WOW!! That is gorgeous, I need a moment alone...

Beautiful frameset, but that headset/stem....

Hey, I'm 73 and not as flexible as I used to be. It is what it is and it works for me.

In your avatar you look great for 73.

I didn't know it was your bike.

Your saddle looks like it has ED.

I wanted to love titanium. I've ridden a couple titanium bikes now and just did not find the love at all. I had a Lynskey R240 built to my spec, installed my own wheels and tires on it that I used on another bike and one long ride on the chipseal roads in my area was enough to let me know I'm not a titanium guy. I really wanted to be as I love the look of the Lynskey bikes, but the titanium bikes I've ridden just didn't feel good to me like steel does. It's like and sexy as hell, but it feels like noodly aluminum to ride. As someone mentioned earlier, if you do order a Lynskey, go ahead and get the Enve fork option. Much better, imo. Bottom line, if you like aluminum, you'll love titanium.

On the other hand, if you are not a fan of the feel of aluminum, then go steel. Whatever flavor floats your boat. I've tried plain 4130, 520, 753, 853, OX Platinum, it all feels good to ride. Those 953 bikes sure are pretty. I really like that Anderson 953 with blue accents someone on the forum owns. Something like that is on my dream list for down the road.

I should; it was taken in 1972 when I was 30.

I still have the hair, but it's white now.

If you are serious about TI, take a look at Lynskey. A little less cost than Moots and all of the benefits of titanium. Plus they will do a custom sizing for you. Moots are great bikes but a little pricey. I bought my Lynskey back in 2008 with the same comment "this will be the last bike I buy" to my wife. So far have not looked at other bikes, but have upgraded some of the components over time.

I don't ride frequently in heavy rain or leave my bike outside in the rain and my 2004 steel IF has some pretty good corrosion around the bottom of the head tube. Suspected cause is my corrosive sweat. One reason I went ti for my next frame.

Bravo! Great photo!

Yeah there's always rare exceptions to ANYTHING.

You should see the front cable guide. The one on my LHT is also corroding.

You owe it to yourself (just for grins) to keep trying when it is convenient and not costly to do so. That Everti Falcon I had was the least comfy bike I have ever ridden (no big tube Al in my history). The replacement, the Merlin Works CR is exactly the opposite, right up there with the most comfortable frames I have experienced. But not whippy, very competent. Sure, you may never love Ti, but the best Ti and best steel are so alike, I just don't see how you can embrace one and not the other.

Titanium is extremely corrosion resistant.

There are coatings made to protect the insides of steel bike tubing. There are waxes and other coatings that help protect the outsides. Still though, ti and stainless are better.

Between the two, ti and stainless, ti is more corrosion resistant. Stainless steels vary quite a bit. Some stainless steels are formulated (alloyed) to be more corrosion resistant. They are used in marine environments, and in better watches and jewelry that will hold up under heavy exposure to sweat and body oils and acids.

I don't know where 953 is on the stainless steel corrosion resistance spectrum. I've heard it is good, but if you ride on salt roads a lot, it could be a problem, and you would want extra protection (protective coatings, and care such as preventive rinsings, or using a beater when conditions are bad).

I'm reminded of NYC Bike Snob's image of his stainless steel Ritte:



I personally have never had an issue with corrosion on steel bikes. Admittedly, due to moving countries and the like, the oldest one I own is only 17 years old, but the only rust on that is on the bottle cage bolts, and it got left outside in the rain on many occasions as a commuter. Using a steel bike as a "nice" bike (i.e. one you love rather than beat up), I would not be concerned about corrosion personally, although I understand that my anecdotal evidence is worth about as much as anyone elses.

I should add that said Ritte is made with KVA stainless tubing, not Reynolds 953.

From my own experience living a mile from the Pacific Ocean and riding my bare polished 953 frame for around 12k miles over nine years in all kinds of weather, I can say that it shows absolutely no sign of corrosion or discoloration anywhere; it looks the same as the day I took delivery from the dealer in 2007.

The base material for Reynolds 953 is Carpenter Technology Custom 455® (UNS S45500) which is used for fabricating the landing gear on carrier based jet aircraft, and is exposed to salty seawater spray for extended periods. I don't use any protective coatings on the frame, but after riding for any significant time in the rain, I wipe the frame and components down with a damp terrycloth towel and then dry it with a clean towel.

Thirty years ago I had a race bike and a touring bike. A college buddy of mine who also worked in a bike shop said I was "set for life". I did indeed keep them for a long time, but eventually conceded they were obsolete and not upgradeable. Bike technology has changed dramatically, particularly in the last 10 years. Steel and Ti will certainly last 10, 20+ years, but unless you're a future vintage fan, it doesn't matter which you choose.

Agreed. That seat stay treatment looks so delicate. Cool bike, but wouldn't be my choice for a bike intended to last forever.

Not disputing your overall point, but my '73 Speedwell would qualify. I have a Merlin in the queue, which I don't expect to be noodley.

Your frame is absolutely gorgeous, but 12k miles over 9 years is very light use(IMO). It's a shame that it doesn't get more use.

I'm not questioning the material's longevity, just wishing you had more time to ride that beauty.

that's a sweet ride, but for the purpose of this thread, I don't think your Speedwell is relevant to the discussion.

Ti has come a long way since then. I know nothing about that frame, is it CP Ti or a Ti alloy?

I like titanium because it doesn't need paint, so my current frame looks as nice after 19 years (there are a few polished wear spots, which could be removed with a Scotchbrite pad if I had a brushed finish not bead blasted) as my previous steel frame did half that time (there were lots of dings with primer showing).

Thanks, and yes I do realize the Speedwell is an outlier and not relevant to the OPs options today. Just throwing it out there (and maybe showing off ) since you were questioning "noodley" ti frames--though it's no more noodley than the Vitus I used to race, but certainly not as stiff as today's Ti frames. And to answer your question, it is "commercially pure titanium, grade 125 or equivalent" per the catalog/spec sheet.

Steel and ti. I go both ways. My stock bikes have all been steel. My first custom also. My two recent customs have been ti with steel forks, both bikes for the rest of my life. (So is that first custom. Reynolds 531. It started its life in Santa Cruz, then 5 years on Alameda island in San Fransisco's South Bay. The Pacific NW since. Frame-saved 531 can handle a lot of wet. In its early days, this bike did two epic wet rides and got put away wet while I went for a hot shower. Most of 40 years and 50,000 miles later, it is still going strong.

A caveat on steel though. While old fashioned 531 and the like make for good long lasting bikes, the newer, larger diameter thinner wall steels have to be treated far better. Small amounts of rust will do real damage to the thin tubes while never even being noticed on the old thick-walled stuff. Denting is also a much bigger issue.

I get a kick out of rms13's proclamation of the noodley ti bikes that he has never ridden. My two stiffest bikes are my ti bikes.

Ben

Me too; I plan to sell my house in S.F. and move up to Sonoma County in the next few months, and hopefully will be able to get more time in the saddle.

Steel is too heavy.
Titanium is too flexy.
Aluminum is too stiff.
Carbon is too fragile.