ADAP7IVE

Trying to get an idea for needed savings/plans for the next build. Looking at steel or Ti frame, something comfy and durable that can handle all weather well and carry a (light bikepacking) load, mostly over poor pavement and dirt/gravel. Maybe Rohloff and Gates belt for low-maintenance, but not picky about components. I don't do anything competitive, I don't own a car, and do a lot of long rides, touring, and messing around off the beaten path. Been riding my Bianchi roadie for commutes, but in another year I'll be moving and leaving it behind. Now hoping to get a "for life" bike.

Right now Co-Motion and Moots are on the list, prices for which are $3500-$5000+. Anything else I should look at?

rgconner

Get a custom frame built since you know what you want and know your preferences by now.

ADAP7IVE

Thank you. I'll look at custom builders too. Ericksen makes some nice Ti frames.

Wildwood 

You stated not picky about components but include Rohloff & Gates belt, which are pretty specific.

Call Doug Curtiss at: Curtlo Cycles - Handmade bicycles. Custom Mountain Bike, Road, Cyclocross, Tandem bikes for a talk. Custom steel frame for about $1,000 from an experienced builder. Leaves lots of budget for your specifics, which seem more important than the frame itself.

Co-Motion built me a fantastic custom tandem.
Jon Tallerico satisfied my needs 100%. And he won 'People's Award' at this year's NAHBS.

Lots of choices if you can't find an 'off the shelf' solution. I am unaware of a Rohloff+Gates offering, but that's a tiny small segment to be researched.

Drew Eckhardt 

There are more custom builders than you can shake a stick at for whatever material you want, with price largely determined by popularity and aesthetic details like tapered chain stays.

Around here, Nelson Titanium Products in San Francisco starts at $1800 for titanium frames. Calletti in Santa Cruz starts at $3200 for a steel frameset (including Enve fork) and $4200 titanium.

If you're someplace with a lot of cycling, there's probably somebody you can visit.

fietsbob

Bike Friday can fulfill your desires in a bike you can pack on the train in a bag, to go ride from the station.

new NWT, is belt drive capable, opt for disc brakes there can be either 451 or 406 wheels or a set of each..

into Titanium? Ti Cycles is just this side of PDX.

St33lWh33ls

I wanted a dedicated gravel grinder, so I bought a used Moots Psychlo X frame and built it up with SRAM Force 1. The used frame was less than half the cost of a new one so the savings can buy you a nice wheelset and other parts for your build. If you go this route be sure to check out the old catalogs on the Moots website, they list frame dimensions so you can get the fit you want.

Phloom

My latest bike, listed in my signature, was custom built. The frame was fitted by a chiropractic practitioner and built by Marinoni, a Canadian company, eh. I spent $3,700 on the frame, eh. I sourced the other components from a year of Google searching, eh. I have devoted my efforts to making my "expensive" bicycle with as few carbon fiber components as possible. I am old school and carbon fiber is still plastic, eh. My new bicycle, the first one in over 30 years, is mostly titanium, eh. Plus, I am assembling all the parts into a bicycle all by myself, eh. Total cost, aboot $12,000, eh. I will post pictures of the assembly, eh.

veganbikes

Co-Motion makes a great bike. I love my Cascadia and wouldn't hesitate to get another Co-Motion. I don't yet own a Moots but they make a great bike from what I have ridden. My next custom bike is probably going to be a Firefly. Their Ti work and anodization is stunning. There are plenty of other custom builders out there so the sky is the limit but certainly there are some higher end builders who do a little less full on ground up custom stuff who are worth looking at as well (like Co-Motion)

ADAP7IVE

Thanks everyone. I'll add ones like Firefly to my list and report back when I make the order.

martianone

Consider Gunnar's custom geometry ?