Help me build a bikepacking bike!

[hamster]

Gorgeous but a big frame, mind!

 

[narcotitlan]

Gorgeous but a big frame, mind!

Not sure. 21” is small for a road bike.

 

[hamster]

Agreed, if it's a roadie, looks like 26" wheels to me, and that head tube is tall. 21" is 53, so on the smaller side of medium.

 

[narcotitlan]

26” wheel road/tourer

 

[Takingabreak]

Top end of your budget but cool as kcuf on eBay:

Been for sale for a while so I reckon he’d accept a lower offer. Electric thingie will come off.
View attachment 919953

not sure what this offers above and beyond the £175 Orbit I posted earlier

 

[narcotitlan]

that orbit definitely cool. This one - more yellow, more expensive.

 

[highlandsflyer]

not sure what this offers above and beyond the £175 Orbit I posted earlier

The thread starter needs to work out their comfortable standover. If that Orbit would fit, it is a beguiling option.

 

[minor_LEGEND]

If you haven't built this yet I'll just chip in with some wisdom of my own.

Old MTB's can be perfect for what you wish to use it for, where they can fall down is with rear heel clearance to panniers. Racier bikes from the 90's will typically have a shorter wheelbase & rear end than an 80's frame. So you can choose wisely if you will use panniers. MTB's aren't typically adorned with all the braze ons esp up front on the forks like a proper tourer would, this can lead to compromises in mounting fr racks or low-riders, a breakage here when loaded & mid-tour is catastrophic. If you need extra braze-ons, get a local framebuilder to add them.
Another thing is wheels & having a dependable well-built set. Spokes that want to snap isn't very helpful when you are loaded.

 

[originsoundd]

If you haven't built this yet I'll just chip in with some wisdom of my own.

Old MTB's can be perfect for what you wish to use it for, where they can fall down is with rear heel clearance to panniers. Racier bikes from the 90's will typically have a shorter wheelbase & rear end than an 80's frame. So you can choose wisely if you will use panniers. MTB's aren't typically adorned with all the braze ons esp up front on the forks like a proper tourer would, this can lead to compromises in mounting fr racks or low-riders, a breakage here when loaded & mid-tour is catastrophic. If you need extra braze-ons, get a local framebuilder to add them.
Another thing is wheels & having a dependable well-built set. Spokes that want to snap isn't very helpful when you are loaded.

Thanks for this. Actually thought of getting braze-ons added to whatever I buy yesterday. I found a local shop that will do £50 for 4 (2 front 2 rear).

 

[minor_LEGEND]

Where are you based, Originsoundd? People can maybe help recommend prospective bikes/frames that are for sale.

There is a nice Dawes on ebay in Leeds, 16" steel frame. Too far?