SCTinkering

I've got about 1k on them so far and they look like new. Loaded up for touring will wear them a bit more, but consult the correct pressure for the load and surface 4-5k shouldn't be out of the question.

rekmeyata

I also assume they have a high level of puncture resistence?

Greyhounds

Love that Campy Record groupset!

Greyhounds

Campy wheels and a Shimano groupset. Interesting.

FrankTuna

I've got a Lynskey GR300 on the way and will have carbon Enve bars.

What do you folks think about stems? Ti or carbon would be nice but expensive. Basic aluminum would do the job but would it affect the ride quality? I had a Shockstop stem on my prior aluminum bike but think it might be too noodly on the Lynskey. Thoughts?

1Lieutenant

I have a Lynskey R300 and Shockstop stem. The combination results in an extremely smooth ride. Long rides are non fatiguing and the stress on my wrists has disappeared.
I have not noticed any "noodly" ride. Then again I am 145lb at 5'7" so your results may vary.

SCTinkering

I'm running standard alloy bars and an alloy stem on my X3. Zero issues. A Gervin Flex -Stem by any other name...

dtpga

I have been a followed this thread for years...love Ti and just bought my 15 year old a new one. My question: with all the new companies out there making Ti bikes and all the changes in old Ti builders does anyone have a compare/contrast article to point to that details the differences, pros and cons from each? That would be a cool article.

cat0020

Most people just want to know about the latest & greatest.. most titanium frames are built to last a lifetime, for 90% of performance needs of the masses.
The ultra-lightweight, super thin-walled ti frames may save a few ounces, but you really need a reputable frame builder with lots of experience to ensure the durability doesn't get compromised during the welding process.
Personally, after riding different ti frames for nearly 3 decades, I can't say that there are significant contrast to the overall ride quality between modern vs older (10+ y-o) ti frames.
If you can find a used ti frame at significant lower price than a new one, likely it's going to last you longer than you can pedal without accidents.
More importantly, to know for yourself what you're looking for in a frame, what is your intended purpose & how much is your budget for your next frame?

primov8

Out on a cold, but beautiful morning ride.

delbiker1 

I posted this Airborne Zeppelin back in 2018, but I just finished rebuilding it. It did have a mix of 9 speed Tiagra 4500, 105, Ultegra 6500, which I switched out to all 10 speed Ultegra 6700 components., except the 5700 STI levers. The crankset is 50/34 with a 12/28 cassette. I got a really good price on the group from a couple of different sellers. The whole group is in great shape with not much use. I also switched out the saddle, handlebar and tape, stem and bags, tires, and cables/housing. While I had it torn down to bare frame/fork, I used blue Scothbrite pads with Goo Gone, then soap and water, and then polished with wax and finally lubed all. The bike is looking really fine and everything is operating very well. Definitely going to put a lot of time and miles on this one in 2021.

Fox Farm

My Merlin. I first posted images of this bike way back on page 5 of this thread I think, MANY years ago. Still going strong.

rossiny

don't want to derail the thread, but with a budget of $2000 , what would be the best bike to get in titanium. I want an all day rider with some gravel capabilities. I never have had a titanium only steel bikes. used , new?? thanks in advance

datlas 

Look at Habanero. Or used.

If you are comfortable building up a bike you could consider a used frame and get new components. BikesDirect also had some nice Ti Gravel bikes but they are out of stock and a higher price point.

Ramshackle

I'm using a Shokstop on my Litespeed Vortex and it helps with road vibration, making it a smoother ride. No noodling that I can tell. I'm 5'8" and 168 lbs.

chaadster

I have no titanium frame experience, but I’m very surprised to hear this, if only because I find a lot of evolution in steel and aluminum frames over the years, as well as changes and improvements in things like carbon forks. I mean, a 2002 Lemond Victoire just looks so different from an ‘18 Lynskey T2, with things like tube diameter and shape, larger headset bearings, and thru-axles being noticeable elements which have had profound impacts on ride quality in other frame materials.

cat0020

Shaping & tubing manipulation in titanium is similar process that steel, but the tooling required are much more expensive and those tool fail at higher frequency than steel work tooling.
Cost to fabricate different shaped, tappered, non-uniformed diameter titanium tubes is significantly higher than steel or aluminum.
Seems to me the pinnacle of ti frame tube shaping & drawing had passed when large ti frame fabricator like Litespeed stopped making custom shaped & drawn 6/4 ti tubing.
Larger headset bearings, thru-axles, those impact that make frame stability under higher stress conditions do not apply to riders of ALL shapes & sizes.
If you're a lighter rider as myself, the "impact" of those improvements don't quite justify the cost increase, when compared to a used ti frame that can be found under $500.

chaadster

Thanks; that’s a completely different statement from what you said before, but I do understand you now, so thanks for clarifying.

Speaking of clarification, Litespeed still custom shapes 6/4 tubing for the T1SL bikes, and I’d see we’re seeing more Ti shaping going on now than ever before, I think. The Lynskey Helix frames are perfect examples of that, hosting not only the twisted 3/2.5 tubes, but some models diamond shaped 6/4 top tubes, forged chainstay segments, and ovalized tube ends. We’ve seen, upthread, pics of other makers at it, too, like the extreme shaping from T-Lab and the cool, one-piece, cast BB/chainstay yoke from J. Guillem.

cat0020

Litespeed no long fabricate frames like Ultimate & Blade with full 6/4 tubing, rear wheel cut-out, tapered tubing from end to end.

For general population, non-sanctioned competitive cycling, recreational cycling, the benefits of ride character difference between a current ti frame vs used ti frame at fraction of the cost is something that should be considered.

Personally, I feel that ti frames (or cycling in general) are about value, since they are meant to last for a lifetime of riding, the least you spend to achieve your cycling goals, the better value you get in return.

If you can satisfy your cycling needs with a $500 used titanium frame that lasts you a lifetime, do you really need a $4k brand new ti frame with one-piece, cast B/B chainstays?

chaadster

I don’t understand the relevance of the Ultimate and Blade being out of production; all frames go out of production at some point. I suppose, though, that Litespeed might say that being able to more aggressively shape 3/2.5 allows them to craft lighter frames with similar stiffness to more dense and harder to work 6/4, allowing them more design flexibilty. Or perhaps they’d simply say that carbon fiber is a better material from which to craft modern, aero TT race bikes than Ti. I dunno.

I don’t concern myself with other people’s needs or means, so most of the rest of your comments are neither here nor there for me, but certainly if someone wants to run wide tires and disc brakes on a Ti bike for gravel riding, yeah, they’ll “really need” to spend more than $500 for a 20 year old Ti frame and yeah, it might cost them $4k.

I guess an equally silly question might be to ask whether they really need a Ti frame at all when there are plenty of steel frames costing a lot less which will also last for a lifetime of riding.

cat0020

I specified the Ultimate & Blade frames with rear wheel cut-out, no other frame in the current market offer the same feature on ti frames, due to the difficulty, tooling & man-hour required to fabricate such seat tube.

Carbon fiber frame may be easier to fabricate, but they certainly do not last a life time as ti.

Steel frame rust, they need paint to protect the frame & they do not cost a lot less, do not last a lifetime for most people living with rainy weather.

My Lynskey disc frame was purchased brand new under $500 from eBay back in 2018, posted many pages back in this thread, likely last longer than I can pedal.

chaadster

Trolls are everywhere.

mstateglfr 

Troll is the new 'snowflake' in both overuse and misuse.

chaadster

Do not feed the trolls!

Atlas Shrugged

The usual cost discussion devolves into some form of this on these forums.

„And then she went to the porridge of the Little, Small, Wee Bear, and tasted that; and that was neither too hot nor too cold, but just right.”