What the crap did I just buy? (Titanium frame content)
 

Hiya folks,

So a while back I discovered that, potentially from a standing-on-the-trainer related fault of my own, the rear triangle on my road frame was wonked to the NDS by about 3mm. Still tracked just fine, but I figured I'd take the opportunity to shop around and see what I could find in the way of a frame in my size. I stumbled across a Ti frame on the eBays, which the seller claimed was made by the same contractor to whom many manufacturers sourced their Ti frames. He called them Performance Sports, but to me this description says TST. I waited for the frame to relist and drop to a price that I was comfortable paying, and made my move.

Now, I'm hoping someone might recognize it and help identify exactly what it is. Considered contacting TST directly, but thought I'd ask here first. I'm no expert in these things, but the welds look like they may be a bit under par relative to what I've seen on TST frames on the web (though I really have no idea what they should look like on a titanium frame, and they're leaps and bounds ahead of the ones on my China special aluminum frame), and I haven't found one with a brake bridge like the one mine's got either. The look of the metal is consistent with what I've seen on titanium frames, and I may have the option of contacting one of the other labs at work to have the alloy checked out. Anyways, the pics:

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps1e114ba4.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps21de8614.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps0146d9e3.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...psb66f9dc4.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps3a07bc14.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps610b98f0.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...pse96505cb.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps8cdbf5fa.jpg


Thanks for any insight!

I don't recognize the manufacturer. However, the standard tubes will assure you that your frame will behave like a noodle on those downhill canyon curves.

The welds look okay. The surface finish is a lite rough though.

@rubic Thankfully, there's nothing that resembles a canyon round these parts, then :D Seriously though, is it that bad? I read into the characteristics of titanium before making the purchase and did see some discussion regarding how different cross-section tubes will affect it, but came to the conclusion that it'd still be better than what I've been riding. I do a fair share of out of the saddle efforts, and realize that it will be "springy", but I'd also read about the fact that the energy loss from such a frame is usually overstated. I guess I'll have to see for myself.

@rpenmanparker Is that to say they're in keeping with what you've seen on TST frames? As for the finish, this frame has certainly seen some use. I just caved and paid the LBS to chase the grease/sand out of the BB threads after blowing at it with compressed air and wiping it with paper towel for an hour :lol:

I don't know TST. Just saying the finish doesn't look brushed or satin or dressed up in any way. No effect on ride or longevity.

Maybe he means going down Beach to the witch's house.

It took me multiple Google searches to figure out what you just said :lol: It appears the Witch's House is being moved to Sheboygan. Never been on Beach, but it doesn't look particularly canyon-y to me. I suppose I could go fight my way up Holy Hill and see how noodly it gets on the way down.

No, not a canyon. But as I'm sure you know between the various bluff roads and the Holy Hill area we don't have anything to decend. And even those are hardly worth mentioning.

Anyone?

I've got a lot of miles on my Litespeed and it's not noodly.

Then you are not riding hard enough :)

Yes, but you likely have butted, shaped tubes to provide stiffness without too much weight increase. The straight gauge, straight tubes will either weigh a lot or be somewhat flexible.

Hell, I don't know. It's got two wheels and some other stuff on it.

On the above notes, I looked at the downtube and the cross-section transitions to an ellipse (major axis parallel to BB axis) where it joins with the BB shell, presumably for some extra lateral stiffness. Not too easy to see in the pics I provided, nor is it too extreme a transition. This is making me more anxious to see how it rides :)

Wellp, methinks I've figured it out. This appears to be a Performance TR1000 frame. The bikes in the following frame match mine to a tee as far as I can tell: http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...-ti-frame.html

The dropouts are the only match I've been able to find, the place where the seatstays join the seat tube looks right, and the little "titanium" decals that mine still has are clearly visible in the first picture in the thread. The third picture in the thread (upside down one) looks like the brake bridge is consistent as well! Hooray!

I didn't look at the thread that closely. The titanium decal is clearly Performance. I remember looking at them in the store when they came out.