Originally Posted by tommyblair22

I'm interested in buying a titanium road bike for faster rides. I've got about $1200 as my budget.
Any recommendations or words of wisdom as to preferred brands or things to keep an eye out for? Thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by KonAaron Snake

^^^ That is exactly the kind of ti frame I would not go near. Ti isn't something to do on a budget (unless used), if it's out of budget (and it's out of mine) I think you're best off buying used, or going with a different material. Ti frames are, in my experience, more variable in ride quality and build quality than other materials. I have ridden some truly uninspiring ti frames and I don't think many really design well with the material. Tom Kellogg has the voodoo, Serotta had the voodoo. Folks I trust say Moots, Firefly, and Hollands have the voodoo, though I haven't ridden one. A lot of really good frame makers don't - my De Rosa Primato is a much better ride than the titanio.

I look at it this way - you're really buying the builder, and some like to work in ti. Don't buy something just because it's titanium, or SLX, or 531, etc. A good builder can make a good frame with nearly any material - and a bad frame can be made with any material too. Just because it's ti doesn't make it special. A bikes direct ti frame? No thanks.