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Preamble is a hard-boiled steel commuter built for comfort, durability, and buffoonery on pavement and gravel.

Nothing More is Needed. Nothing Less Will Do.

The challenge was thus: Build a serious steel bike and give it only the attributes that matter most. Make it quick and comfortable on pavement, as well as confident and compliant on degraded surfaces. What the Enginerds put forth is Preamble, a pavement and gravel utility worker that proves you don’t need to cut corners or clip coupons to make a more affordable steel bike. You just need to keep shit simple.

Preamble can run racks and fenders and carry a couple water bottles. Surly was raised on stealing basic cable, after all. Smooth and efficient on asphalt, Preamble’s double-butted main triangle provides a resplendent ride feel and withstands abuse from life’s inevitable potholes. Make it your own with flat bars, drop bars, a basket, or bags. On the road to steel euphoria, Preamble is the gateway drug.

  • Let facts be submitted to a candid world: Offered in flat-bar and drop-bar configurations
  • Easy T-Shirt sizing to fit nearly every rider (XS,S,M,L,XL)
  • Sloping top tubes on XS and Small frames for improved standover and comfort
  • To offer the best rider experience for every frame size, XS and S frames get 650b wheelsets while M–XL get 700c
  • Custom-cast single-position vertical dropout

Bike Capabilities

  • 5/5 with Commuting Commuting: 5 out of 5
  • 4/5 with Tire Clearance Tire Clearance: 4 out of 5
  • 5/5 with Keeping Shit Simple Keeping Shit Simple: 5 out of 5
  • 5/5 with Pavement Pavement: 5 out of 5
  • 5/5 with Gravel Gravel: 5 out of 5

NOTE: You can ride your bike wherever the hell you want, but this is what we think this bike is best at.

Surly Preamble Flat Bar Best Buds Green bike side view on on sidewalk up against colorful painted building
Surly Preamble Drop Bar Thorfrost White bike, front view close-up
Person riding Surly Preamble Drop Bar Thorfrost White bike skidding rear wheel on gravel road focus on bike
Surly Preamble Flat Bar bike Best Buds Green detail of crankset on drive side
Surly Preamble Flat Bar bike Best Buds Green detail of non-drive side rear dropout brake caliper and rotor
Person riding Surly Preamble Drop Bar Thorfrost White bike on bike path nest to river at sunset
Surly Preamble Flat Bar bike Best Buds Green detail of Surly Natch Chromoly Steel decal on downtube above bottom bracket
Surly Preamble Flat Bar Best Buds Green bike three-quarter front view on on sidewalk up against teal exterior wall

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Where to Buy

Surly Preamble Complete Bike 650b Best Buds Green side view

Specifications

Frameset

Frame
Surly Preamble, 100% Chromoly steel tubing, E.D. coated
Fork
Surly Preamble, 100% Chromoly steel fork, Disc Only
Seatpost Clamp
Surly Stainless 30.0

Components

Headset
VP 1-1/8"
Brakes
Tektro Hydraulic M275/276
Brake levers
Tektro Hydraulic M275/276
Rotors
Tektro Centerlock, 160mm F/R
Shifters
Shimano CUES U4000, 1x9
Stem
Kalloy 31.8mm
Handlebar
Kalloy 6061 PGW, 9-degree backsweep, 35mm rise
Grip/Tape
Velo Black Rubber
Saddle
Selle Italia X-Base Boost
Seatpost
Kalloy 27.2 x 300mm non-offset (XS-MD), offset (LG-XL)

Drivetrain

Crankset
Shimano CUES U4000-1, 40t
Bottom Bracket
Shimano Square Taper BB-UN101
Front derailleur
N/A
Rear derailleur
Shimano CUES U4000 GS
Cassette
Shimano Linkglide LG300, 11-41t 9sp
Chain
Shimano Linkglide LG500

Wheels

Front hub
Shimano HB-MT200, 32h, QR x 100mm, CenterLock
Rear hub
Shimano FH-MT200-B ,32h, QR x 141mm, CenterLock
Rims

Tubeless Compatible 

Tires
XS-SM: MSW Hybrid 650b x 35mm MD-XL: MSW Hybrid 700c x 35mm
Complete Bike Weight
27 lbs for Medium

Frameset

Frame
Surly Preamble, 100% Chromoly steel tubing, E.D. coated
Fork
Surly Preamble, 100% Chromoly steel fork, Disc Only
Seatpost Clamp
Surly Stainless 30.0

Components

Headset
VP 1-1/8" Threadless
Brakes
Avid BB5 Mechanical
Brake levers
Avid FR-5
Rotors
SRAM 160mm F/R
Shifters
microSHIFT Acolyte Xpress
Stem
Kalloy 31.8
Handlebar
Kalloy, 35mm rise, 9-degree backsweep
Grip/Tape
Black Rubber
Saddle
Selle Italia X-Base
Seatpost
Kalloy 27.2 x 300mm

Drivetrain

Crankset
Samox, 3-piece, 40t
Bottom Bracket
JIS 68 x 124.5mm
Front derailleur
N/A
Rear derailleur
microSHIFT RD-M5185M
Cog or cogset
microSHIFT 12-42t, 8-speed
Chain
KMC Z8.3

Wheels

Front hub
Novatec, 6-bolt disc, 32h, QR
Rear hub
Novatec, 6-bolt disc, 32h, QR
Rims

Tubeless Compatible 

Tires
Kenda Kwik Tendril 700c x 35mm (MD/LG/XL) & Kenda Standard 650b x 1.35 (XS/SM)

Frameset

Frame
Surly Preamble, 100% Chromoly steel tubing, E.D. coated
Fork
Surly Preamble, 100% Chromoly steel fork, Disc Only
Seatpost Clamp
Surly Stainless 30.0

Components

Headset
VP 1-1/8" Threadless
Brakes
Avid BB7 Mechanical
Brake levers
microSHIFT R400-L and R-490-R
Rotors
SRAM 160mm F/R
Shifter
microSHIFT R400
Stem
Kalloy 31.8
Handlebar
Salsa Cowbell
Grip/Tape
Black Cork
Saddle
Selle Italia X-Base
Seatpost
Kalloy 27.2 x 300mm

Drivetrain

Crankset
Samox, 3-piece, 40t
Bottom Bracket
JIS 68 x 124.5mm
Front derailleur
N/A
Rear derailleur
microSHIFT RD-M46S
Cog or cogset
microSHIFT 11-36t, 9-speed
Chain
KMC Z9

Wheels

Front hub
Novatec, 6-bolt disc, 32h, QR
Rear hub
Novatec, 6-bolt disc, 32h, QR
Rims

Tubeless Compatible 

Tires
Kenda Kwik Tendril 700c x 35mm (MD/LG/XL) & Kenda Standard 650b x 1.35 (XS/SM)

Complete bike spec subject to change

MY23 Preamble Drop Bar Geo MY23 Preamble Flat Bar Geo
units:

Select a few bike sizes to compare.

SIZE XS SM MD LG XL
Rider Height 5'0"–5'5" 1524–1651 5'4"–5'8" 1625.6–1727.2 5'7"–6'0" 1701.8–1828.8 5'11"–6'3" 1803.4–1905 6'2"–6'7" 1879.6–2006.6
Reach 13.9 352 15.0 381 15.4 391 15.9 404 16.6 421
Stack 20.4 517 21.1 535 22.3 567 23.8 605 25.3 643
Head Tube Angle 70.0° 71.0° 72.0° 72.0° 72.0°
Head Tube Length 4.7 120 5.3 135 5.1 130 6.7 170 8.3 210
Seat Tube Length 16.1 410 19.9 505 22.2 565 23.8 605 25.4 645
BB Drop 2.1 54 2.1 54 2.6 66 2.6 66 2.6 66
Wheelbase 38.9 987 39.9 1013 40.6 1030 41.5 1055 42.7 1085
Chainstay Length 16.5 420 16.5 420 17.1 435 17.1 435 17.1 435
Top Tube Length, Effective 19.7 500 21.5 545 22.4 570 23.6 600 24.8 630
Seat Tube Angle 74.0° 73.0° 72.5° 72.0° 72.0°
Standover Height 28.4 722 30.6 776 32.5 826 34.0 863 35.5 901
Stem Length 3.1 80 3.1 80 3.5 90 3.9 100 3.9 100
Stem Angle 7° 7° 7° 7° 7°
Handlebar Width 15.0 380 15.7 400 16.5 420 17.3 440 18.1 460
Crank Length 6.5 165 6.7 170 6.7 170 6.9 175 6.9 175
Fork Length 15.0 380 15.0 380 15.7 400 15.7 400 15.7 400
Fork Rake 1.9 47 1.9 47 1.7 44 1.7 44 1.7 44

Standover height measured at the center of the TT; and based on a wheel diameter of 677mm on X-Small–Small, and 717mm on Medium–X-Large

Select a few bike sizes to compare.

SIZE XS SM MD LG XL
Rider Height 5'0"–5'5" 1524–1651 5'4"–5'8" 1625.6–1727.2 5'7"–6'0" 1701.8–1828.8 5'11"–6'3" 1803.4–1905 6'2"–6'7" 1879.6–2006.6
Reach 13.9 352 15.0 381 15.4 391 15.9 404 16.6 421
Stack 20.4 517 21.1 535 22.3 567 23.8 605 25.3 643
Head Tube Angle 70.0° 71.0° 72.0° 72.0° 72.0°
Head Tube Length 4.7 120 5.3 135 5.1 130 6.7 170 8.3 210
Seat Tube Length 16.1 410 19.9 505 22.2 565 23.8 605 25.4 645
BB Drop 2.1 54 2.1 54 2.6 66 2.6 66 2.6 66
Wheelbase 38.9 987 39.9 1013 40.6 1030 41.5 1055 42.7 1085
Chainstay Length 16.5 420 16.5 420 17.1 435 17.1 435 17.1 435
Top Tube Length, Effective 19.7 500 21.5 545 22.4 570 23.6 600 24.8 630
Seat Tube Angle 74.0° 73.0° 72.5° 72.0° 72.0°
Standover Height 28.4 722 30.6 776 32.5 826 34.0 863 35.5 901
Stem Length 3.1 80 3.5 90 3.5 90 3.9 100 3.9 100
Stem Angle 7° 7° 7° 7° 7°
Handlebar Width 27.6 700 27.6 700 28.3 720 28.3 720 28.3 720
Crank Length 6.5 165 6.7 170 6.7 170 6.9 175 6.9 175
Fork Length 15.0 380 15.0 380 15.7 400 15.7 400 15.7 400
Fork Rake 1.9 47 1.9 47 1.7 44 1.7 44 1.7 44

Standover height measured at the center of the TT; and based on a wheel diameter of 677mm on X-Small–Small, and 717mm on Medium–X-Large

Frame Construction

100% Surly Chromoly steel, Natch tubing, double-butted main triangle, TIG welded, E.D. coated

Fork Construction

4130 Chromoly, Natch tubing, double-butted tapered fork blades, TIG welded, ED coated

Rear Dropout Configuration

Vertical

Rear Hub Spacing

"Gnot-Boost"138mm
10 x 135mm or 10 x 141mm

Front Hub Spacing

10 x 100mm

Rear Brake

Disc - 51mm I.S. (180mm max rotor)

Front Brake

Disc - 51mm I.S. (203mm max rotor)

Headtube

Ø34mm

Steerer Tube

Ø28.6mm

Crown Race

30mm (1-1/8")

Stock Headset Upper (S.H.I.S)

EC34/28.6

Stock Headset Lower (S.H.I.S)

EC34/30

Seat Collar

Ø30.0mm

Seatpost

Ø27.2mm

Front Derailleur (Clamp)

High direct mount top-pull (Ø28.6mm)
26mm offset adapter (included) for 135mm rear hub spacing
29mm offset adapter (not included) for 141mm rear hub spacing

Max Chainring (CL) [3]

1x (47CL): 42T
2x (47CL): 46/36T

Bottom Bracket

68mm BSA, threaded

Tire Clearance Frame [1]/[2]

XS-SM frames: 650b x 41mm (with or without fenders)
MD-XL frames: 700c x 41mm (with or without fenders)

Tire Clearance Fork [1]

XS-SM frames: 650b x 42mm (with or without fenders)
MD-XL frames: 700c x 42mm (with or without fenders)

Bottle Mounts Frame

2 Standard

Rack Mounts Frame

Yes

Rack Mounts Fork

Fork crown and mid-blade rack mounts and fender mounts

Fender Mounts Frame

Yes

Fender Mounts Fork

Fork crown and mid-blade rack mounts and fender mounts

  • [1] Different tire and rim combinations will result in different clearances.  
    [2] Depending on drivetrain configuration, tire clearance may be limited by the chain and not frame.
    [3] Listed chainring clearance is worst case scenario.  Clearances vary widely depending on components and configurations.

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