It’s been a while coming, but there’s a new Ti Spaceframe bike from Jones – the new Jones Titanium Spaceframe Plus LWB. While there was already a titanium Jones Plus frame, the development of the spaceframe – the Jones particular look (and performance) – took longer due to the complexity.
These new Ti frames are made in Taiwan, from a specialist builder that Jones says “has far surpassed anything we’ve gotten elsewhere.”
The Spaceframe design allows the frame to flex vertically for comfort, while remaining torsionally stiff, with the precise handling and light weight of the signature Truss Fork to make the most of titanium’s inherent flex, durability, and light weight. This all comes together to create a very special bicycle.
The frameset combines Jeff’s Spaceframe design—which allows the frame to flex vertically for comfort, while remaining torsionally stiff—with the precise handling and light weight of his Truss Fork to make the most of titanium’s inherent flex, durability, and light weight.
Jones Bikes says “While every new frameset Jeff has designed over the years has been a step forward, this is one that he’s been wanting to make for a long time, and it really represents the pinnacle of his thinking and work on how to make a high-performance, non-suspension bicycle.”
We know that Jones bikes are very much a Marmite thing among riders, but the ones we’ve tested have surprised us with their capability. Existing Jones riders are fanatical in their support of this unconventional looking design. There’s noticeable vertical ‘give’ in the suspension and when ridden as a unit with the matching fork and Jones’ distinctive H-bars, the resultant ride is impressively capable.
Jeff Jones was one of the first bike companies to really try to push the whole tyre volume thing, even before ‘Plus’ was a thing and the first test bike we had in, a decade ago, featured wide 2.4 Ardents on a similarly wide, tubeless rim for some impressive traction.
Now the hard part – a complete frame and fork will cost you around US$4,550. And by the time the bike is imported into the UK, the distributor, Biff, reckons that it’ll be a pound for dollar conversion – so don’t expect much change from £4.5 grand. Blame the weak pound.
If you want to find out more behind Jeff’s thoughts on the whole bike development, check out the Jones Bikes Blog
And here are a couple of bikes built-up so you can see how that fork fits in with the frame and headset.
Comments (19)
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I’m showing my stupidity here but…will you need to put spacers above and below the hard tube to fit the fork????
Gawd, i really really need one of those. No, I do. Really.
Anyone want to buy a kidney? Only slightly abused.
So wrong it must be right.
Right?
Wookster said on January 9, 2018
I’m showing my stupidity here but…will you need to put spacers above and below the hard tube to fit the fork????
Finished bikes appear to employ 2 headsets.
And my two penneth? Its fow
I’ve added a couple of shots for you Wookster. Hope that helps explain things.
It’s one of those bikes, the Nicolli geometron been another, that you just want a go on. Because it’s different .
Nice one thanks Chipps!
Does one need to have a beard to be permitted to purchase it?
The four bolts by the rear dropouts are to fit rack, mudguard and waterbottle cages. You still have to dangle your muģ from the seatpack though for proper Instabike effect
It’s a bit bossy for my taste. I know it adds versatility and I’m probably not the target market but I’d want to run it as a really ‘clean’ SS if I bought one.
have got the previous ti spaceframe (7 years this may) and have never had a beard.
I could kind of understand that amount for a custom Merlin built frame back in the day, but not for Taiwan bulk build.
It’s not “Taiwan bulk build” – they’re made by hand by craftsmen. These craftsmen are Taiwanese humans, rather than American humans.
@Seadog101 A beard is only required for Males, Females will need hairy legs ; -)
Horrendous, burn it.
i have visited Taiwan twice and rode my Mones there. All I can tell you is that the people are very friendly, the country is beautiful and the craftsmen I met in the bike shops and in a small factory worked with passion and precision like Merlin for example.
Taiwan is worth a visit really!
We really need to get over this ‘US made is the best mentality.. Having seen the quality of their household goods and cars, for example, I’d buy anything but US.
You can get over that very quickly because US made quite simply is not the best. That’s not to say that US MADE is not good. To buy an American bike made by US craftsmen is a great thing. My Colnago is made in Italy in a factory in Italy and equally that is great.