Debate: rate these custom(ish) steel frames best to worst

[orange71]

OK, how would you rate in order of quality of craftsmanship (on average) highest to lowest the following:

Fat Chance Yo Eddy
Dave Yates Diabolo
Independent Fabrication
Breezer
Chas Roberts
Mountain Goat
Ritchey
Steve Potts

 

[rody]

wow, you don't ask for much, do ya?

Lot's of different fabrication techniques and styles, like trying to compare artists in oil, water color, spray can...very tough.

I'll have to think on this one.

cheers,

rody

 

[orange71]

I'm interested because it's clear price doesn't reflect quality, but I just wanted to see roughly where the quality was first. Go on have a poke, I won't hold you to it!!
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should have put you in there too if I'd known you were watching

 

[Elev12k]

Hi,

Several of them I've never seen live, for example the Diabolo. Like Rody says you will have a tough time comparing them because of the different techniques. For example how does a Grove (welded) compare to a Potts (fb)? Fair to rank ...or better to cosider them best in each class?

Btw I think Nagasawas and 3Rensho are very VERY well made bikes ...but they don't do mountainbikes.

 

[orange71]

It's interesting you mention the Diabolo as I have one, and I think it's very well put together, fillet brazed, craftsman individually fabricated, yet cost next to nothing (£155 complete bike). A Fat Chance, by comparison, produced in higher numbers, frames: £250+++ Do the Fat's handle better? Perhaps they do. I don't know I've never ridden one except round ededwards garden!

 

[ededwards]

.... except round ededwards garden!

Test track of champions!

 

[rody]

The absolute deciding factor is seeing each naked...it's tough to hide without filler and paint.

We did a naked thread on here at one time, maybe a couple of years ago?

rody

EDIT: Hmmm, seems I got sensored, should have spelled it nekid...southern style

 

[stu]

I have a Breezer and Dave Yates Diablo and they both seem to be very well made......I like the fact that the Dave Yates was built by a guy with a beard in a small workshop though, I guess it's the same feeling you have with a Roberts, Fuquay or any US custom built frame too

Stu

 

[missmyfat]

This like comparing oranges and lemons!
Each has there own style, but at the end of the day they are metal tubes welded together, who is to say which one is best?
We are all biased through having favourites, a lot of which boils down to which one looks the best in our opinion (which is an excellent reason to choose a frame!)

Am getting off the soap box now

 

[al]

Is this a trick question

If it is the punchline could be, there all bloody ace!

But Ritchey is the only frame builder i have owned 4 of!!




Cheers, Al