Mountain Biking - Recommend me a titanium racebike.

Well I'm sitting here in Afghanistan for 2012 dreaming of a new racebike when I get back. I really want something that I can have for years to come. I raced last season on a Trek Fuel EX8. The bike will be for XC, with lots of climbing since I'm in So Cal. Budget $10k max (hey gotta use this hard earned money on something). Still shopping around but I've looked at Moots and Kish thus far. Other builders I should consider?

Cheers from the sandbox

Rob

Still shopping around but I've looked at Moots and Kish thus far. Other builders I should consider?

Seven:

http://www.sevencycles.com/

26 or 29er?

I'd go for Moots or from the man who started Moots, Kent Eriksen. Or from Steve Potts.

For a truly hella nice unique frame, you can check out Engin cycles. Don't think he does Ti but he does amazing stuff with 953 tubesets.

Forgot about Seven thanks forthe reminder. 26" wheels please. I'm short.

Cheers

Rob

Since Jim Kish is only about 15 min's away, that would be my choice.

How short are you? I'm fairly short too at 5'9" and have been comfortable on many different 29ers. I like 26ers too, but highly doubt that I will ever own a 26er hardtail again.

Could add Black Sheep, DEAN, and Lynskey.

I like 26ers too, but highly doubt that I will ever own a 26er hardtail again.

I hope that this thread doesn't degenerate into yet another dreary and pointless 26 vs 29 debate. I have never understood the almost reflexive dismissal of 26" hardtails. I have been riding a 26" hardtail all along, through the times when people claimed that FS meant the hardtail was dead, and now with the supposedly "dead" hardtail trendy again in 29". I have never wanted another kind of bike.

To me, the 26" hardtail was, and is, pretty much the perfect mountain bike, a design that really needs no improvement. If you like a 29", that's very cool. This guy wants a 26". What's so hard to understand about that?

I'm fairly short too at 5'9"...

Haha, considering the average height of an American male is 5'9 1/2", I think you'll be alright. That half inch probably won't keep you off of any amusement park rides. :) You must have a really tall family and social circle?

When I think short guy, I think ~5'6" or so. I don't see many guys that size on 29ers.

I hope that this thread doesn't degenerate into yet another dreary and pointless 26 vs 29 debate. I have never understood the almost reflexive dismissal of 26" hardtails. I have been riding a 26" hardtail all along, through the times when people claimed that FS meant the hardtail was dead, and now with the supposedly "dead" hardtail trendy again in 29". I have never wanted another kind of bike.

To me, the 26" hardtail was, and is, pretty much the perfect mountain bike, a design that really needs no improvement. If you like a 29", that's very cool. This guy wants a 26". What's so hard to understand about that?

I agree...the benefits of 29 over 26 are well documented. The benefits of 26 over 29 are well documented. Let's stick to the Ti hardtail suggestions the OP was seeking. I don't imagine he has tons of internet time over there to sift through the crap.

I hope that this thread doesn't degenerate into yet another dreary and pointless 26 vs 29 debate. I have never understood the almost reflexive dismissal of 26" hardtails. I have been riding a 26" hardtail all along, through the times when people claimed that FS meant the hardtail was dead, and now with the supposedly "dead" hardtail trendy again in 29". I have never wanted another kind of bike.

To me, the 26" hardtail was, and is, pretty much the perfect mountain bike, a design that really needs no improvement. If you like a 29", that's very cool. This guy wants a 26". What's so hard to understand about that?
I wasn't trying to take it there. I've been trail riding for a long time - since I was an early teen growing up in Charlotte, NC. I have ridden and owned many 26" hardtails. With the way I like to ride, the 29er works for me when it comes to hardtails and my opinion has been formed by a lot of experience with both. My full suspension ride is a 5.5" 26er - when it comes to FS, I feel the 26er has less compromises than a 29er.

ANYWAYS...When it comes down to it ride what you like.

+1 on the seven suggestion.

Since Jim Kish is only about 15 min's away, that would be my choice.

How short are you? I'm fairly short too at 5'9" and have been comfortable on many different 29ers. I like 26ers too, but highly doubt that I will ever own a 26er hardtail again.

Could add Black Sheep, DEAN, and Lynskey.

5'4 :)

Hardtail or dually? I know your previous race bike was a dually but there are MANY more Ti hardtail manufacturers. Kona is putting out a Ti hardtail (manufactured by Lynskey) but you'd have to act soon as I've heard the quantity is pretty limited. (The number I heard was 100 frames for all of Canada.)

I've also never seen a really sophisticated suspension design from a Ti purveyor.

Can't say I've ridden any of them, but Cove has piqued my interest lately. The Cove Hummer is Ti.