Going Ti… is it worth it (groan, not again)?

Agree with johnners re not bike for life (sadly); have had a Ti road frame break at BB less than 10 000 miles use (OK it was replaced foc quickly) but this has dented my confidence in Ti + all teh stories / reports I hear about welds breaking , cracks. My Ti MTB is light and fun and probably quite tough, but having just bought a BFe steel I find latter is actually quicker uphills (more stiffness in farme BB area?) and I feel more confident in it over rough terrain. But you may need to buy a Ti just for your own satisfaction —- 🙂

Simon, will do.

How it is designed and who builds it should be a big consideration. I rode a Hummer and a Handjob for comparison after getting my Hummer. The Hummer isn’t significantly better to be honest. In fact, it feels stiffer and less comfortable. Ti is also not a bike for life. You can knacker it just as easily as any other frame – cue the pic of Luke’s 456 with the separated disc mount.

Ti can be lovely but it isn’t necessarily the wonder material that you might be hoping.

Having said that, I would still go for Ti as my first choice material for a hardtail or a cross bike! 😀

Cheers

Sanny

I’m in the process of having an indi fab made for me, I have heard these cracking itch.es with a lifetimes warranty

Loved my Soda rode and raced it everywhere until it cracked, bought a Soul to fill the void until the new Soda arrived and still riding the Soul. Granted I haven’t tried the new Soda but it would have to be a lot better to ride to get me to part with the cash. I’ve had a few Ti frames and still the nicest to ride was a Fat Ti but it was a tad too small otherwise I’d still have it. It also had a wishbone rear end so must be something in that 🙂

Bike for life? Depends. If you’re still riding an original Stumpy and thinking it’s cutting edge then ti is for life. Look back even over a couple of years to see what’s changed – frame angles are slacker now, longer fork travel, tapered head tubes, disks etc. etc. even full suspension – if you’re someone who needs the next shiny thing then it ain’t for life, but don’t let that stop you.

Metalheart – yeah it was up at Cotic last Friday.

As much as I like my steel Singular swift, the Ti Pegasus which is exactly the same geometry is more comfy over the same routes

So, rOcKeTdOg, sounds as though you are agreeing with the point I made. 8)

Agree with johnners re not bike for life (sadly); have had a Ti road frame break at BB less than 10 000 miles use (OK it was replaced foc quickly) but this has dented my confidence in Ti + all teh stories / reports I hear about welds breaking , cracks.

10k miles – that’d be a couple of lifetimes for the majority on here!

Well got a demo on a Soda today.

Boy, what a bike. It was punted by Cy as being the Soul+: Lighter, tighter, faster, prettier 😉

And it was all that.

What I wasn’t prepared for was showing me up. Ive not felt quite so, well, mismatched before. And it kinda felt delicate…

I’d have to say though it’s probably the nicest hardtail I’ve ever ridden.

If I thought I could do it any justice I’d get one. So now I need to get training otherwise there’s no point really. .

Thanks to both Cycleworld and (obviously) Cy/Cotic for making it happen.

What is this busting frames you speak of……….Kobe Ti still doing the biz!

I love my Airborne – it might just be me but I had a scandium bike that was super light, but being 12st I just felt that it was going to break under my weight, the airborne is just so comfy for long rides, even with panniers 🙂

If I thought I could do it any justice I’d get one. So now I need to get training otherwise there’s no point really. .

All the more reason to get one. I find mine is just the compensation I need for a general lack of skill and fitness. I’m 15 stone and have never felt I was anywhere near too heavy for it either.

I find mine is just the compensation I need for a general lack of skill and fitness.

See I found it magnified my lack of skill and fitness. To be fair I’ve been concentrating on climbing of late and been neglecting the bike but still!

Decided to set some targets for February time. If met it’s the Soda, if not then a new Soul.

I’ve got a ti Serotta 29er and everytime i ride it I enjoy it so much. I’ve toured on it, raced on it and just did SSWC on it. Bike for life ? Nah but it rides nice.
Do it.

I have 4 bikes & 4 different frames – steel, ti, ali & magnesium, indecision rules my life 😳 😥

Ti is a frame material I’ve never broken…

it’s also a frame material I have never owned 😆

Ti is a frame material I’ve never broken…

Well if I get one you definitely ain’t getting a shot!

So, rOcKeTdOg, sounds as though you are agreeing with the point I made

yes but i didn’t get turned on 🙁

Just bought a Kobe Ti from the classified. Looking forward to building up and riding her 😯

I used to always want a ti frame, largely because of what I’d read about the magic ride quality.

But now that I could afford one, I’ve decided against it because of how fast bike design is still changing (and because the failure rate seems higher than steel – not wanting to open another can of worms).

Think I’d rather spend the extra £1k over steel (or a carbon 456) on full XTR, if I had to spend that much on a HT.

Well if anyone is interested I’ve only gone and ordered the blushing Ti bride.

Lets just hope its as nice to live with as its plainer sister.

Frame arrives Monday, I’m quite excited really…

😀

My frame arrives monday too. Never before have I looked forward to a weekend passing quickly 🙂

Had my Airbourne Lucky Strike to spec built this summer and love it! Feel like I’ve neglected my full suss as a result!

* Detailed pics *[/url]

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Jonny5 – Member

My frame arrives monday too. Never before have I looked forward to a weekend passing quickly

Yeah, but its going to the shop to get built up. It’ll be end of the week at the earliest before I get my sticky little mitts on it…

Gonna be a looooong week.

depends if dhocarl is selling it.

I quite like mine. Understated and sooooooo light.

Flashes – I have to say that while it’s not something I’d ever contemplate riding/owning etc, there is something very cool about your bike. It’s about as close as a bike can get to ‘shabby chic’ as possible.

15 years old & still fast as hell. Demands to be stomped up hills in the big ring & the faster I ride the smoother it gets.

metalheart – if you’d consider selling your soul frame please let me know..

Infidel: not currently planning on selling the Soul at the moment.

If the soda turns out to be the bike of all bikes then that might change….

😀

>kiwijohn

Is that the hei hei?

I think I prefer “understated”

I love the ride quality of Titanium after countless aluminium frames I decided to bite the bullet, first I bought a Litespeed ti full sus then a Lynskey ridgeline HT. Both get used and still look like new, another benefit of TI frames anti ageing..

I think Kiwijohn’s bike looks AWESOME

Can someone tell me what it is?

heres my minimal contribution, and mh – congrats 🙂 lets go ride [although i’m skiing and boarding this w/e] :

oooh – saddle angle looks odd……?

Rigid Hummer?

It’s a 95 DBR Axis TT.
I believe it was a DBR team bike back then, not sure who though. Sold to someone here in Oz who raced it at the 96 worlds in Cairns. It’s been around, but I’m keeping it.