[Closed] Titanium Bikes...

An other thing with a Ti frame you get to meet really nice people like Mark at Enigma 😳

Somafunk, how on earth did you do that, and is that blood?

Somafunk, how on earth did you do that, and is that blood?

I reckon he hit Jens Voigt 🙂

Is the ride of the ti Cotic Soda that much different to the Steel Soul?
I picked up a secondhand Soda mk2 and wondered if it was worth doin a frame swap.

Finished my Van Nicholas Redwood a few days ago 🙂 took a while as only bought parts when i saw them cheap 🙂 not really sure what it is, but its fun to ride haha! Let me know what you think 🙂 cost £1606 in total! [img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/9507434819_6526800c23.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/9507434819_6526800c23.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/57243582@N04/9507434819/ ]Finished bike with costs[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/57243582@N04/ ]lewismorgan10[/url], on Flickr[/img]

worth it? are you really using the word justify?
shame on you.
this is a mountain bike forum, not penny pinchers annonymous.

ti full sus - yes, the ibis bowTi probably couldnt have been built out of much else, five inches of travel in the frame, no pivots. Aside from this i cant think the application of ti on a sus frame works econmically. but it could still be, and has been, done - - see above.

EDIT: owner of 3 ti bikes

Let me know what you think

honestly?

Fugly. You'd have got better bargains going second-hand...

ir_bandito - Member
Let me know what you think
honestly?

You built it purely by the sense of touch - right?

bit harsh? Didn't think it was that bad...

bit harsh? Didn't think it was that bad...

wheelie - Member
"Is the ride of the ti Cotic Soda that much different to the Steel Soul?
I picked up a secondhand Soda mk2 and wondered if it was worth doin a frame swap. "

Yes but it depends on which Soul frame. 27.2 seat pin soul (mk 2?) way better than new soul due to bigger seat pin, it seems to have lost it's essential soulness. Soda does not have the steel spring feel but it does give a great ride and is lighter and wants to be ridden faster. I ride both and love them but love the Soda tinsey bit more.

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7109/7725442842_a8a233ae46.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7109/7725442842_a8a233ae46.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60927976@N07/7725442842/ ]DSC03075[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60927976@N07/ ]Shuhockey[/url], on Flickr
Ridgeback FlightTi with Drops, commute every day, sportives, Snow, Club runs. What more could I want, apart from carbon....

I've never once regretted spending far more than I coud afford at the time on a custom Ti frame from Dean. It may be 7 years old now but at the 24-12 it still made perfect sense.

Let me know what you think

I think you could buy a decent second-hand runaround for £1606.

Not sure about full-sus, but titanium is perfect for softails. No pivots, and a simple air shock, gives 35mm of travel - enough to iron out little bumps, and make it comfy all day long.

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7442/9510485884_0076b4d908_c.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7442/9510485884_0076b4d908_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

Let me know what you think

I think you should ignore 'em lewismorgan. Go and ride your bike, if you come home smiling, which I'm sure you will, then you are the winner 🙂

(I like the brown saddle too BTW) 😉

I had a Ti frame because I'd always wanted one.
Unfortunately it broke, I now have a steel frame and actually prefer the ride, both have very similar geometry.
I wouldn't buy another Ti mtb frame, but I'd quite like a disc tourer...

I did love the look of the Ti frame, always cleaned up nice and no paint to scratch!

New generation Ti, tapered head tube, chunky brake mounts, bolt thru axle and direct mount rear mech.

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Somafunk, how on earth did you do that, and is that blood?

Short answer?...SingleSpeed World Champs @ Aviemore 2007, whisky may have had a small part to play, unmarked road/streetworks in Aviemore, out on late night bike run wi others, hit unfinished bench at speed, snapped frame, broke face/nose,broke 2 teeth,night in raigmore hospital, out next morning and borrowed a very rigid pace RC200 bike from martinxyz (of fat tread bikes at the time) that prob did me more damage to ride that morning than the actual crash did.

Yeah, it was my blood....

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I hit these bars at speed and landed on my face, it was not cordoned off or any warning tape but when i went along the next day it had been taped off and the generator placed on top to stop folk walking into it.

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All sorted now though wi 3 new implanted teeth at the front and two nose jobs to reconstruct my nasal passages 😀 , I asked the surgeon for a brad pitt facial makeover at the time but they refused.

Right...time for a bike run (with teeth and nose intact)

wow and you rode a an RC200 the next day. Tough guy.

I like Ti.

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5140/5465246522_a96ef8f91d_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5140/5465246522_a96ef8f91d_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/5465246522/ ]P1010623[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/druidh2000/ ]ScotRoutes[/url], on Flickr

Let me know what you think

Woah! My eyes!

Strip out the colour: Get silver Hope spacers and a silver seatpost and clamp (alloy goes really well with ti). Get silver bars if you can (Ritchey Classics are cheap at wiggle right now), and replace the grips with standard black ones or road bike bar tape to match the saddle colour. Ideally replace the (admittedly nice) saddle with a black one and run black grips.

Pedals...Hessian sack. Bricks. Canal.

Doing all that will make those nice forks [i]really[/i] pop. It'll look great!

Yeah, it was my blood....

Not sure I need to see such a graphic image frankly 😐

I'm selling my beloved Merlin Works 4.0, just in case anyone reading this is interested - and yes, it's a ti full suspension frame...!

18.75", 100mm travel. £950 for the frame including Fox shock, seat clamp and Thomson Masterpiece seatpost. Email in profile.

[quote=mangatank ]
Strip out the colour:

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Anyone got a more normal looking van nicholas redwood 29er?

I'm surprised there's not been a Jones posted up on this thread yet?, You don't see them for ages and then three turn up all at once, with a sulking soulcraft (intact) pinned behind them.

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If you get the chance to inspect a genuine "Jones" (built by jeff) then have a good look at the welding and run your fingernail over it - amazing things of beauty despite what some folk may say but like some forms of art not everyone "gets it" first time.

If i could afford one, i'd have one, but i can't, so i shan't.

They really are lovely!

I love mine and I don't feel the need to justify it.
[img] http://www.flickr.com/photos/23772898@N07/5710870413/ [/img]

Sorry can't get the link to work 😳

Oh - alright then 😉

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Bizarre. How does it...work?

And the bars look very narrow near the controls. How do you find them?

Love.That.Jones

If i could afford one, i'd have one, but i can't, so i shan't.

Me too

I've had a few titanium bikes over the years and I wouldn't say they rode any better than the steel, carbon and aluminium bikes I've owned.

My Dekerf and Jones are both steel and amazing; each with their own individual character.

I do love the look and finish on a titanium frame though and go proper gooey over a nice weld 😀

I'm just getting this built up at the mo.....

[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2853/9509906597_c72902512a_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2853/9509906597_c72902512a_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/84209070@N03/9509906597/ ]This one[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/84209070@N03/ ]Ample Brew[/url], on Flickr

I'm beyond blown away by new Kinesis Tripster ATR. Having had an alloy one for a few years and thought a lot of it (and done lots of miles on it too) I was keen to get a Ti one and it's far better than I'd expected.

Much faster, more comfortable, more sprightly, holds it speed better, quiet, beautifully built. Other than that, it's not that special 8)

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My mountain bike (that I'm embarrassed to say, hasn't been out of the garage since I got the Tripster) is a Mk1 Lynskey Ti456. It's not snapped, it gets me out of all sorts of bother, is kind of comfy, light, responsive, solid and agile all at the same time. Even though it's a five year old frame, it's built with 'current' kit - new 150mm Sektors, XT/XTR 10spd double, Arch EX/EvoII tubeless. Probably not a bike for life, but it more than holds its own and bears testimony to a very good design.

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I've had / got carbon, steel, alloy bikes and they've all got their advantages, but at the moment, I'm quite enjoying matching the bolts in my head with my bike frames... 😉

I'd [i]probably[/i] sell my soul for a Bontrager Ti, not sure.

gonetothehills : Sounds like we're both smitten by the Tripster ATR, like you i am "amazed" by the way it can hold speed on rough surfaces without me feeling "oh my gaw'd i'm outa' control and going to die here..." had a 47mph fire road descent last week in the drops from the Bennan radio mast nr to Merrick, SW scotland and i can honestly say when i eventually stopped i looked behind and genuinely giggled to myself "that was **** mental" but i was buzzing - i've not rode my hummer for a month either.........

Couldn't agree more! I don't think I've *quite* given it that much of a wringing out, but on the road (most of my 22 mile e/w commute is made up of a mix of pot holes and cow shit) it really does shine. I've actually got better PRs on segments in the hills that I'd ridden on my 16lb carbon road bike, uphill and down - I've complained to Dom that I didn't buy it for that!

Bank Holiday weekend sees its first 'tour' - I'm finally going to do the Cheshire Cycleway (it goes within a mile of my front door and I've ridden most of the sections within 30miles of home, but want to do the whole 180miles) over a couple of days. Genuinely 'kid before Christmas' excited about it.

A small jiffy bag of titanium bolts appears to have arrived today to 'finish off' the build. Ha'p'orth of tar and all that...ahem... 8)

One of them Ti Dialled Alpines ....that were floating about a while ago would be the only one to get me back on a 26"bike

Yeah, i hear you wi the "tour" idea, i'm planning a mini adventure up the west coast of scotland for mine - hopefully in September dependant on weather, either camping or tarping and traveling very light wi all my TI camping gear and alpkit bar/seat bags. I think i have my entire camping/clothing kit weight down to well under 4kg so bring it on - can't bloody wait......like you i've replaced every bolt for Ti on the bike but i work in a bike shop so i guess i'm cheating. 😉

Old one, had it 14 years, selling was a mistake:

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3109/2574207242_7f45618003.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3109/2574207242_7f45618003.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/2574207242/ ]2008_0506_183833AA[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/jimbosussexmtb/ ]South Downs MTB Skills[/url], on Flickr

Current ones:

Only just got this one:

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3714/9311291286_0a1da45b6d.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3714/9311291286_0a1da45b6d.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/9311291286/ ]Kinesis Sync[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/jimbosussexmtb/ ]South Downs MTB Skills[/url], on Flickr

Had this one a few years:

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8245/8467475423_7e3cfd47b7.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8245/8467475423_7e3cfd47b7.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/8467475423/ ]Cove Hummer[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/jimbosussexmtb/ ]South Downs MTB Skills[/url], on Flickr

Just sold mine. It had many redeeming qualities, and it served me well for years never letting me down once.
The only thing I never liked about it or the other Ti bikes I've ridden was the feel. It just felt a bit dead.
I've got a custom Bob Jackson on order to replace it.

I'd like a Ti version of my SIR.9, that could run Surly Krampus wheels & a belt drive. 🙂

I'm sure these guys would modify a Rudy Fat for you...

http://traversbikes.bigcartel.com/product/29er-rudy

Picked this up from the depot today after sitting in customs for a week.

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/9513859970_356d9bee2f_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/9513859970_356d9bee2f_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/49960717@N08/sets/72157635077788324/ ]
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Blood splattered bikemonger stickers look extra cool.

Titanium.
Ti Fargo... About to cross a stream, as the bridge was missing.
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And my next ti bike... Salsa warbird. Due soon.
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