Custom Steel Rouke - Worth it?

BenderRodriguez

I had a 'made to measure' Rourke once. After a couple of years of normal use the down tube cracked (Reynolds tubing) right across where the braze-ons were, a classic sign of the frame being over-heated. They weren't interested but offered to repair it at the usual rates. I let them do this and they made a right bodge of it. It looked like they tried to remove / refit the down tube without removing the head tube fully, instead bending down the front lip of the bottom bracket shell, which split, then hammering it back up and covering the area with brazing. (This was all very obvious as I didn't get them to do the respray as well.) Just as bad the frame came backing weighing about half a pound more than it had previously, as they seemed to have used a length of cheap 'gas pipe' instead of the original Reynolds tubing. This tube also had what looked like a seam running down the length of it.

Do yourself a favour and buy something else!

BenderRodriguez

meagain wrote:

IF one wants a frame for life (not I) then surely Ti is the only way.

Until it cracks at the welds, as many of them seem to do. Even those from, high-priced, 'prestige' makers.

neeb wrote:

I do agree that carbon is the best material overall for bikes...

Have to agree. On reason is that carbon can be laid up to deflect in a non-liner way, so that a frame can be compliant over small bumps and so forth but get progressively stiffer as the deflection / load increases, as when you mash on the pedals up a climb. A steel or titanium frame can be made to give a compliant ride, but will flex to a corresponding degree when highly loaded. On the other hand aluminium tends to be stiffer, not least because a 'flexy' aluminium frame would soon fatigue and break, but then it will be just as stiff over small irregularities as well.

I once found a technical description of the above principles as applied to making masts for racing yachts and carbon clearly gave the best of all worlds when used correctly. Often, it can even be fixed at home with a simple repair kit, whereas titanium and aluminium require inert atmospheres to effect a repair, specialised heat treatments and so forth.

Hoopdriver

I have to disagree with this sweeping assertion that 'many' hand built frames crack at the welds, even those from prestige builders. I have three hand built frames, one of which has over 80,000 miles on it, and many of those were fully loaded miles since that particular bike is an expedition tourer, and I have had no frame issues whatever. I am sure there are frames that do crack, but not well made ones.

giant_man

I don't do ti, regardless of whether or not they crack. carbon or steel for me ...

Ber Nard

Hoopdriver wrote:

I have to disagree with this sweeping assertion that 'many' hand built frames crack at the welds, even those from prestige builders. I have three hand built frames, one of which has over 80,000 miles on it, and many of those were fully loaded miles since that particular bike is an expedition tourer, and I have had no frame issues whatever. I am sure there are frames that do crack, but not well made ones.

To be fair, an expedition tourer is going to be built for strength and reliability. A custom road frame may well be built to be light weight and as a consequence, have a shorter life span.

A well made frame is one that best suits the customer's needs. If that's a race frame, I wouldn't expect it to be a "frame for life" regardless of what its made of. If its a touring frame then I would expect it to be reliable but would accept a trade off in weight.

Rob

Hoopdriver

Yes, a well made frame is one that suits the customer - that is one definition. It should also be technically well made as well - properly brazed, mitred, etc.

The discussion was about cracked welds - that to me is a sign of poor construction. Sure, an expedition tourer should be sturdily built, and mine is, but clearly the brazing was first rate. It is clearly first rate on my Pegoretti which is five years old now, has quite a few thousand miles on it and is also clean as a whistle. Hand made frames - well made ones - are built to last

ctc

I thought that most metal frames were still hand welded? Surely the difference is you are getting made to measure rather than off the peg?

Also - aren't most carbon frames still laid up by hand?

Surely that's just about quality control and warranty rather than 'hand built' and shop bought?

ride_whenever

Why choose between carbon and custom???

Parlee

BenderRodriguez

Hoopdriver wrote:

I have to disagree with this sweeping assertion that 'many' hand built frames crack at the welds, even those from prestige builders.

I was specifically talking about titanium frames, which seem to have a surprisingly high failure rate for something that is supposed to be a 'lifetime' material. What were yours made from?

Hoopdriver

BenderRodriguez wrote:

Hoopdriver wrote:

I have to disagree with this sweeping assertion that 'many' hand built frames crack at the welds, even those from prestige builders.

I was specifically talking about titanium frames, which seem to have a surprisingly high failure rate for something that is supposed to be a 'lifetime' material. What were yours made from?

Mine are all steel, it must be said. I gather titanium is considerably trickier to weld.

bmxboy10

90% sure I will be going for the Tommasini

ugo.santalucia

solboy10 wrote:

90% sure I will be going for the Tommasini

Tecno or Super Prestige?

napoleond

I was so close to getting a Tecno but then miraculously, out of nowhere the stars aligned and my dream frame became available. So I got that.

bmxboy10

Tecno from Comtat London. Thinking of midnight blue colour with carbon Athena, Architype handbuilts or swap the free hub on my Elites, San Marco Regale saddle and Deda or 3T finishing kit.

napoleond

Nice

bmxboy10

Ugo I have emailed you about some wheels.....

Grill

giant man wrote:

I don't do ti, regardless of whether or not they crack. carbon or steel for me ...

Carbon and Steel

napoleond

What do you reckon you'll be going for Grill? Although things may have moved in in a couple of years anyhoo!!

Grill

Pretty similar to the Tron bike although that sloping top tube has to go! Of course this does depend on whether I still love my TT bike as the English ones are incredible.