Titanium Road Bike Builders I Should be Considering?
 

I'm still a little undecided on the custom frame builder of choice on my new titanium bike. One thing for sure is I want an all titanium frame, absolutely no carbon stays, and straight gauge tubing set with a traditional zero slope top tube and no slope tube. The prices are all over the board as some of these builder charge a reasonable to some that are a ridiculous price. The ones I'm looking at and considering are a Seven-Alaris, a Dean-El Vado, and a Lynskey-Level 1 Custom which is a price ranging from $1850 to 2495. Dean at $1850 and Lynskey at $2495. Are there any other builders I'm leaving out that I should be looking at or I should include in these criteria I'm looking at before trying to make a final decision? Help with some facts and reasons why I should choose one over another.

Thanks

What about Habanero? Since you said straight gauge, zero slope top tube, etc. you may consider them.

They do custom geometry, since this is what you are looking for.

www.habcycles.com

Dean

I love my Alaris!

http://www.crisptitanium.com/

I really like the guys attitude and the bikes look awsome!!!

The only problem is they are in Italy and the dollar sucks right now.... :(

Moots :thumb:

moots ftw

Very fond of my Everti (www.evertibikes.com).

- Mark

Moots and Spectrum.

Panasonic

I guess I haven't really looked at Habanero as I haven't really heard of them as household name. Spectrum, a lot more than what I would like to spend. Serotta is a builder I have ruled out early. Serotta first does not offer a straight gauge as they did up to last year I think with their Concours model and secondly their over priced on all their items as their pricing is ridiculous high which is not in line with builders in the same level as them. Litespeed is a production bike with wild frame designs with all sloping tubes which I'm looking for a custom. Merlins I have thought of as they are a high end Litespeed. Moots I ruled out also because they only offer a dull finish. I asked them about the brushed finish or a bright finish and they told me to take it somewhere and have it finished. I have heard of Crisp, but haven't really considered them since it was going to be a custom and I wanted to deal with someone in the USA to make it easier especially between phone calls. I think I may have covered most of everyone that is a household name, haven't I?

You gotta be kiddding! We're here talking about a modern Titanium road bike!

I to am also in the hunt for a Ti frame builder. Narrowed my list thus far to Titus (their local), Litespeed, and IF.

Litespeed does offer custom sizing, not sure why they would have told you otherwise.

But please, do tell why the pref on straight guage tubing? I'm curious to the reason for such.

Impressive, but I'm guessing big big bucks, eh?

A couple guys in my club have Eriksens. Nice looking bikes. I think the builder started at Moots. www.kenteriksen.com

Moots

how about Linsky?

No.

www.davidsoncycles.com

Has been building custom bikes for 35 years.

http://picasaweb.google.com/roarkfan...33549906070402

Winner best titanium bike frame at the North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show.

http://www.ifbikes.com/frames2/ticrownjewel.shtml

A household name.

He didn't start "at" Moots he started Moots.

Small shop,very easy to work with. In my dealing with them Kent and Katie were good people. They typically do a duller finish but are small enough that they might be able to do a bright finish if asked.

Not the cheapest but not the most expensive either and the welds on mine are quite nice.

De Rosa, of course.

http://www.strongframes.com/
Carl Strong

Roark

Why straight guage tubing? The straight guage Ti Merlin I had back in the Mid 90's cracked in two places. Butted tubing is stronger, lighter, better.

i have been in the same delima with ti being my next purchase.
I am considering
Seven
Serott
Lynskey


http://www.lynskeyperformance.com

they have some really nice house blends where the prcing is pretty good,and very responsive to e/mails and phone calls.

Check out Van Nicholas, they deliver to the US I think. Dutch titanium frame builders, really nice bikes. You also have Enigma and Burls here in the UK. Planet X are about to make a titanium TT frame also.