[Closed] Titanium Road bike reccomendations

What's your budget? What sort of riding? What sort of geometry?

For off the peg Genesis and Kinesis do some nice ones. Local shop had some Van Nicholas in a while back, they were nice. Also know a few here who ride Sabbath frames and like them.

Looking at a sportive/endurance geometry definately not a tourer, budget upto 4k

Looked at Enigma, mate has one which is very nice

sportive/endurance geometry

I have an Enigma Echo, and have nothing but praise for it, would definitely recommend them, Jim is great to deal with.

Stable, light and comfy, especially with tubeless tyres 😀

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/15523744856_c2c0c5a96d_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/15523744856_c2c0c5a96d_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pDMfvo ]Spain 2014[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/17059060@N00/ ]eastham_david[/url], on Flickr

Big fan of sabbath here have used a few over the years,

light speed ok.
van nic never again.
linskey ok nothing to write home about.
Genesis well put together but nothing special ride was better than expected though.
Cheap Russian frameset best ride and feel a little industrially finished but lasted and lasted, think Justin burl uses that firm for there framesets now.

I'm another big enigma fan, great riding frame & great people to deal with. Not astronomically expensive either once you've justified paying ti prices either

I'm just in the process of justifying either an etape disc or an Ecroix. The Ecroix is a bit more versitile but my old etape was a brilliant bike.

Thanks for the info chaps, I must admit Enigmas do look great but they are the only ones I have looked at. Its a bike for life and I want to get it right so the more real world experience comments the better but as we all know it comes down to personal preference. Not sure if I missed it on the Enigma site but whatw arranty is carried on them?

Kinesis ti granfrodo or even the tripster which is a great all rounder and allows you to take it off road with a set of different tyres but still very capable road bike..

I've been considering the same recently. Up until recently, the Sabbath September disc was the front runner. Since it was updated, I think the Kinesis GF_TI is my current favourite though.

Based on my experience with my Van Nicholas Amazon I'd be going straight there.

I borrowed and tested [url= http://www.baldwintitanium.co.uk/ ]Baldwin Ti[/url], it was brilliant. UK Made, full fitting service and they certainly do geometry designed to suit.

[img] [/img]

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/130-mile-ride-to-raise-money-for-debt-reliefeducation-charity-sponsor-me#post-6888051

Herself likes her Van Nicholas Eurus very much, it's easily the equal of my Merlin CR64.

Plenty to digest & by the looks of it far more builders and choice than I had thought

There's a custom Ti frame builder who advertises in the CTC magazine, but I haven't got one handy to check. Think he's down south. But I'm being a chocolate teapot frankly.

With that budget I'd start at the Enigma Etape Disc and then struggle to find something better.

I have owned an Enigma Evoke for three weeks so far and I just love it. I bought frame and fork and had the LBS build it. I found Enigma great to deal with but now have a bad feeling that I 'need' an Ecroix or Etape for an all weather roadie as well. I have vaguely looked at the Genesis Ti Croix de Fer as an alternative but get the feeling it's a little bit more of a cruising bike than the Etape or Ecroix

I have the Kinesis Granfondo V1.
Great mile muncher.
Comfortable and stable.
Brilliant just being out all day on it.
They do a disc version now as well!
Max

Dawes 3ima on offer at present through some lbs's. Last years model but excellent value at £2k

Seems like the same dilemma for me. Do I get an Evoke/Echo and keep the cheap 105 Defy for winter, or and Etape for everything? Or, an Ecroix for even more of everything?

I might need a TT bike as well next year, but if I don't I'll need an aero frame which rules out an Enigma purchase... aaaarghghhhh *head spins*

I do rather like that kinesis but I'd need the smallest size and about a 30cm stem to make it fit!

Kryton, N+? 🙂

Sounds like at least three bikes justified there.

This thread is going to be expensive.... I've lusted after a proper Ti frame ever since I sold my old Dynatech back in 2001

💡 http://www.qoroz.com

My local lbs in the next village is a kinesis dealer so I think I may just drop in and have a look at a Gf ti frame if he has one in

Well, theyve certainly managed to dress their nice looking frames up with some naff bling tat looking kit...

I sold my old Dynatech back in 2001

Dynatech- God, I had one of those. It was pretty good for its time (2 x 7 I recall- state of the art for 1995-ish I imagine) but then sat in the shed unused during a very long non-biking phase until I gave it away in 2008. Having rediscovered bikes a couple of years ago, I found I still had a titanium itch which led me to the Evoke.

Dynatech 725Ti, with flex built in everywhere... frame, stem, steerer. I think 105 8 Speed, but still 1995/96

I'm lusting over some very nice frames now

Spa Cycles have some audaxy styles - and almost had me until I saw the downtube 'braze on' for cable stops or D/T shifters which will spoil the lines

CRC have a monster sale on some of their Ti frames though....

....and, since the tubes were bonded into the lugs, apparently with a bad habit of debonding at awkward moments. Maybe I'm not so sorry to have got rid????

Saturday night hypothetical road bike replacement shoping then.......
Always fancied a Ti bike but are they all a bit noodley? Can you get one which is reasonably stiff whilst not losing the smooth Ti ride?

Also what sort of weights are these compared to the masses of 1.1kg Carbon road frames?

Using Dolan as a totally random yardstick ( http://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-titanium-adx-road-frameset.html)

About 500g penalty

Litespeed tried to make a 1.1kg titanium frame - the Ghisallo - an absolute noodle from all-accounts. Go custom and they'll choose tubes/gauges suited to your style.

I didn't see the point of obsessing about weight with the Evoke. The disc brakes mean it'll never be the ultimate lightweight machine, but I put some nice wheels on it and it's certainly much more bike than its rider really needs.

My 60cm Seven Axiom frame weighs 1450g. Twelve years old still going strong

https://baumcycles.com/road-corretto-ti/

Something from Vaaru perhaps?

My now rather old merlin magia has a claimed 2.1 lb or sub 1kg frame weight and for me it's fine but I'm light and don't produce large power , my winter smart weld specialized allez is far more inspiring descending just not as nice to ride over a big day out.

Edit I best add merlin are not the same brand as they used to be , and nothing remotely related to the northern Mail order prices slashers

New CTC mag has come through - the guy I was thinking of is advertising in there:

http://www.reillycycleworks.com/

[quote=MoreCashThanDash ]New [s]CTC[/s] [b]Cycling UK[/b] mag has come through - the guy I was thinking of is advertising in there:
> http://www.reillycycleworks.com/
br />
Get with the programme!!!

Harrumph! I remember when all this were fields...

I walked into lbs once as needed to try on helmets.

Being the impulsive tit that I am walked out with a brand new Van Nich bike which looked like a great buy only to find I didn't gel with it. The fact that Sram Apex gearing was shockingly bad in many ways.

I soon realised whilst riding it after 2nd ride, that I'm a baggy shorts kinda guy who's faster on his singlespeed mtb on the road.

Shame as the frame itself was a real piece of art for the price. Nothing quite as specially mastered with that certain touch as a Merlin but still...

I would however recommend test riding whatever it is you do choose in titanium as they do vary in give due to many factors primarily the tube shape of the front triangle which can dictate a smooth ride or a overly stiff one.

I've got a Seven Axiom and I love it. It has Reynolds carbon forks and it is so smooth on the road, feels like you have suspension - but get out of the saddle and it feels so incredibly stiff that it seems to turn every little bit of effort into forward motion.

This was my Litespeed which was wonderful until I tried road discs.

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I've now consolidated onto a pickenflick:

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get a #22 great divide.

Made by the people who used to make Serotta Ti bikes, so a bit of pedigree.

And fatbirds have had an ex display one for some time

[url= http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/58343/products/no-22-great-divide-56cm-titanium-road-bike-ex-display.aspx ]fat birds[/url] - may be a deal there

they do a [url= https://22bicycles.com/collections/bikes/products/great-divide-disc ]disc[/url] one as well now.

lovely bike - really lovely

@daffy how's the chain line with a double on the pickenflick? What size rings are running?

Subject to the answers above the pickenflick is a great all rounder. Mine's running 1x CX1 so doesn't have the range I need for really hilly rides. But maybe I can use a double now...!

Litespeed ghissalo was sub 1kg
very compact , so not flexi.
I ride a 2006 Litespeed vortex a classic frame ,light compliant and aero.
My advise buy local as I had lots of hassles with litespeed to repair a cracked sewanee fs mtb ... lifetime waranty a bit of a joke !

I've done nothing to alter the chain line other than fitting a 1.5mm spacer on the BB. Everything works as it should. It's a compact double 34:50.

Get yourself to a bike show, great way to compare a few side by side.

Last show I went to I fell for the Kenesis range, Van Nic Zep also looked nice, but the Moots... Oh the Moots were just lovely

http://moots.com/bike/vamoots-dr/

That'd be on my list

I can't post a link because of the forum eBay rule (more than 24hrs) but my Planet X Ti Pro Road is currently on eBay.

Made by Van Nicholas. Virtually brand new 5800 105 with Fulcrum wheels. Size 57.

Might not quite be an Enigma or Moots, but it's lovely to ride.

Really do fancy a ti road bike. Price coupled with their tendency to break does put me off a bit though 😕

I also like the look of the Kinesis granfondo ti/disc & then I also noticed that Genesis do the CDF in ti.....oo er..

Price coupled with their tendency to break does put me off a bit though

My ~2004 titanium Litespeed didn't completely break even after having a Ford Focus thrown at it at about 40 mph a few months ago. It's apparently a bit out of alignment, but no obvious cracks. I'll probably end up getting something carbon to replace it, but mainly just for a change. In many ways a Ti frame is a really nice thing.

Enigma are doing a deal on the Etape Disc ATM; free (as in no additional cost) fork. Means frameset is £1330. I got one a couple of weeks ago. Looks nice, though not built it up yet. It's gonna get Force/Spyres/Kinesis CX's and Ritchey finishing kit. All in boxes in my hall 🙂

<edit> 'Hall' as in passageway from front door not as in where McMoonter lives 🙂

Really Mr B,I thought it was mostly moontin bike frames that were crackers?

Probably more of an impression, but whenever I read a thread about Ti bikes there always seems to be a few complaints about snapped frames, warranty and how it's definitely not a "bike for life".

Nice alert on the disc Etape. Might help Kryton et al trying to decide about summer and rat bike or nice winter bike. I'd consider one myself but I use mine rarely enough I can't justify/be arsed.

Planet X Ti Pro Road

I had one of them, looks the part but found it a bit dead feeling (even compared to previous Pro carbon) and could only put it down to the plain gauge tubing
Also, the rear wheel kept popping out of one of its dropouts when cranking up steep hills - turns out this was likely down to using the same (hard) Ti grade on the dropouts instead of using a softer grade.
Was gutted as it fitted really well, but had to let it go for those reasons.

I don't think any bike is a "bike for life". I do think that a well made titanium frame has a good chance of still being alive and looking good after 10 years or more. Carbon frames in general are more vulnerable to impact damage in particular, and if they have a hard life will look tatty after a while. There are plenty of cracked carbon frames too, of course. I think that if you go superlight in any material then you've got to expect some limitation to lifespan, but overall if I did want a frame for 10 or 20 years, then I'd go with a not-super-light titanium one.

My Seven Axiom SL is 13yrs old. I ride '000s of kms on it per year. It's never let me down and still looks in VGC

As a former research metallurgist and Ti fanboi I'd bet that if we could ever see the industry figures, Ti has the biggest failure rate of any bike frame material. All its positive attributes (corrosion resistance, pseudo infinite fatigue life etc) more than outweighed by susceptibility to oxygen contamination during welding.

If I bought Ti it'd be new with a long and cast iron 😉 warranty.

a long and cast iron warranty.

I am on my 3rd Van Nic mtb frame,hope this lasts a bit longer than the last 2. For some weird reason,it hasn't put me off the idea of a Ti road bike 😯

Hmm, that's interesting. So, effectively, if you get a good'un that's been welded well, then it'll last, otherwise you're doomed?

Does sound that way. Makes you wonder how Ti frame makers stay in business given the amount of warranty frames they must have to make. I guess the price you pay initially is steep as it may need to cover handing out two or three new frames 😕

I've owned 12 Ti frames and have never damaged any of them. I've dented a couple of Al frames and put some fairly hefty scratches in a few carbon ones.

I find it a bit hard to believe that it's quite that bad, otherwise they just wouldn't still be making them. Sure, you hear about some breaking, but that's true of all materials. Our level of exposure (well, mine at least) to frame breaking stories is massively influenced by all sorts of things, so without access to decent stats I hesitate to conclude anything other than "any frame I buy might not last more than a few years, but by then I might fancy something new anyway".

I've had two titanium frames. Each for about 12 years. One got smacked by a car, the other stolen a short time ago. I've broken two aluminium frames. All anecdotal evidence though - small sample sizes, different types of frames made by different manufacturers, used for different things to differing amounts.

"any frame I buy might not last more than a few years, but by then I might fancy something new anyway".

I'd agree with that. But then what's the second hand market like for Ti frames? I doubt I'd buy an used Ti frame with no warranty unless it really was very cheap indeed. Maybe they are called "frames for life" as you'll never find a second hand buyer 😉

I have two Ti bikes (mountain bikes). Love them but so far I have had a 9 breaks or cracks in the last 5 years. Three chain stays, 2 Ti seat posts, 1 seat post, 2 Ti handlebars (not Good) and a seat tube. Lifetime warranty so all fixed for free. Beware!

Don't think Ti frames suffer on the 'bay. Sold my unused with no warranty Enigma frame for about 10% less than new and my A la carte Ti made £450 a year ago which was over 50%. Probably depends on make - doubt a Burls/Litespeed would do as well.

Maybe they are called "frames for life" as you [i][s]'ll never find a second hand buyer[/s][/i] get a life long replacement warranty

😉

Nice alert on the disc Etape. Might help Kryton et al trying to decide about summer and rat bike or nice winter bike. I'd consider one myself but I use mine rarely enough I can't justify/be arsed.

I've still not decided on my consolidation policy, and have no funds available. I could stick the etape/fork on a C Card and build it up over time. Its a good call, takes 28's so has "light-gravel" ability in the tyres I guess.

It'd get used for winter road, Flanders and club rides, would it be fast enough for the Summer club rides? 😈

I'd be more convinced if the non-disc Etape was on offer, as I could swap everything off the Defy.

But I'm fast coming to the conclusion that perhaps going for a Carbon Defy/Synapse is the better all round option.

Kryton, not sure what size you'd ride but someone form our club is selling [url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141945802508?ul_noapp=true ]this ML carbon Defy frameset[/url]. Looks a bit of a bargain at the moment. Though is just the Advanced, not the Pro or the SL.

I'm an ML 😀

Yes looks good, although I need new wheels and disks. Whats the BB on that - it looks pressfit but I only have an HT2 (e.g. not 30mm) chainset.

FWIW [url= http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/giant-defy-advanced-2.html ]this [/url]had caught my eye, with a view to selling the Alu Defy & perhaps later the Bianchi for a TT machine

So, CrashTestMonkey, interesting stuff. Technically, with the right equipment/skill, is it possible to weld and not get oxygen contamination?

Kryton, he's also selling [url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141945791373?ul_noapp=true ]the wheels[/url].

BB shell I think is the standard Giant one, not sure what it's called but the same press fit that I have on my TCR. Mine takes a 24mm axel. I think that Giant originally came with a Tiagra chainset and a Shimano press fit BB, so would be 24mm. You can always ask the seller.

Poisenully, I'd consider custom steel as a strong contender. You could pick up a work of art for simillar money

Another somewhat delayed reply. I was thinking about Ti bikes again today and remembered Legend do some amazing stuff.

http://legend-bikes.com/Products

You may need to re-mortgage though.

My Merlin Extralight is now 17 years old and still gets a lot of use. Very expensive but worth it for the ride quality and longevity.

Although in its day it was one of the lightest production frames available, it has very beefy chainstays, so when I put the power down it doesn't flex - but it has the Ti ride quality in spades.

The only issues I now have with it are age specific. 1" forks and very tight clearances mean 23mm tyres max.

Have a few tit frames mailnly because of the comfort (56 old)
Sabbath Sunday Silk very nice road bike I tend to ride the most, mainly because comfort and 3 hour rides
Voodoo DJab mtb hardtail
Dean Baja mtb suspension
Planet X flat bar towpath ride

No paint to worry about and dont seem to pick up dents easily, lot going for them, all bought second hand and crack free, not cracked yet never will

I've presently got 4 titanium bikes from road, CX, 29+ and fatbike - despite what some say, I like it as a frame material and done properly it should last a long, long time. My fatbike had the misfortune of encountering a steel carpark height restriction that would have finished-off most bikes! I have seen a few broken frames in my time and regardless of brand, its things that involve plate drop-outs, crimped tubes and big changes in section that create stress-raisers and lead to accelerated failures rather than poor welding - good welding is about process control as much as about the person wielding the torch.

Ive got a Qoroz really comfortable bike, nicely made, complete with titanium seat post and stem
Best bike I have ever had, I've only got normal brakes, not discs, but they do discs if needed.