Has the "golden age" of custom steel bikes passed?
08-09-20, 10:32 PM
#76
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$3,600 for just the framset is not a bargin, considering that a carbon fiber road bike with Shimano ultegra di2 electronic shifting AND disc brakes can be had for under $3,000. https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-r872-disc/
08-10-20, 04:43 PM
#77
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,,,,,,,,,,,,,,that was going to be my question,,,, who is buy these frames and how are they using them ? Is it just a personal preference to own a high quality steel bike,,,, ?
08-10-20, 05:10 PM
#78
Senior Member
$3,600 for just the framset is not a bargin, considering that a carbon fiber road bike with Shimano ultegra di2 electronic shifting AND disc brakes can be had for under $3,000. https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-r872-disc/
Here is a $3500 frame do you honesty think it compares. Custom made, translucent paint over chrome and 16lbs.
https://officinabattaglin.com/products/custom-steel-bikes/power-plus-evo/
There is a place for less expensive bikes but don’t compare them to the best custom bikes.
Last edited by Mulberry20; 08-10-20 at 05:13 PM.
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08-10-20, 06:36 PM
#79
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Last edited by satrain18; 08-10-20 at 07:03 PM.
08-10-20, 06:46 PM
#80
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Yeah and the frame is garbage.
Here is a $3500 frame do you honesty think it compares. Custom made, translucent paint over chrome and 16lbs.
https://officinabattaglin.com/products/custom-steel-bikes/power-plus-evo/
There is a place for less expensive bikes but don’t compare them to the best custom bikes.
Here is a $3500 frame do you honesty think it compares. Custom made, translucent paint over chrome and 16lbs.
https://officinabattaglin.com/products/custom-steel-bikes/power-plus-evo/
There is a place for less expensive bikes but don’t compare them to the best custom bikes.
https://www.filamentbikes.com/bikes
https://www.hersh.it/
https://parleecycles.com/custom/
08-10-20, 06:47 PM
#81
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Comparing a mass produced Asian CF bike with mid and low end components to a fully custom, handmade Columbus XCr stainless steel frame with Campy Super Record group and WR Compositi components is like comparing a Fiat to a Maserati. I have 2 high end carbon fiber bikes. I'm not impressed with either of them. I would not have either electronic shifting or disc brakes if you paid me. My bike will be ridden decades after your CF cheapie is in the recycle bin.
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08-10-20, 07:08 PM
#82
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Steel fork with a carbon-fiber steerer. His handlebars, stem, and seatpost are also carbon fiber instead of polished aluminum, oddly.
Last edited by satrain18; 08-11-20 at 03:52 PM.
08-10-20, 07:09 PM
#83
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Sad
PS sorry don't want to get off subject to subject was steel frames I think Waterford probably make some pretty darn good steel frames if I get some money together,, I might just order a "do all " types of bike from them that can take wider tires can do gravel and Road. Also still don't have a titanium bike , so there's that..😀
Last edited by rossiny; 08-10-20 at 07:13 PM.
08-10-20, 07:37 PM
#84
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08-10-20, 07:43 PM
#85
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Who is buying these fine custom steel dream bikes? The demographic is older guys with cash and young girlfriends!
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08-10-20, 11:48 PM
#87
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I like steel because I like the way it looks, if you like CF/Ti/Aluminum that's great too. If you fit on stock geometry there are thousands of good frames made everywhere if you need/want custom there are hundreds of makers in in all materials. Plastic bikes have come a long way in the last 35 years and they are the best way to build a bike that does exactly what you need them to do but that doesn't make them pretty.
08-11-20, 08:04 AM
#88
Senior Member
You missed the point. Of course I have lots of carbon fiber on my bike, saddle frame, pedals,, Campy SR, and WR Compositi seat post, stem, handlebars and steering tube. My frame and fork are Columbus XCr stainless steel. But this whole line of comments is about Custom Steel Bikes. Besides, not all carbon is created equally, some is very good, a lot is crap.
08-11-20, 08:51 AM
#89
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$3,600 for just the framset is not a bargin, considering that a carbon fiber road bike with Shimano ultegra di2 electronic shifting AND disc brakes can be had for under $3,000. https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-r872-disc/
So you are not be sarcastic. It has already been stated but a custom made bike can't really be compared to an off the shelf asian bike - especially a cheap one that most likely cost less than 1000 yuan to make.
08-11-20, 09:38 AM
#90
Senior Member
I already have two classic lugged steel framed bikes with classic stuff, a Simoncini and a Cinelli. I wanted my Barco to be the most modern and lightest.
08-11-20, 09:48 AM
#91
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08-11-20, 09:49 AM
#92
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Why spend $1 on an orange when I can get an apple for half that?
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08-11-20, 10:03 AM
#93
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That fork of theirs is a looker right? Have you seen this review?
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/reviews/66...rco-xcr-review
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08-11-20, 10:04 AM
#94
Senior Member
be careful. "Made in Italy " legally means only that a certain percentage of the finished value was done in Italy. The basic frame may have been made elsewhere. With my Cicli Barco, I was sent photos of the frame making in various stages of progress by Gianluca Barco. In the process, we had about 120 emails back and forth about every detail of the process from brake mounting to paint scheme and colors. That is the difference between a custom steel frame and a mass production CF.
08-11-20, 10:08 AM
#95
Senior Member
be careful. "Made in Italy " legally means only that a certain percentage of the finished value was done in Italy. The basic frame may have been made elsewhere. With my Cicli Barco, I was sent photos of the frame making in various stages of progress by Gianluca Barco. In the process, we had about 120 emails back and forth about every detail of the process from brake mounting to paint scheme and colors. That is the difference between a custom steel frame and a mass production CF. It cost $3,600 including shipping, but I had a lot of extras. The basic XCr stainless steel frame with steel curved fork is about $2,800. Every one is custom, so there will probably never be another one like yours.
08-11-20, 10:16 AM
#96
Senior Member
be careful. "Made in Italy " legally means only that a certain percentage of the finished value was done in Italy. The basic frame may have been made elsewhere. With my Cicli Barco, I was sent photos of the frame making in various stages of progress by Gianluca Barco. In the process, we had about 120 emails back and forth about every detail of the process from brake mounting to paint scheme and colors. That is the difference between a custom steel frame and a mass production CF. It cost $3,600 including shipping, but I had a lot of extras. The basic XCr stainless steel frame with steel curved fork is about $2,800. Every one is custom, so there will probably never be another one like yours.
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08-11-20, 10:18 AM
#97
Senior Member
That is a wonderful bike. I keep flipping back and forth. They sent me all the chameleon colors so maybe just the Spirit version.
That fork of theirs is a looker right? Have you seen this review?
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/reviews/66...rco-xcr-review
That fork of theirs is a looker right? Have you seen this review?
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/reviews/66...rco-xcr-review
08-11-20, 11:33 AM
#98
Senior Member
I chose the XCr because of the stainless steel. I didn't want any rust issues. I think Barco uses polished stainless steel lugs even on non stainless frames because of weight and potential rust from poor chrome.
08-11-20, 12:21 PM
#99
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Comparing a mass produced Asian CF bike with mid and low end components to a fully custom, handmade Columbus XCr stainless steel frame with Campy Super Record group and WR Compositi components is like comparing a Fiat to a Maserati. I have 2 high end carbon fiber bikes. I'm not impressed with either of them. I would not have either electronic shifting or disc brakes if you paid me. My bike will be ridden decades after your CF cheapie is in the recycle bin.
Wrong. Carbon fiber can't be recycled.
