ricefarmerr

..

patentcad

The frames are OUTSTANDING. I've had a Motobecane Fly Ti for 6 years. It's like a Litespeed for 1/4 the cost.

rpenmanparker 

Do you mean the same exact tubing from the same source or just the same nominal alloy? On the one hand I don't think there is such a thing as bad titanium if the nominal alloy is the right one. On the other hand I would be shocked if Lynskey and Motobecane were supplied from the same foundry and/or tubing mill. Could be. I would just be surprised. Given the same nominal alloy, metal quality is the least of your concerns. Pay more attention to tubing shapes and gauges, geometry, weld quality and so on.

StanSeven

If there was a problem with Motorbecane, they wouldn't be selling as well and you would here about it - especially here. They are a great deal as pcad said.

bikemig 

I've been sorely tempted by the BD ti cross bikes for some time. They look sweet.

rpenmanparker 

Yeah, that's my point. Then there is likely another middleman, the tubing mill. But you are right, the 3.0/2.5 alloy is the one you want.

MrCharlie

They do.

abriasffxi

Here are some pics of my 1 month old Lechamp Team Ti with full ultegra 22. It was $2200, and in my opinion the only real offbrand thing I'm going to replace is the headset/fork a few years from now. Honestly, its the best deal out there. There are a few cheaper options if you want to go Rival and/or FSA cranksets.

It has been well knowm that the motobecane ti frames are made by ORA engineering- this year they even started branding the bikes with the logo. Give em a google.

Let me know if there's anything else you want to see. I tried to take pics of the hardest welds to get right.

patentcad

I spoke with the owner of BD on the phone back in 2008. If you pay attention, they get these frames in and they quickly run out of them and then you have to start waiting all over again. That is because they can't get enough of them. But the owner was unwilling to find another source (switch factories) because he was so happy with the quality of the Ti frames he was getting. It appears that 6+ years later he is sticking to his guns. I was blown away with the quality of the Fly Ti MTB that still sits in my garage (I'm selling that bike now, but tough sell, 26" wheels).

The bike handled and rode fantastic. I'd get a new one, but I have a chance to buy a superlight CF hardtail MTB which I've always wanted. From a high end MTB or road ike for cheap standpoint, those BD Ti frames are by far the best deal in high end bicycle retail. They are the real deal, Bikes Direct is a legit company offering high quality stuff. Their house name wheels were light and utterly bulletproof too. Can't say enough good things about Bikes Direct. Kind of wish they had a superlight CF version of that MTB.

a1penguin

Doggone it. Now I really want one of these bikes. I was holding off because I could not decide if the 48 would be too small or the 51 too large. My synapse is a 51 and the Motos run on the large side according to what I've read. Grrrr.

hazben1

Abriasffxi, why did you have to do that? Man I am not in the market for another bike but, by the looks of that bike I think I just developed an itch for another bike. That is a very nice looking bike for $2200. Does BD ever put them on sale?

rpenmanparker 

Every day!

patentcad

They can't keep them in stock @ $2200. If that doesn't work for you buy a Litespeed for $5500.

LesterOfPuppets

If you're REALLY lucky one in your size will show up on bikeisland.com. kinda like hitting the lottery though

patentcad

You mostly have to order and wait. I opted for the Scott Scale 700SL, which is setting me back $6800 (MSRP $8K) but my LBS is eBaying some older stuff of mine and that will be credit against the new bike. So I'm paying nearly three times as much. The Scott is the state of the art MTB hardtail, about the lightest, etc. 3 lbs lighter than the Bikes Direct 27.5" Ti MTB hardtail, probably a better fork/lockout system, I like the 1 x 11 speed drivetrain. The BD MTB is a FAR better value. But this will probably be my last MTB, I wanted the lightest and coolest so I'm springing for it. They took last year's bike which got about the best reviews I've ever seen for a hard tail MTB and they improved it a bit.

That Scale frame is what Nino Schurter won the world MTB xc championships on in 2013, so he probably likes it. It's lighteous, righteous and overpriced like most of the best bike crap.

But best VALUE? Buy that Bikes Direct stuff.

cydewaze

I have a friend who ordered from BD and it's definitely a quality product at a great price. I may go this route when it comes time to get an updated mountain bike.

FlatSix911

You can always buy the road frame and build your own cross bike ...
Save Up to 60% Off Road Titanium framesets - Motobecane Le Champion Team Ti

FlatSix911

You are correct, the max tire clearance is up to 700x28c

PhotoJoe 

Lots and lots of great reviews of that bike. Lynskey made me a heck of an offer on my bike, otherwise, I'd be riding the MB Ti today.

https://www.google.com/search?q=le+c...ms.net&spell=1

abriasffxi

Haha sorry! Just trying to help out. They don't really ever "go on sale" except black friday or until they only have the bikes for people under 5'3'' or over 6'4'' left and even then it's $100 or $200 off max. This frame is new enough I doubt it will be on black friday- they'll probably clear out the previous model that had a 1 1/8" straight headtube.

I really wasn't directly in the market for a BD bike, although I have two others (the $899 super strada with ultegra 22 for the wife, and a 2012 Kestrel Talon Tri with Force). When I was looking for a Ti frame bike, I was directly looking for: Good quality, smart geometry/tubes/welds, english threaded bb, at least a 1 1/8" hs (or a 1 1/8"-1.5" taper), and a removable derailleur hanger. All wrapped up into something that's a good value.

TGT1

I got one last December, (the CX SRAM model)

The weld quality is superb! (I've been looking at welds for more than 40 years in one capacity or another)

Have just under 3,000 miles on it now.

I can put skinny tires on it and get it down to under 19lb (with a Brooks saddle that adds almost a pound) or run 42s and grind fire roads.

As far as sales go, BD's business model is they let the buyer do the financing.

If you preorder they charge your card immediately and then you may wait a month for the ship to come in.

What I ended up with for what amounted to a one month $1,400 loan was well worth it.
They usually do discount the preorders.

FlatSix911

Nice craftsmanship ...

RPK79

Kind of an over-generalization. I own a road frame that will accept 32 mm tires.

TGT1

Has anyone managed to break one?

(Other than wrecking or having it backed over, run into)

How about the fork?

merlinextraligh

I'd mostly agree with that. I got a Motobecanne Ti MTB with Sram XO, for $1995, and an aluminum Phantom cross with Ultegra for $899.

The Phantom Cross was a screaming deal, because it had 6600 Ultegra after 6700 hit the market.

The MTB was a good buy, but there are few reasons that BD bikes are cheap. Most notably the wheels were very cheap and heavy, and it has an FSA, not Sram crankset.

Even replacing the wheels, it was still a good buy.

I also have an advantage that BD has a physical store here, so you can test ride the exact bike you're getting.