titanium and carbon bicycle
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 17
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
titanium and carbon bicycle
I am looking into custom bicycle in New York. Possible choices are Independent Fab or Serotta. What are the advantages or disadvantages to the carbon / titanium mix bikes. In particular the XS or Ottrott. Just confused maybe I should get the Parlee Z1 or Corvid and stay with carbon**********
#2
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,302
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 724 Times
in
371 Posts
Personally, I think there is little advantage to mixing Cf into a Ti frame.
One, you're taking away one of the advantages of the Ti frame by reducing its durability. CF is a bit more subject to damage than Ti, particularly abrasion, and crash damage. It's not like the CF is going to spontaneously fail, but odds are in the long term it will not as durable as an all Ti frame.
Two, it creates another bonding issue from the CF to Ti that can fail. Again not a big issue, but an uneeded complexity.
IMHO, the whole idea was more about marketing. It came along when Ti builders were trying to compete against CF. I doubt there is any ride characteristic that you can get with CF stays that you can't get with all Ti.
One, you're taking away one of the advantages of the Ti frame by reducing its durability. CF is a bit more subject to damage than Ti, particularly abrasion, and crash damage. It's not like the CF is going to spontaneously fail, but odds are in the long term it will not as durable as an all Ti frame.
Two, it creates another bonding issue from the CF to Ti that can fail. Again not a big issue, but an uneeded complexity.
IMHO, the whole idea was more about marketing. It came along when Ti builders were trying to compete against CF. I doubt there is any ride characteristic that you can get with CF stays that you can't get with all Ti.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,224
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
I agree with merlinextraligh on one issue. And that is the fact that I think the Ti-Carbon joint potentially introduces a likely "stress point" that can be a result of bonding issue(s). I have met two cyclists with Al-Carbon bikes who told me about "creaks", after they've owned their bikes for a while.
#4
doin the hokie pokie
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, MO
Posts: 44
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I still manage to put a couple thousand miles a year on 2004 a carbon/steel LeMond and can say I have no concerns with the joints whatsoever and its one of the best riding road bikes I've ever ridden. That said, it would likely still be that way if it were all steel, or all Ti for that matter. I would tend to agree that marketing or the "our bikes have carbon too" syndrome led to the proliferation of bikes with at least carbon seat stays. Next frame will likely but all Ti custom.
#5
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,302
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 724 Times
in
371 Posts
I still manage to put a couple thousand miles a year on 2004 a carbon/steel LeMond and can say I have no concerns with the joints whatsoever and its one of the best riding road bikes I've ever ridden. That said, it would likely still be that way if it were all steel, or all Ti for that matter. I would tend to agree that marketing or the "our bikes have carbon too" syndrome led to the proliferation of bikes with at least carbon seat stays. Next frame will likely but all Ti custom.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#6
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,043
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22587 Post(s)
Liked 8,924 Times
in
4,157 Posts
I agree with Merlin. Get CF or Ti, not both.
I don't think you will go wrong either way.
FWIW my current bike is custom Ti, and I am very pleased...but I can't afford usa-made so instead opted for Habanero.
I don't think you will go wrong either way.
FWIW my current bike is custom Ti, and I am very pleased...but I can't afford usa-made so instead opted for Habanero.
#8
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,043
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22587 Post(s)
Liked 8,924 Times
in
4,157 Posts
The Habanero has worked out very well so far...so I encourage you to put it on your short list. PM me for more details if you want more feedback/suggestions.
#9
Live to ride ride to live
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 4,896
Bikes: Calfee Tetra Pro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I really like my Habanero. If I could get fitted on a stock frame, I would have probably just purchased a "major" brand CF or Ti bike, but I have unusual body geometry and need custom. I looked into several different framebuilders but cost was an issue...
The Habanero has worked out very well so far...so I encourage you to put it on your short list. PM me for more details if you want more feedback/suggestions.
The Habanero has worked out very well so far...so I encourage you to put it on your short list. PM me for more details if you want more feedback/suggestions.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Posts: 2,751
Bikes: Merlin Extra Light, Orbea Orca, Ritchey Outback,Tomac Revolver Mountain Bike, Cannondale Crit 3.0 now used for time trials.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 126 Post(s)
Liked 55 Times
in
34 Posts
Write to Serotta and ask them about their CF Ti bikes, the durability, ride characteristics. I own a Ti Merlin and a CF Orbea. Both are excellent bikes with very different ride personalities which is why I keep them both. My sister rides a Serotta Ti CF bike and it's a great bike. Much too small for me to ride and have any feedback on how it feels.