Buying Secondhand Titanium

[vickster]

What happens if it does?

I’d think that’s a question for Enigma (ie is it repairable). Could presumably be dangerous if happens suddenly?!

 

[ChangFai]

Well .... we arranged to meet so I could look the bike over and he no showed.
I was having a bad enough day already without having more time wasted, and it has pissed me off.
But it has given me more time to think about this, and I am considering just moving on from the deal.
1. That carbon rear stays are bugging me.
2. The seller wanted £1500, but has accepted my offer of £1000, as he wants to move on and has his eye on something else.
But is it worth £1000?

 

[vickster]

I’d say a grand is ok, assuming it’s in good condition and good spec
However, in light of 1. If concerned walk away (there are plenty of bikes out there, new and used).
And no showing without explanation is bad form, it takes a few seconds to send a text

 

[Jenkins]

Not knowing your size and location, but there is a very nice Planet X (built by Van Nicholas apparently) for sale on here in large for £1000

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/f...tive-ultegra-titanium-road-bike-large.286297/

 

[craigwend]

With older bikes the problem might be tyre clearance, my 16 year old Ti can only just scrape a 25c in the back and 23c in front, also as nice as rim brakes are, discs are the way forward for me and also through axles,

The PX Spitfire might look a bargain, I went for the more versatile Hurricane, wider tyres clearance, disc brakes and mudguard / rack mounts for not much more

 

[vickster]

With older bikes the problem might be tyre clearance, my 16 year old Ti can only just scrape a 25c in the back and 23c in front, also as nice as rim brakes are, discs are the way forward for me and also through axles,

The PX Spitfire might look a bargain, I went for the more versatile Hurricane, wider tyres clearance, disc brakes and mudguard / rack mounts for not much more

That’s why you need two 😂

 

[ChangFai]

Not knowing your size and location, but there is a very nice Planet X (built by Van Nicholas apparently) for sale on here in large for £1000

Looking for a medium or a 54.

Thanks though, and its a pity.

 

[Gunk]

I would have no hesitations about buying a used Ti bike, I bought this about 2 years ago for around a £1000 which I think was an absolute bargain. The bike is just lovely. shame i don’t ride it enough.

 

[Gunk]

With older bikes the problem might be tyre clearance, my 16 year old Ti can only just scrape a 25c in the back and 23c in front, also as nice as rim brakes are, discs are the way forward for me and also through axles,

The PX Spitfire might look a bargain, I went for the more versatile Hurricane, wider tyres clearance, disc brakes and mudguard / rack mounts for not much more

Mine runs 28c’s as its got rather nice Canti brakes!

 

[Gunk]

Well .... we arranged to meet so I could look the bike over and he no showed.
I was having a bad enough day already without having more time wasted, and it has pissed me off.
But it has given me more time to think about this, and I am considering just moving on from the deal.
1. That carbon rear stays are bugging me.
2. The seller wanted £1500, but has accepted my offer of £1000, as he wants to move on and has his eye on something else.
But is it worth £1000?
View attachment 651883

£1000 is a reasonable price, but the carbon stays would bother me as well, if you are not 100% sure, move on.

 

[vickster]

This my 1k Ti. In a medium…
Definitely not for sale though, I waited 6 years for one to become available! 🦄

 

[Soltydog]

That’s why you need two 😂

2? More than 1 would have been a better statement

No need to be more cautious about a 2nd hand ti than any other frame material imo. I'm a large chap & have covered over 30k miles on 2 Ti bikes with no issues at all. My Van Nic is over 6 years old & still rides like a new bike. 👍

 

[Paul_Smith SRCC]

A secondhand Enigma Effusion ...I believe the bike is 8 years old, but I am now starting to ask myself if I am doing the right thing here?

If the seller is basing some of the value on it being 8 years old; I worked at Enigma between 2013 and 2016 as their bike fitter and custom geometry designer. The Effusion along with the Eulogy were two of their early models that they introduced in (2007), that bike looks like a combination of both. The Effusion had carbon seat stays and a normal seat tube and from memory the Eulogy had carbon seat and chainstays but with integrated seat tube; the latter your picture does not show. For sure they would have been in the range for a while but they had already sold out by the time I started so my memory maybe a bit off; when I started both had been effectively replaced with a similar styled bike but with 'titanium' not 'carbon' rear end; called the 'Equinox'.

 

[ChangFai]

Well .. we are back talking (£900) and he told me that he bought the bike a year ago secondhand, from the first owner who had bought it new in 2014, and it had been only lightly ridden.
He also sent me a lot more photos which has been helpful.
All looks okay, yes?

 

[Gunk]

My used Van Nicholas amazon was only £1000 with an Easton EA90 wheelset, Ultegra groupset, Dura ace Brifters and lots of other very nice trick stuff including carbon ergo bars. IMO £900 is a lot for quite an old bike with a Tiagra groupset.