I got the bike up on the stand this weekend to figure out the skipping chain issue. Lo and behold the cable pinch bolt was loose!! Not loose enough that it just popped apart and I would have noticed!! Just enough that it was like a stretched cable. Anyway got the derailer re-set with the up and down limit screws and a tight cable and, COOL, smooth shifting bike again!! Easy fix solution to a potential expensive fix situation.
. I try to keep my Allant+ 7S on the pavement and the G-ones are a little sketchy when cornering harder. 
Picture showing G-ones when I replaced them at 3,300 miles. And I like to slide my rear tire for kicks. 2,200 on Panaracer Gravelkings, tubeless, and just replaced the rear tire. And no flats with tubless!I can't believe you guys are reporting 3000 miles out of G-ones. Maybe I have a softer compound, but my rear is about cooked after 900 miles. Just ordered up a set of IRC Boken Road Plus to replace them. Can't get Maxxis Torch in a 27.5
As far as the tubeless ready thing goes, you can run tubeless in tires that aren't tubeless rated most of the time. As long as the rim and bead are compatible, and most are, you just lose a little sealant through the sidewall 'till it seals up. You do have to keep pressures lower though, but flats are rare things in tubeless setups as long as they're set up properly and you keep the sealant fresh. The big downside of tubeless in a bike like this, at least for me, is that they leak over time. Tubes hold pressure over time better and don't need to be topped up before every ride...which is handy for a commuter.
Also, it is goat-head season season and I asked about going tubeless and the dealer talked me in to Tannus liners. I've had them on for about two weeks and my fear was the change in handling but I don't notice any difference. I have tried those slime tubes in the past but in the cold weather the slime goo freezes up into clumps but does not unclump when it gets warm again. Kinda like Latex paint when it freezes, looks like cottage cheese. It was like riding with pea gravel inside your tires. I think I'm going to like the liners!!
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Hi Crayfish!! I am like you, commuted for years on my bikes but the commute I have is all uphill for the trip home plus usually into the prevailing headwind and after all the years it just became a slog that I was not enjoying very much anymore. This distressed me a bit so I started thinking about an ebike for some help and to revitalize my ride and attitude. Mission accomplished with the Allant 7s. It rides like my regular bikes except for that bit of boost to keep me rolling along at a reasonable speed. I can't give you a review of those other bikes because I only really considered three different bikes, the hub drive RAD bikes while being less money I did not like the heavy ride they are. I did get a RAD city five for my wife and she loves it with the throttle choice. I also looked hard at the Surly Cargo ebike (all my analog bikes are Surly's) but found the Trek was the better value and it turns out I really did not need the cargo function. I see Surly just came out with the Skid Steer, smaller frame than the Cargo. I'm sure it is a great bike with frame and components but jeez, 5K for a commuter bike with out fenders or lights??? Seems an insult to have to buy those aftermarket. Hey! Good luck with your choice!! Ride strong!!
I looked at the 8S but it does not have a suspension fork and I need that feature for physical reasons. I rode a Gazelle, pretty nice but the geometry was wrong for me.
I will test out the 7s for sure. I have ridden a Salsa Vaya for the last decade and loved it but it has just become too hard to take the constant pounding. 150 miles a week takes it toll week in and week out. I am hoping the eBike route with suspension on the front is the way to solve this.
Definitely go for the suspension. I chose the 7s over the 8 & 9 primarily for the front suspension and the more usable rear rack. 1st adds were a suspension seat post and handlebar riser.
the bike tires on the 8 do most of it. I had 1.5" tires on my bills and even with a decent suspension fox shock fork made from commuting the ride is harsher then the 8
You aren't wrong about the suspension. It's far and away my biggest complaint about the 7. But how is the 8 more comfy?
The 8 and 7 share the exact same frame. Not sure how the 8 could be more comfortable without any suspension.
Yes, that looks pretty good and versatile. The 5 has the right components but at 5K it is pushing my budget. Something to consider
Upgrades are always budgeted for when I buy any bike, saddle is first
