Who makes best Ti frame / bike
08-20-09, 06:56 AM
#26
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I've been researching this quite a bit recently, as I'm ready to get off carbon fiber after 15 yrs. Moots and Seven are the 2 top contenders for me. If I can get Moots to provide a brushed finish instead of the bead blasting (any scratches on a brushed frame can be removed with a scotch brite pad), I'll be ordering my Compact VERY soon (I was given a basic "fit" by a dealer and told my torso is longer than my legs and as such I would fit a compact better).
08-20-09, 07:28 AM
#27
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My Merlin "standard" road frame is nearly 10 years old and is wonderful. Rides great, looks great.
08-20-09, 07:53 AM
#28
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Of course you know my vote.
Actually if I were going to buy a new Ti bike, I'd be really interested in a Litespeed Archon.
One of the things I like about my CF bike is a stiffer front end, and the Archon supposedly gives carbon like stiffness with their wrap around approach.
Several people I know with an Archon love it.
Actually if I were going to buy a new Ti bike, I'd be really interested in a Litespeed Archon.
One of the things I like about my CF bike is a stiffer front end, and the Archon supposedly gives carbon like stiffness with their wrap around approach.
Several people I know with an Archon love it.
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08-20-09, 08:25 AM
#29
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Lynskey, because I own one and it's frickin' awesome... it's also the only Ti frame I've been on, so to just throw out names of well known Ti builders with no actual personal experience for comparison would just be dumb.
08-20-09, 08:47 AM
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I've been researching this quite a bit recently, as I'm ready to get off carbon fiber after 15 yrs. Moots and Seven are the 2 top contenders for me. If I can get Moots to provide a brushed finish instead of the bead blasting (any scratches on a brushed frame can be removed with a scotch brite pad), I'll be ordering my Compact VERY soon (I was given a basic "fit" by a dealer and told my torso is longer than my legs and as such I would fit a compact better).
08-20-09, 08:48 AM
#32
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Riding a Merlin Agilis now. It's quick handling, stiff and pretty smooth over ruts, cracks and chip seal.
I figure I'll give it to my son when he's tall enough in five years and then get a Spectrum with internal cable routing and tuned just a bit softer for century rides. For total Fred points, I'd probably get rack eyelets built into it.
I'm sure most on this thread know, but Tom Kellogg was (perhaps still is) the guru frame designer for Merlin, and runs Spectrum as a custom shop.
I figure I'll give it to my son when he's tall enough in five years and then get a Spectrum with internal cable routing and tuned just a bit softer for century rides. For total Fred points, I'd probably get rack eyelets built into it.
I'm sure most on this thread know, but Tom Kellogg was (perhaps still is) the guru frame designer for Merlin, and runs Spectrum as a custom shop.
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08-20-09, 08:54 AM
#33
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I love my Dean frame. They weren't quick in building it for me, but it is beautiful. Any of the premier builders will give you a great product, but a custom frame from Dean will run 500-1000 less depending on the model, and the quality is amazing...
08-20-09, 09:05 AM
#34
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That's a beautiful bike, but I wonder why you went for Ti over steel for a track bike? Anyway, it looks great.
08-20-09, 09:11 AM
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Thanks. Truth be told, this bike has never been on a track; it is just a low maintainance road bike without gears. Plus, I just wanted a Ti frame, and my geared bike is steel.
08-20-09, 09:22 AM
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Man the BF ti crowd must be a really nice group of folks! No trashing at all.
I will add that I really love my Titus Ti. Worth a look.
I will add that I really love my Titus Ti. Worth a look.
08-20-09, 09:58 AM
#37
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We save it for the CF crowd.
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08-20-09, 10:37 AM
#39
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08-20-09, 10:38 AM
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+1 for moots, they know what they are doing....and their logo looks and reads cooler than "Leeeyyyyynnnnskey".
08-20-09, 11:16 AM
#42
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One thing to think about is whether you prefer round tubes (e.g., Merlin)or shaped (e.g., Litespeed, Lynskey). I'm more of round tubes guy, although I think I could be tempted by an Archon.
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08-20-09, 11:18 AM
#43
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Nice but Indy Fab shot peens its frames. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_peening
08-20-09, 11:20 AM
#44
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People tend to leave Litespeed off the "Ti to buy" list only because how ubiquitious they are (were) when in reality, they are just as good as any of the high end brands. I have owned 3 Litespeeds and sold off 2. But I kept my Solano which I rode this morning 35 miles before work.
It is super smooth as no carbon frame will ride as smooth as a good ti bike and the weight as seen here is 16lbs 11 ounces. So no weight penalty. It isn't as stiff as my carbon Isaac, but I am no slower on this frame.
So, keep an eye out for a Litespeed Icon or Siena or even an Archon at a good price and you will not be disappointed.
It is super smooth as no carbon frame will ride as smooth as a good ti bike and the weight as seen here is 16lbs 11 ounces. So no weight penalty. It isn't as stiff as my carbon Isaac, but I am no slower on this frame.
So, keep an eye out for a Litespeed Icon or Siena or even an Archon at a good price and you will not be disappointed.
08-20-09, 12:06 PM
#45
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08-20-09, 12:59 PM
#46
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I've been researching this quite a bit recently, as I'm ready to get off carbon fiber after 15 yrs. Moots and Seven are the 2 top contenders for me. If I can get Moots to provide a brushed finish instead of the bead blasting (any scratches on a brushed frame can be removed with a scotch brite pad), I'll be ordering my Compact VERY soon (I was given a basic "fit" by a dealer and told my torso is longer than my legs and as such I would fit a compact better).
Personally, I prefer the Moots' standard look, and the finish has held up well over the last 4 years. I haven't babied my frame and it needs little more than some lemon pledge to get it back to nearly new condition.
Last edited by Dick Rhee; 08-20-09 at 01:06 PM.
08-20-09, 02:59 PM
#48
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+1000. I have two Ti road bikes and my IF Ti Crown Jewel is perhaps the best bike I have ever ridden. It is much better than my Litespeed Liege. I have also test ridden several high end CF road bikes and IMO the IF wins hands down (when I say test ridden I'm talking about bikes I have rented on vacation and spent several days in the saddle .... not a 15 minute spin around the block at my LBS). I realize I am biased but a buddy of mine who races has ridden my IF and confirmed that it is truly a sweet ride.
Unless you are a very serious racer I would say that a nice Ti frame will provide far superor ride vs. CF. I bet if you plied PCad with several beers he would agree even knowing he was dissing his vaunted Cervelo. Don't want to start another CF vs. Ti rant but why would you want a plastic bike
Unless you are a very serious racer I would say that a nice Ti frame will provide far superor ride vs. CF. I bet if you plied PCad with several beers he would agree even knowing he was dissing his vaunted Cervelo. Don't want to start another CF vs. Ti rant but why would you want a plastic bike
08-20-09, 03:33 PM
#49
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After owning my Litespeed for a few years I have decided to go for a cream of the crop titanium. Don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with the Litespeed as I consider them to be one of the best production builders in titanium. But moving on to the upper echelon I wanted a top custom titanium bike. I have looked at many titanium builders lately before making another purchase on my second titanium bike. My overall pick for a custom was down to a Serotta or a Seven as Seven was my final choice. I have looked at Deans, Eriksen, Independent Fabrication, Lynskey, Moot, Titus. I seriously looked at the Moots and didn't like their finish on their frames as the beaded finish looked much unfinished. Most everyone else had the brush frames which are nice.
These are my current bikes:
These are my current bikes:
