Titanium bikes

[cchris2lou]

The BOTM is just incredible this time around , and I know some bikes are missing .

So are Titanium frames, the Holly grail of collectors and riders ?

 

[ti-fat-man]

predictable from my camp

steel passion in the form of a 10th Anni, for me.

 

[neilll]

The BOTM is just incredible this time around , and I know some bikes are missing .

So are Titanium frames, the Holly grail of collectors and riders ?

Always wanted one, never had one....question is....if and when, would it be something old like a Merlin XLM or a Mountain....or should I go new and get a Moots or a Seven (it'll probably end up a Merlin )

It IS the Holy Grail for me....always used to lust after Litespeeds and Dean's BITD but years of mulling it over (coupled with not having the cash) and I've settled on a Merlin....the last word in retro Ti in my opinion.....unless I happen to stumble across a Rocky Mountain Ti Bolt (not gonna happen is it.... :roll: :roll: :roll: )

 

[JustKev]

So are Titanium frames, the Holly grail of collectors and riders ?

I'm not sure about for collectors Chris, I think there are lots of alloy bikes that are more collectable (although I think there is Swiss chap who may disagree ) but for old school XC riders I don't think titanium can be beat. The weight and the comfort factor of a well built frame just make for pleasureable MTBing.

 

[Augustus]

Hmm, don't know about holy grail of collectors, but for a lot of us, the ti hardtail was the out of reach dream machine of a certain era and although you can get lighter, more compliant and cheaper carbon hardtails now, I can't help thinking there's a ti hardtail in the soul of many an mtb'er of old.

Personally, I love mine. The ride's not compliant in the least, but it is very quick. And light. And I like that. Rides similar to a pace. But is lighter, and stronger.

I also like that there are little things like not needing to worry so much about the finish getting trashed if someone leans their bike on yours and they all fall over. Or the corrosion issues.

I was thinking the other day though...to be honest, I'm not sure there's a great difference (in ride) between my ti bike and my mate's £1300 stumpjumper. Let's be honest, all that fine detail riding characteristic that's banged on about in bike tests, really, do you notice a lot of difference above say £1500? I'm not so sure.


But it is about other stuff isn't it? It's more about what you want than what you need. The build quality, the time and care taken to make such an article, etc etc.

I'm very happy with one.

 

[messiah]

As I posted on there

I've never owned a Titanium bike... too much moola for me and it's been impossible for me to justify. Most of the TI bikes I have ridden have felt no better than a good steel frame, but most of those were cheap TI... I'd love to ride all of these to see what the fuss is about....

Maybe one day I'll get a TI bike, and maybe it will be a Retro.

I was wondering the same really. I lusted after them but could not afford one BITD, and now I earn superstar wages (hahaha) I still can't won't buy one... (wife would go mental... maybe for my 40th in a couple of years time... but I'd feel like the fat bloke in his 60's who buys a Porsche... now you can afford it it's far more car (bike) that you'll ever use or need).

Are boutique titanium bikes really that much better than a lovely steel bike?

Does the ride justify the price?

 

[Kneedowndean]

Its got to be a Yeti Arc TI for me. I always wanted a Yeti, and always wanted a Ti bike. The last one on ebay went for more than I could afford, and so I have had to "settle" for a Kona Hei Hei.

More modern day Ti bikes, I am real keen on DEAN frames, not bad at £800 or so.

 

[scant]

if i was forced to ride hardtails again (XC FS rule ) then I'd prefer to ride offroad on the ti hardtail instead of steel or alu, but thats just a personal preference.
this isnt an easy question to answer as while in the past the pinnacle of most brands top frame was titanium, theres so much variation between brands! gt xizang is pretty smooth & slightly flexible, while a fat chance titanium is much stiffer in comparison, where-as a clark kent ti is like spaghetti flexy flier!
Kneedowndean, yeti arc ti is slightly flexier in the back end, esp back brake if you use V brakes instead of discs. very nice ride tho

ti-fat-man, 10ths dont make massive ££ anymore. you should get 1

 

[novekili]

It's the best you can get for me. It depends on what you like, tho.... I race xc (well, try to, actually) and I've never got into the full susser thing, even if I have owned some specimens (santa cruz, dart, cycletech, proflex) in my life. So, apart from full boingers, ti is the most comfortable and quick material around.
Might also depend on my 90's fetish, but since I bought that parkpre in y2k, I've always ridden grey bikes (apart from a Klein parenthesis).
Collector items? I doubt it, unless you can afford a ltd bike, like the new Vitamin T

 

[john]

.... for old school XC riders I don't think titanium can be beat....

Yes.

Ti was definitely my 'grail' back in the day.