2019 Salsa Journeyman Apex 1 650
An aluminum frame gravel bike with mid-range components and mechanical disc brakes, priced at the high end of the Journeyman model range. Compare the full range
| MSRP | $1,499 |
|---|---|
| Weight | 25.5 lbs |
| Suspension | Rigid |
| Frame | Aluminum |
| Fork | Carbon |
| Wheels | 650b |
| Tires | 2.1" |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 11 |
| Groupset | Apex 1 |
| Brakes | Mechanical Disc |
1 × 11 — 11 speed
Journeyman Apex 1 650
Similar Bikes
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 Watts
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
August 2019Read Full Review
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.
July 2019Read Full Review
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 |