Titanium bikes

[vickster]

Spa welds are not untidy, I've seen a few of their bikes at their shop and at York Race Course and theres no problem with them. Have you actually seen the bikes close up?

Yes I test rode the Elan today and compared to the Sabbath

Photo by head tube, scruffy imo with a bit welded on

Their steel bikes are neater

 

[vickster]

Did you go to Starbeck?
Have you looked at Burls?

Yes.
No as Burls don't offer disc brakes afaik and I want to be able to see and try the bike first

 

[New Horizon]

Yes I test rode the Elan today and compared to the Sabbath

Photo by head tube, scruffy imo with a bit welded on

Their steel bikes are neater

That welding is best described as functional - not something I could love. I was recently looking to change my Van Nicholas Amazon for something a bit sportier and bought an Enigma Etape disc frameset. Big mistake, big disappointment. It had a litany of faults, not the least the headtube was out of round and with the top and bottom faces nowhere near parallel. The welding was untidy in places, with weld spatter and unfinished in places and the frame was 200+g heavier than advertised (weights now removed from their site). After some discussion with Enigma, it went back for a refund. There is no country of origin shown on these frames (they are not built in the UK, the new website does now say the far east) and no indication of any EN testing or compliance.

 

[vickster]

That's worrying

The frames are built in Taiwan perhaps

I'll have another look at the J Guillem Orient

 

[Soltydog]

That welding is best described as functional - not something I could love. I was recently looking to change my Van Nicholas Amazon for something a bit sportier and bought an Enigma Etape disc frameset. Big mistake, big disappointment. It had a litany of faults, not the least the headtube was out of round and with the top and bottom faces nowhere near parallel. The welding was untidy in places, with weld spatter and unfinished in places and the frame was 200+g heavier than advertised (weights now removed from their site). After some discussion with Enigma, it went back for a refund. There is no country of origin shown on these frames (they are not built in the UK, the new website does now say the far east) and no indication of any EN testing or compliance.

That's worrying

Not checked the website in detail lately, but you could pay extra to have your Enigma built in England last time I looked. But I reckon my build next year will be over £4k & I don't want a list of faults like that As Vickster says it's worrying, very worrying

 

[Rustybucket]

http://road.cc/content/feature/213004-terrific-titanium-14-loveliest-titanium-road-bikes-weve-ridden

 

[vickster]

http://road.cc/content/feature/213004-terrific-titanium-14-loveliest-titanium-road-bikes-weve-ridden

Not sure they are the loveliest, a good list. I've looked at most that meet spec and price requirements (frameset up to around 2k which excludes Moots, Seven and the like)

Not keen on J Laverack aesthetically and the short 5 year warranty and some comms about Reilly have put me off a little

 

[New Horizon]

I've since bought a Mason Definition (alloy) for half the price of the Enigma and couldn't be happier - the attention to detail and the standard of finish are exemplary and it beats the Enigma hands down on every count. Mason are working on a titanium version, the Aspect, with a very slightly tweaked geometry for long distance comfort, available soon - I've been told the framest will be £3k. The finish is bead blasted, the same as the Ti Bokeh they are now producing. Mason say this stress relieves the metal but I think it does make for a rather less robust finish than brushed, which can have marks polished out quite easily. I could be persuaded though! All their frames have multi-ports for a myriad of internal cabling options, again something the Enigma doesn't - ugly zip ties holding external cables on a high end frame is not a good look. As for the ride of the Mason, to be honest I don't perceive much difference in the comfort level between the Van Nicholas and the Mason - on rough tarmac the VN probably edges it but only just ...

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Yes.
No as Burls don't offer disc brakes afaik and I want to be able to see and try the bike first

If, as I am told, JB gets his frames made by Triton they are making a huge deal of the gravel/adventure models they are now producing, with the obligatory discs of course, so it might at least be wortha conversation.

 

[vickster]

If, as I am told, JB gets his frames made by Triton they are making a huge deal of the gravel/adventure models they are now producing, with the obligatory discs of course, so it might at least be wortha conversation.

Nothing on their website. I really want endurance road disc rather than gravel

 

[vickster]

Dont you have a really nice copper coloured Genesis? I'd just ride that, it looks a lovely bike.

I do ride it. I'd like a titanium disc braked bike too

 

[Venod]

Has this been mentioned ? doesn't seem to have mudguard mounts though.
I have had an Airbourne ( became VN ) Zeppelin, its still going strong but not owned by me, I currently have a VN Chinnook that's seen a lot of miles and still going strong, I have a friend who had a VN crack vertically on the seat tube, it was replaced FOC with no hassle, I had a Sunday (became Sabbath) crack radially round the top tube, I had it welded and rode it fixed for a while, as I was not the original owner they couldn't replace it FOC but they did offer a good discount on a new frame. it seems with Ti you pay your money and take your chances, its still my favourite frame material though.

http://road.cc/content/tech-news/22...ron-disc-equipped-titanium-road-bike-launched

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Nothing on their website. I really want endurance road disc rather than gravel

It's a carp site all round, which does him no favours. Take a look at the Triton one - a world of difference.

 

[vickster]

J Guillem do lifetime frame warranty as do Reilly. Both quite new businesses but seemingly successful

 

[vickster]

It's a carp site all round, which does him no favours. Take a look at the Triton one - a world of difference.

Link?