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Stainless steel frame recommendations???

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Old 02-24-14, 06:15 PM
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Stainless steel frame recommendations???

I want to buy a stainless steel road bike frame, without spending a whole lot.

Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced SS frame?

Thank you for your help.
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Old 02-24-14, 07:01 PM
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I don't know what you'd consider reasonably priced, but SOMA sells the fillet brazed KVA MS2 stainless Smoothie SS for $2K.

SOMA Smoothie SS

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Old 02-25-14, 11:46 AM
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This is just an afterthought...

Reynolds has announced a new stainless steel tubeset, Reynolds 921, that should be available to framebuilders this spring. The pricing I have for the 921 tubeset is about 20% less expensive than KVA MS2. I expect that once it becomes available in quantity, a number of builders will be using it for stock geometry production frames similar to to what SOMA is doing with the Smoothie SS.

It might pay to wait a bit and see how things play out.

Reynolds 921 Austentic Cold-Worked Stainless Steel
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Old 02-25-14, 12:07 PM
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You might do just as well with a chrome plated carbon steel frame. Similar look, ride quality, and durability (if you take care of it).
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Old 02-25-14, 12:18 PM
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SS bike tubing is still relatively rare in actual practice. Low supply is keeping prices high. I think Mercian out of England will provide a SS frame for about $2000 depending upon the exchange rate. You can't beat Mercian for old fashioned beauty.
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Old 02-25-14, 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted by rpenmanparker
SS bike tubing is still relatively rare in actual practice. Low supply is keeping prices high. I think Mercian out of England will provide a SS frame for about $2000 depending upon the exchange rate. You can't beat Mercian for old fashioned beauty.
They stopped taking orders because of supply problems.
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Old 02-25-14, 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by halfspeed
They stopped taking orders because of supply problems.
See, that's what I was talking about. They are one of Reynold's oldest and most valued customers. If they can't get the stuff, I would have to say nobody can. Too bad though. Mercian really knows how to build a frame and puts a lot of care into it.
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Old 02-25-14, 05:12 PM
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I like!

Do you have a stainless steel fork recommendation? I want a relaxed long fork.
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Old 02-25-14, 05:48 PM
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Originally Posted by mobi
I like!

Do you have a stainless steel fork recommendation? I want a relaxed long fork.
Call me anything you want, but a carbon fork is my recommendation. What is a "relaxed long fork"? The fork has to be tuned to the frame's geometry for proper handling. If you insist on steel, just get the fork from the frame maker.
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Old 02-25-14, 06:49 PM
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Originally Posted by mobi
I like!

Do you have a stainless steel fork recommendation? I want a relaxed long fork.
If you're talking about the SOMA Smoothie SS, there are two forks SOMA recommends. One is a Tange Prestige chrome plated chromoly road fork they sell for $179.99, and the other is an IRD Mosaic carbon fiber fork for $209.99.

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Old 02-26-14, 01:49 PM
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Soma is all out of the SS Smoothie in the size that I want (56cm), and they will not be making any more.

Does anyone have other SS frame recommendations?
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Old 02-26-14, 02:03 PM
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Waterford Series 22 Artisan Stainless

https://waterfordbikes.com/w/bikes/artisan-stainless/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/51333504@N03/8314293173
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Old 02-26-14, 02:04 PM
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Originally Posted by mobi
Soma is all out of the SS Smoothie in the size that I want (56cm), and they will not be making any more.

Does anyone have other SS frame recommendations?
Without spending a lot? No. Try Ti. There are several options under $2k.
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Old 02-26-14, 03:00 PM
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Scott Quiring in Freesoil, Michigan, builds affordable really nice stainless steel frames and has worked with both Columbus XCr and KVA MS2.

His website sucks, but you might give him a call at 231-464-5611 or e-mail him at squiring@sbcglobal.net for details and pricing.

Quiring Cycles
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Old 02-26-14, 03:05 PM
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I truly think the problem with supply at Soma and at Mercian is the shortage of the material and tubing. For some reason the SS tubing is very hard to get ahold of.
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