Turn Ugly into Beautiful => Enigma 7.5kg S/H Build
ajmitchell
Posts: 203
Hi
At last years london bike show I was blown away by the smooth feel of the titanium bikes in the demonstrator section. So I set out to build my own low cost Ti, sourcing decent parts as cheap as possible. I think I have managed to turn a fairly ugly old enigma Etape (thats the touring frame) into a nice racing version. I found it hard to get a Ti frame that I liked for a low-ish price. I wanted a fully integrated headset. Having looked into Enigma for some time the Etape seems exactly the same as the more popular Echo frame but with mud-guard eyes. So I went for this S/H. I notice planet-X have a couple of Ti frames on sale right now for about £800 I think.
Now the build is not totally finished as I put on stem and bars that I had lying around (in fact I had many of these parts like the 105 cranks in the shed). Most everything else was from the sales and from ebay. The bike is exactly 7.5kg right now as seen, a few upgrades (bars, stem, seatpost, forks) could see just over 7kg. Nothing was really expensive (IMHO) other than the wheelset which are awesome. Got the Reynolds 32T's in a sale for £1000 and they come with the Reynolds insurance scheme for 2 years so you can actually use them without worry. Oh yes, how about the ride? Smooth as silk, I am really amazed how nice it is to ride compared to my carbon bikes.
Comments and suggestions welcome. Alex
*Complete Build*
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c28/ajmitchell/Enigma_Feb12_1001600x1000.jpg
*Before Picture*
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c28/ajmitchell/Enigma_Feb12_before.jpg
*How It Was Done Pic*
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c28/ajmitchell/Enigma_Feb12_1001920.jpg
At last years london bike show I was blown away by the smooth feel of the titanium bikes in the demonstrator section. So I set out to build my own low cost Ti, sourcing decent parts as cheap as possible. I think I have managed to turn a fairly ugly old enigma Etape (thats the touring frame) into a nice racing version. I found it hard to get a Ti frame that I liked for a low-ish price. I wanted a fully integrated headset. Having looked into Enigma for some time the Etape seems exactly the same as the more popular Echo frame but with mud-guard eyes. So I went for this S/H. I notice planet-X have a couple of Ti frames on sale right now for about £800 I think.
Now the build is not totally finished as I put on stem and bars that I had lying around (in fact I had many of these parts like the 105 cranks in the shed). Most everything else was from the sales and from ebay. The bike is exactly 7.5kg right now as seen, a few upgrades (bars, stem, seatpost, forks) could see just over 7kg. Nothing was really expensive (IMHO) other than the wheelset which are awesome. Got the Reynolds 32T's in a sale for £1000 and they come with the Reynolds insurance scheme for 2 years so you can actually use them without worry. Oh yes, how about the ride? Smooth as silk, I am really amazed how nice it is to ride compared to my carbon bikes.
Comments and suggestions welcome. Alex
*Complete Build*
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c28/ajmitchell/Enigma_Feb12_1001600x1000.jpg
*Before Picture*
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c28/ajmitchell/Enigma_Feb12_before.jpg
*How It Was Done Pic*
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c28/ajmitchell/Enigma_Feb12_1001920.jpg
0
Comments
-
Really nice bike. Love those frames. If you could only keep one bike, would it be this or one of your carbon ones?0
-
No contest, it has to be this one! Before this I was riding my Felt F4 (2010). I was a great looking bike but a but too firm on the road. I guess if you were racing, then a firm sometimes jarring ride would be tolerable in order to get the lowest weight and theoretically the fastest time. But for everyone else I think Ti is a nicer ride. Trouble is Ti remains expensive. I'd love to get the Van Nicholas Aquilo, thats my ideal bike right now, but its too expensive for me. This is a bike I built up to use, not just to look at
0 -
Was considering a build of one of these after looking at them at Windmill Wheels near where I live, However I was put off as all the custom builds they do seemed to be for blokes with beards and carradice saddle bags, so I thought I d go for an echo instead.
Yours has inspired me to look again at the etape, after all I do do a bit of lightweight touring and I ve always fancied a beard, dont know if I could stretch to a wheelset that spangly though.
I would take a similiar approach as you, moving a 105 groupset, a spesh Pave Sl seatpost and some easton bars stem and forks across from another bike and adding some Pro lite wheels I ve got.
Can you use standard drop calipers with mudgaurds on these or do you need long reach?0 -
I have a blinged etape you need short reach
Don't have a beard though !
regards
mrip0 -
Tim, as mentioned the standard brakes seem to fit fine. I am not convinced the Etape is anything more than simply an Echo frame in identical dimensions but with eyelets. There doesn't seem any weight penalty.
I went for 105 levers as the new 2011 105s (thats the 5700 I think) appears almost identical to the Ultegra's. I have the Ultegras on my old Felt F4 and I cannot tell much of a difference. The new 105's have the fully internal cable routing for a clean look.0 -
Looks like a 6600 rear mech rather than a 6700 - and I'm pretty sure you've had to buy 2 tyres there, not just one! But I like it. To be fair, that wheelset will improve the ride of everything, but apart from the gaudy chainring bolts you clearly have an eye for the aesthetic!0
-
tim wand wrote:However I was put off as all the custom builds they do seemed to be for blokes with beards and carradice saddle bags, so I thought I d go for an echo instead.
I have an Etape (standard frame / custom paint)
I have a beard
And I have carradice saddle bags (highly recommended btw)
Do not let me put you off getting an etape. Great bike (I also have 105 on mine with handbuilt wheels from Strada with PMP hubs/ A23 wide rims).0 -
really like this bike, only thing I would change would be to put on a black short cage 105 rear mech0
-
thanks for all the suggestions, I have some upgrades planned for later this month, as I have found the stem too short. might as well upgrade the bars at the same time, saved up for some nice 180g carbon ones.
I was mistaken about the Etape being the same frame as the Echo (with eyelets). The Etape has longer seatstays (for more clearance), a longer wheelbase, and a shallower headtube angle, and it weighs 70g more than the Echo. Found these details online (compare like for like in the 56cm)
Etape
Compact geometry 9 degree slope
Double butted EST tubeset
CNC 6AL4V machined integrated head tube
English threaded BB
27.2mm seat post size
32mm band on front changer
Maxed out clearances for short reach brakes
Fittings for guards and rack
Bright brushed finish as standard
Weight from 1330 grams
Etape Geometry
Frame size Seat tube Top tube Head angle Seat angle Head tube Chain stays B.B height Fork offset
56 | 51 | 56 | 72 | 73 | 15.5 | 42.5 | 26.5 | 4.5
Echo
Compact geometry 9 degree slope
Double butted EST tubeset
CNC 6AL4V machined integrated head tube
English threaded BB
31.6mm seat post size
35mm band on front changer
Bright brushed finish as standard
Weight from 1250 grams
Echo Geometry
Frame size Seat tube Top tube Head angle Seat angle Head tube Chain stays B.B height Fork offset
56 | 51 | 56 | 73 | 73 | 16.5 | 40.9 | 26.5 | 4.30 -
also I see that the Etape forks are heavier
Enigma Etape Forks
520 grams
1 1/8" steerer
Suits integrated and traditional headsets
45mm rake
Mudgaurd eyes and clearance
Enigma Electron Forks (echo)
K3 Carbon Monocoque fork
300mm Steerer
43mm fork rake
385 grams0 -
Love this bike!0
-
Really like what you've done there!
I think I'm going to give my carbon frame one more year...save a few £££ and move to a Ti frame for 2013...0
