CrankyFranky

I've seen a Serotta Legend Ti on de bay go for ~$1200 recently. You just have to be ready to put our money down. I spent a huge amount of time futzing and lurking for a 58-60cm before I decided that it would be Merlin or Serotta. I've heard a scary story or two about some sizes of Lightspeeds having harmonic instabilities. Not interested! I finally snagged a Legend (polished no less) for more than I'd wanted to pay, but by the time I pulled the trigger I figure I put 60-80 hours looking! I've not been disappointed. The market is all droughts and deluges. Good luck in your search!

FlatSix911

Just saw this review on RBR
Review: Motobecane Fantom Cross Team Ti

crank_addict

drool............

Trecià titanium, Super Record

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ambro1...57633147166781

other:

McBTC

I've never had the pleasure of riding a titanium frame bike. I have enjoyed the special ride of steel so I have no doubt that I'd appreciate the feel and whatever nuance titanium brings to the equation. I wouldn't even paint it. I'd be great! That said, as interesting a material as Ti is and no matter how tantalizing it may be to drop a few thou on a Ti frame, I know it'd come with a carbon fork and one of the most expensive and revered of Ti-bikes even has a carbon tail. So, I'd have to at least ask myself: why not a carbon bike? A lot of research money has gone into Ti because of the aerospace industry. A lot of research money has also gone into carbon... because of the bicycle industry.

Salubrious

The reason you get Ti (or stainless) is that carbon frames don't last. If it gets a crack, the frame can literally explode. They work great if you are a racer and have the budget to replace the frame on an on-going basis. But the simple fact of the matter is that a few pounds less won't make you any faster- that has entirely to do with how well you have trained and generally what sort of shape you are in.

McBTC

...don't ever take up pole vaulting.

miamijim

Merlin or Litespeed.

Salubrious

As long as the frame (or pole) does not get damaged you're good. But a crack can be caused simply by allowing the bike to fall over.

There are reports of people crashing on carbon frames where the frame was swept off the road into a plastic bag...

skoda2

+1, it's not the carbon, it's the resin that holds the carbon fibers together deteriorates with sun and heat, leading to as one bike mag. Indicated. 'Sudden and catastrophic frame and/or fork failure!
Cheers

redcaymatt

Not one mention of Dean? I loved my old Dean. They can be a bargain used also.

crank_addict

Depends on a number of things. Firstly, there's unpainted, possibly harmful UV rays working against longevity. Can't say for sure urethane clear really helps either.

But going back to the early monocoque Kestrel. They were heavier but remarkably strong and could handle hard hits. You could take chunks out of it and they'd be just fine. I only know from years of beating up an early CS-X 'hard tail' mountain bike. Also quite sure most steel frames would have been severely damaged on a few experienced endo's and frame slams.

RobbieTunes

Teledyne Titan, Model # A3UR1. Serial #TL000357

I have two frames, one is cracked at the BB. Serial #TL000286
The seller (unterhausen) would like to see it repaired. Exploring options on that.

steelbikeguy

sweet! So nice and clean! Good to see the Japanese parts too... that was the stuff I was intrigued by back when the Titan was in production.
The Cyclone shifters in particular fit well with the presumed weight weenie theme. The center pull brakes surprised me, though.. I was expecting something equivalent to the Weinmann 500 sidepulls, as they are often cited as a preferred lightweight set of brakes.

What are the cranks? Dura-Ace? Always liked that first generation Dura-Ace, although I've never ridden it, it just looked good.

Steve in Peoria

silent_chief

There is nothing like the look of raw ti. I personally think my Lemond Victoire complete with a modern 11 speed group and modern wheels looks like it could have come off a show room yesterday... and it is from 02. It's my favorite in the fleet (only 3) and I am going to ride this thing into the grave and pass it on to my kids. I can't say the same of a plastic carbon bike/ toy.

RobbieTunes

Truth be told, I didn't know one Weinmann from another, and a complete NOS set was for sale on the 'Bay, with all the nuts, bolts, cable, housing, levers, calipers, etc, so I just went for that. They are sure heavier than the 600AX, but fit the look. I can always swap them out once I know what to look for. Thanks for the tip on the 500's.

That is an early DA 7200 crank set, and it came with the bottom bracket that was in good shape. It's actually pretty darn light, a lot lighter than the Suntour GPX or Sachs Rival that I'd considered.

Hi-E hubs are being laced to rims, so I'll lose a bit of weight in the wheels, despite the fairly heavy 5sp 13-21 freewheel. I may check those out, too, but the Regina's to which I've been recommended are fairly expensive.

RobbieTunes

It's a BF bike, of sorts.

Last Ride 76 - frame (Teledyne Titan)
unterhausen - fork (Teledyne Titan)
3speedslow - FD/RD/Shifters (Cyclone and Superbe), front hub (Hi-E)
Steve Whitlach - bars and rims (Cinelli and Araya tubulars)
squirtdad - crankset/BB (DA 7200)
krems81 - freewheel (Suntour New Winner Pro) and I think the MKS Sylvan pedals
deaux jambs - calipers (Suntour 4700)
smontanaro - rear Hub (Hi-E) hub/spokes/nipples
speedevil - build the wheels
crank_addict and steelbikeguy - advice
can't remember - brake levers (DA 7200) and tires (Vittoria Corsa CX)

steelbikeguy

The Weinmann 500's were fairly low status brakes, not unlike their centerpulls. You can find them on a lot of basic Schwinn models of the day, IIRC.
I wonder if there is a sexier lightweight brake, though.

The Hi-E hubs are fun and light, and are USA made, so they are a nice match for the Titan. ... I wonder how much other lightweight American stuff you could put on the frame? I'm sure someone has done a project like this, though. Between Phil Wood, Hi-E, Weyless, and maybe even Pino Moroni (sp?), you could end up with a really cool bike!

Steve in Peoria (I used to have a Hi-E tubular rim.. too bad I got rid of it)

mackgoo

I second the Mega Tube. Get the Columbus Hyperon, it's a Bianchi. Anything else it was made at Litespeed.



Can't go wrong.

RobbieTunes

crank_addict gave me tons of advice on weight-weenie USA and Italian, etc stuff.

Like about $1000 worth.

RobbieTunes

Who firsted it? Did I miss something?

There's a nice one for sale in the FS thread, but as soon as it was posted, people started sniping at it.

I like the bike, just not the color. No particular reason, just not a fan of the color. Though Pantani was always my guy.

steelbikeguy

he's working on a Titan too, right? Should be fun to see how it turns out!

Care to share some of the goodies that Mr. Crank Addict transferred to you? i.e. what are some of the coolest/neatest/craziest pieces??
A year or two ago, he showed up with a bike with the Zeus 2000 parts, including the factory drilled cranks. Very cool!!



Steve in rainy Peoria

RobbieTunes

I was not clear. He didn't transfer anything, but provided links and advice to about $1000 worth of weight-weenie stuff, just in case I was so inclined. He's so helpful. If I lived near him, I'd be broke and bike-rich.

steelbikeguy

He does have a bit of a fascination for the weight weenie stuff.
I sold him a few lightweight alloy bolts that a local friend had made decades ago. There was a set of pivot bolts for Campy NR derailleurs and an expander bolt for a Cinelli stem. I don't trust alloy bolts enough to use them, but was happy to see them go to someone who would use them.

here's a shot of the pivot bolts...



and I believe he had them installed on the Colnago that I showed in my earlier picture. Very slick!!



apologies for the finger over the lens... my fingers must have been grossly swollen that day??

and for the heck of it, here's a shot of the expander bolts and cones that my friend made....




Steve in Peoria

RobbieTunes

I've seen his Colnago. He has a matching jersey that made the Dairyland Dare one year. I think he also had a matching cap.

crank_addict

@steelbikeguy and @RobbieTunes are the enablers. Secret stash of goodies have funneled my way alrighty. Steve, those Campy ally bits are beauties.

Funny you mention that bike. Somehow that rear derailleur main parallel link earned a bow.... as in bowed outward - Lol. I then found another and swapped over all the goodies. Then decided to further carry the drillium theme on the front derailleur by filing out the mount clamp. Repurposed old and tatty Campy NR.

For the Titan, I found an unbranded stem that was styled to the theme of the build. Also lightweight but not enough.. ;-/ I replaced the steel wedge by turning ally round stock, threaded for an oversize bolt thread insert (steel). Drawn down with an ally bolt. Eventually will replace the bar clamp bolt with Ti. Of which I started on some of the other components. Heck if anyone cared but at a minimum should keep from corrosion. Cheers