953 vs Titanium

ellieb
ellieb Posts: 436
edited March 2009 in Road buying advice
Having searched through previous threads: I still don't seem to have seen anyone answer this one adaquately. Why would you choose 953 steel over tiatnium?

Comments

  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    I would however go for titanium every time mainly for the fact it wont rust away.
    The latest steel tube sets are so thin and that would worry me.Any moisture inside the frame could corrode it in no time.Unless 953 is stainless which I have a feeling it may be this wouldn't be an issue.
    Even so I would still buy Ti.
  • synchronicity
    synchronicity Posts: 1,415
    I suppose you'd choose it over Titanium if you are a hard core member of the "steel is real" crowd.

    IMHO, it all depends with what decade you were born in and how you cope with change. You see, people are either stuck in the past, present or future. That tends to sway your decision a lot. If you can't stand modern carbon bikes but still want to buy an expensive new bike, you'll likely buy 953. Some people just want to prove that it can be done.

    Strangely enough, due to the high price, 953 is more exclusive than just about any other frame material (probably with the exception of Magnesium, bamboo or boron).

    I've already got a 15 year old chromoly bike. For the same money, I would rather have Titanium. If only because it's practically immune to corrosion. Although I have only ridden a Ti bike a few minutes so I can't tell you about the ride characteristics.
    vertebr.ae | precision braking & shifting
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I think you'd want to ride both materials - some people dont like the way Ti rides.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    I was gonna say, it's all in the ride. Corrosion or not that would make the deal for me. I haven't ridden 953 or titanium, but whatever gave me the better ride would be my choice.
  • crankycrank
    crankycrank Posts: 1,830
    I can't answer your question but try posting here in the Bike Forums- Frame Builders section as well. http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=229
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Both are corrosion resitant - 953 has a high chromium content. 953 frames aren't too common - you probably have to go custom and the prices are approaching mid-range titanium. It therefore comes down to what you need and how well you get on with the builder. I saw a 953 in Brian Rourke's a while back - the quality of construction was very good.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Steelride
    Steelride Posts: 89
    I'm fortunate enough to have carbon, ti and 953. Easy answer, in my view - 953. It is stainless btw.

    Ride a titanium and 953 back to back, you'll soon make a decision.

    Steelride.
  • dbb
    dbb Posts: 323
    so what are the difference?
    what would i notice between the two when i ride them back to back? (assuming i don't get the chance to do this)
    regards,
    dbb
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    And which one would give a carbon-like ride over the other?
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    giant mancp wrote:
    And which one would give a carbon-like ride over the other?

    neither, I suspect...

    best material for a carbon-like ride would be, er, carbon....
  • eh
    eh Posts: 4,854
    Well I wouldn't get 953, I wouldn't even choose it over 853 or more likely something from Columbus. What advantages does 953 have, it doesn't rust? Well it won't in a orange rusty kind of way but it can still corrode if left in the wrong conditions, i.e. left wet with salt around. So if you are still going to have to look after it why not save the money and get a standard steel that equally won't rust if looked after correctly.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    softlad wrote:
    giant mancp wrote:
    And which one would give a carbon-like ride over the other?

    neither, I suspect...

    best material for a carbon-like ride would be, er, carbon....

    Yeah well you know I have always had carbon and alu, never experienced steel or ti.

    Like the sound of both materials but as I said, for me it's all in the ride.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    953 seems v pricey at the moment unless its come down. You can get a cheap TI frame from China for half the cost.
  • Steelride
    Steelride Posts: 89
    The usual "which frame material is best?" debate. :)

    I suppose it depends on what you want the bike for. Is it your only bike?

    My carbon frame is very rigid and a little buzzy so its a relief to get on the ti sometimes for a softer ride. The 953 is more rigid than my ti frame and nearly as rigid as the carbon, but the 953 can be ridden all day. The ride quality is amazing. The advantage 953 has is that its light too.

    Hope this helps.
  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    cougie wrote:
    953 seems v pricey at the moment unless its come down. You can get a cheap TI frame from China for half the cost.
    That says it all though. It will be a cheap frame. Most materials can be made up into a good frame, but they can also be built into something that superficially looks the part, but doesn't deliver.I think this is probably the case with some of the cheaper carbon frames. The quality of construction and design are more important than the material.
    I could have had a titanium frame for the same price as the new Columbus Life steel frame I'm collecting from Paul Hewitt on Thursday. However I know I'll have a well built frame that was designed and built just for me. It might be a few grammes heavier than something in titanium or carbon, but not enough to make a significant difference even on steep hills.
    http://lakescyclist.wordpress.com/
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    You've gone for a hewitt badged frame Nickwill?
  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    giant mancp wrote:
    You've gone for a hewitt badged frame Nickwill?

    Yes, it was built by Paul's resident framebuilder at the shop. My other bike was also a Hewitt made to measure frame, although at that stage the actual framebuilding was contracted out. It has been a great servant and has carried me on some marvellous rides in the UK and the continent. I fancied something a bit lighter, shinier and newer though, so the older one will become my winter bike.
    I will be boring everyone with pictures of the new bike after Thursday.
    http://lakescyclist.wordpress.com/
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    On the contrary; love to see it. Was at Paul's shop back in december for a measuring and a a wheel rebuild, good man.
  • tenor
    tenor Posts: 278
    I prefer the feel of steel over Ti.
    I also like a bit of colour so a painted frame is good.
    Painted steel frames last eons and if you get tired of the colour; change it and it is like having a new bike!
    The only real advantage of 953 over other high performance steels (Columbus Spirit / Deda 16.5 OEM, etc) is that, being stainless, it does not need painting. Is that such a big deal?
    It is very hard to exploit the higher tensile strentgh of 953 in a real frame design as the thin walls remain vulnerable to buckling, and a frame weight of between 1400 - 1500 grams reamains about the practical minimum for a 55 / 57cm steel frame). This is about the same as a plain gauge Ti frame.
    Better to get a painted steel frame in Spirit and spend the money saved on a lovely pair of wheels - now that will really make a difference to the ride...
  • Ken Night
    Ken Night Posts: 2,005
    Nickwill wrote:
    [.....................
    I could have had a titanium frame for the same price as the new Columbus Life steel frame I'm collecting from Paul Hewitt on Thursday. However I know I'll have a well built frame that was designed and built just for me. It might be a few grammes heavier than something in titanium or carbon, but not enough to make a significant difference even on steep hills.

    I look forward to seeing this on a sportive sometime this year Nick-are you riding FWC?

    How did you come to choose Life over 853 or EOM-not a trick question, but genuinely interested as I'm planning a made to measure frame

    Have you had the frame weighed?

    What forks?

    Feel free to pm me as I don't want to hijack the OP's thread
    “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best..." Ernest Hemingway
  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    Ken Night wrote:
    Nickwill wrote:
    [.....................
    I could have had a titanium frame for the same price as the new Columbus Life steel frame I'm collecting from Paul Hewitt on Thursday. However I know I'll have a well built frame that was designed and built just for me. It might be a few grammes heavier than something in titanium or carbon, but not enough to make a significant difference even on steep hills.

    I look forward to seeing this on a sportive sometime this year Nick-are you riding FWC?

    How did you come to choose Life over 853 or EOM-not a trick question, but genuinely interested as I'm planning a made to measure frame

    Have you had the frame weighed?

    What forks?

    Feel free to pm me as I don't want to hijack the OP's thread

    I've pmd you! Apologies to the original poster for hijacking your thread! :oops:
    http://lakescyclist.wordpress.com/
  • synchronicity
    synchronicity Posts: 1,415
    Check out the baum 953 frame midway down this page.

    Supposedly it's going to weigh 980g. :shock: :shock: :shock:
    vertebr.ae | precision braking & shifting
  • Ken Night
    Ken Night Posts: 2,005
    synchronicity wrote:
    Check out the baum 953 frame midway down this page.

    Supposedly it's going to weigh 980g. :shock: :shock: :shock:

    I wish I hadn't looked at that thread....... :roll:
    “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best..." Ernest Hemingway
  • synchronicity
    synchronicity Posts: 1,415
    Why? Do you want one now? :lol:
    (sorry)
    vertebr.ae | precision braking & shifting
  • Ken Night
    Ken Night Posts: 2,005
    It wasn't just the Baum......
    “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best..." Ernest Hemingway

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