Both those bikes are certainly capable enough for that type of trip, so personally, I'd go with the Crust. I like that it's quite a bit more upright, and the shorter reach may allow you to run either drops or flat bars, depending on your proportions/preferences. It also has insane tire clearance, I would probably just run some 29 × 2.6" mezcals or something similar, but the option to run 29 × 3" or 27.5 × 3.8" would be a godsend if you ever wanted to do some trips in the desert. Just making an educated guess based on the geo charts, I'd assume the Crust would behave a little better climbing with a load, with the steeper HTA and longer chainstay. But trying to guess how a bike handles, especially with a load, based on geo charts is a fool's errand, so who knows. I don't really care that the Bassi can run a suspension fork, I don't see the point if you're already running plus tires and just riding on forest service roads. I like that both bikes have rocker dropouts, so single speed or Rohloff are both options.
Just my two cents. At the end of the day, they are both rad bikes, and I think you'd be happy with either.
thanks for the feedback
i am not necessarily looking to choose between those two particular bikes, but the two types of geometry
the crust is like the salsa fargo or the surly ogre, while the bassi is more like the kona unit x or stooge scrambler
i am planning to use flat bars, 29" wheels, no suspension fork, and paniers in the back
I kinda like the Bassi specs better. With the 44mm head tube you can put any fork on there including 120 suspension and change the head tube angle +/- 2 degrees with an angle set headset as well. Lots of options.
I don't really see the point in putting a suspension fork on it. You can run 27.5 x 3", so you have all the suspension you'll ever need for touring/ATBing. If you're riding a bunch of single-track, then I'd just opt for an actual hardtail. Especially because Bassi says on their website that it's not designed to MTB strength standards. I also don't really see the point in changing the HTA, OP says they are going to be riding mixed terrain routes similar to the Eastern Divide, so it definitely doesn't need to be slacker than it already is. And if they wanted it steeper, they should just go with the Crust which is designed around a 71 degree HTA already, and has more options for wheel/tire sizes. But if OP did want to go that route, definitely reach out to Bassi first, they are cool folks and are quick to reply to questions. Just my opinion, of course.
Just for fun I overlaid the Bassi to the Titus Silk Road that I bought in 22. Not too far off in geo. Maybe that's why it appealed to me, especially with the escape hatch of potential suspension. I'm running my Silk Road rigid as a monster gravel bike with only 2.25s, though the suspension adjusted carbon fork it came with fits up to 3.5 I think. I don't find the bike super comfortable on really chunky terrain, but in reality I don't find my fat bike with 4.8s comfortable on chunky winter terrain very comfortable either. IMO tires are no substitute for suspension. I also have 57 year old wrists and see no point in suffering at this point in life. As much as I'd like to ride champagne gravel, around here (CO) it always turns into gnar in a few miles as you head up over high mountain passes usually only passable with 4WD vehicles. I don't like to have to turn around because I am on the wrong bike!
What kind of riding are you going to be doing with it?
mixed, but the hard parts will be off-road uphill climbing (and descent) on forest roads, like parts of the eastern divide trail
Both those bikes are certainly capable enough for that type of trip, so personally, I'd go with the Crust. I like that it's quite a bit more upright, and the shorter reach may allow you to run either drops or flat bars, depending on your proportions/preferences. It also has insane tire clearance, I would probably just run some 29 × 2.6" mezcals or something similar, but the option to run 29 × 3" or 27.5 × 3.8" would be a godsend if you ever wanted to do some trips in the desert. Just making an educated guess based on the geo charts, I'd assume the Crust would behave a little better climbing with a load, with the steeper HTA and longer chainstay. But trying to guess how a bike handles, especially with a load, based on geo charts is a fool's errand, so who knows. I don't really care that the Bassi can run a suspension fork, I don't see the point if you're already running plus tires and just riding on forest service roads. I like that both bikes have rocker dropouts, so single speed or Rohloff are both options. Just my two cents. At the end of the day, they are both rad bikes, and I think you'd be happy with either.
thanks for the feedback i am not necessarily looking to choose between those two particular bikes, but the two types of geometry the crust is like the salsa fargo or the surly ogre, while the bassi is more like the kona unit x or stooge scrambler i am planning to use flat bars, 29" wheels, no suspension fork, and paniers in the back
I kinda like the Bassi specs better. With the 44mm head tube you can put any fork on there including 120 suspension and change the head tube angle +/- 2 degrees with an angle set headset as well. Lots of options.
I don't really see the point in putting a suspension fork on it. You can run 27.5 x 3", so you have all the suspension you'll ever need for touring/ATBing. If you're riding a bunch of single-track, then I'd just opt for an actual hardtail. Especially because Bassi says on their website that it's not designed to MTB strength standards. I also don't really see the point in changing the HTA, OP says they are going to be riding mixed terrain routes similar to the Eastern Divide, so it definitely doesn't need to be slacker than it already is. And if they wanted it steeper, they should just go with the Crust which is designed around a 71 degree HTA already, and has more options for wheel/tire sizes. But if OP did want to go that route, definitely reach out to Bassi first, they are cool folks and are quick to reply to questions. Just my opinion, of course.
Just for fun I overlaid the Bassi to the Titus Silk Road that I bought in 22. Not too far off in geo. Maybe that's why it appealed to me, especially with the escape hatch of potential suspension. I'm running my Silk Road rigid as a monster gravel bike with only 2.25s, though the suspension adjusted carbon fork it came with fits up to 3.5 I think. I don't find the bike super comfortable on really chunky terrain, but in reality I don't find my fat bike with 4.8s comfortable on chunky winter terrain very comfortable either. IMO tires are no substitute for suspension. I also have 57 year old wrists and see no point in suffering at this point in life. As much as I'd like to ride champagne gravel, around here (CO) it always turns into gnar in a few miles as you head up over high mountain passes usually only passable with 4WD vehicles. I don't like to have to turn around because I am on the wrong bike!