Monoborracho

Hydration?.....???

himespau 

Looks like you can take a lot of bottles with you (not that that's a bad thing).

BikeWNC

I sold my last Ti frame a couple years ago. I think there is still a market for Ti but it is ever decreasing in scope. For me, I would consider a Ti frame if I valued absolute durability over everything else or if I wanted a travel frame with couplings. Otherwise I prefer the ride of a high end carbon frame.

BikeWNC

Sounds like carbon to me, only a carbon bike would be lighter, stronger, corrosion proof and under most conditions just about as durable. Ti frames crack too, welds break. For the money, under most conditions of use, carbon is the better material. I wouldn't buy a cheap carbon frame or from a lesser know brand.

Biker395 

I dunno. IMHO, carbon is much more susceptible to damage than Ti. I worry a lot more about bolt-tightening, small cracks hiding defects, and the like. I've known people who've had to toss (or repair) carbon frames because their chain fell off enough time to chew up the chainstay. I also know someone who's carbon frame simply disintegrated from underneath him while he was riding. That kind of stuff wouldn't happen with Ti. Ti is far more ductile, making catastrophic failure far less likely.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but I deliberately shy away from some carbon parts, notably handlebars and stems.

Popeyecahn

All in good fun mind you

Carbonfiberboy 

Riding buddy of mine just retired his Litespeed in favor of a Trek Domane. He reports the difference is just astounding. New bike is lighter, smoother, and climbs better. Much better. Riding buddies have cracked Ti frames, never a carbon. I have over 50,000 miles on my Trek carbon frame and fork. Like new except for the paint. You don't see Ti forks, but almost every new bike has a carbon fork. I wonder why that is? Maybe because there is no material that exceeds a carbon/epoxy laminate for fatigue resistance.

BikeWNC

Well, you are right to a point. Carbon does require more diligence in use. There is nothing wrong with a well made Ti frame. If I needed a super durable travel, randonee bike it would be Ti from a builder like Indy Fab, Moots or one of the smaller custom shops. For my riding right now though, carbon is amazing. Note I ride top of the line frames which have advantages over base level carbon frames. Given the cost of well made Ti frames I think the comparison to high level carbon is appropriate.

Biker395 

I have a carbon frame bike (Scott CR-1) and I love it. It's rides nicer than my Al frame bikes (although I think the differences are a bit overblown), lighter, and climbs as well.

Carbon has some great advantages over Ti. It's a lot easier to manufacture, particularly in unusual shapes. It has a very high modulus, is very resistant to corrosion and has some nice anti-vibration characteristics.

But durability and resistance to catastrophic failure? If that's what you want, Ti's a better choice.

Biker395 

+1

dbg

It is a tough choice. I love both my CF frames. But I am way less likely to take a chance on used CF than used steel. And there is no way I'm going spend $2K to $5K on pristine new high end CF frames just to satisfy my jones of building up bikes. I toured this summer on a CF roadie (updated with 650B wheels) and plan another CF next summer (older trek MTB team frame). But if I had to go unsupported on long tours, I'd almost certainly go steel.

fietsbob

even the pure Titanium tube is not used any more , the metal used is alloyed with other stuff.

Zinger

Probably a wise choice for touring with panniers. And I'd go lugged. Something about welded frames I just never will get used to but I'm just old fashioned I guess. And if you want to get compliments on your bike, old steel bikes will get them cheaper.

You just can't get soul without steel. (This one not mine unfortunately)

Wogster

Where there can be a huge savings with Ti, is that a damaged Ti frame is like a damaged Steel frame, you see the damage. That means that a used frame can be trusted. Even aluminum usually will show it's damaged, although some people don't like to buy used AL frames, because you can't tell if it's 5 minutes or 5 decades from failure. CF can be damaged internally and catastrophically fail. That means riders in the know, will not buy a used CF bicycle, they will not buy used AL either.

It all depends though on what you want out of a bicycle, if you want a harsh ride, then go AL, if you want a fast ride, go CF, if you want a comfy ride, go Ti, if you want a durable ride, go steel.

Mobile 155

Most of page two proves my point. Those who like Ti swear by it. Those who like CF don't care about Ti. Aluminum still sells well and is made by most of the big players. Hydroforming has given Aluminum a second life. Anyone concerned about a used CF bike can easily have it examined by Calfee, I understand some other companies will run a frame through a scanner for a small fee as well.

MTBs have used Aluminum for quite a few years and CF is becoming more popular. So everyone can have the frame material of their choice. It all comes down to what you are willing to pay for.

mkane77g

Here's a big player in the bike industry.

Monoborracho

I have a lugged steel road bike, a tribike that is mostly carbon with an aluminum diamond, a steel touring bike, and tHe Ti tandem shown earlier. The tandem has CF bars front and rear, and a set of Spinergy wheels (not shown) with CF spokes but not rims. I use alloy seat posts. I'm planning to get a custom CF stoker stem for the tandem in the not too distant future now that she has it fitted to her liking.

I have each bike for a different reason and they each are made of the material that I wanted for that category.

I have yet to see carbon fiber touring bike, and there is probably a
reason for that.

t4mv

Vic, from a previous post a while ago, I think you should get one of these, even though they're no longer made.

himespau 

Ooh that is pretty.

Biker395 

You betcha it is. A friend of mine has one, and I spent a lot of time drooling over it. Not only is it Carbon/Ti ... it has a lot of sweet details.

It would look great in anyone's garage ... which, BTW, is where I'd be banished to if I were to buy one.

Monoborracho

You can still get a bike like that here-------https://www.sevencycles.com/bikes/622-slx.php

jdon

There are few bikes I would buy on looks alone but that is the exception!

tsl

Yes. Retrogrouches.

As a commercial product, you won't see anything other than steel in touring bikes until all the retrogrouches have passed away. Retrogrouches effectively killed Cannondale's aluminum touring bike.

"You can't take it to any welder on the planet and have it fixed," is their argument against non-ferrous frames. Personally, I wouldn't take a steel bike to just any welder on the planet either. I'd hold out for someone who knows bikes and thinwall bicycle tubing. And frankly, I'd probably just go to an LBS and get another frame. Screw auditioning welders.

You can have a touring bike made in anything you like. It's only off-the-rack models you can find only in steel.

If Boeing can make airliners out of carbon fiber, then certainly touring bikes can be made of the stuff. It's not a technological problem.

rebel1916

This. It's a ridiculous argument. Unless you are riding a 26 lb frame made out of gas pipe, a peasant with an arc welder in outer Mongolia isn't gonna be able to fix your bike. And I have a hard time believing that the people making that BS argument are dumb enough to believe it.

David Bierbaum

I have indeed purchased a titanium frame. My glasses are bound to last forever!