The German adventure brand Tout Terrain is best known for steel bikes with Pinion gearboxes and belt drives. But recently, Tout released a bicycle that offers two new features that havent been available before from the brand. Tout Terrains new Catalina Select 7.1 is a derailleur-based bikepacking-ready mountain bike for modern drivetrains. It will also be available as a customizable frame kit, in the color of your choice. Two new firsts for the bike maker.Tout Terrain Catalina steel bikepacking 29er MTB hardtail(Photos / Tout Terrain)The new Catalina is a steel bikepacking hardtail, and its Touts first derailleur-based 29er. But its also the first model theyll sell to riders as a frame kit that you can really customize. That means you can pick any color you want, plus a rigid or suspension fork. Also cool.Tout Terrain uses its own Thermocrom heat-treated steel for the new Catalina. The butted Thermocrom tubing uses thinner-walled sections in select areas, cutting weight without hurting the frames durability.The brand also says this steel tubeset performs much like their Dedacciai tubing, but with a lower carbon footprint. It has been used across their recently updated lineup, including the Tanami and Blueridge.Weve Seen it BeforeTeased at this years Sea Otter Classic, the Catalina is pitched as equally happy on after-work trail laps as on big backcountry overnighters. Tout Terrain describes it as fast and fun on flowy trails while still hitting the usual marks of capability, long-distance comfort, and durability.True to the brands touring roots, the powder-coated steel frame has mounting points all over the place. You can load it up for a few days off-the-grid without resorting to zip ties and Voile straps.Bikepacking-ready MTB hardtailWhen the Catalina launches, it will launch as a complete bike, the Select 7.1. Tout builds this complete bike around a RockShox Reba Gold 120mm fork, 2.4 Continental tires on WTB KOM Tough i30 rims, a 150mm OneUp V3 dropper, and a new mechanical Shimano Deore 112 drivetrain.Their idea is that the Catalina will be an approachable entry for first-time bikepackers, but still makes sense for seasoned adventurers. If youd rather build your own, the frame kit is also available, in the color of your choice. Preorders for both the Select 7.1 and frame kit are open now, with shipping expected before the end of the year.Tout Terrain Catalina: Retail & DetailRetail: $1,625 (frameset), $4,099 (Select 7.1 complete)Frame: Tout Terrain Thermocrom steel with Matte Black finishFork: RockShox Reba Gold 120mmGroupset: Shimano Deore 112 drivetrainWheelset: WTB KOM Tough i30 29 with Tout Terrain hubsSeatpost: OneUp V3 150mm dropper postSizes: S, M, L, XLCustom single paint color option for the framesetClick the link below to check out more details. Tout-TerrainBike.com