Surly Bikes 2026: Steel, Carbon, and the Great Shake-up

If you’ve been hanging around the “Info Hole” or stalking your local Intergalactic Destination Dealer lately, you’ll figure out that 2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for Surly. After a few years of “quiet refinement” (read: mostly just cool new paint jobs), the Minneapolis crew is finally overhauling the heavy hitters.

From carbon fiber guest appearances to the long-awaited evolution of a cult classic, here is the cohesive breakdown of the Surly 2026 lineup.

The Star of the Show: The Midnight Special “Black Cherry Fizz”

This is the big one. Surly has officially broken their “steel only” streak for complete builds. The new high-end Midnight Special is a departure from everything we expected:

• The Fork: It now specs a color-matched Salsa Waxwing Carbon Fork (with an aluminum steerer). It sheds weight and adds internal routing for a dynamo hub and brake cable.

• The Rolling Stock: It’s equipped with Teravail Circos Carbon rims laced to DT Swiss 350 hubs.

• The Drivetrain: A full Shimano 105 R7120 12-speed mechanical group.

• Weight: A 56cm complete build now tips the scales at a relatively svelte 10.9kg

• Price: This “super-build” enters the lineup at $5999

The Legend Evolves: The New 2026 Straggler

The Straggler has finally received the update fans have been begging for since the mid-2010s. This isn’t just a new colorway; it’s a structural shift.

• The Big Change: Say goodbye to those funky forward-facing horizontal dropouts. The 2026 Straggler now features front and rear thru-axles (12x100mm and 12x142mm) for a stiffer, more modern ride.

• More Meat: Tire clearance has been officially bumped to 50mm (on 700c), making it a true cross-terrain beast.

• Modern Bits: It now sports flat-mount brakes, internal dropper post routing, and a 44mm headtube for better fork compatibility.

• Colors: Look for it in Subtropic Algae and Shaggy Carpet.

Find our detailed write-up on both Straggler bikes here.

The Reliable Staples: Disc Trucker & Preamble

While these models didn’t get a frame overhaul, they’ve received significant “under-the-hood” component updates for 2026.

• Disc Trucker: Still the king of the long haul, the 2026 update is all about the Shimano CUES drivetrain. By prioritizing the ultra-durable Linkglide technology, Surly has made the Trucker even more “set-it-and-forget-it” for world travelers. It returns in the understated Grandpa’s Khakis.

• Preamble: The gateway drug to the Surly brand gets a spicy upgrade to Red Hot Cheddar. More importantly, the spec moves away from entry-level Microshift to a robust Shimano CUES 1×10 system, giving it way more credibility on the gravel paths.

They ain’t done yet, more hijinks on the horizon

This show-and-tell has yet to be completed. You’ll notice we’ve omitted mentioning a couple more models for those who wax on wax off the trails, you will need to wait a little longer for those.

Surly is clearly moving toward modern standards (thru-axles and flat mounts) without losing the “steel is real” soul that made us love them in the first place. Whether you’re a bikepacker, a daily commuter, or a gravel grinder, 2026 is a year when your wallet is in danger.