My first titanium
07-07-21, 08:38 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My first titanium
After couple of steel frames, got a titanium one. 
From seller, it is a 2003 Litespeed Firenze.
Going to rebuild it with a shorter crank arm - 172.5mm is not for me.
From seller, it is a 2003 Litespeed Firenze.
Going to rebuild it with a shorter crank arm - 172.5mm is not for me.
Likes For phtomita:
07-08-21, 02:47 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 2,029
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease, 2020 Seven Evergreen, 2019 Honey Allroads Ti, 2018 Seven Redsky XX, 2017 Trek Boon 7, 2014 Trek 520
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 696 Post(s)
Liked 910 Times
in
487 Posts
Welcome to the club.
Likes For Ghazmh:
07-08-21, 03:00 AM
#3
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 3,107
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 852 Post(s)
Liked 1,433 Times
in
815 Posts
phtomita , nice looking bike and I am happy for you. I purchased my first, and only, titanium bike in 20017. It is a 2003-04? Airborne Zeppelin purchased from an Ebay auction. Ti is very close to riding high quality steel with considerably less weight. The durability and ease of cleaning/polishing the ti is a definite plus. Enjoy the ride and be safe.
07-08-21, 04:46 AM
#4
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,507
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3657 Post(s)
Liked 5,393 Times
in
2,738 Posts
Those curved seatstays look great, very elegant.
07-08-21, 08:45 AM
#5
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,428
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3129 Post(s)
Liked 1,698 Times
in
1,026 Posts
Wow, it looks to be in very good condition! Congrats,
07-08-21, 07:20 PM
#6
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,467
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4335 Post(s)
Liked 3,958 Times
in
2,646 Posts
Love all three of my Ti bikes. Looking to add more to the collection (at some point further down the line). You will love it.
07-08-21, 08:59 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Hotel CA / DFW
Posts: 1,732
Bikes: 83 Colnago Super, 87 50th Daccordi, 79 & 87 Guerciotti's, 90s DB/GT Mtn Bikes, 90s Colnago Master and Titanio, 96 Serotta Colorado TG, 95/05 Colnago C40/C50, 06 DbyLS TI, 08 Lemond Filmore FG SS, 12 Cervelo R3, 20/15 Surly Stragler & Steamroller
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 600 Post(s)
Liked 778 Times
in
496 Posts
07-10-21, 04:16 AM
#8
Senior Member
I have owned two titanium frames and loved them both, and am looking to get a third. They ride like top shelf steel, but really don't save much on weight compared to a top shelf steel frame. The benefit of not having to worry about paint makes a huge difference to me and is the reason I am geeked out on titanium.
Likes For TiHabanero:
07-10-21, 09:51 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Drive side pic 
- Need to remove the spacers and replace bb.
- Need to remove the spacers and replace bb.
07-11-21, 10:15 PM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
So, is this too ugly?
Not wanting the hassle to make it shorter ....
Not wanting the hassle to make it shorter ....
07-12-21, 06:07 AM
#11
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,507
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3657 Post(s)
Liked 5,393 Times
in
2,738 Posts
It would look better with a spacer moved to under the stem. I'd be surprised if that negatively impacted your riding position. Such tidy welds on the HT/TT junction!
07-18-21, 02:01 PM
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Moved all the hardware from my Nishiki to the Litespeed.
Noticed I don't have a closer photo yet .... So far around 100 miles on titanium on after couple adjustments. Very nice.
I noticed the wheelbase is shorter for the Litespeed that has a frame one size up from the Nishiki.
Noticed I don't have a closer photo yet .... So far around 100 miles on titanium on after couple adjustments. Very nice.
I noticed the wheelbase is shorter for the Litespeed that has a frame one size up from the Nishiki.
Likes For phtomita:
07-24-21, 03:41 PM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
After some 250 miles .
Something is missing from when riding a full steel frame - my Tri-A was one size smaller and don't know what it is exactly. I will be keeping the Tri-A frame now. Initially was thinking on building it with a Ultegra 6700 and pass forward.
Since was a nice ride to pick it up and just 5 bucks, I got some more real state on my cockpit.
I like that bottle location
.Something is missing from when riding a full steel frame - my Tri-A was one size smaller and don't know what it is exactly. I will be keeping the Tri-A frame now. Initially was thinking on building it with a Ultegra 6700 and pass forward.
Since was a nice ride to pick it up and just 5 bucks, I got some more real state on my cockpit.
I like that bottle location
07-25-21, 02:52 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,173
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times
in
395 Posts
I've never had titanium but I've been keeping an eye on this '04 on CL. The price has dropped a couple of times. If it goes down below 1K I might not be able to resist.
