No question, IF does a hell of a job. Real nice guys, too - they showed me around the shop last winter (interview on frame building for a project I was doing), were very helpful. Very cool that you got one! I was amazed by the quality of the welds when I visited. I still prefer lugs , but I don't know of anyone who does a better TIG weld.

Wannaride, IF steel frames are built with the purchaser's choice of top-end Reynolds or (two other brands I can't remember) tubing. This is according to their literature, anyway. I have no idea as to whether the Ti bikes are butted. I know very little about Ti as a frame material.

As for price... you've got to be prepared to pay a pretty penny. The steel crown jewel goes for $1600 MSRP without any extra options. The cheapest frame they build is the steel off-road - MSRP is right about $1400. Want Ti? Expect to pay well over three grand, depending upon the options you pick. Quality has a price tag. Honestly - and I was told this by the IF guys themselves - just about no one really needs a custom-built frame like the ones they do. If your heart is set on it, or you really need it, go for it, but you can honestly get a much better deal on most production bikes.

They do beautiful work though, don't they?