Hi all,

I have a Global th1.5 and I’ve just discovered a crack in the down tube – it’s a write-off, and I’m gutted. 2 questions:
– Are RideOn still in existence? Their website is returning only blank pages..
– Can anyone suggest a replacement? I’d probably consider a new fork at the same time, so I’d probably be looking for a Ti hardtail frame built for 120-140mm travel – not sure about budget yet…

Cheers – Adam…

There was a thread yesterday on a saracen ti hardtail, from memory think it was about £500.

ride on , 01706 831101

On One 456Ti?

Enigma may be able to help – give Mark a call there.

Is it definately a writeoff? I got 2 nasty looking cracks in my Soda welded up by Enigma, they did a lovely job (specific instructions- strong and I don’t care what it looks like, but they couldn’t resist and still made it tidy too) Remains to be seen how long it lasts but for £90 I can’t complain.

Emailing them was a waste of time, mind.

I am going to go with write off on this one. It’s in with us and it is the sort of crack that makes you want to cry.

I’d buy one of these if I was in your position

Get it welded then sell it with a clear honest description. Phone around local welders and you’ll find one who can do Ti.

Hope my Th1.5 doesn’t crack, I’ll have to change my name on here.

another frame for life that is a write off, I’ve been put right off Ti frames with all these stories

Thanks for all the responses. I phoned RideOn; they’re still around but no longer doing the Ti frames – shame, I loved that one. They also suggested welding, and I’ll send photos to see if it can be done – not hopeful though.

Time to start saving the pennies…!

Hmm not sure any frame is really a frame for life. My ti frame cracked last year after 18/19 years service, if you work the price per year then frankly that’s a bargain!

globalti

Learned something today,I always thought your user name was to with curry…

link to the afore mentioned cheap ti frame.

Saracen Kili Flyer £550

I have been put off titanium frames too. In April 2011 I bought a Rocklobster titanium from http://www.merlincycles.com/ Ti frame, SLX group set Marzocchi 100 mm fork, 1650 GBP. Like many people I thought this is a bike for life, because of titanium´s legendary fatigue resistance, Sure enough it was a great ride, very responsive, I used it for guiding with http://www.bikingandalucia.com, for 12 months, until April 2012, when I noticed a profound crack on the top tube 10cm behind the head tubed. http://www.merlincycles.com replaced it with 2 of their MALT 2 frames (the Ti frame is no longer available). I have heard too many accounts of Ti frames breaking to be interested in buying another.
I still have the Rocklobster titanium frame but cannot up to press find anyone to repair it in Granada province, so if anyone can advise me where it can be repaired, UK, Spain or anywhere else I would be grateful.
At the moment, I am using a RAMONES CRMO, (http://www.commencal-store.com/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=10251220), cannot fault it (possibly a bit heavy at 13.4 kg) but ideal for guiding here in Spain.

Anyone with a tig welder should be able to melt that back together for you.

Suggested replacement I’d +1 with franks suggestion. Brodie Holeshot I’d say is a goodframe for the money, I’ve had mine about 18 months and have fully abused it in all kinds of riding and locations. I’d have no problem recommending one based on how good it’s been so far. Few mates have be waiting for me to say I’ve snapped it but so far only thing I’ve reported is how good it is. Very capable bike and if you are already a fan of ti you will love the ride, and the smile it puts on your face as you smash your local trails!

I am going to go with write off on this one. It’s in with us and it is the sort of crack that makes you want to cry.

make me cry, pics?

Welding ti needs special setup with absence of air I believe, not many people here but there are a few ti specialists around

baznav73 – Member
Anyone with a tig welder should be able to melt that back together for you.

I think titanium welding is a specialist job, and has to be done in an inert atmosphere (vacuum)

Ti can be tig repaired.

It possible as others on here have suggested that Enigma could make a repair. I’ve being thinking of getting some of my old ‘retro’ frames new lease of life via them

If your looking for a replacement there was an amazing MOOTS YBB (softail) being offered for sale on here in the past few day’s.

I have been riding a MOOTS these last few seasons, and they are fabricated to an incredibly high standard, it’s certainly kept it together v.well.

Goodluck!

Anyone with a tig welder should be able to melt that back together for you.

Pretty much anyone could weld it back it back together for you but i doubt it’d last more than a couple of rides unless they knew what they were doing and had the correct equipment/experience of Argon purging. You need to ensure that the oxygen content when welding titanium tubing is not more than 70 ppm and preferably way less in actual practice which often needs expensive metering equipment, you also have to keep the argon pressure inside the tube at a slightly positive pressure to ensure no oxygen can penetrate the weld area thus contaminating the weld which will lead to oxidation and weaken the structural weld joint.

My father’s been a welder/fabricator for over 40 yrs in various disciplines from (nuclear/pharmaceutical/petrochemical/food industries so i do know what i’m talking about……for once 😉

If you are going to scrap the frame I would be very interested in having it for material to practice my welding on. I would not be doing it for resale but to learn working in that material. I have an enigma and the bike is a work of art and has their frame warranty which is good enough for me to totally recommend their work and product, for me it should be a bike for life and I’m very happy with it indeed. I would give them a call about fixing yours if possible.

Last time I asked Enigma about having a disc mount welded they were too busy.

As an alternative, Paul Hewitt cycles in Leyland do framebuilding and their guy does very tidy titanium repairs (with the required argon gas back-purge inside the frame tubes).

David… Tried Dr Bike in Granada.. ?

Thanks mick_rmay well contact Paul Hewitt cycles in Leyland to see if they can weld up the Ti rocklobster 🙂

Vernon Barker did a neat repair to a cracked BB weld on my Ti Airborne Carpe Diem – might be worth sending him some photos to see if he thinks it is salvageable.
Unfortunately, the downtube later developed a major crack and I had to write it off (9 years of year round commuting and winter training use).

Thanks Rick, normally use Pedalmoto in Granada, who could not help, will enquire at Dr Bike in Granada, if they can do something, it will be a lot easier then sending the frame to the UK!

Hey all – just to let you know, I’ve pinged Enigma to see if they’ll repair it for me. If not, i might ask them or Pipedreams for a frameset – when I’ve saved a bit…

I got chainsuck gouges in the RH chainstay of my Ti Hei Hei frame filled in by a welder in Littleborough. Any decent welder can do it, the only concern there was whether they had any Ti welding rods. Th spaced-out bloke named Mr Harris who did the job in his lunch break for cash told me his worst problem was smoothing the frame off afterwards as the Ti wore his sanding belts out very fast.

This was the end result, not bad for twenty quid:

Swoon…

Alas, both prototypes sold and no production models will be made.

You could try http://www.carrswelding.co.uk/cycling.html

They quoted me £45 top repair a cracked TT on an aluminium frame. Haven’t decided whether to go ahead or not yet, so can’t comment on quality, but I have read good reports elsewhere.

Oh my that Ti DialledBikes frame is just gorgeous.

Just for info: I’ve contacted both Enigma and Carrs. Both asked for photos (which The Bike Chain kindly supplied). Enigma didn’t respond again but Carrs were hugely friendly and helpful and assured me that they could fix it (and the quote was £45 + VAT & carriage!) – the frame is on its way to them now (again, thanks to The Bike Chain).

Only time will tell how well the repair lasts, but I’ve been impressed with the service from both TBC & Carrs.