jfmckenna

It's interesting to see how these frames have gained in popularity and price. I got mine about a year and a half ago and I think I paid $40 for it. It cost more to have it shipped (with a few other parts) from Switzerland then the price of the frame itself. I am getting the itch to get another one though. My plans was to get the one and check it out then go in on more with some friends but then Jacob at velomech went off line. Does anyone know what’s up with that? I see on his web site that there is a guy to email but I wonder if any one knows what is left of his frame stock supply.

halfspeed

I just bought this one: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...DME:B:AAQ:US:1

Has anyone used 39-49mm reach brakes with 700c wheels on one of these frames or are long reach brakes necessary? Also, are these frames designed for recessed bolt brakes?

Contrary to my normal policy of avoiding black components like the plague, this one will be all black to go with the paint job.

frank121

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FS: 57cm Titan NOS frame and NOS chromed 1" threaded fork: $195 shipped.

Now you can get a great NOS frame AND a NOS fork for less than $200 shipped! I recently had this on eBay and it sold. However, the fellow who won the auction won because a higher bid was deleted. The now high bidder had made a previous commitment thinking he had been outbid, and I didn't want to put him in a situation of buying something he really no longer wanted. This is one of the most colorful frames I have owned, but it is too big for me.

This lugged steel frame measures 57cm center to center, with a 56.5cm top tube. The paint scheme is a gorgeous black and purple smoked marble color and very cool looking flame decals on the top tube and on the chainstays (flame decals are not clearcoated so you could remove them if you so desired), making this look like a very expensive custom frame. There are no tubing decals (decal on the frame indicates the painter, "Varnished by Dossena Carlos", which I have seen on a high-end Guerciotti frame I owned), but the seat tube has spiraling at the butt and could be Columbus SLX steel. The nice lugs have heart-shaped cutouts filled in white. The chain stays and seat stays are chromed. This is a very beautiful and well-made quality Italian frameset. The fork looks to be a new old stock 1" threaded and chromed Tange fork with a 27.0 crown.

The horizontal dropouts are Campagnolo (no dropout screws included) and measure 126mm wide. The 1" headtube measures 160mm tall, and the bottom bracket measures 70mm wide. There is a braze-on front derailleur tab, two sets of water bottle bosses, a pump peg, rear brake cable is routed through the top tube, brazed-on down tube shifter bosses, three slanted cutouts in the bottom of the bottom bracket shell, and derailleur guides built into the bottom of the bottom bracket shell. This frame has not been prepped yet...it is as if it stepped out of time from the box where is was placed when brand new several years ago.

This is an Italian-built frame, but the actual builder has not been identified. It very much resembles a couple of Daccordi's I have owned, but that is just an experienced guess. This frame is in excellent condition with no chips, scratches, dents, dings, or rust to the paint or chrome. It has been completely treated with Boeshield T-9 rust prevention spray.

AndyGrow

I need some help on the sizing...I ride a 63cm Bianchi (center to top), which has a 59.5cm c-c top tube. I really REALLY want one of these bikes, but the 59cm size is all that is being sold.

HOWEVER - it shows the actual measurement at 61cm c-top, and the top tube at 56.5cm. This seems a bit - well - upright for a 61 c-t bike. Can anyone confirm or deny the measurements?

Thank you!

Totoro

Wild Jim,

How many Titans do you have in your arsenal now?

Aren't these things a threat to global security?





..... #1.......#2.......#3........#4.......#5 .............BOOM.........

oops, blame it on the Italians!

yuyax

I must confess that I just picked up one of the last 55 cm frame. Why? I have no idea. Maybe I could finally have a complete Campy SR bike as suppose to my other frankenbikes.

Not too crazy about the white marble like color though. I guess is not too bad and it could grow on me.

There is another 55cm if anybody else is interested. Sort of like a slate blueish with Columbus drop outs and a little less chrome. Frame construction seems a little different also. There are also a couple of larger frames too.

By the way, is 'Dossena Carlos' a real person? It could just be a marketing creation.

YMMV and keep the rubber side down.

dannyg1 

I bought one of the 55cm SLX's in smoked marble. I'm trying to figure the correct steerer length to fit and am having a dilemma because I want to use a threaded steerer. In looking over the photos posted, I've noticed a number of people here have mounted the threaded forks. Anybody mount a threaded fork on a 55? What length was your steerer? My headtube measures 140mm.

frank121

The Park tool site is a great of repair and general bike information! I have used threaded forks on the Titans, just add the headtube length, stack height of the headset you are using, add a bit for spacers, then measure 3 times before you cut anything just to be sure!
https://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=111

gone-bikin

Recently updated my Titan bike, with switching out Shimano 105 for Campy 8 brifters, put in a 130mm quill stem, and a flite ti saddle. love-da-ride...love-da-bike. Yeah!

gone-bikin

Thanks wildjim.

It not only looks good (to me), but as it stands right now in its current setup, it's THE favorite ride over the other Ti and carbon bikes that I have.

halfspeed

Here it is. Modern drivetrain, carbon fork. Nice ride. I mostly avoided silver bits but ended up with a few including the unused old Sachs front hub I had in the parts bin. I didn't use the decals but I found a goofy sticker to use as a headbadge.

Fork: Easton EC-30 (threaded)
Bars: Ritchey
Levers: Cane Creek
Brakes: Tektro RX40
Freehub: Shimano 105
Front hub: Sachs
Rims: Velocity Razor
Crank: FSA Gossamer compact 50/34
RD: Deore
FD: FSA
Saddle: Brooks Team Pro
Cassette: SRAM 11-32
Pedals: Speedplay Frog
Stem: Modolo
Chain: Sram
Shifters: DA barcons
Headset: 105

peugeot1SPD

After coming across the 59cm Titan frame on ebay and reading this thread (I usually spend more time in the SS/Fix forum) I jumped in and bought the frame with the steel fork that came with it. I ride an old Peugeot fixed conversion and do most/all of my own maintainance but it was all there to begin with, I just work on it all. This will be my first build from scratch!

I'm going to build this one up fixed and the few pieces of advice I would really appreciate are as follows:

A decently priced BB - would any of the Shimano Italian BB's work on this frame?

A headset that would fit the frame and work with a quill stem - I would love to be able to use one I already have

At the moment, this job is going to be on the cheap so no campy etc. I figure with the right treatment of this frame I can build it up over time with the parts it deserves and continue to enjoy it. Thanks in advance for any help you all can offer

ollo_ollo

Before you spring for an Italian thread BB, you should confirm that is what you have. One of my Titan frames turned out to have English threading. Your local Bike shop should be able to confirm the threading for you. As to the headset, I'm building one of my frames threaded & found a new Miche headset on e-Bay at a reasonable price. Countryside (now lightenup4less) also had a Titan stem & 3t bar set at a low price, just have to watch & see if they put any more up 4 sale. Looking forward to some pictures of your fixie. Don

jfmckenna

I got my Titan for a fixed conversion and I absolutly love it. I put a cheap Shimano Itallian BB in it and have had no problems in well over a year now. I don't know about your fork but the steal fork that came with mine although it was designed as a threaded fork was not tapped yet so it had no threads. I just mounted it as threadless and it's been fine.

To all y'all recient posters nice job on the Titan bikes keep the pictures comming.

gone-bikin

wildjim, thanks for posting the pictures of your titan van gogh. It just brings up a smile on my face. One quick question -- where do you source your campy parts?

The reason I ask is because right now I have a weird setup on my Titan, with campy8 brifters up front and everything else is shimano105, and I am using the wheels running on a 9-speed cogs. Without saying, the shifting is all screwy. I am trying to figure out the best way to fix this without going through too much spend. I know for sure that I want to keep the campy shifters on front b'cos the cable presentation is so much cleaner compared to Shimano...and of course, it looks so RIGHT on what is an italian-made lugged steel.

gone-bikin

Yes, the front derailer works alright.
Thanks for both your suggestions on the spacer kit and the cable pull modifier, I have heard of them. Enjoy your ride over the weekend.

Lost Pup

Could any owners offer a standover height measurement of their frame ?

Trying to choosing between a 57 and/or a 59.

Thanks much.

cyclezen

arrrrrggggh!

I am a sucka for purple, mauve, dusty rose, lavender.

I just BIN'd a 57cm.
I never name my bikes, but this one, as my statement of Midafternoon-Life crisis is gonna be "Purple Haze".
(tanks jimi).
I wanted a 'modern' bike! Course my def of modern is prolly still a little left-behind.

Q - for titan buyers - is the Tange fork worth it? I personally prefer a semislope fork (for looks), but I would go with it if the rake is well-matched to the frame.

I've been wanting a 9 spd, and have hesitated on spreading the Colnagos, but this Titan will be the one. Got most everything I need to make it happen. Just need a good threaded headset and a 130 wheelset (prolly something modern, but not CF-ish lookin - if you know what I mean). Any recs on a nice 'silver' 130 wheelset without a lot of geek decals on the rims would be greatly appreciated.

This will be my next year's racing bike.

poopncow

Hello all, Can anyone help with the stand over on the 53 and 55 cm frames? I'm 5 ft 8 and often between sizes in most everything. These frames look great and I could really use one in my stable.

halfspeed

Bear in mind that the top tubes on these are shorter than on most modern bikes. Good if you are mostly legs, not so much if you are mostly torso. You might want to go larger just for that reason.

poopncow

Thanks! just measured my Austro Daimler USL. It is 53.5cm C to C for both seat and top tube. Stand over is 31.25 in, (Open Pros and 23 vitoria) and I don't think that I can tolerate any higher. With a 110 stem and EC70 seatpost (much setback) I often find myself wanting the seat to be a little further back while on the hoods for long (60 mile+) distances. The intent of the next project is to replace my old fix gear conversion for around town. So looks like I'll be crossing my fingers that another 53 will pop up. Thanks again!

cyclezen

Which headset do you guys use with the Tange fork?
I've played with a few bikes with threadless headsets, but never really owned a bike with one (except one of my MTBs that came with one installed). A recommendation for one that works well with the titan would be appreciated.

poopncow

Thanks Jim! It looks like the Titan may fit me better than my AD. Now if a 53 will eventually show up again. But then, I don't absolutely have to have a Titan and the other choices you listed are good info. I'll be cruising ebay for other road frames in the $250 range. Any other sources you know w nice old steel lugged frames?

cyclezen

Thanks, I did go thru the 200 odd posts on this thread, but I guess its easy to 'pass' by stuff on the review.
This'll help in getting it going.
I'm tempted to use a spare Columbus Fork (Colnago) that I have. Will depend on the rake comparison of the 2 forks, and what seems good for the frame dims. Also the Colnago fork is for a 58 cm frame and might be just a touch too long steerer - but vee zhell zee.
Frame spposed to arrive today - excited to see it and start plannin the build.

cyclezen

My frame just came in. REALLY NICE! I'm impressed with the brazing and tube finish. The paint job is second to none I've seen. Only the interface between the paint and chrome on the stays is very abrupt. Abrupt in that the paint is a very thick finish and prolly adds to what feels like a slightly heavier frame that what I'd expect from SL or SLX. But I plan to 'smooth' that sharp edge by either 'filling' the ledge with either clear coat paint or just plain clear nail polish - either should make a smooth transition of it.
Otherwise this is a very, very nice frame job - and if you can ride a short top tube frame, this is very nice.
The fork they supplied (I bought the tange fork they listed) is a lot nicer than I expected . Not just a full sloping fork but also the slightly newer 'aero' profile Tange. It also isn't the lightest of forks I've held, but it will LAST, for sure. In all, more than worth the price just as 'product' goes.
We'll see if the ride holds up to the level of the 'make'...
I'd be interested to hear what other Titan buyers came up with on 'complete bike weight' on their machines.
paint job? vey distinctive without being gaudy.
like the idea of having the decals separate. I like simple frames and parts without a lot of logoing. A lot of what I don;t like about modern bikes is their unrelenting bad taste and over-logoing on everything - Easton products being a forerunner in bad taste. Seems like cheeseball graphics and logos are the statement for modern stuff. But thatz for another thread.