Best Titanium hardtail

A couple of years ago i decided to build my ultimate hardtail bike. I chose a Litespeed Pisgah 2006 Frame because it was massively discounted to 700gbp, they only had 16.5 inch left but I was told a small frame would be agile and I could raise the seatpost (I'm 6 ft). I rode this bike for 2 years to and from work in a mix of cross country and road (25km each way). Heres what I have found:
Pros:
-Good acceleration
-Good climber
-very very comfortable ride.
Cons:
-The front does feel squirrely down hill.
-I think I needed the 18 or 19.5 as it does feel cramped. I feel I want to reach a few inches forward to grab the bars. This fact also gives a flying over the handlebars feeling downhill.
I have been in New Zealand and riding trails on a Kona Kula 08 19" and loved it. It was stiffer, comfortable enough and most importantly gave HUGE confidence downhill. It also felt hugely chuckable. I felt I was riding behind the front wheel not being heaved over it. I couldn't do a straight speed comparison because someone has now stolen my Kona.
Pisgah
http://www.litespeed.com/bikes/2006/mtn/pis_geo.aspx
Kona
http://www.konabikes.co.uk/2008/kula/kula.php
SO THE QUESTION (sorry for the long preamble)
Which titanium frame would you chose to give blistering acceleration/speed AND downhill/trail confidence?
Pros:
-Good acceleration
-Good climber
-very very comfortable ride.
Cons:
-The front does feel squirrely down hill.
-I think I needed the 18 or 19.5 as it does feel cramped. I feel I want to reach a few inches forward to grab the bars. This fact also gives a flying over the handlebars feeling downhill.
I have been in New Zealand and riding trails on a Kona Kula 08 19" and loved it. It was stiffer, comfortable enough and most importantly gave HUGE confidence downhill. It also felt hugely chuckable. I felt I was riding behind the front wheel not being heaved over it. I couldn't do a straight speed comparison because someone has now stolen my Kona.
Pisgah
http://www.litespeed.com/bikes/2006/mtn/pis_geo.aspx
Kona
http://www.konabikes.co.uk/2008/kula/kula.php
SO THE QUESTION (sorry for the long preamble)
Which titanium frame would you chose to give blistering acceleration/speed AND downhill/trail confidence?
0
Posts
Ti456!!!! They've got 18inch in, i ride an 18inch 456 and I'm 6 foot. Stick something like a pair of pikes or fox TALAS 32 on the front and then light but strong wheels and good finishing kit and you'll have a lightweight Ti bruser.
Alternatively run it with a 29" front wheel and 100mm 29er forks, but a 26" rear wheel for a 10/10 bike that rides like an xc DH bike apparently.
Carbon 456
456 lefty
Pompino
White Inbred
Help for Heroes
JayPic
My Jones
VOODOO CANZO
Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
Jeff couldn't do this bend (tube size) and say's the Merlins ride better than his because of it.
I have had a lot of people recommend the ti456 I wasn't sure about these guys for two reasons.
1) I'd never heard of them before and I had always thought with titanium an experienced production team is everything.
2) It says the frame is stiff but it looks fairly whispy (compared to the pics of the Cove Hummer frame).
However I looked at the Bikeradar review and it looks like they want to marry this bike and have its babies.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... -08--31339
It is the first 5star review they have ever given. But what confused me is that while they say ti456 is the best, they also say Cove Hummer is the best.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... c-08-30772
Cove Hummer VS On One Ti456
Can anyone shed any light on which is better or how they differ? Thanks
During the first test the Hummer was excellent - and it is a very very nice bike.
But then later they tested the Ti456 - and felt that it gave an even better ride than the Hummer - thus why it became the "BEST".
Now there are difference's between the two - the 456 has a longer top tube and is so suited to general riding giving you confidence in whichever direction you point the bike. The Hummer is what I would call more chuckable - and you can throw the bike around really well. It descends better in my book, but loses out for general all round riding to the Ti456 but it still does it bloody well.
Neither are out and out XC machines and like longer forks and can be built up burly but light.
Me - I have the Hummer as I got it before the Ti456 came out - but if I was choosing now then it would be a very tough decision between these two.
Saw it as a frame with £400 off the other day so now about £1000
Can't see any reviews of it though
Canyon Endurace CF8.0
TrainerRoad Career
Strava
Does anyone know if you can do a test ride of the ti456 and the Hummer. I am in Bournemouth (Dorset).
Thanks guys
VOODOO CANZO
Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
The geometry etc is all tried and tested since it's all based on the 456, which is ace. Though as Supersonic says it's built to run longer travel- not a downside in my book but it might be in yours. The frame is made by Lynskey, so no worries there. If money allowed, I'd buy one of these tomorrow.