Litespeed
Everything You Didn’t Know About Titanium Bikes
Everything You Didn’t Know About Titanium Bikes
#Didnt #Titanium #Bikes
“GCN Tech”
Is titanium the king of bike materials? Many people consider it to be the best frame material but how does it differ to the likes of carbon fibre, aluminium and steel? Alex speaks to titanium bikes expert Tom Sturdy to find out exactly what makes titanium frames and components so good. Should…
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Do you own a titanium bike? Let us know in the comments 👇
Brilliant – really interesting. Thank you
1993 custom specced beauty built by Tom Kellogg of Breinigsville, PA. Sadly, both he and his Spectrum Cycles have since reached the age where it was time to retire. He would ride km after km with you on back roads and then build it, as the Brits say bespoke. He also built numerous track racing bikes for national and international class racers. Be prepared to wait for a few months — you won't regret the required wait. It still looks as perfect as it did the day it arrived. Wish I could say the same.
Road comfort has and always been suspension and saddle tube design.
I love my ti Engima Evade, on 28mm tyres it's so smooth. Really makes country rides a joy. Took it up Zoncolan last year, so it climbs nicely too, although can be springy.
I want a tungsten bike
I have 3 titanium bikes. A 97 litespeed ultimate that has been raced, trained on and is now my turbo bike. It has probably done over 100k miles. I have a 2004 litespeed Sienna that has been used extensively for all sorts of riding. Also a 2022 Ribble CGR ti, that has 3 sets of wheels including a set of fat tyre 650b. It will do anything and everything. In terms of comfort, it's impossible to quantify. The two old ones were raced on, and when you're racing, comfort is very low on your list of perceptions, and I raced on 21mm tyres at 120psi. The CGR has 28mm tyres for road and either 34mm or 48mm for off road. It's a very comfortable bike, but no more so than my 92 Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra SLX, which a sublime machine to ride, even on narrow tyres at 100psi+. Compared to my carbon bikes, the ti bikes are way more compliant than my Scott CR1 , which is as stiff as hell, but I have a Parlee Altum that is silky smooth on 25mm tyres, and only weighs 6kg in 58cm. I think comfort is as much to do with wheel and tyre choice as it is to do with frame material.
I got my titanium bike in March 2003 (Mega Grimsel Snows). To this day I still use it and it looks like it came out of the factory yesterday
But cost goes significantly up.
No dispute, the best material for bike frames is still wood
Any bike will do as long as you have fun
I rode a lite speed for 100,000 miles or more. 2000-2022. As I aged I finally had to admit carbon was more compliant and I traded it for a Roubaix. I still have my beautiful lite speed. But I’m riding my specialized more now but I’m riding my e-bike mountain bike more. I’m 65 now and probably not going to be part of the peloton anymore
you could 3d print the Ti sprocket instead, less waste.
brilliant interview. no fluff
I will be the owner of a Van Nicholas Nootau bike in a few weeks, with a Rock Shox SId fork instead of the 'standard' Carbon fork. I will use it as a MTB/Gravel bike. I will come back here…
its a material that I would love to have an bike made of, its a shame that here in Brazil its a lot more expansive, furthermore, there isnt any frame builder here who works with, exactly because of the price of it, and import one, is kind of the cost doesn't good =( (paying double, some times triple of the original price to import one)
but its still my dream to have one <3
thanks for the content, it was very enlighten
fits are look very raw they should find a way to make surface better
Nice interview. A crucial element for me is the lifetime-assurance. I own now 3 great titanium bikes, the oldest one is my Litespeed Vortex 2002, still going strong with SRAM Red Etap.
I have a titanium Chromag Rootdown. Beyond love it. I can’t say it’s much different from the steel version that I also have owned. It is definitely lighter, more nimble and fun but that is also part of the entire build. I can say that the lack of paint to worry about, looks, and wow factor are why I would never go back. Love ti bikes. Owning one is a very special, rare and unique experience.
This guy might not have been the best choice for an interview. I’m sure he’s an expert but his delivery is kind of a flat. I’d rather hear from a medieval metallurgist who hammers out red hot titanium on an ancient granite slab just after slaying a dragon. That’s what I think about when I hear titanium
I wonder if 3D printed Ti parts are as strong as cast or milled Ti parts
I have a De Rosa Titanio XS 6.4Ti bike, it is now 17 years old and cleans up almost as new ( logo's etc have a little wear ). The first time I rode it I was shocked, it replaced a Continental ProTour team titanium frame and the De Rosa was like getting out of a typical family car and into a Ferrari ! Really ! Faster, smoother comfort and sharp handling… This bike absolutely makes me smile every time I ride it… I Have ridden many differnet steel bikes, aluminium and carbon. The only other bike that was so engaging was the beautiful bespoke Service Des Course Raleigh 753… The De Rosa overall is the better tool though. Always Campagnolo equipped, and always doing what the parts should do… Love my 12 speed and Ekar…
Tie-ta-nium
Not tit-anium!
🙂
He doesn’t even bring up the huge advantage of titanium! It’s melting point is over 3,000 F and it doesn’t weaken below 1,600 F so you longer have to fear riding on hot days or even leaving your bike in the sun. And it’s corrosion resistance means you can boil you bike in seawater and it is immune to spilled hot tea!
True that titanium is somewhat more flexible than steel but it is less strong so the frame tubing has to be just a bit thicker which makes it about as stiff as steel. That said, when all is done a titanium frame can weigh less that a steel one of comparable strength and stiffness. AND it doesn’t have the abrupt failure mode of carbon fiber….peace of mind as you zoom down scree on Everest.
If you want a titanium bike then buy one secondhand (used) & save a lot of money. That is what I did & I got Ultegra components & Mavic wheels with the bike.
Titanium: defined as a material that the majority of Bike owners/riders cannot AFFORD.
I love the honesty of the discussion here. No overly definitive statements or fluff, just calmly presenting the trade-offs.
I believe titanium bike frame are the best and way stronger and safer then carbon fiber i never trust carbon fiber😂 i need a bike that can take punch