Ti 29er

Crayfish

Looking for some advice on potentially buying a Ti 29er. I have searched a fair bit and am just very confused now about the Ti offerings in the UK. Loads available in the US, but not so much here it seems. I'll probably be running it singlespeed, and rigid, and fancy trying out one of those truss forks too if I could find them here. Any advice on the best places to look?

DodgeT

Just had this through on email, might be of use.. http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FRTITFLL/titus_titanium_fileline_limited_edition_29er_frame?utm_source=The+Planet+X+and+On+One+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=ed6b5cc52b-backpockettuesday&utm_medium=email

Crayfish

DodgeT wrote:

Just had this through on email, might be of use.. http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FRTITFLL/titus_titanium_fileline_limited_edition_29er_frame?utm_source=The+Planet+X+and+On+One+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=ed6b5cc52b-backpockettuesday&utm_medium=email

Hmmm - thanks for the quick reply DodgeT, but I was really looking for a Frame that will allow me to run it SS I.e. horizontal drop outs or eccentric BB. Looks like a bargain though for those that want a Ti hard tail!

ddraver

I saw a beautiful Van Nichols Ti 29er in my Dutch LBS - no idea about the drop outs though but worth a look

God it was pretty!

warpcow

If you've done some research and found a few you like then it's just a matter of finding the distributors of those manufacturers in the UK. Even flicking through the backpages of the latest Dirt (not exactly a bastion of SS, 29er, truss-forked nichery) there are ads for shops that do Lynsky, Moots, etc. Jones are imported into Europe by one guy whose website is something like "yesweareontheinternet.com" (really). Then there are less niche brands like Van Nicholas and Salsa too.

Edit: why is the word f-l-i-c-k-i-n-g (spelled correctly, obviously) blanked?

Crayfish

I've done a bit of searching already and not found much, hence my post here. Will continue searching, but wondered if anyone had experience with buying a nice Ti frame / bike recently?

supersonic

This is probably not what you want to hear, but I'll add my thoughts to the discussion. I have recently tested 3 titanium hardtails (Moda Solo, Ragley Blue Pig Ti, Van Nicholas Tuareg) and I just don't think they are worth the money. I found carbon to be lighter, cheaper, and some of the ti frames to be very harsh.

Unless you have your heart set on one I'd look at carbon.

Crayfish

supersonic wrote:

This is probably not what you want to hear, but I'll add my thoughts to the discussion. I have recently tested 3 titanium hardtails (Moda Solo, Ragley Blue Pig Ti, Van Nicholas Tuareg) and I just don't think they are worth the money. I found carbon to be lighter, cheaper, and some of the ti frames to be very harsh.

Unless you have your heart set on one I'd look at carbon.

I definitely find carbon too stiff when running rigid. I have a Niner SIR9 (Reynolds 853 tubing) which gives me enough compliance when using a rigid fork and I love the ride, as long as I'm not doing big rock gardens or drops of more than 2 feet. I was looking for the same type of ride, but with a lighter frame, and thought Ti would do the job. if you're telling me this is not the case I need to re-think. perhaps some Ti tubing is better than others, just like steel?

supersonic

What differentiates tubing is the fabrication ie tube thicknesses and gauges. Steel, ti, alu, or carbon can all be made to be compliant or stiff. The difference with ti is that it costs a lot more.

Crayfish

supersonic wrote:

What differentiates tubing is the fabrication ie tube thicknesses and gauges. Steel, ti, alu, or carbon can all be made to be compliant or stiff. The difference with ti is that it costs a lot more.

But because Ti is stronger than steel the tubing can be made thinner than steel and therefore for the same compliance the Ti frame will be lighter.

Is there a good online supplier for a range of Ti frames?

ddraver

You re buying into a certain type of riding/bike if you buy Ti. Youre not making a decision based purely on performance

Same as buying a Steel Hardtail...

ride_whenever

I'm not sure I agree with that, I prefer the ride of my steel 456 to my carbon one, the carbon one just feels a lot harsher. That said I do like the weight of the carbon so am looking for a Ti frame as no one else makes a carbon long travel hardtail.

ddraver

ride_whenever wrote:

I'm not sure I agree with that, I prefer the ride of my steel 456 to my carbon one, the carbon one just feels a lot harsher. That said I do like the weight of the carbon so am looking for a Ti frame as no one else makes a carbon long travel hardtail.

Well OK, but if you were racing....

Same as the 29 vs 26 debate, what's fastest and what's fun.

miker

supersonic

Crayfish wrote:

supersonic wrote:

What differentiates tubing is the fabrication ie tube thicknesses and gauges. Steel, ti, alu, or carbon can all be made to be compliant or stiff. The difference with ti is that it costs a lot more.

But because Ti is stronger than steel the tubing can be made thinner than steel and therefore for the same compliance the Ti frame will be lighter.

Is there a good online supplier for a range of Ti frames?

Ti is not 'stronger' than steel - high end steels have higher ultimate tensile strength than any titanium. It does, however, have the advantage of been less dense with higher elongation figures. Typically though it can be made into lighter frames than steel, but alu and carbon can be a lot lighter still for a given amount of flex.

Crayfish

miker wrote:

Yeah - that's what I'm talkin' about! Who's the best retailer of these in the UK, and are they ever discounted??

Levi_501

Again, not what you want to hear; but when I looked in to Ti frames, I discovered there is (still) quite a high failure %.

Of the four common materials used, I have to say Ti would by my last choice.

Crayfish

Levi_501 wrote:

Again, not what you want to hear; but when I looked in to Ti frames, I discovered there is (still) quite a high failure %.

Really?? Can you quote your sources / provide links?

miker

http://www.hotlines-uk.com/Brands.aspx?BrandID=888

Hotlines are UK importers, not much discount unless you know someone in the US who can buy it and then ship it on to you.

miker

Oh Lynskey have a lifetime warranty on their frames too.

thelonegroover

Have a look at this...
http://www.pipedreamcycles.com/product/skookum-29er-ti/

Crayfish

^^^ that's exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks mate.

supersonic

The tubes look reasonably narrow so might be a sprightly ride, but I would try and test one.