jyl

Who rides with a titanium cassette? Are they as short lived as the aluminum freewheels from back in the day?

What about a Ti chain?

I have a weight weenie problem that lacks an easy solution...

repechage

I have a ti Campagnolo 8 speed EXA cassette- had to buy a hub as it does not match Prior 8 speed freehubs...
at least I got a reasonable price when I purchased them.
ti will wear faster.
a ti chain will stretch faster too.
unsurewho made one into the8 speed and beyond eras.

how a bout a hollow pin chain? Regina made one, reasonably light.

repechage

Campagnolo freewheels are light... $$$
be sure to buy the correct remover to protect your investment.

masi61

Dura Ace cassettes use titanium for the bigger cogs.

T-Mar

In my limited experience with titanium, cogs and chains made of it wear faster than steel but not as fast as aluminum.

DorkDisk

In the 90s there was a Viking Ti chain listed for $300 on many magazine ads. Never saw one, might've been vaporware

Wileyone 

I have a TNT 8 speed Ti Cassette nos just haven't found the right bike to put it on yet.

As far as chains go the KMC SL ones are light and last for quite awhile. They are not Ti though.

Doug Fattic 

I don't think that chain ever came to market. It was supposed to be distributed to bike stores through a company in New Orleans. I think that company was partly owned by Alan Kingsbury (a national time trial campion that got hit and was seriously injured by a garbage truck trying to defend his title during a national championship). I remember getting their monthly sales flyers that kept saying delivery was delayed until finally they gave up.

The only other titanium chain I remember ever coming to market was one that was sold for a short period of time through Campagnolo USA in the late 70's/early 80's? I had an OEM account with them and was going to buy one for a very lightweight frame/bicycle I made in 1979 for myself. I waited too long and they were out of stock when I tried to order one. No more were ever made. That bicycle is still being displayed in the Three Oaks Michigan bicycle museum for the last 30 + years or so.

DorkDisk

Great info, thanks. I was in college at the time and struggling to buy $30 Sedisports

squirtdad

what is the exact bike and problem? might add some context and/or fun (call it morbid under weight curiosity)

jyl

It is the Parallel Universe Look Equipe. 18.24 lb. I believe I know how it will get to 17.99 lb. But it would be really cool for weight to start with "16", if that's even possible.

RobbieTunes

I had a carbon Cinelli that used a KCNC Ti cassette, milled from 3 pieces of Ti. Also used a Ti chain by KCNC, and a Stronglight Pulsion crankset on a Ti OmniRacer BB.
No idea how the chain or cassette wore, as I rotated bikes in/out and only put maybe 1000 miles on it. The BB wore out in that time, though, made noise.

Very light.

Still hopeful, I have the same crankset on my 16+ steel Wraith, with the OmniRacer BB. crank_addict made me do it. He's an enabler, quirky, and my friend.

Salamandrine 

I remember seeing the Regina titanium chains and freewheels in the early 80s, but I don't know anyone who ever used one. People were still paranoid about the quick release Super Record parts.
Seems like a Ti chain and cassette might save about 260g, which gets you to your goal I guess. Isn't there a cheaper way?

Does parallel universe math count pedal weight?

repechage

We got one ti chain in for a guy who had a standing order for the lightest, trickest, stuff, (his description)
Made by ales? alas? very light. scary light. The company also marketed a seatpost too from Italy. I doubt the fellow ever really wore it out, He did have a 13lb Teledyne Titan, but became close to a coffee shop only bike.

squirtdad

for fun here are the build spec for a 13.5 rodrigeuz

deux jambes

Man, I’d love to have one of those with miles still left in it. Big money though.

I did notice KMC makes a chain, the 9 speed X9SL which has hollow pins, and plates that are relieved with “cut outs” in the mid section. Specs have it weighing in at 272 grams for a full length of 116 links. Not bad.

A bit modern looking for a true vintage build, but still, a fairy inexpensive option for weight saving.

Considering one myself. I’m just not sure how well it’d work with a 7 speed HG setup.

Nemosengineer 

Popular rumors and conspiracy theories from the dark web say a titanium Dura-Ace cassette is toast after you wear out the second chain or 6000 miles.

: Mike

Drillium Dude 

Do your TNT cogs look similar to these?





The Davidson I converted to 8 speed Ergopower has been wearing these titanium cogs since the early days. I found them on Ebay and the seller wasn't sure of the maker, only that they were "aftermarket Canadian" and Campy-compatible (they're notched for Exadrive hubs). They are light as hell and very well-finished, with milled ramps and variable-diameter drillings.

Can't say much about durability because they grace my zero bike which hasn't turned a wheel for 4 years now...

deux jambes : I chose the 8 speed version of the chain you described above for this build. Nice and strong, pretty light and very, very quiet.

DD

Wileyone 

Mine are different. They have Kidney shaped cutouts rather than round. Blue spacers, and the lockring says TNT performance products. As far as the Canadian connection goes they could have been sourced through Toronto Cycles as they specialize in Ti parts. Unfortunately they are closed now due to co-19.

Wileyone 

And mine are Shimano.

Steel Charlie

I knew a gentleman in the 80's that had an Italian Masi with the complete Campy SR titanium group, Regina chain/cluster, and every Ti aftermarket piece that existed. I have no idea how many $ he had in it but that was not a consideration for him. IIRC on an honest scale the thing was sub-18lbs and to his credit the owner (an old guy) was a way strong rider that didn't waste the investment. I'm sure he is long since passed away and I've often wondered what happened to that beautiful bike.

gaucho777 

I like the Regina hollow-pin chain a lot and have them on a couple of my bikes. They seem to last a while, though I do keep a fairly clean drivetrain. However, for your LOOK, you'll obviously need a narrower modern chain. The new Campagnolo 12-speed chains have hollow pins and weigh a mere 228g. That will save you about 35g over your C9 chain (263g). Something like a YBN titanium chain is nearly triple the cost at ~$200 and only a slight weight improvement at 220g. Any reason you couldn't use a 12-speed chain with your 9-speed LOOK?

Colorado Cyclist has them on sale: https://www.coloradocyclist.com/camp...12-speed-chain ($1.57 plus tax & shipping per gram saved!)

I've had fanciful notions of adding a super-light titanium freewheel on some of my lightweight builds, but they're always super expensive and nearly unobtanium in the wide-range options my fitness requires.

tNuvolari

Hollow pin Regina chain for sale in this thread. Not sure if it's what you're looking for but just saw it:

https://www.bikeforums.net/sale/1186...ents-sale.html

jyl

Okay, I think a lighter but not Ti chain is on the shopping list. From what I’ve read, 10+ speed chains can “probably” be used on 9 speed, and it’s not a big $ experiment.

The bike has a 12-25 now. I’m probably okay with that gearing, and if not then I can grab a different bike. There seem to be a fair selection of Ti cassettes in that gearing, so time to start looking.

Wileyone 

I'm not sure if you mentioned it but what crankset are you using?