Originally Posted by
AS Collie
I've been wondering this for a while. Where I am, there are usually a few pretty attractive second-hand Ti frames knocking about, but none of the major manufactures are using it anymore (at least not in the models they sell in Italy).
Is there a reason for this?
It costs much less to build carbon fiber reinforced plastic bikes when your production volumes are high enough to amortize the mold cost.
Are there any committed Ti guys on here?
I've been riding the same titanium frame for the last fifteen years and will replace/supplement it with another one (I've become soft in my old age, want my weight on panniers instead of a back pack, and want fenders in the rainy season).
A custom titanium frame will get me geometry that fits, long reach brakes, rack eyelets where I want them, and still look good after 15 years. That's not possible with a monocoque carbon fiber frame and a tubed frame would be both expensive and have finish durability issues. Painted steel/aluminum will look like crap within 7 years. Scratched clear coated carbon fiber doesn't look as bad as painted, but is still worse than brushed titanium. Stainless steel (Reynolds 953) would work too but cost more and mean additional weight to haul up a staircase.