Matt at 18 bikes makes some lovely frames.
Bike Forum
Custom built steel frames
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Posted 7 months ago #
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i have heard that he's not the most flexible on certain details.
I've heard this too. One bloke whose bike I was admiring said it was a nightmare to get them to make it for a 100mm fork! But they will make it to your specifications though, ultimately you are boss. Either they do, or they don't get the work.
I think I'd have a combination of fillet brazing and some nice lugged joints.
Oooh....
Posted 7 months ago # -
I had my custom steel frame made in America. Personally I prefer TIG welds as they weigh less and, in my book, look better. My experience was that steel builders don't have much experience with long travel forks, they tend to be quite oldschool. 71 degree head angle with 120mm forks anyone? Just be sure that you know exactly what you want.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Robin Mather isn't taken orders.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Robin isn't taking orders and hasn't been for a while. And his frames are £1500 too....
I'd still like one though
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Posted 7 months ago # -
Robin Mather. You'll get what you want, it'll be beautifully made and will ride fab.
But if you wanted it for your 40th birthday ,you may have needed to order on your 38th.....
its my 40th next year, and i put in my order probably about 18 months ago.....starting to get a little excited.....
Posted 7 months ago # -
I'm going on a frame building course with Dave Yates in April next year. Doesn't cost a whole lot more than a custom frame does alone, and with 1-on-2 tuition, seems like great value
Posted 7 months ago # -
Have a chat with some builders and see which one you have the best feeling about. When I went down the custom route I had communication with a lot of frame builders it was fairly quick to rattle it down to only a hand full i was happy to trust, if I go custom again I will do the same thing.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I'd go with a builder who actually goes mountain biking for a start. It seems to me that most of the custom builders are stuck in the 80's. Roberts don't even have any info on mountain bikes on their website any more for a start. Just because someone is good with a torch, doesn't mean that they are going to build a good frame. I'd take a 'off the shelf' Chromag frame, either made in small batches in Squamish BC, or in the case of the 29er, by Chris Dekerf, over pretty well anything UK custom I'm afraid! Just look at the geometry of the Curtis 'Freeride'!!
Posted 7 months ago # -
I think I've still got my name on Mather's list, that was 18 months - 2 years ago now, he's not answering emails so I've given up. Second the Roberts - if it ain't road don't go there - been there done that - disaster!
Posted 7 months ago # -
Sorry got to join the Roberts bashing club. I had an mtb custom built DB frame built in '95 and it turned out to be the most ill fitting, uncomfortable, worst handling bike I've ever ridden. Stripped it down, and dumped it in the basement after 2 years of neck/back pain and fiddling around with seat positions and stems. Went back to my Kona and everything was fine again ...
I'm not sure UK custom is worth it, but if I did, I'd go for Mather. I reckon Argos Cycles would do a great job (as they've done a load of braze on/resprays for me perfectly fairly sharpish)
Posted 7 months ago # -
I've heard this too. One bloke whose bike I was admiring said it was a nightmare to get them to make it for a 100mm fork! But they will make it to your specifications though, ultimately you are boss. Either they do, or they don't get the work.
from a very reliable source I think you might find that Chas couldn't give a shit about getting the work; he genuinely doesn't care what people think. As far as he's concerned, you'll ride the bike he thinks you should ride, and if you don't like it, go somewhere else and stop wasting his time...
Posted 7 months ago # -
Many moons ago my replacement for my first ever mtb a raleigh, was a Dave Yates ,the magazines said it was great ,it rode crap ,felt dead .The next thing was a Roberts Bolx the Diablo was supposed to be a budget handbuilt frame so I assumed spending a bit more wedge and supposedly having the builder on side was going to be a better product and , it was pretty much a pile of Bolx again some journo had one in a mag and it was ace, I thought differently.There was a point where custom builders were regarded as super duper TBH probably the cycling press efforts and in all honesty to this day I still can't get my head around paying ridiculous money for some guy to try an make you believe you bought something so much better than Fu King Weld co in china.
I know the Ti bike I replaced the Roberts with was 100 times better than the hand built crap I had before.Maybe not a constructive addition to this thread but I can only think if some of the Uk builders even want to compete ,or maybe even earn back any credibility they really need to up their game.Surely there will be some new comers trying to break into a market and gain some rep but when occurs is anyone's guess.Posted 7 months ago # -
Demon have a jump frame in the works so I guess they have an idea of modern MTB geometry. I chatted with Tom at Demon about various issues related to building a frame myself and he was really helpfull and came across as a nice guy. There was nothing in it for him, but he still gave me his time. If I wanted something special, Demon would be my first port of call. Have a look at the gallery and you'll see some real works of art there.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Pretty sure Steven at Shand Cycles will build exactly what YOU want, even if it is far from ordinary. The evidence is here in this folding, belt drive 29er for a giant..
Posted 7 months ago #
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