Where did Titanium go?
 

I've been wondering this for a while. Where I am, there are usually a few pretty attractive second-hand Ti frames knocking about, but none of the major manufactures are using it anymore (at least not in the models they sell in Italy).

Is there a reason for this? Are there any committed Ti guys on here?

Yes, there is a reason. The best material to make a racing bike out of (particularly when you get a new bike every year, and someone else is replacing it if you trash it) is currently carbon fiber. There just is not much doubt about that, the protestations of some luddites notwithstanding.

And given that what races on Sunday, sells on Monday, CF pretty much dominates the market.

That said, I think there is still a place for Ti, but it's a relatively small niche, left speciality builders like Lynskey, Moots, and Seven.

I bought a LYNSKEY titanium frame in 2010 from my LBS at a clearance price. If you look at thier website, they have several models at several levels for you to chose from. I have an R320 which is quite nice and rides really well. It has a very beefy bottom bracket area, which helps out with climbing and doesn't allow for too much play take a look at www.lynskey.com

CF is definitely "in" - looks much sexier, and can be made fairly cheaply.

Ti, on the other hand, is more expensive and looks more "old-school." Most large manufacturers want to keep that 'fresh look' that curvy carbon fiber has to woo customers.

Strangely, around here in NorCal, most of the serious cyclists I know would love to have a Ti bike, if not own one already. It's not like they're forgotten - they're just considered very high-end gear.

Some dude's personal page! Thanks, though. I had a look at that frame and it is lovely. Not easy to get American stuff here though. Also, I have a few bikes, so I'm not looking for anything new (new=too expensive+ unnecessary in my GF's mind). There are some Bianchi and Colnago ti bikes out there for next to nothing. You like riding the Ti, though?


I hear you on that, but I can't get a new bike all the time and no one else is replacing it if I crash! Right now, I'm riding a steel frame, but as I develop, I'm getting more interested in something lighter. Part of the allure of titanium for me is that I perceive it to be strong and long-lasting. Is this silly? And is there much of a weight penalty overall with a titanium frame?

Don't listen to all that silliness about carbon fiber. Carbon Fiber bikes are throw away bikes. Use them for 2 or 3 years and toss them!

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...lder/004-3.jpg

Tasty.

It costs much less to build carbon fiber reinforced plastic bikes when your production volumes are high enough to amortize the mold cost.

I've been riding the same titanium frame for the last fifteen years and will replace/supplement it with another one (I've become soft in my old age, want my weight on panniers instead of a back pack, and want fenders in the rainy season).

A custom titanium frame will get me geometry that fits, long reach brakes, rack eyelets where I want them, and still look good after 15 years. That's not possible with a monocoque carbon fiber frame and a tubed frame would be both expensive and have finish durability issues. Painted steel/aluminum will look like crap within 7 years. Scratched clear coated carbon fiber doesn't look as bad as painted, but is still worse than brushed titanium. Stainless steel (Reynolds 953) would work too but cost more and mean additional weight to haul up a staircase.

You can build an 8 pound (< 800 gram Litesped Ghisallo frame) titanium bike if you want.

7.84 pound Ghisallo build

Drew, I think you're on the same wavelength as I am. I have some steel frames, and I love them, but the combination of less weight and greater longevity makes titanium really attractive to me. If I had the money for my friend's Colnago c50, I might think different, but I don't!

You mention you're interested in a custom frame. Are there quality issues with the big manufacturers? I know that, like steel, all carbon fibre is not equal, but what about the titanium they use? Is there gaspipe ti?

Bought my Merlin 6yrs ago and it looks like it's brand new. The worst thing about Ti is that it's hard to come up with an excuse to buy a new bike every two or three years.

where did it go? Into building my 2011 Lynskey Cooper frame apparently :thumb:

Not necessarily true. My Calfee was built to last longer that I will live to ride it.

Like your throwaway wheels?

Must be the special build for those who thought the stock Ghisallo wasn't quite flexy enough.

This is the main reason/driver IMO.

I watched a salesmane in a bike shop pick up one of these Ghisallos, put his right hand on the down tube and his left hand on the seat stay and twist the frame. Making a bike this light does have its problems.

I reached the point in life where there is not a production frame made that I can ride comfortably, back and neck do not bend like they used to, elbow has taken to much abuse..... I had a custom Ti frame built for me that should last the rest of my riding years, loving it

Ha. OK. I wasn't specific enough. Wasn't aware that there were so many ti manufacturers stateside. I was wondering why the big manufacturers here in Italy had stopped using it. I knew in my heart that it was a cost thing, but I just wanted to see someone else write it! It's a shame, because the Bianchi ti frames/Colnago ti frames I've seen are gorgeous.

This is definitely NOT what I want! But then, I've been on a few wobbly carbon bikes in my time, too.

OK it's a cost thing.

You can still get Ti if you want. I bet there are some custom builders in Italy that use it.

I was on a randonneuring permanent a few weeks ago. There were seven bikes parked at one store, and six of them were titanium. One of the riders is just now getting a new one (Seven seems to be the brand of choice with some of them, Litespeed with others.) I felt deprived.

It is an unwritten BF rule that if a thread about Ti comes up, all Ti owners must post a tasty pic of their bikes.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...cycling/03.jpg

If I was in the market for a ti bike, I think it would be a Lynskey. I would think you could order a bike from the US and have it sent to you in Italy. Habinaro is one of the lowest, if not the lowest priced ti bike available. You can contact them and see if they would ship to Italy. Also, there is Motobecane, they get high marks and are reasonably priced.

Whoa!
Dr. Pete, Merlin and Coasting posting in the same thread. They're back!

Ti reaches where carbon cannot.