Bikepacking Frequently Asked Questions

Visit our bikepacking page to see the variety of bikes we offer.

Should I get a bikepacking bike or a gravel (or mountain) bike?

If you're looking for the one bike to be your bikepacking getaway rig and your gravel (or mountain) daily driver, Seven's Expedition bike series is the best.

If you ride mostly gravel with maybe a couple of bikepacking trips each year, a Seven Evergreen gravel bike is probably ideal. If you're bikepacking a few times a year or more, the Seven Expedition bikes below are ideal.

In general, Seven's Expedition bikes are great gravel performance bikes. Also, Seven's Evergreen gravel bikes are better bikepacking rigs than most brands' offerings, but our Evergreens are not as cargo-capable as our Expedition series.

Choose Stock or Full Custom

We offer two ways to get your dream bikepacking bike:

Full Custom: Every aspect of the bike is customized and tailored specifically for you from a blank canvas. You can order your custom Seven on any one of the bikepacking model pages and supplement the design by filling out our custom bike Design Guide. Contact us with questions; we're here to help.

Rider-Ready (what some riders call stock) are Seven's predetermined bike designs that we build one at a time when you order yours. Rider-Ready bikes are quick and straightforward to order, and the best non-custom bike you can ride.

Defining Rider-Ready and Custom

"Why so many models? It's confusing and overwhelming."

We want to provide the best possible bike. Investing a few minutes in determining the right model will enhance your riding experience manyfold.

Here are some ways to simplify the decision process. We categorize by TIRE SIZE (the kind of terrain you ride), HANDLEBAR STYLE (drop bar or mountain bar), and FORK TYPE (suspension or rigid). Pick one of each and you've got your ideal model.

1. Start with our stock Rider-Ready bikepacking bikes. These cover 95% of bikepacking designs.
2. Choose your terrain: Review our model chooser, above. Our most popular bikepacking bike is the 926f  (with 29 x 2.6" tires). It's very versatile.
3. Choose your handlebar style. Do you prefer drop bars or mountain bike flat-riser bars? There's no right or wrong answer. A slight majority of bikepackers ride mountain bike bars.
4. Suspension fork or rigid fork: Every Rider-Ready design is suspension-adjusted, so there's no stress in making a model choice. Each bike works equally well with a rigid or suspension fork. You can order the bike either way on the order form.

That's it. Your ideal bikepacking model should be clear. If not, email or call.

"Should I get the drop bar or flat bar design?"

We offer both drop bar and flat bar designs because both types of bars are nearly equally popular. Bikepacking.com reports that Tour Divide racers in 2024 and 2025 on average had 56% flat bars and 44% drop bars. Of course, Tour Divide is a very specific kind of bikepacking that most riders don't do. Regardless, the parity between drops and flats is an indicator that no bar is right for everyone.

Choose a drop bar if you prefer multiple hand positions for long rides. Drop bars are also more aero, which can be nice when you have a 40-mile headwind on an open plain. Biases the rider's weight slightly forward for improved traction tire balance. Considerations include a narrow hand position that's not quite as stable on rough trails. Additionally, the narrower bar style has less room for bar bags and front-end electronics.

Choose a flat or riser bar if your priority is maximum control and stability. Also provides a more upright position that biases slightly more weight on the rear wheel, which can be helpful in soft conditions like snow and dry sand. Generally ideal for technical offroad riding. Mountain-style bars also have an abundance of bar bag real estate. Considerations include limited hand positions, which can become irritating as the ride gets longer.

IMPORTANT: We don't recommend getting one design and assuming it's easy to swap out bars from flat to drop or vice versa. The frame geometry and rider fit of each are completely different; for example, a flat bar's frame design is significantly shorter and features different front-end geometry due to weight balance compared to a drop bar design.

"Does Seven offer welded frame mounts for frame bags, extra bottles, and special request placements?"

For frame durability and longevity, Seven doesn't install threaded bosses anywhere on the frame except at the classic water bottle locations. We don't make any exceptions to this standard.

The managing team at Seven has machined more than 300,000 frame mounts and holes in well over thirty years of building 70,000 frames in the United States. We've tried everything. We've seen firsthand all the ways it can go wrong over the long run. We really do want to build lifetime bikes. Drilling holes is one of the many ways to cut short a frameset's life. Read the full details.

"Why have Seven build your bikepacking bike?"

More Framebuilding Experience: Most Sevens are built by three artisans — a framebuilder, a welder, and a framewright. On average, these three have over 40 years of framebuilding experience. There are no more experienced titanium builders on the planet. This depth helps us build better bikes.

More Titanium Experience: Without a doubt, titanium is the best frame material for bikepacking bikes. Seven's founders have been building titanium bikes for 38 years — longer than anyone else on the planet. 30-plus years ago, Seven's founders developed the titanium tube specification that is still widely used today. If you want something built of titanium, there is no more knowledgeable or experienced team to work with.

Continuous Innovation: Some of us have been bikepacking for decades. From the harsh environs of Australia to the primitive trails of New Zealand, we've learned continuously since those early days. Fast forward to today: Our latest work on vibration damping and big hit control is evident in each of these frames. Seven has always pushed the bounds of what's possible on a bike. This design has more of what's proven and none of what's not.

Built by riders for riders. Who built your bike? Some of our crew live for bikepacking; they constantly scout routes and dream of simpler cowboy coffee methods. Whatever the reason to ride, it's all good. And even better in the dirt. The nuances of bikepacking's idiosyncrasies are not lost on our crew.

"Why does Seven's approach to bikepacking design result in the ideal expedition bike?"

• Complete Trust In The Equipment. Titanium for its durability and simple care. Seven's material engineering for longevity.
• Toughness: Titanium can handle abuse and impacts that would crack, rip, or dent other materials. Nearly impervious to wear damage from grit and grime — unlike carbon. Seven's titanium 3-2.5 alloy is the best material for building the toughest bikes.
• Terrain Versatility: We offer a number of bikepacking designs. Whatever your terrain, we have the bike.
• Better handling: Available in 12 sizes and multiple fit profiles, our designs provide more precise sizing, much better rider weight distribution, and more precise center of gravity for finer handling than any stock bike.
• Unparalleled ride feel and fun. Each of 12 frame sizes has a size-specific tubeset with an optimal rider weight range. Rather than a single weight limit for all sizes (as performance carbon bikes almost universally have), Seven's optimal weight recommendation provides a ride feel and rider connection that has never been possible with a stock bike.
• A new level of control: Twelve frame sizes in multiple fits with 12 distinct tubeset profiles. Add to this Seven's innovative application of titanium, and you've got more intuitive body English control than ever.
• Better fit because we offer multiple fit profiles (typically our Standard Fit and Endurance Fit). Seven's Standard Fit, in 12 sizes, provides a riding position similar to that of popular stock bikes. Our Endurance Fit, in 12 sizes, provides a slightly higher front and has a bit shorter reach. Compare this to most bikes' 5 to 7 for stock bikes. We're confident you'll have a better fit than any stock bike you've ever ridden.