Steel or Titanium

Jellylegs1968

To celebrate emerging from my divorce with my sanity intact, i'm planning a new bike and i want to get something lwith a bit of character as i've had a couple of carbon bikes.

So i'm umming and ahhing over either steel or titanium. I'm probably going to go for something like enigma or indy fab.

What do people reckon, is Ti worth the extra?

mrushton

yes and no! Ti is corrosion proof but steel esp.high end like Niobium or 953 have their own qualities. I 've had both and I like Ti but my current steel bike (not a v.high end tubeset) is v.comfortable. Both those companies will advise you about the relative merits of each material

daviesee

I went with steel as it meant I could get the bike I always wanted :P

Now i have it though, as it is so nice I am reluctant to ride it through the mush in winter so I need a second bike. Still no regrets.

Ultimately I will probably end up with a Ti bike eventually anyway so it depends on if you only want the one bike.

I will end up with two. A summer racer and a winter bike capable of full guards and fitted with lights etc, etc.

Hoopdriver

The people at Enigma are great. They are friendly, enthusiastic and really know their stuff as regards steel vs titanium (they make both kinds of frames) and if you go down there will let you try out the different bikes. It's really line ball in terms of ride and handling - both titanium and the high end Columbus and Reynolds tubing framesets are superb. You can't really go wrong.

giant_man

I went to the Enigma open day a couple of weekends ago and tested ti bikes and steel. Have to say the 3/2.5 ti Etape was wonderful and the steel Extensor (Columbus XCR) absolutely fantastic! Wonderfully light and responsive. Also tested a 6/4 Excel which I didn't think much of ... it's such an individual thing.

It really comes down to what you want from a material and it feels TO YOU.

wicked

daviesee wrote:

I went with steel as it meant I could get the bike I always wanted :P

Now i have it though, as it is so nice I am reluctant to ride it through the mush in winter so I need a second bike. Still no regrets.

Ultimately I will probably end up with a Ti bike eventually anyway so it depends on if you only want the one bike.

I will end up with two. A summer racer and a winter bike capable of full guards and fitted with lights etc, etc.

Got any pics of the master?

maddog 2

it's personal prefernce, and build characteristics. Not all steel bikes ride the same and ditto for ti. Having said that, I'm a big fan of ti myself and that's what I ride.

Just about to take the plunge on a new ti mtb frame...

daviesee

wicked wrote:

Got any pics of the master?

Here you go....



Taken when new.

Since then replacements have been, white bar tape, Garmin 705 & Vittoria Pave's 8)
The bars have been dropped & steerer cut, plus the Campag stickers have peeled off.
I think the bare alloy looks better anyway :P

Buckled_Rims

Same dilemma I have However, I'm on a limited budget

So far it's between the 2011 Genesis Equilibrium or the Van Nicholas Mistral.

I just wish Genesis would give out more info when they'll be available, but the new EQ will have a 725 steel frame instead of a 520 for this years model. I want the moon on a stick and need it before the winter!

maddog 2

a mate is just about to get himself a Master daviesee 8)

TheStone

I've got a steel and Ti bike.

Not really fair to compare as the Ti frame was about 1700 and the steel one 500, but the
Ti is much more comfortable over longer rides.

wicked

daviesee wrote:

wicked wrote:

Got any pics of the master?

Here you go....



Taken when new.

Since then replacements have been, white bar tape, Garmin 705 & Vittoria Pave's 8)
The bars have been dropped & steerer cut, plus the Campag stickers have peeled off.
I think the bare alloy looks better anyway :P

8) as fuck
They are gorgeous aren't they. This could well be my next project, how have you found the paint quality? Have heard some complaints about the paint, bubbles then flaking.

waterford123

You might want to have a look at some of the Waterford range. I've had a Serotta legend in the past which I thought was the cats pyjamas, now I've got a waterford S3 and it's the best bike I've ever ridden.

sorneagle

Bought 5.1 Madone, cracked frame in 100miles. Trek was not going to cover, at first. NO, I did not damage it in any way/shape/form. Contacted Attorney General, BBB, and Trek. They came through for me. I did not want another CF. I went w/ Aluminium/Carbon. The Attorney Generals office did state they've had complaints on the Ti's. Beware of light weak frames. Don't listen to Trek brag about their "engineering", or great materal. NO, I'm not 50#. I'm 165, the Madone was a 56cm. Should have handled me! I've learned my lesson. Aluminium and Steel are real..

bigpikle

I went to Enigma a few months ago set on a ti frame. I rode several, including the XCR steel frame, ti and the Colombus tube frame, and ended up coming home with a steel framed machine. Each to their own but the steel just felt superb to ride IMHO.

jimwin

sorneagle wrote:

...... Aluminium and Steel are real..

And Ti Got both steel (853 Roberts) and Ti (Van Nic Yukon).

My pref - go for Ti. Pretty much indestructable so as long as the welding is good, it'll be "until death do us part".

But.. it also depends on the frame builder and your body, so try a few of the usual suspects for both 'off-the-peg' and custom options.

Good luck.

daviesee

wicked wrote:

8) as fark
They are gorgeous aren't they. This could well be my next project, how have you found the paint quality? Have heard some complaints about the paint, bubbles then flaking.

The paint is beautiful! I get comments everywhere I go. It was funny at the Caledonia Etape to watch people stroll past much more expensive bikes to look at mine 8) .
No bubbling or flaking here.
The downside, well, mine seems to chip fairly easily
Only down to the primer so nothing to worry about but it deserves to be kept looking pristine.
The trouble with such good paint is finding a match to touch up. Hours at Halfords custom paint section couldn't get it right. From a small distance it is okay but I know :evil:

Two years in and I am confident of it lasting till it's 10th anniversary at which point I am planning on sending it back for a refurb. I know others could refurb it but get the paint right? I don't know.
I rather like the idea of holding onto my "special" bike for decades to come :P

silverpigeon

What do people reckon, is Ti worth the extra?

IMO no. I have a Moots and was underwhelmed by it's performance. I don't mean it is bad, in fact it is a very nice bike I just don't see how it was worth the extra money I've ridden better Al, and carbon frames

If I was making the same choice again, I would go custom steel. A good paint job, some waxoyl and a bit of TLC means you won't have to worry about corrosion

flasher

I love my Ti bike, ride is sublime and no worries about stone chips etc. all you need is a brillo pad to keep it looking tip top

vorsprung

TheStone wrote:

I've got a steel and Ti bike.

Not really fair to compare as the Ti frame was about 1700 and the steel one 500, but the
Ti is much more comfortable over longer rides.

Same experience here.
Ti is just that bit more comfortable on long rides

Extralight

I've ridden both. Quality steel bikes ride so nicely, and steel bikes like the Colnago Master above look so cool - timeless and classic. Corrosion and damage to lovely paintjobs are perhaps the main drawback compared to Ti which, as already commented, really are bikes for life.
Both Ti and Steel frames can be built to deliver the ride quality you're looking for, whether that be stiff or compliant or somewhere in between.
I love my Merlin (Ti), and it looks and rides as good as new even though it's over 15 years old. One thing to bear in mind is that although a good quality Ti bike will last forever, bike styles and fashions will change. The conventional frame with horizontal top tube on mine does look dated now, but there's no way I could justify buying a new frame just because the pros ride bikes that look different when this is still good as new. Not a big deal, as me and my bike age gracefully together!

calvjones

I have both Ti (Airborne Carpe Diem) and Steel (Scapin Steel Special Columbus spirit)

They're quite different bikes - the Ti is light tourer/commuter with mudguards, the Scapin a proper old Skool racing bike. Weigh about the same for the frame; 1400g.

Scapin looks lovely, but yes paint chips very easily. Frankly, having swapped wheels about between them the difference in feel is about 50% wheelbase, 45% tyre width/choice and 5% material.

So I would decide based on
1) looks
2) how fastidious you are in looking after and cleaning your steeds.

Enigma will fit either to your geometry specs I'm sure.