If you even start to have the whole ‘can I justify the price of a titanium frame versus a steel one’ conversation in your head, then IMO, you should just buy a steel one. It’s obvious that in this case, you’re never going to reach a rational conclusion that the material is worth the premium.
Steel is about 80% as good as Ti (again, just my opinion) in terms of real world use and the new Cotic Soul is blindingly good for the money.
The thing is, titanium, used right, is just such a good material to build hardtails from and it really is better than steel in every respect. If having ridden a well sorted Ti hardtail you can feel that difference, then really it doesn’t matter how much more it costs. It just costs what it costs and if you want what it has to offer, you’ll pay the premium without even beginning to think about whether you can justify the price. It’s a bit like saying, well, the Ferrari is only £150,000 but whereas the Bugatti is almost £1m, so can I justify the cost of Bugatti vs. the Ferrari? Not a hope in hell. But if it’s the Bugatti you want then frankly it makes no difference how much it costs.
The ability for Ti to blend the best bits of steel with those of aluminium (lateral stiffness in the BB for fabulous power response with amazing longitudinal compliance for bump/buzz absorption) is what you pay for; that and the fact that you easily get a sub 4lb frame without any compromise in strength.
I’ve owned a Cotic Soul and sold it in favour of the original Ti456, which I got second hand. I’ve also ridden the Ragley Ti and Bluepig and various other hardcore hardtails including the Nicolai Argon FR.
Unquestionably the Ti framed bikes rode discernibly better in terms of their material characteristics. Of all the bikes I’ve tried, for my style of riding (fairly aggressive, front weighted, quite loose, flat pedals etc) the Ragley Ti was the standout bike but it’s not for everyone. The Ti456 comes a close second but mine was half the price of the Ragley because it was second hand.
The Ti Ragley though – **** me what a bike! Insolent like a teenager in puberty and as randy as one on heat. It’s a ‘take me by the scruff of the neck, get right over my front, push my face into the dirt you mother fu**er and absolutely wring seven bells of sh*t out of my scrawny, tight, stiff titanium arse’ kind of bike. It’s a 19 year old with all the soft bits still taught as a drum but smooth when you climb onboard; a slip sliding, sh*t spitting, sideways sha**ing ragger of a bike and it’s **** brilliant.
But it costs £1200.
The Cotic Soul is similarly brilliant, but it’s more refined, more mature and sophisticated. It’s as happy at a Michelin star restaurant in elegant black channel number with Jimmy Choos and matching purse, perfect make up and polite conversation but will also happily be wearing the very finest Agent Provocateur beneath the elegant exterior. If the Ragely is Kings Cross’ finest, then the Soul is a high class hooker. The experience is more sophisticated but it’s not down and dirty and ultimately, like a high class hooker, there are some things it won’t do.
The Ragley will happily do anything you want it to. Yes, even ‘that’.
OK I’m off for a cold shower now!
