[Closed] Recommend me a Ti frame...

I love my Whyte 19 Ti (but the frame was a bit more than a grand), and I've got the option to change from geared or SS very easily.

I really loved my Airborne Black Widow, so maybe look at Van Nicholas.

Funny you should say that, I was just running the rule over Van Nicholas here...

[url= http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/store.asp/d=3/c=45 ][/url]

Is that who Airborne "became"? Mrs P has an Airborne Liberator which is a lovely little frame (Alu tho')

Yep - Airborne "became" Van Nicholas. You can also get "Airborne" frames direct from China, but the exchange rate makes this less attractive than it once was. I got mine for £325 (delivered).

Have a search for old threads on On-One Ti 456 which appeared last year to great acclaim, I got one, like it a lot.

Ragley Ti about to drop, more expensive but will be worth a test ride. Again, quite a few threads on here. Brant built both.

Built em with his own hands then?

Yes, I think the rights to the Airborne name ran out or something so then the Van Nicholas brand was formed to sell the frames. The Black Widow is the same as the Tuareg. You can also find the same frame direct from [url= http://www.ti-bicycle.com/chpjsh/shdch-e.htm ]here[/url]

Lots of choice but be careful - dont forget the old adage "You get what you pay for.."

So if Black Widow = Toerag, does it follow that Lancaster = Zion?

neilb67: That chinese website looks well dodgy, for starters the MTB frame has v-brake bosses and no disc mounts

RepacK - Member

Lots of choice but be careful - dont forget the old adage "You get what you pay for.."

In this case, you pay more, you get a fashionable "name".

Not always true Druid - yes in some cases but not always the case.

Yep - Lancaster = Zion.

Here's one of the cheap chinese frames built up (in this case a HM-III).

[img] [/img]

They all have V-brake [b]and[/b] disk mounts

Oh - and the dodgy graphics come off with a wee touch of nail varnish remover.

Never bought from the site. Was just pointed to it by the people who sold them on Ebay. Which I believe is were Druid bought his. They are all from the same factory in China. You can spec what you want on the frame. As I said before never had any dealings so not personally recommending. Druid seems very happy with his though... 🙂

mike_P, the frame in the picture does have disc mounts

There's a Litespeed Obed in the Classifieds.

It does now... your link took me to a completely different site the first time I clicked on it! The glory of the web, eh...

MT have you the scene from The Office when the IT geek pays a visit?

“You know when he's fighting Chuck Norris in Enter the Dragon?”
“No?”
“You not seen that?”
“No?”
“Have you not, I can’t... that is a classic.”
“No, I’ve not seen him fight Chuck Norris in Enter the Dragon, I’ve seen him fight Chuck Norris in Way of the Dragon.”
“Ah, that’s what I meant, that's what I meant.”
“Is it? Why did you say have you seen him fight Chuck Norris in Enter the Dragon? He fight’s Bob Wall in both, but Norris is only in Way of the Dragon.”
“Yeah, I know, so when he’s fighting Chuck Norris-”
“In what?”
“In Way of the Dragon.”
“Correct. At last.”

Go on mate, correct me.....

mcboo - as a manufacturer with our own design office I'll be pedantic, design/built himself but manufactured by others is significant. Especially when made by cheap labour in the fareast. I'll give Mr Richards his due he does not make any claims about doing anything other than what he does, unlike some uk based "manufacturers". To think we all worry about being unemployed, were did all the jobs go?

The Whyte is essentially a Litespeed - just thought Id point that out.

so my Ti frame was built in Asia? Chattanooga actually, which is word i never get tired of saying.

and thanks for pointing out yourself that you were being pedantic. Top man, apology accepted.

Here we go... get a room FFS

RepacK - being a Litespeed is no bad thing, surely?

yeah the ti bit of my frame was built in chattanooga as well 🙂

I got myself a VN Zion last year before the exchange rate was less attractive. I've been really impressed with it. I use it for the daily commute and fit mudguards & rigid fork during the winter. It's also got mounts for a rack so I can go touring on it as well.

The Santa Cruz hasn't seen any use for months - that's how pleased I am with it.

It depends what you want - it 'only' takes a 100mm fork.

Just Washed:
[img] [/img]

mcboo - I take pride in being pedantic (in this instance) so don't see it as an apology, you were wrong.

Did you really type all that scene from The Office for me, takes on to know one then.

mike_p yeah Litespeed top bikes & I love the idea of a Ti HT designed for the UK manufactured by one of the best makers (allegedly).

This was on my Whyte 19 frame.
[img] http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=ywykir&outx=600&quality=70 [/img]

My MLC

[img] [/img]

The Zion and the 19 both appeal to me as I could run the Rohloff on either if I went for right Zion frame.

Lookin for less 'jey' then the ragley is probably your best bet close to what you want to spend.

Litespeeds are about £1700 and I think the Cove Hummer now made by Lynskey is about the same.

Anotehr vote for Airborne(Van nicholas) here, I love my black widow(Tuareg). Mike_p I didn't know that airborne did any alu frames, you learn something new every day eh!

I prefer my Airborne to either the Ti456, the Cotic Soda or the Hummer and yes I've owned them all.

I'd like a Whyte 19 Ti, it looks fandabbiedosie....but i'll never see one second hand and so will never own one.

i got a second hand airbourne lancaster (zion) frame with lifetime warranty.

It had tatty decals, so i stripped it refinished it with scotchbrite, and reapplied some van nic decals, it came up as new.

didnt skimp on parts, the whole thing only cost about £1100, which is the same as most frames, ....

best bike i have ever built/ridden

[IMG] [/IMG]

a custom crisp.

DeSalvo

"mcboo - as a manufacturer with our own design office I'll be pedantic, design/built himself but manufactured by others is significant. Especially when made by cheap labour in the fareast."

The current titanium On Ones are made by Lynskey, neither cheap nor far eastern.

Van Nicholas Mamtor looks nice!

van nick zion - cheap, light, fast, brilliant frame detailing what's not to like (mate has one)

OK it's not very "core" like the 456Ti is.

What's the deal with hummers these days, have they fallen out of fashion? Does the change from litespeed to lynskey make any difference? For what its worth I love mine, a 97, 19 inch,
PJ

buzz-lightyear - Member

van nick zion - cheap, light, fast, brilliant frame detailing what's not to like (mate has one)

OK it's not very "core" like the 456Ti is.

You missed "versatile". My cheapo copy of a Zion has been around SITS, to the top of Cairngorm and loaded up with panniers for off-road touring.

[img] [/img]
Love my Seven Sola. IMO if you go the Ti route you have to lay down the cash to get the benefits over a steel bike. Indy Fab also make some lurvely bikes too. If I was in the market again I would probably get an Indy.

Fat tread have a few Elevens in the sale for under the price you are talking about.they retailed at 1600 but are less than a grand. possibly only Large and smalls though..

Another vote for Airborne/Van Nicholas. I borrowed my friend's Black Widow for a quick bash around the woods and that was it... she very very very kindly let me have her frame(!) and has since got another one. Her husband has also got one... That's how nice they ride. Really lovely bikes. (Oh and yes, we do look very special if when we go riding together!)

I've got a Ti456 and its ace.

[img] [/img]

I've personally seen two failed Ti456s and am pretty happy I dont have one anymore.

TBH I prefer my steel Indy Fab.

I have a Serotta TiMax 29er which i got off someone on here. Its fantastic. My bike mechanic friend who works for a few pro teams etc was visibly excited when he got to take it apart and rebuild it. He also had a cheaper hardtail (26") in there at the time and spent a while looking at welds and tube diameters etc and the way they were butted. He's like that. And proclaimed that the more you spend the better quality the tubing is, the welding is and most importantly the alignment is. I just like the way it rides and some of that is to do with the Ti-ness-ism.
Then again, i had an older Litespeed Unicoi which was like riding one of those bendy straw things.

Van Nicholas Mamtor for me
Not missing my Pace one bit..

I've got one of these:
[img] [/img]

But three of my mates have too!
[img] [/img]

Can't see myself ever owning an On-one/Ragley TBH, no matter what they produce... I am most definitely not "one of them"

Those Van Nics [i]look[/i] the business tho', nsaints' Mamtor is a beaut

Daffy

Of the two failed 456 Ti's you saw, did they fail at the weld for the disc mounts so that the frame became an On Two? One of my mates had that happen to him in Switzerland. Shame as it is a nice looking bike and you have to applaud any manufacturer that can produce Ti bikes at prices which are a wee bit more affordable than Ti is known for. 😀

I've a Hummer. It's ok but it just doesn't make me smile as much as my Turner. Almost every time I ride it, I'll reach a point on the ride where I'd rather be on the full susser. It's a shame as it's a really nice frame and nice to ride but hey ho. Such is the fickle nature of bike riding! 😕

Cheers

Sanny

Anyone know the weight of the Whyte Ti?

??????
Whyte Tis,
Burning like fire
Whyte Tis
how can you close and fail
??????

Anyone know the weight of the Whyte Ti?

[i]Of the two failed 456 Ti's you saw, did they fail at the weld for the disc mounts so that the frame became an On Two?[/i]

Yup, exact same place.

Litespeeds are on sale at Alpine Bikes.

Can't see myself ever owning an On-one/Ragley TBH, no matter what they produce... I am most definitely not "one of them"

it's a bike.

I think Whyte site has a weight of 24.8 lbs for both the Ti and the alloy 19 for a medium frame excluding pedals.

The Mamtor looks good, anyone seen any reviews on them? especially considering they work out at around £820 from Van Nichols direct.

I've got a Moots Rigormootis which I'm pleased with, probably considered a bit old fashioned now - what with only being designed to have 80mm of travel up front. Still a classic though.

van nicholas are producing a ti 456 and ti 29er for us , the two preproduction samples have tipped up last week , are being built today , and well take them down to bike radar live so if anyone wants to have a try then feel free to come round

itll be interesting to compare lynskey / good ole usa production / quality vs van nicholas china production .

lets just say pricing on van nicholas chinese made frames is going to be exceptional

production should be 8 weeks away after samples approved , assuming samples get approved

thinking about it well build up a ti 456 lynskey and a ti 456 van nicholas , with exact same specs , and then compare and contrast - anyone wanting a go just get down to bikeradar