Omega Titanium Frame

PhilofCas
PhilofCas Posts: 1,153
edited June 2007 in Workshop
Anyone have experience of them ?
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Comments

  • Phil Scp
    Phil Scp Posts: 2,525
    Yes, I have an Omega Alchemy (which I am selling soon). Lovely frame, comfortable ride, I use mine for racing and it's been great but unfortunately I am a one bike man so I can't keep it.
  • simon johnson
    simon johnson Posts: 1,064
    I've got an Omega Helix, can't fault it.
    Where\'s me jumper?
  • mdg1157
    mdg1157 Posts: 222
    Omega Enigma. Beautiful ride,superb welding,love it!!
  • rjsmith
    rjsmith Posts: 1,924
    Fantastic frames but of course the history of the company taints it for some. My Omega Enigma has turned out to be such a wonderfully versatile and pleasing bike to ride, and I've ridden quite a few top bikes.
  • rjsmith
    rjsmith Posts: 1,924
    mdg1157 - The only thing against the frame is the very very close clearance of the rear wheel and seat-tube. Is your Omega Enigma the same? I couldn't run anything larger than a 23c tyre I reckon.
  • angrynortherner
    angrynortherner Posts: 530
    The Alchemy I test rode was awesome, if you can get a Omega frame at a decent price it's worth buying.
  • PhilofCas
    PhilofCas Posts: 1,153
    Thanks for all the replies, i take it they're quite good then !!, saw one in LBS yesterday and thought it looked proper good, got home, looked on internet and i'm now thinking i ought to start saving......[V]
  • graemetherunner
    graemetherunner Posts: 239
    Depending on the price your LBS is asking you could check out http://burls.co.uk - he is now importing from the same factory that produced Ti frames for Omega & the workmanship is top notch.
  • bloatercp
    bloatercp Posts: 18
    Yep, as per my previous ramblings on other threads Burls supply top class Ti frames, as per Omega built frames (same frame builders in Russia, not cornwall as curiously claimed by Riley...). The real bonus is that Burls is honest, provides a service second to none and is significantly cheaper than Omega was. [:)]
  • mdg1157
    mdg1157 Posts: 222
    rjsmith just had a look, seems to be about 7mm clearance , mine is a small frame and has a really short headtube, 95mm, but suits me cos I like a short top tube (530mm)
  • rjsmith
    rjsmith Posts: 1,924
    Cheers mdg (and sorry to divert the thread partly). Mine only has 2mm clearance at most! Top bike though and much more comfortable than the CR1. I rode the Ti bike on the Tour of Wessex and it was great for those long miles.
  • mdg1157
    mdg1157 Posts: 222
    what tyres are you using, i've had fortezza tricomps, michelin pro race 2, and now conti gp4000 no clearance probs with any of them. attatched photo for comparison

    http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/4138 ... f2af_b.jpg
  • PhilofCas
    PhilofCas Posts: 1,153
    Hello, me again,

    Could i ask those of you who own one, what did you upgrade from ?, have you other bikes you can compare it to ?, i must admit, i'll only upgrade if there's a very real difference from my current bike. I currently have a starter Basso frame, it's aluminum, which i find pretty comfortable but it's <i>possibly</i> a bit flexy in the bottom bracket, though i've nothing really to compare it against. I know there's other factors to consider, most notably wheels ??, and i'm just putting some thoughts together on what to do.

    Any comments/suggestions gratefully received.

    Cheers.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Going from an entry level aluminium frame to a titanium frame will be a revelation, Titanium, if built properly, offers comfort and performance and gives you a ride quality that is hard to describe. I guarantee you'll have a grin from ear to ear after riding it.
  • bloatercp
    bloatercp Posts: 18
    Hi PhilofCas,

    In a road race the other weekend another rider who is 16 stone and pushes massive gears and rides through hills rather than over them was on a Ti frame (another Burls)... I was behind him in the race and noticed there was minimal flex in the bottom bracket when he pushed hard, DEFINITELY a lot less than steel. I noticed this in particular after having watched how much a steel frame flexed in the BB on another occassion - I noticed this more out of alarm than anything else. It's a bit of a myth that Ti is flexible these days - it's very stiff now that tubing has improved etc, and still comfortable at the same time - I think that's the best bit about Ti as a frame material. Personnally I ride a small frame and don't really notice flex so much no matter what it's made out of, but if you want a stiff frame get a custom frame designed to be stiff, rather than relying on what everyone else makes do with off the peg - if you see what I mean. Burls will tell you all the custom options, same as Omega but cheaper.
  • PhilofCas
    PhilofCas Posts: 1,153
    i hadn't really thought about Ti much, i just thought Ti = œœœœ (lots) and not really a performance material, i'd figured it was more a long distance (comfort) material and sort of dispelled it as an option. I suppose i ought to include it now !!![:p]
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I upgraded from an aluminium Giant OCR and have never looked back since. I have 3 steel and one aluminium bikes but always find myself picking the Omega unless its chucking it down.

    If the one in your bike shop fits, have a test ride, if not have a look at www.enigmabikes.com. Mark who designed the Omegas has since gone to work for them [:D]

    not like you and proud of it
  • mdg1157
    mdg1157 Posts: 222
    I went from an Airborne aluminium frame, and the best way to describe the ride of the Omega was buttery smooth with none of the harshness of the ali frame
  • rjsmith
    rjsmith Posts: 1,924
    mdg - you've got more clearance than me! I'm using ProRace2. It's not so bad (but still tight) with my Reynolds Stratus Clinchers but with the Ksyriums it's crazy tight. I like the look of yours. Mine (and one of the clearance is here - http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f314/ ... G_5808.jpg and http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f314/ ... G_5490.jpg

    Thanks for your pic and info. Wonder why the difference?

    Back onto the original thread - I upgraded from a Cannondale. Very glad I did.
  • simon johnson
    simon johnson Posts: 1,064
    I went from a Condor Italia to an Omega Helix, I bought my Omega second-hand, I paid œ1200 with Record, it did come with some wheels that weren't to my liking so I got some mavic OPs on Record hubs but managed to sell the unwanted wheels for œ130 anyway. The difference was (and still is) incredible, since having it I have not even fantasised about getting a different bike, it's really comfortable but doesn't seem to lose any power when you stamp the foot down. Not to mention the fact that titanium doesn't corrode and is very strong, so should last a while.
    Where\'s me jumper?
  • Sam Cycling
    Sam Cycling Posts: 21
    I have visited Burls and seen and ridden his steel and titanium bikes.The quality is excellent as you would expect from Russian titanium expert titanium frame builders.
    although Mark Riley works for enigma, enigma frames are quite different to Burls frames. they are built from different materials by different frame builders in a different part of the world.
    if you want something like the original Omega, i recommend you contact www.burls.co.uk

    _____________________________________________________________________________________________

    Sam Cycling Ltd
    _____________________________________________________________________________________________

    www.samcycling.com
  • Phil Scp
    Phil Scp Posts: 2,525
    I went from an aluminium Specialized to an Omega Alchemy. There was a big difference in the ride quality and comfort, and although I am looking at getting a carbon frame now as I have been offered something very good, I am in two minds. The Omega rides great.
  • Ki
    Ki Posts: 14
    I've got a Enigma Effusion with Enigma forks and headset, just everything about it is spot-on. The quality of finish and ride is superb . I've ridden titanium for the past 14yrs (Dyna-Tech fs900) and wouldn't change for any other material...... Columbus steel Nago possibly the exception.
  • Ki
    Ki Posts: 14
    I've got a Enigma Effusion with Enigma forks and headset, just everything about it is spot-on. The quality of finish and ride is superb [8D]. I've ridden titanium for the past 14yrs (Dyna-Tech fs900) and wouldn't change for any other material...... Columbus steel Nago possibly the exception.[:p]
  • Ki
    Ki Posts: 14
    I've got a Enigma Effusion with Enigma forks and headset, just everything about it is spot-on. The quality of finish and ride is superb [8D]. I've ridden titanium for the past 14yrs (Dyna-Tech fs900) and wouldn't change for any other material...... Columbus steel Nago possibly the exception.[:p]
  • Phil Scp
    Phil Scp Posts: 2,525
    Wow, so good you said it three times
  • enigmajim
    enigmajim Posts: 32
    I've followed this thread with interest and I feel I must comment. Several have mentioned that another company supplies frames sourced from the same factory that built the Omega frames. This in itself means very little. What made the Omega frames so great was Mark Reilly's design, not where the frames were manufactured. In addition the Omega frames were all hand finished in the UK. They did not arrive here in the UK in the finished state. Here at Enigma we had the opportunity to use the original Russian manufacturer but rejected them in favour of our chosen partner whose work is of a much higher standard and quality. This coupled with Mark's design and the use of higher quality materials means that our frames are superior in every way to those of the Omega Company but with no additional cost.

    Many people questioned my wisdom in the hiring of Mark after the Omega collapse, but it was precisely for the reason of the design skills that he demonstrated to such brilliant effect with Omega. It was a "no-brainer" decision and well worth all the associated aggravation that I have had to deal with. The design of a frame is of paramount importance to its handling, comfort and performance. Anybody can set themselves up in business buying off-the-peg frames in titanium or any other material. However good design makes the difference between an average frame and a great one.

    Jim Walker
    Enigma Titanium Ltd
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    What is this arcane design skill that Mark Reilly commands?

    Is he <i>really</i> a better bike designer than, say, Mike Burrows? Because MB reckoned that three sizes of TCR would fit 90% of riders, and thousands of happy customers agreed with him...
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    I doubt it going by a friend of mine who recently had to return his Enigma Etape because of his seatpost continually slipping. Great design skills going on there.

    SIZE IS EVERYTHING! or at least that's what my LBS tells me.
  • enigmajim
    enigmajim Posts: 32
    Very few people got "ripped off". I set aside tens of thousands of pounds to help those who stood to loose money and it's really sad that so many people are ignorant of the facts. All who wanted help received it and most lost little or nothing as a result. Some didn't want to be helped and this was their choice and is understandale. However I really don't want this all to start again. I was just trying to make the point that a frame will not necessarily be the same just because it comes from the same manufacturer. I think I should have kept my mouth shut! Happy days.

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