2019 Salsa Journeyman Apex 1 650
An aluminum frame gravel bike with upper mid-range components and mechanical disc brakes. Compare the full range
| MSRP | $1,499 |
|---|---|
| Spec Level | |
| Weight | 25.5 lbs |
| Suspension | Rigid |
| Frame | Aluminum |
| Fork | Carbon |
| Wheels | 650b Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 11 |
| Groupset | Apex |
| Brakes | Mechanical Disc |
1 × 11 — 11 speed
Journeyman Apex 1 650
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The Journeyman Apex 1 650 is easier to ride up hills than similar bikes.
The Journeyman Apex 1 650 won‘t keep up with similar bikes while riding downhill or sprinting.
Logan WattsAug 2019
In our Salsa Journeyman review, we took three 650B builds on an epic trip through the wilds of Montana to see how this budget off-road drop-bar rig performs
Frame and fork are well designed and offer a great bang for the buck
Frame geometry suited for a blend of exploration and fun
Loads of mounting options
650B x 2.1″ tires offer a wide range of capability
Cowbell handlebars and cockpit components are solid
Apex 1 drivetrain isn’t too bad, but definitely not great
Gearing is too high; a crankset that could fit a smaller chainring or 11-46T cassette would be better
Thru-axles are commonplace these days and QR skewers feel like an unnecessary step backward
Non-tubeless compatible tires come standard on all model
If I’m splitting hairs, I’d prefer 27mm internal width rims and a Cowchipper handlebar
Jul 2019
Salsa is an iconic bike brand that's been doing off-road capable drop bar bikes longer than most. The Journeyman brings this expertise and experience to a lower price, and there’s a lot to like about this pink beauty. But its beauty is only skin deep. While the ride and handling are very good, and there are some good components, it’s under specced compared to rivals which make it hard to recommend.
4'11" – 5'3"
5'1" – 5'6"
5'4" – 5'9"
5'8" – 6'1"
5'10" – 6'3"
6'2" +
| Frame | Journeyman Drop Bar BB Standard: BSA, 68mm, Threaded Color: Pink |
|---|---|
| Fork | Fantail Deluxe |
| Rear Shock | N/A |
| Bottom Bracket | 68mm BSA |
| Headset | VP Sealed Bearing |
| Stem | Salsa Guide |
| Handlebar | Salsa Cowbell |
| Saddle | WTB Volt Sport 142 |
| Seatpost | 27.2 x 350mm |
| Grips | Salsa Gel Cork Bar Tape |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM Apex 1 |
|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | N/A |
| Crank | SRAM Apex 1 X-Sync, 40t |
| Shifters | SRAM Apex 1 |
| Cassette | SRAM PG 1130, 11-42t |
| Chain | SRAM PC 1110 |
| Brakes | TRP Spyre-C Flat Mount, 160mm rotors |
| Rims | Novatec, 32h, 100mm, WTB ST i23 TCS 2.0 650b, 2.0mm spokes, brass nipples |
|---|---|
| Tires | WTB Nano 650b x 2.1" Comp |
| Disk Rotors | TRP Spyre-C Flat Mount, 160mm rotors |