Thinking about a Titus fireline is this a bad idea?

Thinking of buying a Titus firline but never actually seen one in the flesh or ridden a 29er!
Anyone own one or had one horror stories cracked frames etc?
Or is it a modern slack angled fun trail bike?
Or should I look elsewhere?

Cheers 🙂

Nope, love mine and gets ridden far more than any other bike I own. Bought as the closest thing I could find to a Ti 456 in 29er flavour, and it’s far better than I could have hoped for.

Large thread already on here about them.

Singletrack Thread

Alternatively, the Parkwood shares the geometry and takes a bigger rear tyre (unless you run a huge rim, again, there a long arguing thread about that too).

There’s a few hundred grams and a few hundred quid between it and the parkwood…

There’s other advantages differences to Ti beyond weight too, but IMO 300g between them and £500, you’d save more weight buying bling bits.

True – and the parkwood isn’t a bad weight either. Decals on it are pretty awful though, got mine resprayed!

I used to have 3 mtb – now just a 170 Heckler for the Alps, and a fireline for everything else.

I’ve converted mine to SS since this was taken but it’s a lovely ride, gears or not;

My other bikes are all 26″ but this is great for rolling along and traction.

Taken mine out on a Switchbacks holiday and it coped well with that.

They’re a great playful bike.

I built one up as a mud plugger a year last December so I didn’t wear my EX8 out in the winter. Result, I have saved the EX 8 from any wear, I haven’t ridden it since. I keep nearly getting it out, then I just hop on the Titus.
I built mine up with an Alfine 8, but now run an 11, it can be a bit hoppy occasionally but has more range, would ideally put a Rohloff on it but need to save up (or sell the Trek I guess).

I run mine in stealth mode – no decals.

Great bike, go for it! I’ve run mine with an x-fusion slide, a 100mm reba rl and a rigid fork. It’s superb with the xfusion, it shows up all the (many) flaws of the reba and it’s superb as a winter bike with the rigid.

It’s got enough flex to be comfortable, and it’s a VERY capable descender. If I was buying it again I’d probably size up to a large (I sit between sizes) and stick a 35 mm stem on, but I love it as it is with the 70mm stem and dropper

I got one as a punt, bought the frame second hand and built from bits I already had, I’d never really ridden a 29er in anger before I built it.

It absolutely blew me away. It has great geometry, is a great weight and handles everything I throw at it which has included rocky lakes trips to bimbles along cycle paths between pubs. I think its absolutely brilliant, but then again I own one and I’m obviously biased. I have a couple of other bikes which I ride rarely now. Since I built it I’ve put some nicer bits on which included some nice carbon rims, these in particular were a good upgrade and feel much quicker/stiffer than the alu American Classics they replaced.

Drop me an email of you want more detail/pics

Hi guys thanks for the info, Frood what size did you go for?
I’m 5`8 and thinking a 16″ would be good for me. May look for a used frame and build it myself though

I’m on the 18″. If you’re around the Edinburgh/peebles area you’re welcome to try it for size. I tried it with a short stem initially, but it didn’t work for me, but the 20″ codeine, which is a very similar sizing prospect, is perfect with the 35mm stem for me.
I’m 5’11 but have rather longer arms at 6’2 spread.

NorthCountryBoy – As a matter of interest, I’m 5ft9 and on a 16″, and also in the Peebles area if you want to sling a leg over it for sizing.

Thanks for the offer in lakes here but me be in Peebles in a few weeks time

Happy for you to drop me an e-mail to chuck a leg over it when you’ll be around, only thing to mention is I’m in the Alps from 22nd June so might clash.

thv3, I’m in Peebles and wouldn’t mind having a sit on for sizing, when you’re back. I’ll email you. Cheers