I will start this by conceding that the majority of off the peg frames now are incredibly good at ticking the majority of everyday boxes and negate the need to consider custom, but ....
A year ago I ordered a custom Sonder via Neil - a 29 plus Signal Ti. I did this because I couldn’t find a low, long slack 29 plus frame. Simples.
I’ve learned a few things along the way that I would alter next time but a year in it ticks more boxes than had I have bought off the peg.
I’m now considering a custom steel frame. single speed, 29er, non suspension corrected, basically a more modern Genesis Fortitude but with bolt through axles and a greater tyre clearance but not full plus.
I don’t believe I could buy one of these off the peg.
The two things I would change with the Sonder is having a smidge more rear tyre clearance, 5mm longer stays would have achieved this, and crud guard mounts on the DT.
So before firing off an email, I have a builder in mind, any words of wisdom from previous experiences, things you would have changed, mistakes made etc
It’s hopefully going to be From the UK and in steel 🤗
I've had a couple of custom Ti frames made. One from Burls and one from @brant in his Pact days. The first was fairly straightforward as it was a standard 29er but to my geometry requirements and bottle/cable mounts. The second was a bit more involved as it was in the early days of B+ and not so much was known about clearance etc. Brant was able to come up with something that worked for me whereas I'd have been taking a big risk doing it myself.
If course, neither Burls nor Pact made the frames, they were doing the design and ordering on my behalf.
I was happy with both and only sold the Burls to help finance the Pact. I bought a new fatbike recently and would likely have gone to Brant if he'd still been doing the Pact stuff.
If you are looking for a logical reason to buy one I do't think you'll find any reasons but if you just want something that you can look at and say there is nothing here that slightly irritates me then it's the way to go. Bikes that are ok are fine, no problem with having one of those but it sounds like you have unfortunately stumbled on a bike that is almost perfect for your needs. This is a situation only solvable by spending a lot of money for a tiny difference. Failure to do so will result in a lifetime of suffering with the enormity of a tiny problem.
I should follow up by saying that neither of my custom Ti frames were particularly expensive - the Burls was considerably cheaper (even at trade) than the Ti El Mariachi I'd been looking at.
I've bought custom titaniums frame from China for less than I could have bought a steel frame from a UK builder. These builders are the same ones who supply Alpkit / Sonder and many others.
dovebiker
Member
I’ve bought custom titaniums frame from China for less than I could have bought a steel frame from a UK builder. These builders are the same ones who supply Alpkit / Sonder and many others.
Care to name? Were they good tho?