Titanium Frame Brands

turkeytickler
turkeytickler Posts: 640
edited May 2009 in Road buying advice
Hi all

My trusty Bianchi 1885 is nearing 5 years old so time to starting thinking about the next frame - I just cant get into carbon frames and am thinking about a nice titanium jobbie...

The Bianchi Matta S9 is a thing of true beauty but I dont think the budget will stretch. Other brands I have looked at are Van Nicolas, Enigma, and Litespeed...

Are there other brands I should be investigating... looking to spend about a grand... want to use it for club rides, the occasional race etc.... hate sportives :? ....
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Comments

  • lfcquin
    lfcquin Posts: 470
    turkeytickler wrote:
    Hi all

    My trusty Bianchi 1885 is nearing 5 years old so time to starting thinking about the next frame - I just cant get into carbon frames and am thinking about a nice titanium jobbie...

    The Bianchi Matta S9 is a thing of true beauty but I dont think the budget will stretch. Other brands I have looked at are Van Nicolas, Enigma, and Litespeed...

    Are there other brands I should be investigating... looking to spend about a grand... want to use it for club rides, the occasional race etc.... hate sportives :? ....

    Sabbath do excellent Titanium frames. I got myself a Monday's Child last year which is just brilliant. Their Silk Road frames are £999 and if you check out www.cycleswag.co.uk (Which is also a Sabbath website) then they have a special offer of frame, fork and headset for £999.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    I'm looking at getting a Ti frame for my winter / training bike, these are the ones that caught my eye in the c. 1100 quid range -

    Sabbath http://www.sundaybicycles.co.uk/

    Planet X http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Frames_23.html

    Lynskey (the Cooper, love the funky rear dropouts) http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/News.aspx?NewsID=497

    Litespeed (the new Xicon, not yet available) http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/lynskey-and-litespeed-offer-lower-priced-titanium-frames-20673

    Enigma (I like the Esprit because I prefer the look of standard geometry) http://www.enigmabikes.com/

    There is also Van Nicholas, some club members have them and are rather fond. http://vannicholas.com/

    Fat Birds have the Sabbath September (which is MGC and Rack compatible) and the Silk Road, both for £899 for frame, forks and headset. The Litespeed and Lynskeys are supposedly their 'budget' models however it looks like the Xicon, when realeased, will still be £1700, despite initially being listed as about $1600!!!
    I think it will be the Sabbath Silk Road Pro for me...
  • billy whippet
    billy whippet Posts: 171
    also Burls, and Condor

    I'm looking at getting a Burls
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Them Burls look nice...
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Or check out XACD as well.
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    The VN Euros is a strong candidate for a good value, attractive ti frame, and can be had for <£800. Makes the £1200 frames look a tad expensive.

    see bikeplus and fatbirds (£760 inc fork and headset)

    http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sk ... Road_Frame
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    cougie wrote:
    Or check out XACD as well.

    :shock: how much!?!

    Crikey - if the geometry and build quality are there then that is pretty damn good!
  • ronthechef
    ronthechef Posts: 943
    I have a XACD done 150kms of the Surrey hills today on it, I love this bike, see my old blog for details,,,, might be more now the pound is so weak

    http://ronniethescot.blogspot.com/2007/ ... -bike.html
    http://ronniethescot.blogspot.com/

    http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZronniethescotQQhtZ-1
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Looks like a great build there Ron!

    Reading in to it, when they say custom, they mean custom! Blimey, you can specify anything, tube thickness, diameter, geometry... I wouldn't know where to start but sounds like a fantastic service at an amazing price!
  • ronthechef
    ronthechef Posts: 943
    To be honest I pretty much copied the geometry of a 56cm specialized roubaix, But got all the bosses and bits added, If I done it again, The only thing I would change is the front mech hanger, Mine is a couple of MM high for a compact set up, but fine with a 53 ring, I would just go for a band on next time. I have given mine a kicking, cyclo-cross, touring, and plenty of wet winter training miles done around 10 000kms and it still looks like new.
    http://ronniethescot.blogspot.com/

    http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZronniethescotQQhtZ-1
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    NapoleonD wrote:
    Looks like a great build there Ron!

    Reading in to it, when they say custom, they mean custom! Blimey, you can specify anything, tube thickness, diameter, geometry... I wouldn't know where to start but sounds like a fantastic service at an amazing price!

    It's fine ordering from XACD if you know exactly what you want, completely custom by all respects.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    As said, XACD are good value if you know what you want - but also be prepared for the high shipping costs and the fact you have no warranty. You also need a good eye for detail, but quality is good and I've never heard of anyone having problems. The Planet-X Lynskey is nice looking too - they were doing a BOGOF recently, buy a ti and get a carbon frame free!
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    I made a mistake today!

    I went to see the Sabbath HQ.

    Whoops.

    I'll be speaking to the bank later to check my slush fund...

    Nice guys, nice bikes, nice prices.
  • turkeytickler
    turkeytickler Posts: 640
    Thanks for the the really helpful replies everyone....

    So far I have my eye on the Enigma Esprit - I have to agree with NapoleonD about the traditional geometry - I'm not keen on sloping TTs ....

    Looks like i need to start ebaying a few more bits out of the shed!
  • greg roche
    greg roche Posts: 124
    You neeeeed a Silk Road Pro, turkeytickler....
  • lfcquin
    lfcquin Posts: 470
    greg roche wrote:
    You neeeeed a Silk Road Pro, turkeytickler....

    You suprise me Greg, you being so objective and all... :lol:

    I do agree though. Turkeytickler needs a Silk Road Pro. Turkeytickler - do not buy your bike without at least test riding a Sabbath!

    I have learned something important these last few weeks about my Monday's Child. It's a great bike and I love it, but now I have raced on it I have to say it is unbelievably good! So much power and accelaration. Just love it! :D
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    I'm going to bagsy my silk road pro tomorrow :D
  • wjws
    wjws Posts: 140
    And if you do send Greg an email, or better still call him on the phone, and tell him what you are looking for, he may, if you are very lucky, have a deal for you...

    Although, given the time of year, that may just be pushing it a little!

    My Monday's Child is awesome,
  • turkeytickler
    turkeytickler Posts: 640
    lfcquin wrote:
    greg roche wrote:
    You neeeeed a Silk Road Pro, turkeytickler....

    You suprise me Greg, you being so objective and all... :lol:

    I do agree though. Turkeytickler needs a Silk Road Pro. Turkeytickler - do not buy your bike without at least test riding a Sabbath!

    I have learned something important these last few weeks about my Monday's Child. It's a great bike and I love it, but now I have raced on it I have to say it is unbelievably good! So much power and accelaration. Just love it! :D

    well guys - since you put it so strongly - ther must be some substance to what you say - will do just that - thanks for the advice (ps think they look the mutts nuts too :-))
  • HonestAl
    HonestAl Posts: 406
    Suppose I should throw the suggestion of a Planet X frame (or indeed bike) in, I've got this
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12618593

    can get the frame only for just under 1100 quid, it's built by Lynskeys and it's ace IMO (but then I'm biased)
    "The only absolute statement is that everything is relative" - anon
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    So far I have my eye on the Enigma Esprit - I have to agree with NapoleonD about the traditional geometry - I'm not keen on sloping TTs ....
    If you go for the custom option from Enigma (a bit more expensive but not much) you can choose the geometry, so I think you could have one of the other models with a straight TT. I've actually done it the other way around and have the Esprit with a slightly sloping top tube, but that's just me... It's a brilliant bike! I've had it nearly 2 years now and am still besotted with it.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    After all my deliberating I have just paid a deposit on a litespeed... Now the excitement begins!
  • turkeytickler
    turkeytickler Posts: 640
    NapoleonD wrote:
    After all my deliberating I have just paid a deposit on a litespeed... Now the excitement begins!
    nice... im set on an enigma.... now i have to work on mrs tt.... :?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Aaah, mrs napd has no idea. If she googles my bikes and hifi, I'm dead.
  • Van Nick
    Van Nick Posts: 68
    NapoleonD wrote:
    After all my deliberating I have just paid a deposit on a litespeed... Now the excitement begins!

    Have you seen the famous "strong as cardboard" thread about Litespeed ?

    See http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... =cardboard
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Yep.

    What bike do you ride Van Nick?
  • Van Nick
    Van Nick Posts: 68
    NapoleonD wrote:
    Yep.

    What bike do you ride Van Nick?

    Hi Napolean,

    Despite my username, I currently ride an old 1980's Peugeot road bike which really has come to the end of its useful life, after many thousands of miles. I've had a good year of IT contracting this year, so I'm determined to treat myself to something a bit special - most probably in titanium.

    After an awful lot of deliberation, I think I've narrowed my choice down to an Enigma Etape, as Cycling Plus gave it a wonderful review, it's similar to a road bike, but with the versatility of better clearances for slightly wider tyres (if needed) and the ability to fit a Tubus Flyrack for a bit of light touring.

    Still deliberating at the moment, and open to suggestions, but that's top of my list.

    The Esprit is nice with the "non sloping" top tube but it's out of my budget unfortunately.
  • Van Nick
    Van Nick Posts: 68
    turkeytickler wrote:
    NapoleonD wrote:
    After all my deliberating I have just paid a deposit on a litespeed... Now the excitement begins!
    nice... im set on an enigma.... now i have to work on mrs tt.... :?

    Hi TT,

    Have you actually seen an Enigma bike ?

    Unfortunately there are no dealers anywhere near me and I'd be interested to hear your opinion if you've seen oe or test ridden one.

    I'm thinking of just ordering one without having seen or tried it first, which is probably a bit risky, but I can always return it under the distance selling rules.

    I also noticed that Cyclos Uno are offering a 2009 Etape frame for £998.

    http://www.ciclosuno.com/node/299?sort= ... escription
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Van Nick, One of the reasons I went for Litespeed was that my LBS does them and I can try them, get good support etc...

    Have you considered steel again or is it a defo on the ti?

    I know it's a bind but it may be worth travelling to an enigma dealer within a couple of hours from you and trying one out for size.
  • Van Nick
    Van Nick Posts: 68
    NapoleonD wrote:
    Van Nick, One of the reasons I went for Litespeed was that my LBS does them and I can try them, get good support etc...

    Have you considered steel again or is it a defo on the ti?

    I know it's a bind but it may be worth travelling to an enigma dealer within a couple of hours from you and trying one out for size.

    Hi NapoleanD,

    No, funnily enough I hadn't considered steel again. I really am sold on the idea of titanium, even though I've never seen one. It's the longevity and durability and the fact that you don't need to worry about paint chips with titanium that appeals to me.

    I'm still not sure about the Etape and wonder if it might be a bit too "toury", despite Cycling Plus saying "we would gladly ditch the mudguards and place it on the start line of any road race or criterium". They may have been exaggerating a bit.

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