Thorn Audax Mk3 Frame & Fork package
Hi,
just seen ad in CTC mag, Thorn Audax Mk 3 is being made available as a Frame and fork package at £299 (£399 with carbon fork and steel fork).
Seems like a great price for a good quality frame albeit mass manufactured in Taiwan.
I am thinking of going for it and building up initially with basic kit to be a fast tourer/commuter.
Any comments from anyone with experience of the Audax 853 or anyone else considered this Mk3 model.
Thanks for any input.
Eoin Gombeen
just seen ad in CTC mag, Thorn Audax Mk 3 is being made available as a Frame and fork package at £299 (£399 with carbon fork and steel fork).
Seems like a great price for a good quality frame albeit mass manufactured in Taiwan.
I am thinking of going for it and building up initially with basic kit to be a fast tourer/commuter.
Any comments from anyone with experience of the Audax 853 or anyone else considered this Mk3 model.
Thanks for any input.
Eoin Gombeen
Grumpy old Celt & slack tourist
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Comments
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I humbly submit that the price is way too high. I know Thorn are not a big shop, but the price is steep!
The cheapest Bob Jacksons are around 300 pounds, and those are hand built with lugs and Reynolds tubing in the UK. There is nothing wrong with made in Taiwan frames. They certainly know how to TIG weld. But the whole reason to go to Taiwan is to take advantage of the low labour costs. If those savings are not passed on, what's the point?
Lee Cooper cycles, if I recall this right, used to build for Thorn as LA cycles. www.leecoopercycles.com, starting at 450 pounds.
If you want a cheaper frame, there is an Iceni frame that goes for around 200 pounds. I think Byercycles have them..
http://www.byercycles.co.uk/bikeprice_0 ... 06/02.html
David0 -
Hi,
I have an 853 Cyclosportif frame bought around 2 years ago. While clearly a different bike the quality is great and the ride superb.
The service from SJS Cycles was also excellent, there was a slight delay in the frame coming back from the paint shop and the way they handled it and kept me informed was exemplary. I can't recommend Ross and the other staff highly enough.
I would personally be happy to pay that bit extra and buy safe in the knowledge that I know things probably won't go wrong and if they do they'll be sorted out. They were happy to offer any advice I needed in terms of matching up components, even though I didn't buy them from SJS (most I had already).
Hope this helps.0 -
Cheeky and Acorn_user, thanks for these thoughtful replies.
Cheeky, glad to hear of the good service from SJS, how did you find frame-sizing ? The size chart I have been sent for the Mk3 is a bit off - looks like the top tube is sharply sloping (there is no picture, I am just inferring from the dimensions). Have heard before that the Thorn bikes tend to be a bit 'different' in terms of shape etc - did this cause any issues ?
Kind Regards
Eoin GOMbeen.Grumpy old Celt & slack tourist0 -
The fitting was surprisingly non technical with the guy who saw me (I actually wnet down there) looking more at standover height than anything else. This did end up with a good fit for the frame though with only a slightly shorter setm being needed once I had built it up (which SJS again changed foc for a shorter one, they actually sent the new one out before I had returned the original, and this was one of their £50 carbon jobs not a £15 alloy one, very impressive service).
The cyclo does have a sloping top tube, but I'd say it was just slightly on the compact side of semi sloping; I think it looks great, not too grey beardy for a "touring bike"!!!!!
There were no real issues with the fit other than with hindsight perhaps I coulddl have goen for one of the shorter top tube frames, but this wasn't really an issue as I use the shorter stem with no handling problems (stem is 10cm now). The best bit was that I was able to spec my own paint finish which will give you a really individual bike.
I'd say get yourself down there and order it pdq, you won't be disappointed.
Piccie of mine if you're interested; http://www.flickr.com/photos/8098376@N02/1479040754/
Cheers
Cheeky0 -
I've also used Dick at Byercycles for a number of bits and pieces aswell as a frame and although he is really helpful for everyday stuff and always helps out local guys & gals with that odd bit you can't get anywhere else, I think you'll have more fun buying a frame at SJS, and isn't that what it's all about?
The Aravis frames do look good though when he's had them hanging up in the shop.0 -
Hi,
beaut bike, albeit looks a bit speedy for (my kind of) touring.
One issue I think is the Mk3 package doesn't come with a choice of colours - just blue or red.
Anyway, I agree about the fun part
Cheers
Eoin GOMBeenGrumpy old Celt & slack tourist0 -
I had a gander at the ad (in C+ if I recall right) and though the frame is made in Taiwan, the ad seems to suggest that the tubing is similar quality to 853 (which is BETTER than 631 if I'm correct, though I'm not as up on Reynolds tubing these days). If thats the case, then I'd say it really is a good price, though SJS can be pricey at times.
Jam butties, officially endorsed by the Diddymen Olympic Squad0 -
Not seen the ad.
853 is the top of Reynolds regular range. The only ones above it are 853 Pro Team (thinner walled) and 953 (stainless).
But, 631 or 727 would be good choices for an audax bike because they have thicker tubing walls, which means that they won't dent as easily.
It's hard to know what to make of the tubing claims for OEM tubes. Generally, I'd say "show me the sticker!".
Anyway, much ink has been spilt over tubing....
Of course, the custom option would give you the full range of colours0 -
bigflangesmallsprocket wrote:I had a gander at the ad (in C+ if I recall right) and though the frame is made in Taiwan, the ad seems to suggest that the tubing is similar quality to 853 (which is BETTER than 631 if I'm correct, though I'm not as up on Reynolds tubing these days). If thats the case, then I'd say it really is a good price, though SJS can be pricey at times.
I can't see any such suggestion, it's certainly not the case. The "858" in Thorns tubing refers to the butting rather than the alloy. Thats a very common thickness for lightweight 631 or 725 tubes. You'd expect the stronger Reynolds 853 to be thiner and lighter.
More details and photos of the MK3 are now on Thorns websits
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Thor ... -14217.htm0 -
acorn_user wrote:
The cheapest Bob Jacksons are around 300 pounds, and those are hand built with lugs and Reynolds tubing in the UK.
Good to hear that a bit of West Yorkshire has sterling support in USA acorn_user! It is a good shop, with good honest prices (and nope, I don't have a whippet or flat cap).
I see quite a lot of guys riding Bob Jackson frame sets (which is no surprise given my location) - framesets that were made well into last century, so they are built to last.0 -
Hehe,
I'm an Englishman in the US I always point out BJ when people ask about custom frames. Most US builders are on a small scale and cost $1600 or so...
I'm plotting to get a custom steel cross bike over the Christmas break!0