Originally Posted by
Looigi
Perhaps we agree completely. That's why I mentioned the relative ages in the first place and credited some of the difference to design. I didn't mention manufacturing techniques because I don't believe any manufacturing techniques being used today by Ti frame builders weren't around 10 years ago, so the fact they may not have been used back then was a design/cost decision. I certainly believe that the best Ti bikes today are better than the best Ti bikes 10 years ago, and I believe they are plenty good enough, but are they better than the best carbon? I don't think so.
I'm a happy owner/rider of Ti and carbon bikes and enjoy each for its own charms.
That pretty much sums up my beliefs as well. I have a Seven Ti and a CF bike. The Seven is custom, including specifying the kind of ride I wanted and Seven using different size tubesets to get it that way. I ended up with a stiff frame, especially in the rear and bb areas, that doesn't flex on sprints and steep climbs. It feels very much like my CF bike. However it weighs about 1 lb more so that's the cost of making a Ti ride equivalent.