Titanium Frames
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Titanium Frames
Question for all you who ride titanium frames.I am looking for a new frame for next season and had my mind on Giant TCR once, however searching through mags/websites and came across well reputable frame builder who would custom build a titanium frame, for about the same price as I would be buying the Giant for.(extra for forks)
I have Steel and Al frames at home, like the steel for the comfortable ride and the Aluminium for the stiffness,but always been interested in Titanium, but could never really stretch to afford a Litespeed etc.How do those who have ridden Titanium frames, and who have them, compare them to Steel and Al?Are they really worth choosing, in terms of lightness,strength and comfortablity?
I have Steel and Al frames at home, like the steel for the comfortable ride and the Aluminium for the stiffness,but always been interested in Titanium, but could never really stretch to afford a Litespeed etc.How do those who have ridden Titanium frames, and who have them, compare them to Steel and Al?Are they really worth choosing, in terms of lightness,strength and comfortablity?
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Originally posted by bikerdave
Question for all you who ride titanium frames.I am looking for a new frame for next season and had my mind on Giant TCR once, however searching through mags/websites and came across well reputable frame builder who would custom build a titanium frame, for about the same price as I would be buying the Giant for.(extra for forks)
I have Steel and Al frames at home, like the steel for the comfortable ride and the Aluminium for the stiffness,but always been interested in Titanium, but could never really stretch to afford a Litespeed etc.How do those who have ridden Titanium frames, and who have them, compare them to Steel and Al?Are they really worth choosing, in terms of lightness,strength and comfortablity?
Question for all you who ride titanium frames.I am looking for a new frame for next season and had my mind on Giant TCR once, however searching through mags/websites and came across well reputable frame builder who would custom build a titanium frame, for about the same price as I would be buying the Giant for.(extra for forks)
I have Steel and Al frames at home, like the steel for the comfortable ride and the Aluminium for the stiffness,but always been interested in Titanium, but could never really stretch to afford a Litespeed etc.How do those who have ridden Titanium frames, and who have them, compare them to Steel and Al?Are they really worth choosing, in terms of lightness,strength and comfortablity?
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I feel uniquely qualified to offer up my opinion as I currently ride a Giant TCR team and a Merlin road frame.
First off, despite any amount of good advice I or other folks offer up, in the end it is your end you should listen to. Plant your butt on some saddles and try out a couple of different bikes.
As for weight, it is a well known fact that a pound of aluminum weighs less than a pound of titanium.
Ok.... But aluminum can generally make for a lighter weight frame at the expense of longevity. Some will swear up and down that Al. will always make for a harsh, uncomfortable ride. I don't believe it, especially after riding the TCR. Tires, seatpost, saddle and all sorts of esoteric stuff having to do with geometry, tubing wall thickness and muttered incantations over bubbling pots can affect ride characteristics.
I love my TCR, but I know the Merlin will still be going strong for years after the TCR has been recycled.
A
First off, despite any amount of good advice I or other folks offer up, in the end it is your end you should listen to. Plant your butt on some saddles and try out a couple of different bikes.
As for weight, it is a well known fact that a pound of aluminum weighs less than a pound of titanium.
Ok.... But aluminum can generally make for a lighter weight frame at the expense of longevity. Some will swear up and down that Al. will always make for a harsh, uncomfortable ride. I don't believe it, especially after riding the TCR. Tires, seatpost, saddle and all sorts of esoteric stuff having to do with geometry, tubing wall thickness and muttered incantations over bubbling pots can affect ride characteristics.
I love my TCR, but I know the Merlin will still be going strong for years after the TCR has been recycled.
A
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OK, here come some generalities.......
Titanium is about the same strength as steel, but weighs about half of what steel weighs. Aluminium, OTOH, has about 1/3 the weight and strength of steel.
Titanium is very hard to work with (hence, fewer frame sizes, rarely comes in butted tubing, etc), while aluminium is very easy to work with.
Titanium is much more expensive than steel. Aluminium is only a good bit more expensive than steel.
Titanium is about the same strength as steel, but weighs about half of what steel weighs. Aluminium, OTOH, has about 1/3 the weight and strength of steel.
Titanium is very hard to work with (hence, fewer frame sizes, rarely comes in butted tubing, etc), while aluminium is very easy to work with.
Titanium is much more expensive than steel. Aluminium is only a good bit more expensive than steel.
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Originally posted by Singlespeedster
First off, despite any amount of good advice I or other folks offer up, in the end it is your end you should listen to. Plant your butt on some saddles and try out a couple of different bikes.
A
First off, despite any amount of good advice I or other folks offer up, in the end it is your end you should listen to. Plant your butt on some saddles and try out a couple of different bikes.
A
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Originally posted by Singlespeedster
As for weight, it is a well known fact that a pound of aluminum weighs less than a pound of titanium.
As for weight, it is a well known fact that a pound of aluminum weighs less than a pound of titanium.
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Originally posted by D*Alex
OK, Aluminium, OTOH, has about 1/3 the weight and strength of steel
OK, Aluminium, OTOH, has about 1/3 the weight and strength of steel
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I have an Al frame bike and a Ti Litespeed.
IMHO, the ride of the Al bike is "harsher" than the Ti.
The main reason I looked at Ti in the first place is because of Joe Friel's book, Cycling Past 50. He recommended Ti or carbon for "older" riders because they have a more comfortable, less harsh ride.
Since I had Al before Ti I have to agree.
IMHO, the ride of the Al bike is "harsher" than the Ti.
The main reason I looked at Ti in the first place is because of Joe Friel's book, Cycling Past 50. He recommended Ti or carbon for "older" riders because they have a more comfortable, less harsh ride.
Since I had Al before Ti I have to agree.
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In my opinion, the best of the titanium frames is Seven. Yes, they are expensive, but the fit and the ride is completely customized to suit your desires.
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TI is a pretty tricky market.
You mentioned you know a person that will custom build for less than a Giant? That is hard to believe as I am sure his labor will be high as materials.
Many manufacturers are now using the 6/4 ti. A little more brittle but more rigid. That is what the Lotto buys are riding. Many frames out there use the 3/2.5 which is more common but more flexible. That is the main complint with ti frames. Far to flexy.
But now we are seeing builders give customers more for their money. They are going with the 6/4 and in the coming year more will use a full carbon rear end to stifen up the frame even more.
Defiently not all Ti frames are the same. As many see the grades are different and higher priced frames are multi shaped to stiffen them up.
You mentioned you know a person that will custom build for less than a Giant? That is hard to believe as I am sure his labor will be high as materials.
Many manufacturers are now using the 6/4 ti. A little more brittle but more rigid. That is what the Lotto buys are riding. Many frames out there use the 3/2.5 which is more common but more flexible. That is the main complint with ti frames. Far to flexy.
But now we are seeing builders give customers more for their money. They are going with the 6/4 and in the coming year more will use a full carbon rear end to stifen up the frame even more.
Defiently not all Ti frames are the same. As many see the grades are different and higher priced frames are multi shaped to stiffen them up.
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Some believe the strongest tube you can produce is a round tube. Round tubes provide the strongest uniform strength. Perhaps the "odd" shaped tubes provide rigidity, but is it at the expense of tube integrity?
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Originally posted by Marlin523
Round tubes provide the strongest uniform strength. Perhaps the "odd" shaped tubes provide rigidity, but is it at the expense of tube integrity?
Round tubes provide the strongest uniform strength. Perhaps the "odd" shaped tubes provide rigidity, but is it at the expense of tube integrity?
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Perhaps the "odd" shaped tubes provide rigidity, but is it at the expense of tube integrity
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Originally posted by D*Alex
Odd shaped tubes provide greater rigidity in only 1 plane, sometimes in only 1 direction.
Odd shaped tubes provide greater rigidity in only 1 plane, sometimes in only 1 direction.