Racy titanium frames with "proper" mudguards?

londoncommuter

Been mulling over shrinking the fleet slightly and getting a frame to use year-round and thought maybe Ti was the way to go, maybe even disc.

I only want to run 28c tyres at the most, don't care about racks and still want a racy geometry.

I just assumed that all Ti frames would fit "proper" mudguards as only sensible people buy them! Also, if you want discs then surely you definitely want to be able to run guards as you're thinking of not destroying rims in the winter.

I seem to be completely wrong though after looking at Enigma, Reilly, PlanetX etc none of them seem to have them.

The Kinesis Gran Fondo and Enigma Etape have mounts but these seem a bit "audaxy".

What am I missing? May as well just stick with a carbon bike with Cruds at half the price....

Garry H

Design your own Chinese Ti frame, or Google Justin Burls

mamil314

Dutch and american titanium bikes at Fatbirds might be worth checking out, but i am currently facing a similar issue in search of carbon - anything racier will mean less chance of mudguards

flasher

Can fully recommend Burls, for the price of a stock frame you can get a fully custom frame with whatever features you wish.

alan_sherman

You could ask enigma to add them. I was debating this for my esprit. Would need eyelets, a chain stay bridge and new fork. The clearance to the seat tube would limit tyre size though, for a winter bike with guards you want a bit more clearance to get 28s and guards in, so you end up with longer chainsets and become audaxy!

bontie

I was in your position but for a dedicated winter bike.

I ended up getting a custon frame from these guys - www.engineeredbikes.com

It is a treat but you do lose a bit of the "racy" feel with longer stays if need space for mudguards and the chainline requirements of discs. The latter I believe is now adressed by Dura Ace 9100 or whatever series

Bordersroadie

Burls bikes. Design your own with Justin Burls and six weeks later get a beautifully made handbuilt frame from a his specialist Russian Ti bike builder, all for less than the price of an off-the-peg big-brand maker.

chaymck

Don't discount the kinesis. Plenty stiff enough and not a seat up and beg position.

londoncommuter

Thanks guys. I guess it was just me being unrealistic about what full guard compatibility does to geometry. Again from a position of complete ignorance, I was confused as aluminium bikes like the Kinesis 4S are still sold as being racy but with full guards. Is it just marketing differences that all Ti frames with eyelets are sold as "endurance" etc.

I'm still a bit surprised though that Ti frames aren't 90% set up for them but I guess I misjudged the market.

Burls looks great although the pressure of speccing a frame yourself sounds mental for someone as indecisive as me! Will definitely do some more digging.

The Kinesis Ti does also still look good as I can get on R2W but what do you lose by the frame being able to take tractor tyres, far wider than you'd ever need?

trek_dan

Just get what you want and use SKS Raceblades in winter, 90% as effective as full guards, are easily removed in summer and because they fit above the tyre no clearance issues.

drlodge

Don't discount stainless steel - Reynolds 953 - although its probably more expensive. Most 953s are custom built so can of course have whatever clearance you want.