ericzamora

That Norco Search XR uses Reynolds 725. I have the previous year's version, a wonderful blue, same 725. I find no fault with it as my pavement/gravel bike, but i've only had it a couple of months, and I may not be as discerning as others.

eric/fresno, ca.

tdilf

Breadwinner Cycles

gus6464

How come all these steel gravel frames have such weak tire clearance? The only one that I can see that gives you plenty of clearance is the Rondo RUUT steel version but that's because it's identical to the carbon version. Most of these mentioned can't seem to take a 650x47 tire.

Marcus_Ti

They try to keep the rear-center short and racey. That is half of it.

The other half of it...is crankset compatibility (read 68mm std, or pressfit equivalent, roadie bottom brackets), and the usage of tubing stock. To do 700cx40+ in metal....you really need either a long rear-center or a metal-bar yolk on the DS chainstay or both. The later makes for more weight and more custom machining as opposed to a straight Reynolds tubeset out of a box. The former impacts handling.

gus6464

So why is this not a problem with aluminum frames that have racy stays but can still do the big tire?

tangerineowl

Fairlight Secan frameset (UK) takes a 650b x 57 or 700x45.
https://fairlightcycles.com/product/...v=6cc98ba2045f

mstateglfr 

a Reynolds 853 frame and full carbon fork only costs $525usd?

what am I missing here?

HTupolev

That's the deposit to get into the queue, not the complete frameset price.

mstateglfr 

yeah, i saw the forks had prices listed and didbt see anything else in the frame page, figured that couldn't possibly be the price.
terrible hoops to jump thru just to get the price.

$1385 usd for the frameset, axles, and headset.

Bikedud

All-City says 38's. When I run Panaracer 38's it looks to me like there is room for 40's if it's not too knobby, but I've never actually tried.

gus6464

Take out 19% VAT if you shipping to US. I think it's a little less than $1200 which isn't a bad price but I'll take a Rondo RUUT carbon frameset at that price.

fietsbob

Maxway Ltd TW is a big company many companies like Surly,Salsa And Richey and several others , use to make their bikes

there are a number of small builders around the country making very nice steel bike frames..

Portland Oregon has several....

continue name dropping ...

NB; you could take a frame building class and make your own , as well..

gus6464

I am surprised no one has mentioned the Otso Warakin.

Stainless steel frame
420-430-440mm chainstay options for racy to lax setup
Can take up to a 53mm tire in 650b and 440mm chainstay config
$1099 for frameset
Did I mention stainless steel?

mstateglfr 

interesting frame.
nice price, neat dropout versatility, relatively unique tubing for gravel, and great price. Oh, and threaded bottom bracket too!

- the massive 44mm headtube is an awkward contrast to the rest of the frame tubing.
- 15mm fork TA is...meh.
- no flat mount rear is...meh.
- HEAVY frame. I'd be curious to find out what the tubing specs are in terms of butting profiles. And also would be interested to find out how much weight the creative extras on the rear of the bike increases weight. That 44mm tank of a head tube has to weigh a bunch too.

my recently built road frame in 64cm with OS Zona tubing weighs 1970g. This frame in 54cm size weighs 2120g! At that weight, I would imagine the Otso in the largest size will tip the scale at something like 2350g.
Hardly svelte for being high end.



all that said, it's an intriguing frame for sure and worth looking into if the geometry works. Heck of a price if its the frame someone wants!