Titus Motolite Exogrid 2008

[Rambo Mambo]

Another frame and another build thread.
I don’t always want to document the build but sometimes a frame comes along that I think is worthy. This is one of them. Lots of ti and lots of carbon everywhere you look. So sweet!

During a time before Titus was acquired by a larger company they made the most exquisite titanium frames. For me I couldn’t have possibly afforded them as I didn’t have the money to buy their bikes. This one i understand was in the region of £2.7k for the frame alone.

So taking advantage of the current market situation (slow) I’ve picked this up for a play and hopefully a ride.

I hope I do it justice.

More to come as ever.

 

[raidan73]

Ooh, that's a work of art!

 

[moonlite]

Certainly has an exotic look! Is the carbon fibre 'real' or some kind of decal?

 

[Rambo Mambo]

@moonlite

I’ve gratuitously nicked a couple of shots from here from another build thread to understand their technique. They cut out the ti sections and inserted the carbon and inflated a bag/balloon to force it out of the holes. Absolutely insane tekkers!

 

[moonlite]

Wow, that's an innovative technique -- and it looks great

 

[Rambo Mambo]

Certainly has an exotic look! Is the carbon fibre 'real' or some kind of decal?

Wow, that's an innovative technique -- and it looks great

I agree. So nice for its age and is light years ahead of the game. Way nicer than a lot of the more modern offerings for me in any case. Should build to a wicked XC bike able to handle all but some of the roughest terrain.

 

[millsm]

Very nice! I owned a 2007 Motolite (aluminum frame) as my main ride for 15 years, and it was by far the best bike i've owned. Would still have it today, but had to downsize due to traveling. Anyway, you're right - they were super high-end & considered exotic for the time. I have the original January 2007 Mountainbike Action Magazine review of the Motolite Exogrid (which i've attached), and it went for $3795 for just the frame/shock alone.

 

[Rambo Mambo]

Very nice! I owned a 2007 Motolite (aluminum frame) as my main ride for 15 years, and it was by far the best bike i've owned. Would still have it today, but had to downsize due to traveling. Anyway, you're right - they were super high-end & considered exotic for the time. I have the original January 2007 Mountainbike Action Magazine review of the Motolite Exogrid (which i've attached), and it went for $3795 for just the frame/shock alone.

Thank you for sharing this!

 

[hawkhill97]

That looks so nice!!!

Looking forward to seeing it built up and hearing how it rides. What sort of riding have you got planned for it?

I've got a soft spot for this era of bikes. Things like suspension & brakes were well sorted by then in terms of performance and reliability, and for me 26" wheels and "outdated" geometry are only a disadvantage if you're racing against the clock, otherwise it's more or less an issue of fashion and rider preference.

I struggle to get particularly excited about modern MTBs, but so many from that era (including this Titus in quite a big way) really do it for me!

 

[Rambo Mambo]

Thanks for the comments!
Im 5’6” so for me 26” is always a good idea. I have tried 27.5” in the rear but there’s little clearance so that makes decisions a little easier.
I’ll try it out in local trail centres and some less well organised rides and throw some things at it but by all accounts this should be a magic carpet ride when ready.
130mm up front seems ungainly and too much as the middle bounce is 100mm so I’ll even it out with 100mm and adjust if necessary with a longer fork.