Enigma - is it a mystery ?

[jimbut]

Hi, looking for anyones experience of Enigma titanium cycles.

http://www.enigmabikes.com/

In 2 minds re a Titanium or carbon bike at the mo. Love the look of the Enigma Esprit Ti and the Orbea Orca carbon. Decisions, decisions.

 

[BentMikey]

You might like to ping peliroja on yacf.co.uk - I can't remember the details, but she had some interesting Enigma experiences. I think they were related to the previous company, but am not sure.

 

[papercorn2000]

You may want to check out the PlanetX Ti frames. Made by Lynskey no less, who made Litespeed when Litespeed were the absolute dogs!

 

[Blott's Mate]

Enigma

Hi

I have an Enigma Eclipse. It is lovelier than the loveliest thing & I can't recommend Enigma highly enough. I had it made up with an Ultegra groupset & Fulcrum 7 wheels rather than the standard. Do it!

 

[Bollo]

You might like to ping peliroja on yacf.co.uk - I can't remember the details, but she had some interesting Enigma experiences. I think they were related to the previous company, but am not sure.

I can! The story is that Mark Reilly, proprietor of Omega Ti, left many people sans bike and sans money when his company folded. He also had a reputation for being a purveyor of fine quality BS.

He went to work as 'Chief Designer' or similar for Enigma, which was set up by Jim Walker. Mr Walker walked into a bit of a sh1t-storm on the old C+ site when it came out he'd taken on Reilly. I believe he offered to honour Omega's outstanding orders, although he may have offered a discount on a new bike, that bit I can't remember. There was enough bad will over Omega that it probably cost Enigma a bit of business in the short term.

Since then I've not heard anything particularly good or bad about them, but I've not really bothered to find out.

 

[Blott's Mate]

I have found both Mark & Jim very pleasant to deal with. They have a good product & I would definitely look at the now rather than the then & form your own judgement.

 

[pieinthesky]

I ordered an Omega from Mark Reilly and eventually received an Enigma from Jim Walker.

I fell a bit sorry for Jim as he took on a load of bad feeling and bad press which he didnt deserve by employing Mark Reilly.

Jim provided me with a frame after I thaught my money was lost and he did the same for other Omega customers. Some were left out of pocket I believe but not because of Jim Walker.

I wouldnt hesitate to go to Enigma again and would confidently recommend them as a company.

If you are paying cash however, dont hand it to Mr R.

 

[Bollo]

If you are paying cash however....

And there is the moral of the story. If you've got a credit card, use it for large purchases, irrespective of the supplier and whether you've got the ready cash. It gives you a lot of protection if things go Pete Wrong.

 

[Blott's Mate]

I paid cash for my Enigma. Enigma Titanium UK Ltd is a solid company. Mark Reilly's failure as a businessman is not relevant to any dealings with Enigma as he is employed by them as a designer. If I had the skill to post pictures of my Enigma Eclipse at home & flying I would. I clocked 27.4 mph on a more or less flat road near home & I am a nearly 48 yo runner not a cyclist. It is a lovely bike to look at and to ride.

 

[Blott's Mate]

48yo female

 

[Bollo]

Hey hey, sensitive! I'm sure Enigma's are nice, and I never said otherwise. From what I've heard of the way Jim Walker dealt with things, he sounds a genuinely good guy who tried to sort out a bad problem. Enigma may well be as solid as any other company. I don't doubt that either. If Mr Walker want to employ Reilly, that's his lookout but, as I don't wish to contribute to Reilly's pay packet, I'll not be buying an Enigma. There are plenty of great bikes out there.

My advice about the credit card thing is completely general. If you have a CC that gives you pretty much total protection for your money against company failure, why pay up front with cash where you just may end losing it all?

When I ordered an Omega, I paid by credit card. At the time, I believed I was dealing with a viable, well run company. When it became clear that Mark Reilly had lied to me and as I found out later quite a few others, I contacted the Credit Card company, raised a dispute and got my money back within 1 month. Compare that with the stories of those who had placed deposits with cash.

Like people have said here, this is ancient history. I wouldn't want to hinder a bike company just because I've had a bad experience with one employee. If you've found a bike that's right for you, no-one, especially some anonymous forum opinion-jockey like me, has the right to spoil it.

 

[BentMikey]

Me, I'd just buy a Spesh.

 

[Bollo]

Me, I'd just buy a Spesh.

With a Credit Card!