The Priority 600 Doesn’t Work For Bike Touring? Says Who?

Let’s Chat About My Priority Bike!
Keeping this simple… I needed a cost effective touring bike and I was convinced that a Pinion Gearing configuration was my key requirement. The Priority 600 meets all of my touring needs and it is proving to be my go-to bike for daily rides.

I have developed three ride configurations:
- Basic Everyday Riding
- Ortlieb Handlebar Bag
- Ortlieb Frame Bag (Tools & Spares)
- Topeak Rear Rack Bag (Required Only If Videoing or Shopping)

Light “Credit Card” Touring - Commercial Lodging
- Ortlieb Handlebar Bag
- Snack Bags x 2
- Ortlieb Frame Bag (Tools & Spares)
- Topeak Rear Rack Bag with Panniers Used
- Ortlieb Frame Bags

Full-up Touring - Camping & Cooking
- Ortlieb Handlebar Bag
- Snack Bags x 2
- Ortlieb Frame Bag (Tools & Spares)
- Ortlieb Rear Rack Panniers (40 Liters - Pair)
- Ortlieb Fork Bags (11 Liters - Pair)
- Ortlieb Seat Pack (16 Liters)

This is not a formal review video. Instead, I simply informally ride along and chat about the bike as I ride it to and from the beautiful Cockaponset State Forest in Connecticut. This bike was developed and marketed as a commuting bike… I take it out into the fire roads in the State Forest. I then stop by a lake and do a closeup review of the configuration that I have moved to.

Bottom line recommendation:
- If you do bike touring primarily on roads and rail trails, the Priority 600 works very well if a Pinion Drive is your desire.
- If you ride single track and chunky trails, you may want to explore the Priority 600X as an option with a Pinion Drive.

Audio Attribution:
Chicago Blues - Jason Donnelly
License - Storyblocks LumaFusion

[rex]

Thank you for your review; it was informative and made me attentive by knowing that you can get parts and service from the manufacturer. You addressed some of those concerns in your video. I'm 67 and recently retired. I used to ride to work every day; I felt great. But now I have more time and am thinking about getting another bicycle with easy maintenance. The Priority looks like that bicycle. The price is fair, and now after watching your video, I feel better about it. Thank you.

[radekkuszyk]

I am also Pinion C1.12 user in my european Stevens C12 Lite touring bike. I almost fall in love with it 😉.
Respect for your smile and riding attitude, keeping 🤞 for many miles of rides on nature landscapes and sincere regards from Ciechocinek, Poland, Europe 🙋‍♂️.

[theoilingchief]

My wife and I rode our 600’s from Hope Mills NC to Rapid City SD, they are great for touring. Plus for gravel and some single track. We were both 69:making that trip, planning another long one for this coming spring and summer.

[curtvaughan]

Thanks for the review - I'm 72, well, I guess I was 71 when you published this video. Watch some of Ryan Van Duzer's videos, and he's a big advocate of Priority bikes, particularly the 600 series. My main concern in purchasing such a bicycle would be in getting repairs done when something goes wrong, as most local bike shops wouldn't work on such a bicycle. You addressed some of those issues in your video. Best wishes, and hope you are still enjoying your bicycle rides. I ride around 100 miles per week, mostly on my crank forward RANS semi-recumbent and my mountain bikes. I no longer ride road bikes, as I can't tolerate the drop bar position anymore. So far, I'm still riding my human powered bikes and hope to continue doing that as long as possible. Cycling is good for both body and soul, especially as I've gotten into old territory.

[Regantdarcy]

The priority 600 has the exact same geometry, tire size & features as some of the most expensive touring specific pinion bikes like the Koga World Traveller but at a much lower cost. The Priority 600 currently sells for $2, 499 while the Koga World Traveller sells for 3x that! Priority also listened to customers and added more attachment points on the front fork. 👍🏼

[xsubsquid]

I love the 600 for touring. However, after breaking quite a few spokes I realized the rims are too lightweight (and I'm a fairly light packer). I upgraded to a more touring friendly rim with a greater spoke count. We also tend to transport our bikes in a rack we designed for the back of our pickup and by train - each requiring the removal of the front wheel. The constant plugging and unplugging of the dyno hub finally ruined the connection. Frankly, it doesn't really accomplish much and I still bring a couple of rechargeable lights with me anyway. I decided to build another wheel without the dyno hub so I'm not lugging around the weight of the dyno everywhere. I also upgraded the tires to something with more grip. I had a devil of a time getting out of the old locks on the C&O Canal Trail with the relatively tread-less stock WTB's. The fenders have been removed because I needed a replacement front fender and the new ones that come from Priority are too narrow and catch on the tread (even with the stock tires). It's basically a mountain bike frame and I've bike packed for years without fenders. The rear rack essentially accomplishes the same mission.

[Ostsol]

I am so tempted to get a 600. I only started biking again last year, after a two-decade drought, and I want to get more serious about it. My current bike was a gift from my dad, who decided that he was too old to ride. It's certainly decent, but I'd love to have something nicer. Maybe I'll wait until next year, though. Gotta work more on my physical conditioning, to make sure I feel that I deserve it. Then I can semi-permanently turn my current bike into a stationary trainer for indoor workouts during inclement days and winter.

[mitmon_]

Thanks so much about the info for Gates being the Pinion US distributor. I wasn't concerned about that much, but it's nice to know who to reach out to if needed. I've had my 600 for 3 years as well, but I've only done 1 oil change on it. Didn't ride it much during COVID shutdown since most my riding is commuting.
Great vid as always!

[michaeldenham]

Thank so much for you open reviews and, been studying the pinion drive train and priority for cost reasons and American company. I ordered a 600 this week, should be here next, excited it this new bike adventure I currently riding a Salsa Fargo, I love that bike, just looking for a long haul rider, and the 600 checks all the boxs . Also be in my 60s, I mostly ride rail trail and such, no single tracking for me, hurts too much on them crashes, lol. Hope you doing well !

[markwinward]

Thanks for the great video! I’ve been intrigued by the 600 since I’m planning a transcontinental bicycle tour after I retire next year. As great as it sounds as a commuter, I think you convinced me it’s not the right choice for something that long-distance.

[HikerT]

Great review! Thanks for sharing your various configurations too. I hope to get in both some "credit card" as well as some camping tours in the upcoming year on my 600. I love seeing the sights around your area as you talk.

[thevagabondonwheels]

As our fearless narrator mentioned, the lack of good attachment points up front is really the only weak point to the 600 as a touring platform. Perhaps a slightly longer chainstay length would be preferable as well, but that is nitpicking. So, for one doing fully loaded touring, with four packed large panniers in every corner, it might be a little less than ideal. However, lots of options exist for carrying a sizable amount of stuff, such as coupling rear panniers with a full frame bag, using the front forks for water (or camping gear) storage, and coupling either a larger handlebar or randonneur bag. Something like a VO flatpack rack would fit nicely on here for either the randonneur or even "basketpacking" with a Wald basket and large basket bag. Or, you could just run front panniers anyway the way Old Man does it.

What Priority has done with this bike is really created a unique snowflake in the biking world. Pinions really are absolutely premium drivetrains and, as a result, are rarely found on bikes that are also not premium (such as the Co-Motions that he mentioned). Priority has instead taken a Pinion and slapped it on what is otherwise, bells and whistles like the dynamo hub and lights aside, a relatively inexpensive city/hybrid bike that might otherwise only sell for $850 or so. The thing is, every other component on the bike is fairly cheaply replaced as wanted/needed (if at all) except the frame. So, as long as the frame holds up, and we have zero reason to think that it won't, the bike is a fantastic bargain if you are looking to get into a Pinion on the cheap. The only other somewhat comparable bike I can even think of is made by Stevens out of Germany ("C12 Lite" or something like that) and they don't have any U.S. dealers at all last I checked.

Personally, I have had my 600 for almost a year and am quite fond of it. My Surly Disc Trucker has been almost entirely unridden since bought the 600. I also don't think I will ever buy another bike without a Pinion (or comparable internal gear drive) on it. The lack of gear overlap, the ease of shifting, being able to shift multiple gears at once easily, being able to shift while at a dead stop or while coasting, and the absolutely insane gear range (with the lowest gear being under 18 gear inches), the almost complete lack of maintenance, and the lack of a chain or a vulnerable rear derailleur is totally worth it if you can find the $$.

[frankrounding]

Outstanding review. I am also in my 70's riding. Keeps your blood circulating.

[maschwerer]

Thank you for sharing your insight! Been looking at the 600 for some time now. Beautiful ride.

[kathleenclarke]

i want one! my birthday is coming right up!

[jimjr]

Wow, I sure am impressed, no, really impressed. I'm 78 and don't ride like you do, I'm guessing about 5% of what you do. I still try MTB, but know the day will come when I crash and don't bounce. Your setup is very cool, and I sure enjoy your video. Well done and although I enjoy my Jamis Renegade gravel grinder, it sure is worth checking out the Priority 600.

[MrBigChris]

Great video! I ordered a 600 lastnight

[oxpack]

I did the katy trail and nice and when it rained I had no problem with grit in the chain. Just like as advertised. Very smooth riding while loaded.

[pascalchavanon]

Thanks for the video. I just finished the East coast in August on my 600 X. I think I am going to get the 600 for next summer for the West Coast. It’s mostly roads. It should work better being lighter. My Aero spider rack should workout fine. Thank you for the infos. (I am 68)

[ThetrueReview]

subsribed, great video keep it up im looking at doing some touring myself when I get my stuff together, have an excellent day