[Closed] Titus Fireline Ti 29 Evo..

the_lecht_rocks - Member
Pistola, ride review ?

Nobody ?

I can't wait to get mine built up in a couple of weeks, trip to Glentress for its first weekend methinks...

What if they say its shit?

Mine isn't shit. Nicest riding bike I've had. No way should a 29er be able to corner like this one.

tlr, won't be able to ride the bike 'til the weekend 😥

chunky - if they say it's shit, then they think its shit.

simples.

Ride review:

20 inch frame, built up single speed, revelation rct3 forks, Kore durox 2 wheel set, reverb dropper post. Ridden around Local woods with good mix of tight twisty single track and faster stuff with a few jumps and 1st proper ride. Around Cwmcarn last weekend. Previous 2 bikes were a Giant Anthem X whose frame broke and a 2009 stumpjumper pro fsr. 1st ride up and down the road on the Titus I couldn't believe how nice it was to ride, really easy to lift the front end and get it in the air, easiest bike I've had to bunny hop and a foot of height could be achieved without really trying (I ride flat pedals). In the local woods I couldn't believe how stable the bike is and how it carries speed through the rooty muddy trails, loads of extra grip and even though it's tight and twisty I found it easier to ride than the 26 inch bikes I'd had before. The speeds were relatively slow though and very muddy so no chance to see how the titanium would dampen the bumps. I planned a trip to Cwmcarn to help me decide whether to sell the stumpjumper! I rode the usual trail and then went back up again and rode the downhill course. The bike absolutely fly's! In places were I'd be usually braking on my 26 fs bike I was just letting it roll, it was faster Than my stumpjumper! The bike loves getting air was superb and composed off drops and over tabletops, a really stable and confidence inspiring ride. The downhill course was despatched with ease with the bike again showing how hugely capable it is downhill. The combo of bigger wheels and the titanium really smooth the ride out and although the terrain is rocky I never missed the rear suspension - in fact I'd almost go as far as saying it feels like you have got rear suspension! The only thing I did notice is that I could feel the difference from 26 wheels when riding the the short but very tight and twisty red single track at the top of Cwmcarn, not quite as flick able and you had to muscle it through in places, a different sensation but still enjoyable and although more work I'm not sure it was any slower through this section because of the extra grip - just more work. I'm now completely obsessed with this bike and can't believe how much fun it is to ride - the stumpjumper is getting sold as I can't think of anywhere I'd choose to ride it over this!

Sounds an interesting build danny, got any pics??

Superb. Hoping mine will light a candle to my Nicolai Helius AC 29er and out perform my ti456.....

Reckon the fireline will make an excellent trail centre bike and ream the new Tomintoul trail centre once opened....

crap picture against someone elses fence(honest).

[IMG] [/IMG]

not ridden off road due to injury but changes I'll be making.

Drop forks to 120mm
fit flat bar.

those On-one tyres seem quite draggy on tarmac too...

and ream the new Tomintoul trail centre once opened....

Classic quote!

wwaswas - CRC half price forks 🙂 ??

but of course 🙂

"ream" ❓

Wwaswas - jumping on your post a bit here but i have a set of these I'd be willing to sell for £30 posted. Cut them down to 780mm but in perfect condition. Email is in profile if they're of interest and i'll pop you some pics if you want.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=64635

Wwaswas.. I stuck same fork on my nicolai and so far very impressed compared to my float rlc which was fitted..

Well peed off at present as I now have most bits to start the build except some key components - Hope BB & Hope headset! Made the mistake of ordering them from Bike Discount (York) as they were cheaper than CRC. That was 11 days ago & still no sign of them.....I'm now chasing them up!

Googling them & posting up here the reviews look very very mixed So I've got my 1/2 holiday & have been looking forward to getting on with the build & the most I can do is to put my tyres on the wheels.....Grrr

I finished my build and took it for a little spin yesterday - impressed so far. My spec is 20" frame, 2x10 SLX groupset, revelations, Arch rims on Hope hubs, 2.3 purgatory on the front, 2.1 ground control on the back, low rise monkeylite bars & 80mm stem.

Went up to Cannock Chase for a lap of FTD yesterday morning and the initial impression was that it felt very familiar. My previous hardtail was a ti456 & I've also got a Trek Rumblefish, this feels like its somewhere between the two - almost taking the best bits of both. Having ridden a 29er for a year but still loving my 456 I'd hoped that the Fireline would be just like the 456 with the benefits of a 29er & that's exactly what it is. Obviously I can't read too much into a short ride but first impressions are very promising.

Oomi, just what I'm hoping for too, a 29" version of my ti456...

So how many of you lot have had trouble with the oversized seat tube problem?

Right, I think I want one - does anyone have a large I can chuck a leg over? I've rang on-one but they've not got any built up to try.

Hi Ivan
Mine is a large & I'm in North Herts - if thats any good. I am hoping to have it built up by this weekend as have had problems with getting parts I ordered in a timely fashion...

John - YHM 😉

SSStu - it's more of an issue than a problem. My seatpost is a loose fit rather than snug but I used carbon paste on it and didn't notice any movement when riding.

Not much use if you want to put the seat up and down a fair bit then?

Any creaking clicking noise come from there?

Just putting some tags on so I can search this thread a bit better....

Well that did not work. What are the measurements for the seatpost. I think it says one measurement from on-one and one from brant at the beginning of the thread.

After a while searching, I managed to get a hold of a Specialized Ground Control 2.3 and it fits in the back with space. I'll need to trim the front mech tho.

Now if I could only find a Butcher in 29".

What front mechs are being used folks ? 😡

Not much use if you want to put the seat up and down a fair bit then?

Well you should be able to quite easily - no resistance. Or fit a dropper.

Any creaking clicking noise come from there?

No, as I said I didn't notice anything while riding.

What front mechs are being used folks ?

2x10 SLX with the mod. Seems to be plenty of room with a 2.1 Ground Control.

any 3x10 front mech users ?

Yep - got a 10speed front mech 3x10 (XT M781 34.9) Dual pull in black that I have removed the rear (bottom pull) arm off. It goes with my XT M786 Shadow rear mech.

I sometimes use by big ring (3x9) for down hills & bits of road to the off-road bits so didn't want to loose this. If I can get by with the middle & inner I will replace the outer with a bash. I've got the XT tripple crank to complete the set-up (XT M780).

I'm still building (waiting for headset!!) but the transmission is assembled but needs cabling up yet.

As for tyre rear clearance - I've got a set of Racing Ralphs 2.25 on (cheap fron one-one - £19.99) and there is about 10mm between tyre & seat tube.

GEDA - it's a 31.6. As you say I'm sure brant put 30.9 somewhere, but it's not.

Fit will be quite loose with a 30.9 post, yes.

3x9 here with an XTR M971 top swing dual-pull with the modification/amputation. Racing Ralph 2.25 on the rear. More tyre clearance than I have on my Scandal 29er with an XT bottom swing.

Finally got there & finished my build this evening after sitting on my hands for the best part of a week waiting for components from Bike Outlet (York) for 2 weeks!!

I’ve had to cancel that order and order from CRC (which is what I should have done) on next-day postage to get the job done……

I have only driven it around the garden at the moment to test the gear indexing, the suspension & the brakes. The Hope Tec M4s are a bit overkill – but I had them so they are on there. I’ve got some floating rotors coming courtesy of STW classifieds.

I’ve also got to sort out the stem height but I’ll ride it around a bit first before I decide what to do. It’s a 20” frame & weighs in at 25.7lbs / 11.66kg at the moment but should be able to shave a bit more off that when I go tubeless as it’s tubed at present.

Here are some pics (hopefully!)….

[IMG] [/IMG]

[IMG] [/IMG]

About 10mm wheel clearance with 2.25 Racing Ralphs…
[IMG] [/IMG]

[IMG] [/IMG]

Looks great John, mine arrived in NZ last week, but it'll be a while before it's together. SID 120mm and XX1...Having seen yours i feel more confident about picking up some Racing Ralph's I was concerned they might be too big, but they look just right.

John, what front mech model is that ?

Hi
I've listed some of the specs 2 postings, or so above. It's a Shimano XT M781 Dual pull x3 with the rear arm removed (botton pull) to give clearance for the tyre.

I'm used to a 3x9 and do use the big ring for some XC downhills & getting there on the road so I'll see how it goes & might change to x2 and a bash. Al least I have that option..

I would like another 10mm clearance on the rear tyre as its pretty muddy around here (Herts)and the junction of the rear stays/seat tube/front mech tends to pick most of it up.

John

Just completed build.
2x10, XT Mechs and brakes, On-One bars, stem, post and saddle. Revelation 140mm maxle forks, Hope gold Hubs, Stans Crest hoops, Racing Ralph 2.25 tyres.
Rides great, sharp, light but steady.
Just needs a narrower rear tyre now as the clearance to rear mech is still too tight on 16'' frame even with the mech adaption.

singlespeedstu - Member

So how many of you lot have had trouble with the oversized seat tube problem

brant - Member

Fit will be quite loose with a 30.9 post, yes.

Gave the Fireline Ti its first real ride this morning.
I’ve now got Hope floating rotors on (albeit the front is blue at the mo) and went tubeless yesterday – with the help of my compressor after going through 4 Co2 cartridges – but that’s another story…....It weighs a tad over 25lbs now (25.06).

It's pretty cold out with a light flurry of snow falling but the tracks are hard with no mud or puddles & very few people out – dog walkers etc to ride around. For the test I used Letchworth’s Greenway – which is a reasonably flat track around the town that is 12.4mi with a few small hills (elev gain 576ft); is about 2m wide & has a compacted & gravelled surface.

I have ridden it several times, as a training loop, and have about a dozen records of the rides on my Garmin Connect. I pushed it all the way round & the gears changed smoothly & indexed well it felt plush & sharp with excellent grip from the Ralphs. I usually have a lay back seat post & slightly longer stem (110) so I felt a bit more upright & cramped than I’m used to.

Is it faster? I hoped the answer would be YES – but at 57.01mins it was pretty average. My fastest lap is 55.06, done in July 2012 on my Titus Carbon FTM, and the range of rides I've done goes up to about 59.00 depending on conditions & how I felt – I guess. Looking at the stats my average speed was 13mph (compared to 13.8 on my fastest); with a max of 22.7mph compared to 25.4mph. Looking at my HR the av was 138bpm and on my fastest lap in July 144bpm – so maybe I was working harder in June. Perhaps the warmer conditions were more conducive to pushing it.....

As it all needs running in & I’m sure the bearings will bed down a bit and the brakes settle in, & give a bit more clearance, it will become quicker so this is not a conclusive test. So at present the jury is still out on the 29er vs the 26er debate. I do know that I love my Titus Carbon FTM – it’s just so light & plush. The Titus Rockstar 29er carbon might be interesting..... Now I have all the 29er kit this may be a build for nex year. On-OneC hristmas sale frame discounts in the sale?

Should be out tomorrow to test it further on more ‘normal’ twisting & hilly singletrack XC.......

What about how it rides rather than is it f aster, etc......?

Seems to be a frame of compromise, got to have the correct front mech, rear tyre has to be under a certain size, seatpost has issues, what happened to design and quality control?

Mere details. How it rides is king... Doncha know ?

Surely it shouldn't be a compromise though

Right - more 'normal' XC ride out this morning appart from the mud being frozen & the deep horse hoof divits along the tracks being like a bomb scene...

However it rolls really well. You do notice the bigger wheel & it does seem to carry momentum better. The cornering is very sharp & direct & the bike feels much shorted than my Titus carbon FTM. It's a strange feeing but it all feels very quite - which maybe the XT shaddow rear mech with the clutch. With the 3x10 I was only able to use the highest few gears on a long downhill on the road - probably because of the higher gearing with the 29" wheel.