Titanium or Steel
 

I might be looking at buying another bike, told my wife this one would last forever, so I am thinking about Titanium or Steel. I don't race, just ride between ride between 30 and 100 miles. I currently ride about 125 miles a week. I am looking for a nice and comfortable bike. I have looked at Torelli and Moots so far. Any suggestions? Pro/cons?

Very hard choice. Ti... Think there is more modern technology in the Ti than the steel and it should last longer. Moots are pretty.

How so? There are plenty of steel frames with any moder features you want : integrated headset, tapered headtube, disc mounts and 135 spacing, electronic routing. And you can go custom and get anything you want for less than most off the peg ti frames

it's all about materials. Anything steel can do, Ti can do better.

If by being better you mean more noodley

how many Ti bikes have you personally found to be "noodley" ?

I've never ridden ti :thumb:

Price was not brought up as a criteria, and the OP mentioned a very nice frame.
You can't do Ti without an inert atmosphere. So it is/must be controlled. You have all kinds of steel bonding options from classic lugs brass or silver brazed to tig and brass fillet. So while some builders may build you the perfect frame, some may not, although you chances of getting a bad one are much lower than when everyone was building them.
Ti is a bit more lively.
Ti work hardens. Depending on the steel - it may anneal / get softer over time.

Ultra riders I know have a Moots. So I know it is not too harsh.
Moots are the current neutral pit bikes for Shimano support.
OP may want to look at Holland - Carbon/Ti combo. I might get that. Holland Cycles ? Holland Titanium Bicycle
The ExoGrid is way cool. Holland Cycles ? Holland ExoGrid® Jet Bicycle

how heavy are you? Are you a massive sprinter type rider?

Price was not brought up as a criteria, and the OP mentioned a very nice frame.
You can't do Ti without an inert atmosphere. So it is/must be controlled. You have all kinds of steel bonding options from classic lugs brass or silver brazed to tig and brass fillet. So while some builders may build you the perfect frame, some may not, although you chances of getting a bad one are much lower than when everyone was building them.
Ti is a bit more lively.
Ti work hardens. Depending on the steel - it may anneal / get softer over time.

Ultra riders I know have a Moots. So I know it is not too harsh.
Moots are the current neutral pit bikes for Shimano support.
OP may want to look at Holland - Carbon/Ti combo. I might get that. Holland Cycles ? Holland Titanium Bicycle
The ExoGrid is way cool. Holland Cycles ? Holland ExoGrid® Bicycle

old stereotypes die hard. ;)

both materials can make great frames, but calling Ti frames "noodley" is just a little silly.

Steel is heavy, and it rusts. Equally silly.

Moots clearly are the best Ti in my opinion. This is coming from a Seven owner. I'd money isn't a big concern, I would pick Moots over any Ti or steel. I also got a steel Waterford that's nice as far as steel but good quality Ti can't be beat.

Well, if "last forever" is key, you might give Titanium or Inox (stainless steel) first consideration. Sure, other steel can last as long as you maintain the paint (and galvanizing on the inside), but Ti or Inox leave you with one less thing to worry about. Ti certainly seems to be the preferred material among the folks I know that get one bike and ride it everywhere forever. Interestingly enough, although Inox is commonplace in day-to-day stuff (hardware, household goods, etc.), it's more exotic than Ti when it comes to bike frames.

Take a look at the Kona Rove Ti. I test rode one and found it mighty sweet - I might have gotten it if I hadn't just put together a steel bike - the shop owner just wanted me to try it. Just checked to see if it was still in their lineup, and found their blurb to be aimed at you:

Of course most steel frames will outlive their owner if cared for properly

Currently 180 but need to lose about another 10 - 15 pounds. Not a massive sprinter. More like a nice cruiser. Average about 17 mph

True, one would have to be fairly careless to have an ordinary steel bike deteriorate beyond serviceability, but Inox and Ti give a person more peace of mind about that kind of thing. And maybe casual maintenance it typical of casual riders?

I saw a rider the other day on a gorgeous Moots frame. I've never ridden one but would be willing.. ;)

Get a Moots if you want a forever bike. I bought used and haven't looked back. Just upgraded to Ultegra 6800 too. :)

I choose steel over Ti, and my Ti is a Merlin, so no slouch. My steel is a classic old skool Bridgestone, very nimble, a great ride.

Op, honestly, you won't go wrong picking either material imo.

Totally agree.

Both Ti and Steel frames are hard to find in LBS exactly because they don't break down and asplode.. ie. there's no repeat customer base. And, steel is a bit easier to find at an LBS. So there you go.

This...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jK...=w1230-h923-no
Steve English,9.95 pounds, stainless steel, $15K as it sits.

looks like it'll break if you sneeze at it

Did my first metric in a long time yesterday. I ended up riding with a couple of folks on Ti frames, one a Seven and one a Litespeed. The Seven was built in about 2000 for the woman riding it yesterday. She said that while she's had a lot of bikes, the Seven is always the first one she picks unless she forces herself to grab another. Every time she'd like a "new" bike, she updates the components on her Seven.

The Litespeed was being ridden by a 20-something year old man. He told me the frame had been his father's, and had a couple hundred thousand miles on at at this point. Again, upgrade components and you have a new bike.

I'm convinced that Ti will be my next bike, I'm just severely torn between Moots and Seven at this point.

Buy the bike that rides the best, and makes you want to ride it. If your budget includes being able to buy a Moots, then the world is your oyster, there's a lot of amazing steel and Ti bikes to choose from within that budget!