-on-the-trail\">On the trail<\/h2>\n<p>I wasn\u2019t planning to ride the Surly Sorceress in Pisgah. My test bike showed up the day before a planned mountain bike trip to the land of gnar, leaving no time for a shakedown ride. Besides, my ideal Pisgah bike has about 140mm of rear suspension travel, which is significantly greater than zero milimeters. I decided to throw the Sorceress in the truck anyway, thinking I could at least snap some photos of the bike against a lovely forest backdrop.<\/p>\n<p>After slogging thousands of feet of uphill hike-a-bike the day before, our plan was to ride a gravel road to the top of Wash Creek and down the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/bike-trails\/spencer-branch\/\">Spencer Branch trail<\/a>. Given my tired legs, I figured the Sorceress would make the long climb a little more bearable, even if that meant enjoying the descents a little less. But as it turned out, such a tradeoff wasn\u2019t necessary.<\/p>\n<div style=\"min-height: 250px;padding: auto;margin-bottom: 20px\" class=\"singl-638e46928df7b3fd492246d01425ebc7 singl-content\" id=\"singl-638e46928df7b3fd492246d01425ebc7\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-14.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"1170\" data-id=\"716358\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20780%201170'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-14-780x1170.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-716358 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-14-780x1170.jpg 780w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-14-500x750.jpg 500w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-14-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-14-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-14-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-14-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-14.jpg 1600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-13.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" data-id=\"716359\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20780'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-13-1170x780.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-716359 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-13-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-13-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-13-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-13-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-13-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-13-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-13-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Photos: Aaron Siegler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pointing the Surly Sorceress downhill, the bike is incredibly stable thanks to its long wheelbase and generous reach (507mm on my size XL demo bike). The high volume, 29\u00d72.5\u2033 Teravail Kessel tires silenced g\u00fciro-like root webs and blunted rear-wheel strikes on chunky rocks hidden beneath leaf-filled chutes. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m tempted to say the steel frame deserves some credit for soaking up trail chatter, but honestly, I think the tires \u2014 and the surprisingly supple and capable SR Suntour Zeron36 fork \u2014 deserve most of the credit. The frame is certainly more forgiving and has a livelier feel than the carbon-fiber hardtails I\u2019ve ridden, though compared to some of the aluminum bikes I\u2019ve tested, it\u2019s pretty similar. The look of smaller-diameter tubing is what really sells a steel bike like the Sorceress for me, even if that has little to do with performance.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-geometry-chart.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20658'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-geometry-chart-1170x658.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-716435 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-geometry-chart-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-geometry-chart-750x422.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-geometry-chart-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-geometry-chart-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-geometry-chart-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-geometry-chart-600x338.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Out of the box, the extra-large Surly Sorceress fits me better than any bike I\u2019ve tested over the past several years, with the exception of a Yeti SB140, which came with a custom build. Among the extra-large bikes I\u2019ve tested, all have much lower stack heights than the Sorceress, including the SB140. But that\u2019s not all; the extra-large Sorceress specs a 38mm riser handlebar (smaller sizes get zero rise, or lower rise bars), and the kind folks at Surly kept the fork steerer nice and long to make room for a tall stack of spacers.<\/p>\n<div style=\"min-height: 250px;padding: auto;margin-bottom: 20px\" class=\"singl-a25c983b275ba977f3c7dcd41f6378fc singl-content\" id=\"singl-a25c983b275ba977f3c7dcd41f6378fc\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20780'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-4-1170x780.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up view of a mountain bike's handlebars, featuring textured grips and gear shifters. The bike's frame is a shiny gold color, and the background shows an outdoor setting with brown foliage and greenery.\" class=\"wp-image-716375 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-4-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-4-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-4-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-4-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-4-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-4-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>The upshot of a tall handlebar height is improved confidence on steep descents. With my center of gravity shifted rearward and over the bottom bracket, rather than leaning heavily on the front wheel, the Sorceress carves technical trails confidently. More weight on top of and behind the front axle means going endo feels far less likely.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><strong>Reviewer profile<\/strong>\u00a0<em>height<\/em>: 190cm (6\u20193\u2033)\u00a0<em>weight<\/em>: 75kg (165lb)\u00a0<em>testing zone<\/em>: Southeast, USA<\/p>\n<p>A higher front end also lends itself to more comfortable pedaling on flat to uphill stretches. I felt less weight on my hands, and the upright position makes breathing less labored. Though Surly positions the Sorceress as a true trail bike, I\u2019d happily take it bikepacking where an upright handlebar position is ideal.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 15px;background: #f1f1f1;max-width: 800px;margin: 0 auto 25px auto\">\n<h3 style=\"margin: 0;padding: 0 0 5px 0\">Share your Surly Sorceress review<\/h3>\n<div style=\"font-size: 12px;margin-bottom: 15px\">Tried it? Tell us what you think about it.<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t&lt;!&#8211;  &#8211;&gt;<\/p>\n<div class=\"rar_rating\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"rar_gear_rating_5\"><\/label><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"rar_gear_rating_4\"><\/label><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"rar_gear_rating_3\"><\/label><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"rar_gear_rating_2\"><\/label><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"rar_gear_rating_1\"><\/label><\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(&#8216;#rar_gear_form&#8217;).on( &#8216;submit&#8217;, function( event ) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tevent.preventDefault();<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery.ajax({ \/\/ create an AJAX call&#8230;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata: jQuery(&#8216;#rar_gear_form&#8217;).serialize(), \/\/ get the form data<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttype: &#8216;post&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\turl: ajaxurl + &#8220;?action=rar_save_input&amp;st_nonce=&#8221;+stUserObject.nonce,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsuccess: function (response) { \/\/ on success..<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ display the review below<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif ( response.id == 0 ){<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(&#8216;#rar_gear_form&#8217;).html( response.message );<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} else if ( response.id == 9 ){<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(&#8216;#rar_gear_form&#8217;).html( response.message );<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(&#8216;#rar_gear_form&#8217;).empty().html(&#8216;<\/p>\n<div>Thank you for sharing!<\/div>\n<p>&#8216;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t},<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataType: &#8216;json&#8217;,<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t});<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t});<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t});<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tconst ratingInputs = document.querySelectorAll(&#8216;.rar_rating input&#8217;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tconst resultElement = document.getElementById(&#8216;result&#8217;);<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tratingInputs.forEach(input =&gt; {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t  input.addEventListener(&#8216;change&#8217;, () =&gt; {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tconst selectedRating = input.value;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tconst ratingName = input.name;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(&#8216;#rar_gear_rating&#8217;).val(selectedRating);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t  });<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t});<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tfunction rar_login_check(formid){<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(&#8216;#&#8217;+formid+&#8217;form&#8217;).hide();<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(&#8216;#&#8217;+formid+&#8217;login&#8217;).show();<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t}<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t  .rar_rating {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tunicode-bidi: bidi-override;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdirection: rtl;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttext-align: left;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t  }<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t  .rar_rating &gt; label {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdisplay: inline-block;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth: 30px;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcursor: pointer;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tfont-size: 24px;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t  }<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t  .rar_rating &gt; input {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdisplay: none;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t  }<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t  .rar_rating &gt; label:before {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcontent: &#8216;&#9733;&#8217;;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tpadding: 5px;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcolor: #ccc;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t  }<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t  .rar_rating &gt; input:checked ~ label:before {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcolor: #066;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t  }<\/p>\n<div><textarea name=\"rar_gear_comment\" style=\"height: 100px;width: 100%\"><\/textarea><\/div>\n<div id=\"rar_gear_login\">\n<div>Please <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/login\/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.singletracks.com%2Fmtb-gear%2Fsurly-sorceress-hardtail-review-a-long-overdue-modern-addition-to-the-brands-mountain-bike-lineup%2F\">login<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/create\/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.singletracks.com%2Fmtb-gear%2Fsurly-sorceress-hardtail-review-a-long-overdue-modern-addition-to-the-brands-mountain-bike-lineup%2F\">create an account<\/a> to continue.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The one tradeoff to a tall stack and bar height is a front end that wants to wander on the steepest climbs, even more so given the 65\u00b0 seat tube angle on the Sorceress. Fortunately, the steep-for-a-hardtail, 76\u00b0 seat tube angle counteracts the effect to some degree. On balance, though, the front end is noticeably light and wobbly on the climbs. Ultimately, I swapped one of the spacers from below the stem to above it to lower the front end slightly.<\/p>\n<div style=\"min-height: 250px;padding: auto;margin-bottom: 20px\" class=\"singl-c562ea94679704cfd5f4d30e26ab77e3 singl-content\" id=\"singl-c562ea94679704cfd5f4d30e26ab77e3\"><\/div>\n<p>Though I can\u2019t speak to how other sizes of the Sorceress will fit shorter riders, Surly touts \u201cinclusive standover clearance\u201d for riders 4\u20199\u2033 and up and boasts \u201cbest in class dropper length and standover.\u201d Depending on the frame size, Surly varies wheel size, handlebar rise, and dropper post travel. Notably, even the size small frames are said to fit a dropper post with 200mm of travel!<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" data-id=\"716373\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20780'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-3-1170x780.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a bicycle's rear drivetrain components, featuring a metallic golden-brown rear triangle, a chain with interlocking links, and a black derailleur. The image highlights the intricate details of the bicycle's gearing system against a blurred outdoor background.\" class=\"wp-image-716373 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-3-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-3-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-3-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-3-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-3-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-3-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-7.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"1170\" data-id=\"716370\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20780%201170'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-7-780x1170.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a bicycle frame featuring a shimmering metallic bronze finish, adorned with an intricate white feather design. The bike's rear tire and part of the pedal are visible, set against a blurred natural background.\" class=\"wp-image-716370 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-7-780x1170.jpg 780w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-7-500x750.jpg 500w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-7-768x1151.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-7-1025x1536.jpg 1025w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-7-1366x2048.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-7-600x899.jpg 600w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-7.jpg 1601w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-9.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" data-id=\"716371\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20780'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-9-1170x780.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up view of a bicycle frame with a shimmering golden finish, leaning against a tree trunk. The image captures the intricate details of the frame\u2019s geometry and the textured surface of the tire, set against a blurred green background.\" class=\"wp-image-716371 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-9-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-9-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-9-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-9-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-9-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-9-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-9-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>It took me some time to adjust to the Surly Sorceress on tight, technical trails. The long wheelbase requires a little extra maneuvering when it comes to sharp turns, though thankfully the chainstays are slightly shorter than average at 429mm long, giving the bike a refreshingly nimble feel. On my local, unofficial singletrack trails, the Sorceress is a good fit.<\/p>\n<p>The Sorceress is nice and quiet on the trail thanks to simple external cable routing that ties everything together nice and tight. The Hot Honey Bling finish on the Shimano Deore build literally sparkles, though in the shade, the bike has a dull, copper look that\u2019s classy and understated. Trumpet-flared tubes give the bike a unique silhouette that accentuates the straight line formed by the top tube and seat stays running from the top tube to the rear axle.<\/p>\n<div style=\"min-height: 250px;padding: auto;margin-bottom: 20px\" class=\"singl-7d594b7472e3229090629813b92ab7a0 singl-content\" id=\"singl-7d594b7472e3229090629813b92ab7a0\"><\/div>\n<p>Aside from the chainstay protector, the Sorceress doesn\u2019t appear to have any external frame protection installed. The frame is ED coated, which should protect against water and dirt, though over time it will surely wear away, especially if you\u2019re running a frame bag. For that reason, I\u2019d invest in some additional frame protection, particularly since this is a steel frame.<\/p>\n<p>With its double-butted steel construction, this is not a lightweight bike. My extra-large bike, without pedals, weighs about 15.2kg (roughly 33.5lb).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-21.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" data-id=\"716357\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20780'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-21-1170x780.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up view of a metallic bicycle frame showing intricate details and a glossy, gold finish. The image captures the frame's connection points and structural design against a soft, blurred background.\" class=\"wp-image-716357 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-21-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-21-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-21-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-21-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-21-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-21-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-21-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-20.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" data-id=\"716360\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20780'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-20-1170x780.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of various mechanical components on a wooden surface, including a black plastic piece with an oval opening, a circular black ring, a small black cap, and several metal screws and washers, along with printed materials in the background featuring gaming elements.\" class=\"wp-image-716360 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-20-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-20-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-20-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-20-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-20-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-20-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-20-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-15.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" data-id=\"716365\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20780'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-15-1170x780.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up view of a bicycle frame component, featuring a shiny gold-colored finish and a black adjustment knob. The image shows the intricate details of the frame, including a cable connected to the component and mechanical parts in the background.\" class=\"wp-image-716365 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-15-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-15-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-15-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-15-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-15-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-15-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-15-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-8.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" data-id=\"716369\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20780'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-8-1170x780.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up image of a bicycle's rear brake assembly, featuring a metallic bronze frame with a textured finish, a sleek black brake caliper, and a silver disc brake rotor with intricate cutouts. The background is softly blurred, showcasing natural outdoor elements.\" class=\"wp-image-716369 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-8-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-8-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-8-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-8-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-8-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-8-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-8-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-no-joke-surly-finally-has-a-udh-solution\">No joke: Surly finally has a UDH solution<\/h2>\n<p>Last year, on April Fools Day, Surly announced the \u201cDetrackulator,\u201d an adapter for running a Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) on bikes with horizontal dropouts. Though UDH seems like a fairly new standard, SRAM actually introduced it in 2019, giving bike brands like Surly plenty of time to come up with a solution.<\/p>\n<p>Well, here we are nearly seven years later, and Surly has a solution: the DUH. The patent-pending design is quite elegant, and it allows the Sorceress (and presumably, future Surly bikes) to run UDH-compatible drivetrains like SRAM Eagle Transmission or singlespeed.<\/p>\n<div style=\"min-height: 250px;padding: auto;margin-bottom: 20px\" class=\"singl-44d45c6b7348776f8fa4a778b2eaa19f singl-content\" id=\"singl-44d45c6b7348776f8fa4a778b2eaa19f\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-18.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20780'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-18-1170x780.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a bike's rear axle and sprocket, showcasing a bronze-colored frame element, a black hub, and a chain connected to a disc brake. The background features blurred green foliage, indicating an outdoor setting.\" class=\"wp-image-716362 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-18-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-18-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-18-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-18-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-18-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-18-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-18-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Surly is offering three different complete builds that showcase all the drivetrain configurations that are possible \u2014 singlespeed, Eagle 90, and Shimano Deore. Surly says framesets, priced at $999, will ship with the necessary hardware to run singlespeed or a geared drivetrain. Otherwise, geared bike build buyers can purchase a $34.99 DUH System Small Parts Kit separately.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-19.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1601\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%202400%201601'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-19.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up view of a bicycle's drivetrain, focusing on the crank arm, chainring, and chain. The background features natural elements, including leaves and greenery. The visible components display a metallic finish with the brand name &quot;Surly&quot; clearly visible on the bottom bracket.\" class=\"wp-image-716361 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-19.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-19-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-19-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-19-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-19-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-19-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-19-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-19-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>I converted my demo bike to a singlespeed to test how it works, and the entire process is incredibly simple. The singlespeed kit includes a dropout insert, a set of bolts, and a thru-axle to convert the rear end. You\u2019ll also need a singlespeed cog and a spacer kit to convert your wheel (sold separately). From there, just remove some links from the chain (or get a dedicated chain to make swapping back and forth easier), and you\u2019re good to go.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surley-duh.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20658'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surley-duh-1170x658.jpg\" alt=\"Diagram of the Surly Duh Dropout showing components for single speed and geared setups. The illustration includes labeled parts with numbers, and accompanying text describing that complete bikes come equipped with specific parts, framesets available with both single speed and geared kits, and that small parts and axles will be available aftermarket.\" class=\"wp-image-716471 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surley-duh-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surley-duh-750x422.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surley-duh-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surley-duh-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surley-duh-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surley-duh-600x338.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Riding the Sorceress as a singlespeed is a lot of fun. Without a cassette and derailleur, the bike feels spry and airy. It looks damn sexy too, with an even cleaner cockpit and a classic early-29er vibe. <\/p>\n<div style=\"min-height: 250px;padding: auto;margin-bottom: 20px\" class=\"singl-6a7f072c58c61e6cfe6c25de74e7e5e6 singl-content\" id=\"singl-6a7f072c58c61e6cfe6c25de74e7e5e6\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20780'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-2-1170x780.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a bicycle's headtube featuring a shiny brown metallic finish and a Surly logo sticker shaped like a rabbit. The background shows a blurred natural setting.\" class=\"wp-image-716376 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-2-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-2-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-2-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-2-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-2-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-does-the-sorceress-compare-to-surly-s-other-trail-bike-the-karate-monkey\">How does the Sorceress compare to Surly\u2019s other trail bike, the Karate Monkey?<\/h2>\n<p>It seems like the Karate Monkey has been around <em>forever<\/em>. I actually bought one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/mtb-gear\/a-teeny-tiny-29ie-surly-karate-monkey-build\/\">for my kids to ride<\/a> several years ago, and it\u2019s a super versatile mountain bike. Still, the extremely conservative \u2014 and by today\u2019s standards, dated \u2014\u00a0geometry stopped me from buying one for myself. Just thinking about that steep 68\u00b0 head tube angle has me grabbing for the brakes to slow down! The latest Karate Monkey builds, like the Sorceress builds, ship with a 140mm-travel fork, so clearly there is overlap between the two bikes.<\/p>\n<p>The Sorceress brings long-overdue modern trail bike geometry and UDH to the Surly lineup, but that\u2019s not all. Unlike the Karate Monkey, the Sorceress features an arrow-straight seat tube with zero impediments, which offers more room for a long-travel dropper post \u2014 even size small frames are said to fit 200mm-travel posts. Another change is that the dropper post routing begins at the bottom of the downtube, rather than the seat tube. It\u2019s a small detail, but a smart one that ensures riders of all sizes can find a dropper post that fits.<\/p>\n<div style=\"min-height: 250px;padding: auto;margin-bottom: 20px\" class=\"singl-874c1034a15e0fc000baebc8486a782a singl-content\" id=\"singl-874c1034a15e0fc000baebc8486a782a\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-17.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"1170\" data-id=\"716363\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20780%201170'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-17-780x1170.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up view of a mountain bike's rear frame, featuring a bronze-colored metallic finish and a black saddle. The bike is set against a natural background with greenery and soft-focus trees, showcasing its rugged design and features like knobby tires and a derailleur system.\" class=\"wp-image-716363 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-17-780x1170.jpg 780w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-17-500x750.jpg 500w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-17-768x1151.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-17-1025x1536.jpg 1025w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-17-1366x2048.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-17-600x899.jpg 600w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-17.jpg 1601w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-16.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" data-id=\"716364\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20780'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-16-1170x780.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up view of a mountain bike's crank and drivetrain, showcasing the intricate details of the bike's frame, chainring, and gear mechanism, with signs of dirt and use evident on the components.\" class=\"wp-image-716364 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-16-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-16-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-16-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-16-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-16-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-16-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-16-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>A lot of friends have commented on the \u201cupper triangle\u201d between the seat tube and top tube on my test bike. A Surly rep tells me that only the size large and extra large frames feature this bit of extra seat tube bracing. If I were keeping this bike long term, I\u2019d be tempted to sew a tiny custom frame bag to fit inside.<\/p>\n<p>Gone are the Karate Monkey\u2019s underside downtube water bottle\/accessory mounts; in their place are a set of accessory mounts on top of the top tube. Current Karate Monkey builds ship with 27.5+ tires, while the Sorceress is a dedicated 29er with no mention of 27.5+ compatability. Given how close the nominal diameters are between the two wheel sizes, I suspect 27.5+ tires will fit the Sorceress just fine without any ill effects on the bike\u2019s geometry or handling.<\/p>\n<p>Which begs the question: Now that the Sorceress is here, what will the Karate Monkey become? The Karate Monkey is long overdue for a refresh, but with a new 140mm trail bike in Surly\u2019s lineup, I\u2019m not sure it makes sense to update the bike without making drastic changes to its intentions.<\/p>\n<div style=\"min-height: 250px;padding: auto;margin-bottom: 20px\" class=\"singl-b59a6eb36a419336f0678615ce7331f2 singl-content\" id=\"singl-b59a6eb36a419336f0678615ce7331f2\"><\/div>\n<p>As of press time, a complete Sorceress with a Deore drivetrain is priced $100 less than a Karate Monkey with a comparable build.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-11.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201170%20780'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-11-1170x780.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a bike frame with a sparkling brown finish, featuring the word &quot;Sorceress&quot; in white lettering. A black water bottle holder is attached, and part of the bike's suspension system is visible. The background consists of a blurred natural setting.\" class=\"wp-image-716366 lazy\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-11-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-11-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-11-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-11-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-11-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-11-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/surly-sorceress-11-600x400.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pros-and-cons-of-surly-sorceress\">Pros and cons of Surly Sorceress<\/h2>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pros\">Pros<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>UDH- and singlespeed-compatible<\/li>\n<li>Generous seat tube fits long-travel dropper posts<\/li>\n<li>Trail-worthy component spec, especially for the price<\/li>\n<li>Size XL frame provides a better fit for tall riders than many competing bikes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cons\">Cons<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Heavy frame<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bottom-line\">Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>A few weeks ago, I wrote an essay saying <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/mtb-gear\/why-you-should-hold-onto-and-keep-riding-that-5-year-old-mountain-bike\/\">I wasn\u2019t looking to let go of my six-year-old steel hardtail any time soon<\/a>. Now, the Surly Sorceress makes it very tempting to eat those words. With modern touches, smart frame features, a good ride feel, and classic good looks, the Sorceress is certainly worthy of a long-term relationship.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t&lt;!&#8211;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4>Related articles<\/h4>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t&#8211;&gt;<\/p>\n<div style=\"height: 30px\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\tjQuery(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tpostpayloads._12e4ea2e56be4347de843cd81ddc70d4 = {&#8220;ids&#8221;:&#8221;691155,712232,693958,711897&#8243;,&#8221;posts_per_page&#8221;:null,&#8221;offset&#8221;:0,&#8221;style&#8221;:&#8221;4up&#8221;};<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tpostcounter._12e4ea2e56be4347de843cd81ddc70d4 = {start: 0, step: 0, end: 0};<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\" style=\"background: #fff\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-6 col-md-3 st_archive_4up\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/mtb-gear\/canfield-yelli-screamy-hardtail-mountain-bike-review\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201%201'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/canfield-yelli-screamy-27-750x500.jpg\" alt=\"A modern mountain bike with a sleek silver frame and wide tires sits on a bed of colorful autumn leaves in a forest setting. The bike features a sturdy front fork, a multi-speed gear system, and a minimalist design, surrounded by lush green foliage and trees in the background.\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"st_archive_tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/gear\/mountain-bikes\/hardtails\/\">Hardtail bikes<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"st_archive_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/mtb-gear\/canfield-yelli-screamy-hardtail-mountain-bike-review\/\">Canfield Yelli Screamy hardtail mountain bike review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-6 col-md-3 st_archive_4up\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/mtb-gear\/the-orange-p7-brings-pbr-while-the-reeb-redikyelous-delivers-a-crafty-ipa-to-the-hardtail-party\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201%201'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/26_1_REEB_REDIKYELOUS_LIMITED-01466-750x500.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up view of a bicycle frame featuring a metallic silver finish with colorful accents. The image focuses on the seat tube and rear triangle, showcasing the bike's geometry and tire with aggressive tread design. The background is a plain, neutral surface, highlighting the bike's details.\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"st_archive_tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/gear\/mountain-bikes\/hardtails\/\">Hardtail bikes<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"st_archive_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/mtb-gear\/the-orange-p7-brings-pbr-while-the-reeb-redikyelous-delivers-a-crafty-ipa-to-the-hardtail-party\/\">The Orange P7 brings PBR while the Reeb Re:Dikyelous delivers a crafty IPA to the hardtail party<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix visible-xs\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-6 col-md-3 st_archive_4up\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/mtb-gear\/the-state-4130-steel-hardtail-mtb-can-be-whatever-you-want-it-to-be\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201%201'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/state-4130-hardtail-mountain-bike-01-750x500.jpg\" alt=\"A mountain bike with a sleek gold frame parked on a dirt trail surrounded by greenery and fallen leaves. The bike features a black front fork, thick tires, and a prominent gear setup, highlighting its readiness for outdoor adventures.\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"st_archive_tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/gear\/mountain-bikes\/hardtails\/\">Hardtail bikes<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"st_archive_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/mtb-gear\/the-state-4130-steel-hardtail-mtb-can-be-whatever-you-want-it-to-be\/\">The State 4130 Trail steel hardtail MTB can be whatever you want it to be<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-6 col-md-3 st_archive_4up\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/mtb-gear\/teravail-lytho-handlebar-stem-and-grips-provide-a-smart-new-option-for-bikepacking-and-mtb-too\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201%201'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.singletracks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/teravail-lytho-cockpit-bar-grip-stem-09-750x500.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up view of a mountain bike's handlebars, featuring black grips and a bicycle computer, set on a trail covered with fallen leaves. The bike is positioned with a turquoise frame partially visible, indicating an outdoor cycling environment.\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"st_archive_tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/gear\/components\/handlebars-stems-grips-saddles\/\">Cockpit<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"st_archive_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singletracks.com\/mtb-gear\/teravail-lytho-handlebar-stem-and-grips-provide-a-smart-new-option-for-bikepacking-and-mtb-too\/\">Teravail Lytho handlebar, stem, and grips provide a smart new option for bikepacking and MTB too<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix visible-xs\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Controlled chaos. Type two fun. Affordable mountain bike. These are just a few oxymorons mountain bikers have come to embrace over time. With the launch of the Surly Sorceress today, we can add one more to the list: modern hardtail. No, there\u2019s nothing electronic on this bike, and the frame is made with good old-fashioned [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,274],"class_list":["post-1869788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-singletracks-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1869788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1869788"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1869788\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1869788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1869788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1869788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}