Which Custom Ti Frame?

Rushie

So I'm thinking about taking the plunge and getting a frame built. It needs to be able to do everything from long sportives & centuries to TTs and crits. I'm a 41-year old Cat 4 so I'm not deluding myself that this bike will enable me to win anything - I just want something that'll do everything competently. I want Ti as I think it'll last longer than a carbon frame. And I want custom as I have stubby legs and a long torso so stock bikes never seem to fit. I know this is going to cost, but the sky sadly isn't the limit, so I'm having to rule out Serotta, Indy Fab and Seven. I'm thinking of one of the below:

Lynskey R230
Merlin Extralight
Litespeed Icon

The cost is pretty similar on all the above. Does anyone have any experience of these frames?

Thanks

Steve

softlad

Van Nicholas will also supply custom sizes as well, I think...

vertigoscene

I had a custom bike made by Sabbath last year, good bike and pretty good value for a custom Ti bike (£1800 all in)

giant_man

If you want custom ti, why on earth haven't you got Baum (could be too expensive in hindsight) in your list? And how about Enigma for someone closer to home.

A bit more defined than Litespeed(!) and Merlin are waaaay overpriced.

Monty Dog

FWIW Merlin and Litespeed are effectively the same company - they are both owned by ABG, built in the same factory and general opinion is that they are trading on previous reputations - Litespeed when they were owned by Lynskey and Merlin by Tom Kellog.

DubaiNeil

+1 for Enigma.

Prices not too bad for off the shelf and fixed rates for customisation if required.

Mine arrives this weekend I've gone for the Echo model with the Enigma fork, headset & seatpost.

Stem & handlebars will be Ritchey WCS, all Ultegra 6700 groupset, RS80 wheels & Charge Spoon Ti railed saddle. (will be, as in when assembled - parts are in my sweaty mitts already...)

Intended use is group ride & sportive type stuff rather than out and out racing...

I have had a go on a couple of examples here and they are fantastic - but no other brand to compare with TBH.

Feedback from Enigma in regards to frame design has been excellent, where they recommended an off the shelf frame rather than a custom spec, so (IMHO) not money grabbing gits

Lead time for custom is a touch too long for me, which swayed the final decision

Neil

owenlars

Another one for Enigma. The company is really sorted and if an off the shelf frame fits the bill (as they reckon it does for most people) they will tell you. I got an Eclipse with Chorus groupset trading extra frame money for better components. Go and talk to Jim Walker and Mark Reilly.

GyatsoLa

I got a steel bike (Ethos) from Enigma and I'm very satisfied with the company and what they did (although I believe they had a bit of a reputation in the past for not delivering to deadline) - I think if you want a true custom job with a non-standard geometry you might be better going steel as they make them locally rather than order them in.

Give the way the Euro is going down you might also want to think of some of the Italian custom builders, a lot of the big names have custom ti in their lineup.

owenlars

GyatsoLa wrote:

I (although I believe they had a bit of a reputation in the past for not delivering to deadline)

Previoius incarnation (Omega) no such problems with Enigma.

AidanR

I thought Enigma made their own titanium frames too?

Pork Sword

I wouldn't have a Lysnkey... used to have a Lynskey built Planet-x ti Sportive and wasn't that impresssed. I've a Airborne Lancer that rides a lot better see: Van Nicholas Euros custom build option.

I'd also give Justin Burls some serious consideration as I've dealt with him in the past and he offers a great service... you can get a custom ti frame from him for around £950 - £980.

verloren

Another vote for Enigma. They're currently building up the expertise to build their own frames in the UK, so while many of their stock ones come from the Far East (and nothing wrong with that, so far as I can see from my Eclipse), I believe their custom work is all done here. And the customer service is great.

greg roche

Hello,

hmmm we do custom versions of any of our base framesets at an extra £199 retail. We also offer full custom where we work with the customer to design their frameset from scratch. Naturally, the price for doing that largely depends where we go with tubeset selection, butting and treatment processes.

Process works on bike fit and drawing development. We usually quote 8 week lead time from drawing sign off. Actually manufacturing is ridiculously busy at the moment and with volcanoes and whatever else the world throws at us we're currently working on 10 weeks to be safe.

Greg

greg roche

Hello,

hmmm we do custom versions of any of our base framesets at an extra £199 retail. We also offer full custom where we work with the customer to design their frameset from scratch. Naturally, the price for doing that largely depends where we go with tubeset selection, butting and treatment processes.

Process works on bike fit and drawing development. We usually quote 8 week lead time from drawing sign off. Actually manufacturing is ridiculously busy at the moment and with volcanoes and whatever else the world throws at us we're currently working on 10 weeks to be safe.

Greg

giant_man

Monty Dog wrote:

FWIW Merlin and Litespeed are effectively the same company - they are both owned by ABG, built in the same factory and general opinion is that they are trading on previous reputations - Litespeed when they were owned by Lynskey and Merlin by Tom Kellog.

Trading on previous reputations - +1 - yes I totally agree. Happening a lot nowadays.

Referring to the OP's quandary - I would have a word with Enigma re their custom frames. Probably best bet I reckon.

Van Nick

How about the Enigma Etape ?

It will even take rack and mudguards.

DubaiNeil

As shallow as I am (think rapidly evaporating puddle...) I was actually put off the Etape because it takes mudguards and a rack :roll:

In my defense I do live in a part of the world where air conditioning would be more beneficial....

Neil

(todays high, just a sultry 40 degrees C, and summer isn't here yet....)

Van Nick

Hi DubaiNeil,

That's very interesting that you should say that, because I'm currently deciding between the Etape and Echo and I just wondered if the ability to take rack and mudguards gives the Etape the perception of somehow being slower and less racey than the Echo.

If anyone knows how the Etape and Echo compare in terms of responsiveness and acceleration, I'd be very interested.

I like the idea that the Etape can take a wider tyre (28C without guards apparently) and the Cycling Plus review considered it to be one of the most versatile bikes around and they even went as far as to say that they would gladly place it on the start line of any race or criterium.

Bamford

Hi Neil,

I'm in a very similar situation, and I've more or less decided that the Enigma Etape is the one for me.

I'd be interested to know why you were put off the Etape because it can take a rack and gurads.

Was there any other reason why you chose the Echo instead of the Etape ?

Unfortunately, I'm not able to see either model before I order, as there are no dealers anywhere near me.

Bamford

DubaiNeil wrote:

Mine arrives this weekend I've gone for the Echo model with the Enigma fork, headset & seatpost.
Neil

Hi Neil,

Just wondered if you got your Enigma Echo yet and if so, what are your first impressions ?

Have you taken it for a decent ride yet ?

Was there any particular reason why you discounted the Etape, as that is the model that i am currently considering ?