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Which Ti Bike Did You Buy and Why? Happy or Not?

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Which Ti Bike Did You Buy and Why? Happy or Not?

Old 01-28-21, 05:54 PM
  #51  
Sy Reene
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Originally Posted by Fox Farm
I ride a Merlin (before Litespeed bought them) from 2001. 20 years later and a few group updates I still ride it regularly. Super bike and I would be very sad if something happened to it. Probably weighs 18 pounds, maybe a little less when i put my climbing wheelset on it. It is a magic carpet ride and I always come home with a smile on my face, shaking my head and thinking that this thing is still the cat's meow. No, not as light weight as my carbon bike, not as stiff, but super handling and all day comfort. 20 years old frame and strong and very durable. I say to the OP, get one and you will be happy. Not knowing what the budget is, it is hard to advise. Lynskey would be a good choice and they are pretty well priced. If you can drop a lot of money, Moots RSL is very nice too.
+1. Still loving and riding my Cyrene, ca. 2003.
FWIW, I don't think Litespeed bought Merlin, rather ABG bought both Litespeed and Merlin. Merlin was owned by Saucony for a little while. Regardless, I think for the most part that the same workers and factory were making the bikes so don't really care about the owner.

As to a reason, or factors that went into decision.. probably some would say irrational or misguided. 1) Wanted a standard geometry road bike. 2) wanted a bike that would be 'forever'. 3) Aluminum was stiff and harsh. 4) Steel rusted. 5) Carbon would break if you even just breathed too hard.
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Old 01-28-21, 11:14 PM
  #52  
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Originally Posted by mackgoo
Bianchi Ti Mega Tube. I bought it because it's a Bianchi and very unique. I love it.



i got one as well.....

thing is a rocket...
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Old 01-30-21, 03:13 PM
  #53  
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Originally Posted by jadocs
Man...I really really like this.
Yeah. Me too. I went to the Firefly website and looked at ALL the pictures. I couldn't find this one, though. It looks like an old rusty bike. I want to get on it and kick some ass.
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Old 01-30-21, 05:18 PM
  #54  
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I bought a Bearclaw Thunderhawk for my fiancee, because she asked for a bike capable of riding gravel roads, and a YouTube channel I enjoy (Path Less Pedaled) gave a favorable review. From her evaluation (she loves it), the bike is fabulous at eliminating the vibration and carpal tunnel irritation generated by non paved surfaces. I realize that this thread is in the road bike forum, but forest service gravel roads are still roads. If I change the front chain ring and chain to go from 32T to 42T in front, and pump the tires to 40+ pounds, she can ride on flat pavement, though we haven't done that yet, because she has a nice paved road bike (carbon).
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Old 01-31-21, 06:23 PM
  #55  
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Cross-posting from another thread (thought I was posting to this one):

I got my titanium Mosaic RT-1 after seeing one and thinking it was beautiful. Seriously, that is an underrated reason. I still get admiration all the time on the road, and it's 7 years old. (See below.)

I have a 2011 Cervelo R3, which I loved, but the Mosaic is more comfortable. However, this may be primarily because I can fit 25s on the Mosaic, but only 23s on the Cervelo.

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Old 02-02-21, 08:22 AM
  #56  
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Originally Posted by Bassmanbob
Yeah. Me too. I went to the Firefly website and looked at ALL the pictures. I couldn't find this one, though. It looks like an old rusty bike. I want to get on it and kick some ass.
FYI, you can see more of this bike at the owner's website
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Old 02-03-21, 10:38 PM
  #57  
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I purchased my Merlin in 1993 and finally swapped out the old 8 Campy Chorus for new 12 speed. I love this bike. It carried me over 8000 miles since I dusted it off last February and started riding again after a long hiatus. I was fitted for the bike by Tom Kellog who consulted with Merlin. Long top tube seems well suited for me. Recently sat on a friend’s Linskey and felt squished. I’ve never straddled a modern carbon bike or ridden any other modern road bike so really can’t provide a reliable comparison. I just love climbing aboard the Merlin and going. And I think it looks great!

And why did I buy it? My only other bike was a Reynolds steel, custom, 5 speed with down tube shifters, designed with a higher bottom bracket for criteriums. I wanted shifters on the brakes, a slightly larger frame and was lured by the longevity titanium offered. Nearly 28 years and many miles later.....

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Old 02-04-21, 09:17 PM
  #58  
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My IF custom factory lightweight. Very responsive bike.
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Old 02-04-21, 09:20 PM
  #59  
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^^^^ sorry for poor pic quality
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Old 02-05-21, 01:40 AM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by la rosa
^^^^ sorry for poor pic quality
Please give us a better picture, that poor IF needs some love. It might be a really great looking bike under there I mean it is ti and has campanoglios.
Here is some help:
https://cyclingtips.com/2015/11/how-...-of-your-bike/
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Old 02-05-21, 08:35 PM
  #61  
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Thank u for the tips veganbikes
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Old 03-31-21, 10:17 AM
  #62  
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Bought a Basso recently, i think made by Litespeed. I just road a couple times, still need dial in on seat , stem etc. First impressions are good , fit seems good and I like no TOE overlap, that's a pet peeve of mine , even though I know it tipically never comes into play, if you ride in the city and taking a few tight turns it can come into play. I sold both bikes i had that had toe overlap.

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Old 03-31-21, 10:32 AM
  #63  
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Ive nothing of value to add to the OP except to say, personally, I think its criminal to paint titanium frames: that raw titanium look is part of the beauty of owning a ti frame.
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Old 03-31-21, 12:10 PM
  #64  
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Originally Posted by rossiny

Bought a Basso recently, i think made by Litespeed. I just road a couple times, still need dial in on seat , stem etc. First impressions are good , fit seems good and I like no TOE overlap, that's a pet peeve of mine , even though I know it tipically never comes into play, if you ride in the city and taking a few tight turns it can come into play. I sold both bikes i had that had toe overlap.
The bike is the completely wrong way around we want to actually see the important part of the bike: https://cyclingtips.com/2015/11/how-...-of-your-bike/.



Doomrider74 I would agree to a point but sometimes a little paint isn't so bad and anodizing is even better. Full paint is not so good don't want to cover it all up but a little isn't terrible.
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Old 04-06-21, 08:30 PM
  #65  
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Firefly

Put down a deposit last summer to hold a spot in line. Was told I can expect to wait 18 months. Very much looking forward to the build. At 6’ 6”, I’m very much ready for a bicycle that actually fits me. For now, I just visit their website once a month and drool.

https://fireflybicycles.com/
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Old 04-08-21, 12:46 PM
  #66  
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Originally Posted by SotR23
Put down a deposit last summer to hold a spot in line. Was told I can expect to wait 18 months. Very much looking forward to the build. At 6’ 6”, I’m very much ready for a bicycle that actually fits me. For now, I just visit their website once a month and drool.

https://fireflybicycles.com/
Absolutely reasonable pricing too. Makes the mass produced carbon stuff look out of line.
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Old 04-08-21, 03:59 PM
  #67  
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I went with a Lynskey GR 300 with GRX Di2 and a wheel upgrade to a Stans Grail MK3 and their 'adventure' fork. I had been eyeballing a bike from them for a few years and was always interested in something from their GR lineup, I have an awesome road bike (also handmade) so the more mutli-purpose bike was what I was after.

Very happy with the experience and at just over $5000 for the full build, it was extremely reasonable. Considering some Ti builders are asking most of that just for a frame and I put Di2 on mine. It was about 60 days from card swipe to first ride and I was able to get in ahead of the heavy constraints that are now hitting distributors. July - September 2020 was my order to delivery window.

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Old 04-08-21, 08:07 PM
  #68  
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For years, I've always wanted to build up a Ti frameset and it finally happened when my Lynskey Helix Disc frameset was delivered this past December. I chose the Lynskey Helix because I've always liked the design and look of the Helix tubes and once I saw the current Helix Disc had internal cable routing, I knew it was time. I first built it up using the Record 11/Praxis pieces that were on the Storck along with Juin Tech GT-F hydro/mech pull calipers. I was expecting that calm, smooth ride because of its Ti construction and it was exactly that from day 1. It's comfortable, very nimble and most of all, handling is on point which is a huge plus for me because that is one of the main characteristics I look for in a build. Even when I'm out of the saddle, pushing hard, it reacts so smoothly and sometimes think its a bit too well behaved for me or for what I've been used to from my previous carbon builds.
Happy? Without a doubt yes and even more so after being able to find the components to complete it as a full Campy H11 build.


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Old 04-08-21, 08:33 PM
  #69  
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Originally Posted by primov8
For years, I've always wanted to build up a Ti frameset and it finally happened when my Lynskey Helix Disc frameset was delivered this past December. I chose the Lynskey Helix because I've always liked the design and look of the Helix tubes and once I saw the current Helix Disc had internal cable routing, I knew it was time. I first built it up using the Record 11/Praxis pieces that were on the Storck along with Juin Tech GT-F hydro/mech pull calipers. I was expecting that calm, smooth ride because of its Ti construction and it was exactly that from day 1. It's comfortable, very nimble and most of all, handling is on point which is a huge plus for me because that is one of the main characteristics I look for in a build. Even when I'm out of the saddle, pushing hard, it reacts so smoothly and sometimes think its a bit too well behaved for me or for what I've been used to from my previous carbon builds.
Happy? Without a doubt yes and even more so after being able to find the components to complete it as a full Campy H11 build.


Sick! Is that a ControlTech TiMania stem? So much Ti and carbon...luv it!
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Old 04-08-21, 08:38 PM
  #70  
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Originally Posted by chaadster
Sick! Is that a ControlTech TiMania stem? So much Ti and carbon...luv it!
Thanks. Not a TiMania stem but also from Lynskey.
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Old 04-10-21, 05:08 PM
  #71  
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I'm still looking and enjoying your replies. I'm currently looking seriously at Moots, Seven, Mosaic and Firefly.
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Old 04-10-21, 08:26 PM
  #72  
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Originally Posted by Bassmanbob
I'm still looking and enjoying your replies. I'm currently looking seriously at Moots, Seven, Mosaic and Firefly.
Better hurry and order now if you want it for six gap.
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Old 04-10-21, 09:27 PM
  #73  
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Got this Tuscany in '99 because it was my dream bike at the time. Replaced the group set a few years ago and I still ride it.
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Old 04-11-21, 05:17 AM
  #74  
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Originally Posted by MidTNBrad
Better hurry and order now if you want it for six gap.
🤣🤣🤣 So true, but this eventual purchase will definitely not be in time for 6 Gap in September. My plan is to make a down payment sometime between January and April 2022, thinking I’ll have all the money saved by mid-to-late summer. I’ll be fine even if I don’t receive it until after that. It’ll give me some cushion in case I need to dip into my bike funds for a minor financial emergency of some sort.
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Old 04-11-21, 07:39 PM
  #75  
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T-Lab (Visceral out of Montreal) X3 Full GRX Di2 (Gravel/Endurance Geometry) and a set of wheels for every occasion. Bought Gravel for flexibility and friendly geometry. Upgraded from a 2003 Airborne Valkyrie (ti) After having it since August of last year. I would have opted for the Hue paint scheme (Beadblasted frame with brushed logos and painted accent colour on seatpost and fork) instead of the pictured Vector Scheme.

T-Lab X3

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