Touring - this Ti bike for touring?

Does anyone see a reason NOT to use the 2012 Litespeed Copenhagen (http://www.litespeed.com/bike.asp?content=Copenhagen-2012) for loaded touring, after putting a proper fork that will take a lowrider rack? The chainstays are 44cm, it has rack and fender eyelets on the back, short top tube for upright riding position... Is there any reason to expect that the frame won't be able to handle loaded touring?

Although I have a bit of touring experience (4000+ miles so far), I am just starting to learn about what to look for in a frame... All advice relevant to using this specific bike as a fully loaded tourer is appreciated! I am interested in this specific bike only right now.

Does anyone see a reason NOT to use the 2012 Litespeed Copenhagen (http://www.litespeed.com/bike.asp?content=Copenhagen-2012) for loaded touring, after putting a proper fork that will take a lowrider rack? The chainstays are 44cm, it has rack and fender eyelets on the back, short top tube for upright riding position... Is there any reason to expect that the frame won't be able to handle loaded touring?

Chainstays, wheelbase, and head tube are all a bit short. I'd be concerned about the handling with a heavy load. With only three sizes available, I'd also be worried about the fit; none of the sizes they offer would work for me. Aside from that, titanium is ridiculously expensive. I've been really happy with my $100 Nashbar aluminum touring frame. Can't think of a single reason I'd want to pay 20X more for a titanium frame...

It is too pretty to be bastardized with a different fork.

If you are looking at using a Ti frame for touring you might find RonK blog on his building of a Van Nicholas Pioneer (http://wheelswhisper.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/van-nicholas-pioneer-project_06.html) worth a read. There is a related discussion in the Australian Cycling Forums (http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=45722#p694547).

Andrew

Too short front triangle -> high likelihood of serious toe overlap with fenders on.
You would think you could cure this by using a fork with higher rake, but that would screw up the trail.

Ti is pretty flexy, I bet it will have terrible shimmy if you put a heavy load on it.

I have no experience with that bike but it isn't marketed as a bike for carrying heavy loads, simply as "an urban bike". Looking at other titanium bikes like the Van Nicholas one notices that the tubes are distinctly larger as the models move towards touring and heavy loaded touring like the Pioneer. I'd turn the question around and ask why you'd consider it for loaded touring if there's nothing advertising it as a bike for loaded touring.

Re. "short top tube" I'd take the LiteSpeed photo of the complete bike as an indication of it's intended use and rider position. The bars are not set up for upright riding position. It strikes me as a comfortable road/sport/tour bike.

Then again this is one of those things where you might be 125lbs and fully loaded is 30lbs and what's possible for you isn't possible for someone 200lbs carrying 40lbs.

8 sizes: http://salsacycles.com/bikes/vaya_ti/

^^ oh.... wow, I never saw that before. Put Ti S&S couplers on it and buy me a RTW plane ticket.

Moots in Colorado Is a Ti builder that will do custom stuff..

You could tour on that bike, but I do not see why you would. If you are buying the bike because you want that bike AND you are going to do some touring it would work. But there are so many other cheaper options out there if you want to buy a touring bike. I would avoid changing out the fork, as others mention this will affect the handling and the bike isn't set up for a front load, there is much more than just a fork involved in that. Something like a Surly LHT actually rides more stable with a load up front because it is designed for that. Throw a load upfront on a bike not designed for one can introduce all kinds of odd things.

For that bike you might be better off with a trailer, I have toured with a road race bike with a carbon fork. I used a BOB clone trailer and had great success, if you want THIS bike I might go that route.