[quote]
Reynolds have been working on a new stainless steel tubeset to sit under their uber-strong and light 953 products. It’s called 931. It’s basically a similar strength to 853, but stainless. It’s a little cheaper than 953 and Reynolds and our factory (who are partnering with Reynolds as builders) were keen to show us what it could do, so I had them build me a Solaris shaped frame.
Pretty, isn’t it?
Because it’s similar strength to 853, it’s not that much lighter than a Solaris as you have to use similar sections, so you basically save the weight of the paint. This has a 32mm seat tube/27.2mm seatpost whereas the Solaris has our new 35mm/31.6 seat tube/seatpost combo, but there’s not a deal different in the weight of those. This also has a regular 1 1/8″ head tube as they don’t have material in 931 big enough to do a 44mm head tube, so that’s a bit lighter. Overall the frame is about 0.5lb lighter than a Solaris, so around 4.4lb in large. The kicker unfortunately is the price. Even though 931 is lower priced that 953, this would still be a £1,200 frame. Given that it’s not loads lighter than the Solaris, it doesn’t have much going for it apart from being massively pretty.
So, no plans to make them (unless at least 30 of you stump up deposits!!), but something very nice to look at. [/quote]
Though I’d have to stipulate mine had mudguard bosses on the dropouts and seatstay bridge – for that money I’m gonna have to use it as the commuter too….
Before I ordered my enigma I looked into a 953 custom build and several frame builders said they wouldn’t touch the stuff as it was way too temperamental to work with. Is this cheaper version more straight forward?
Same strength as the Soul. Pretty much the same tubes profiles, it’s just a different material run through the same mandrels at Reynolds.
Genuinely surprised at the interest. I’ll talk to the factory about a small batch of assorted 26 and 29 wheel sizes. They’ll probably not go for it on grounds of too much variation, but I’ll see.
@ Ivandobski – 931 is much less precious than 953.
No chance. Ti isn’t something we’re getting into any more. It’s too expensive to get done properly, and because everyone remembers the days of £1k ti frames, no one will pay the money for frames done properly. Took us well over a year to sell less than 30 of the last batch of Lynskey built Sodas at £1,500 and they’d have had to go up to £1,700 to cover price rises if we’d have ordered more.
I’ve been frankly amazed so many people on this thread are up for a £1,200 frame to be honest. We really thought these 931 frames were pretty but pointless 😉
We really thought these 931 frames were pretty but pointless
TBH though, once you get past about £300 on a hardtail frame you’re paying for “other stuff” rather than any functional benefit. Why not prettiness/nicheness/shiny shiny.
Some folk would spend that coin on a handbag/watch/other expensive tat, and you can’t even ride it!