Surly Lowside Dream Tangerine Single-Speed Review

There’s something magical about a bike that makes you grin every time you throw a leg over it. The Surly Lowside Dream Tangerine is what happens when you take everything fun about BMX riding, scale it up for adult-sized adventures, and paint it in the most gorgeous orange you’ve ever seen. Surly calls it “your BMX bike all grown up,” and honestly, that’s exactly what it feels like.

After spending months testing everything from technical mountain bikes to long-distance touring rigs, I’ve learned to appreciate bikes that prioritize pure fun over complicated features. The Lowside strips cycling down to its essence—pedal, smile, repeat—and does it with that signature Surly bombproof construction.

That Dream Tangerine Colorway

Vibrant Orange Done Right

Let’s start with the obvious—that Dream Tangerine finish is absolutely stunning. This isn’t some subtle earth tone that blends into the background; it’s a vibrant, confident orange that announces your presence without being obnoxious. The powder coat finish has depth and richness that photographs can’t quite capture.

In morning light, it glows like actual tangerine skin. Under streetlights, it maintains visibility that genuinely improves safety during urban riding. This color choice shows Surly understands that bikes can be both functional tools and expressions of personal style.

Classic Steel Aesthetic

The lugged steel construction and clean lines create timeless appeal that will look good decades from now. While many modern bikes pursue aggressive, angular aesthetics, the Lowside embraces classic proportions that feel both purposeful and elegant.

The internal cable routing maintains the clean visual lines while providing practical benefits for urban riding where cables can snag or accumulate grime.

Your BMX Bike All Grown Up

4130 Chromoly Construction

Surly’s 4130 chromoly steel provides the perfect balance of durability, ride quality, and that classic steel feel that makes every ride special. This isn’t just marketing—steel’s natural vibration damping creates a more comfortable ride over everything from smooth bike paths to chunky urban obstacles.

The frame handles curb drops, pump track sessions, and whatever urban adventure you throw at it with that confidence that only comes from bombproof construction.

BMX Geometry Meets Modern Standards

The geometry takes everything fun about BMX handling—quick steering, playful responsiveness, and that “ready for anything” attitude—and scales it up for real-world adult riding. You get the agility to navigate tight urban spaces and the stability to cruise comfortably to your destination.

Modern mountain bike standards like the 44mm headtube and thru-axles bring contemporary performance to the classic BMX-inspired package.

Single-Speed Simplicity Done Right

The Beauty of Minimal Maintenance

Single-speed drivetrains eliminate the most common mechanical issues that plague multi-gear bikes. No derailleur adjustments, no cable stretch, no gear indexing problems. Chain maintenance becomes straightforward, and the overall system proves remarkably reliable in all weather conditions.

For urban riders dealing with road salt, grime, and inconsistent maintenance schedules, this simplicity translates to genuine practical advantages.

Fat Tires for Maximum Fun

The 27.5 x 2.8" Maxxis Rekon+ tires transform the riding experience compared to traditional narrow tires. These fat tires roll over curbs, potholes, and urban obstacles with confidence, making every ride feel like an adventure rather than an obstacle course.

The extra volume provides natural suspension that smooths out rough surfaces while maintaining enough rolling efficiency for longer rides.

The Ultimate Pub Cruiser

Perfect for Urban Adventures

Surly describes the Lowside as “the ultimate pub cruiser,” and that captures its personality perfectly. This bike excels at the kind of riding that makes cycling purely fun—rolling to your favorite brewery, exploring urban neighborhoods, or just cruising around with a huge grin on your face.

The single-speed drivetrain eliminates maintenance anxiety, so you can focus on enjoying the ride rather than worrying about mechanical issues.

Pump Track Ready

The BMX-inspired geometry and fat tires make the Lowside surprisingly capable on pump tracks and urban features. While it’s not a pure BMX bike, it brings enough of that DNA to handle jumps, berms, and technical features that would intimidate traditional bikes.

This versatility means one bike can handle both transportation duties and recreational riding adventures.

Real-World Urban Performance

City Riding Strengths

The combination of responsive geometry, durable construction, and low maintenance requirements makes the Lowside excellent for urban commuting and city exploration. The single-speed drivetrain handles moderate hills effectively while remaining efficient on flats.

The steel frame’s comfort over rough surfaces becomes especially valuable during longer urban rides where pavement quality varies significantly.

Fat Tire Capability

The 27.5 x 2.8" tire setup provides excellent traction and comfort over varied urban terrain. These fat tires absorb impacts from potholes and curbs while maintaining enough efficiency for longer rides around the city.

The wide tire footprint creates confidence on loose surfaces and urban obstacles that would challenge bikes with traditional narrow tires.

Who This Bike Appeals To

Fun-First Riders

For cyclists who want their bike to make them smile every time they ride, the Lowside delivers pure joy in bicycle form. This appeals to riders who value fun over speed, adventure over efficiency, and grins over gears.

The BMX-inspired attitude makes every trip feel like an adventure rather than just transportation.

Urban Adventurers

City riders who want one bike that can handle commuting, pub runs, pump track sessions, and weekend exploration will love the Lowside’s versatility. It’s equally happy rolling to work or hitting urban features after hours.

The bombproof construction means you can push boundaries without worrying about breaking your ride.

Steel and Simplicity Enthusiasts

Riders who appreciate classic steel construction and single-speed simplicity will find everything they love about traditional bikes enhanced with modern components and that unmistakable Surly quality.

The Lowside proves that sometimes the best technology is proven technology done right.

Long-Term Ownership Considerations

Durability and Maintenance

Surly’s reputation for bombproof construction suggests the Lowside will provide decades of reliable service with basic maintenance. Steel frames can be repaired anywhere, and the simple drivetrain minimizes potential failure points.

Component replacement and upgrades remain straightforward throughout the bike’s lifespan.

Component Quality

The complete bike comes with thoughtful component choices that match the Lowside’s fun-focused mission. SRAM NX crankset, Tektro hydraulic brakes, and quality Maxxis tires provide reliable performance without breaking the budget.

Surly’s component selection balances performance, durability, and value—exactly what you want in a bike designed for regular urban adventures.

Bottom Line: Pure Cycling Joy

The Surly Lowside Dream Tangerine represents everything appealing about bikes that prioritize fun over function—simplicity, durability, and that massive grin factor that makes every ride special. The BMX-inspired geometry brings playful handling to adult-sized adventures while maintaining Surly’s bombproof construction standards.

For riders ready to embrace cycling’s pure joy rather than chasing performance metrics, the Lowside delivers everything needed in the most gorgeous orange package imaginable.

See More: Check out the complete specifications and additional photos at Surly Bikes . Your local bike shop can help you experience the Lowside’s unique personality firsthand.

Sometimes the best bike is the one that makes you happiest—and the Lowside excels at exactly that mission.