I’m so glad that your review includes some rim brake bikes. I’ve been riding bikes for over 60 years and although I do own a disk brake Bianchi mountain bike, I simply do not feel safe riding a fast road bike with disk brakes. I think they’re nowhere near as safe as rim brakes, definitely heavier and lots more maintenance required. Even the professionals aren’t overly keen on disk brakes but they’re having to ride bikes their sponsors provide.
Lynskey and Litespeed are the true masters at this business. Never understood the hype about Moots. You just have to look at the complex tube geometries, Lynskey and Litespeed are producing. They are unreached. Period.
Lynskey! My R360 and GR Pro. Buttery smooth and snappy...oh and Built by hand! Carbon has its place, but let’s face it, it’s soulless and it signs you up for the rat race of the next gimmick or gadget. My ‘91 lightspeed with campy chorus is still mechanically sound and fun to ride. That, after all is why most of us ride!
Yeah, we should have done because that's a much more catchy title 😉Is there a definitive list of the best? It's an opinion and everyone has a different opinion
I know that it'll get poo-pooed by many as being an off-brand mass-produced Chinese knockoff, but I love my Habanero Ti road bike that I built up myself 20 years ago and rides just as well today as it did back then. I'm not qualified to weigh in on its quality in any technical sense, but it shows absolutely no signs of degradation or wear, the welds look no different or less good than name brand Ti frames, it has that magical springy feel and just a bit of bottom bracket softness that some people like and some don't (I still haven't decided but it's only on steeper climbs that it manifests itself), and looks great (if you can get past the admittedly somewhat loud decals that I haven't had the heart to remove). Knock it if you've seem some, are technically qualified to do so and really do think that it's sub-par. Just don't knock it because it's made in China in some factory which few if any of you have ever seen. They make high-end things in China and they make cheap crap in China, as is the case anywhere. Just because more of the latter makes it abroad doesn't mean that there don't also make and export the good stuff too, and I think that this is that. Traditional lines, too, before everyone started angling the top tube towards the rear axle. If I could afford it and had the space I'd also get a high-end steel and carbon bike as I'm sure they have their advantages, but since I don't I'll stick with my Habby.
Would love to see some reviews from some US companies like Lynskey (the Helix Pro or the Sportive), or No. 22 (the Great Divide), just about anything from Moots or Seven Cycles (sorry, I might have drooled over the Seven Cycles line).
We would love to be able to review all those brands but we simply haven't had them in for review so they can't make the list. Being based in the UK it's tough to get all the bikes we want from US brands
Yes, Seven cost a lot more because you're paying for reputation. I would still like to hear if the reality matched the reputation. I'm the most interested in my first two suggestions, Lynskey and No. 22.
Can you please review the No. 22 line of bikes? The great divide and Aurora are becoming known here in the states now (not sure in Eur.) I have a friend who just built a great divide and the bike frame looks solid. If you can please do a review of the bike, that would be awesome! Thanks! Just subscribed... love your channel 👍🏼
We can look into it but it could possibly fall into the too niche category, despite clearly being popular and on the up in the US but I'll speak to the people that make these decisions 💪
My Merlin titanium is going to outlast me....In 1984 Dura ace was the new advance technology.. 6 speed,, wow,, It has 53-39 in front and 11-28 in back,,,,, I’ve seen technology advance like the campy 12 speed,,, but still the same gear ratios... 11-28 with now 12 gears....makes no sense... The best bike that you ride everyday,,,,, that my friend is the best bike,,,weather aluminium, steel, titanium ,,,, just go out and enjoy the ride,,, life....
Spa Cycles Ti frames are brilliant! Also at half the price! I am sure these people think we have a limitless pot of funds. I love the Language of Advertisement! Is this a dressed-up feature?
Nice wheels on that J.Laverack. I've got the Aerolites and I gotta say, I dig 'em. Also, it's funny, but the town where I grew up had a Ti builder, Holland Cycles, and then I moved to Santa Cruz for college, and we've got a frame builder too, Caletti Cycles. And he's within a quarter mile of Ibis in one direction and Santa Cruz on the other. What a place.
I think of custom frame builders building Ti frames, also including Davidson, Erickson and Ti Cycles exceeding the quality of the mass produced models covered.
I'm sure those are all good bikes but we just haven't had our hands on them to review and I'm not entirely sure we will be getting any. One of our rules with these lists is that we try to only have bikes on there that we've had the chance to review and therefore vouch fore. Of your list we have had an Enigma Evoke and it scored really well 👍
No22 is cutting edge in comparison. T47 BB, thru axels, flat mounts, internal cables. And i think far sexier than anything in this list.....the dropouts, the bridge, the welds and graphics....talk about bike porn
what a bunch of non-scientific garbage...titanium is not stiffer than alu. Furthermore, if a frame is stiff it cant offer more dampening than a softer frame. stiffer material = less dampening...there's a direct correlation since in roadbikes there are no viscous dampers involved. everything is a spring basically
I absolutely love my Litespeed Road bike. Titanium for me is the best and most durable ride. So smooth. Frame should last a lifetime. I have changed my rims, handlebars, Botton bracket, cassette, and installed ceramic pullies. My Dura Ace group is original. My bike is so smooth and fast I have a huge smile on my face every time I get on her. I have never needed customer service.
Enigma Excel Disc review please! Would be interesting because it’s 6AL 4V, which is stronger and stiffer than the 3AL 2.5V used for most other Ti bikes (inc. every bike in this video?) so can be made thinner and therefore lighter.
Do carbon bikes with titanium joints (and vice versa) count? If so, put any of the Bastion Cycles and The Métier Velo & Festka' best in there. All much better bikes than any in the list. As for full titanium -frame bikes, the T-Lab X3 should be in the list: it's a titanium bike with a hydroformed top tube, internal cable routing and disc brakes. It's also compatible with wider tyres.
I built a Kinesis Ti GranFondo Disc this year. It is extremely similar to the Tripster. I can tell you that pictures do not do justice to a raw Ti finish. It is absolutely gorgeous! Plus, it's a super comfortable distance bike. The tuned stays and carbon fork are very forgiving and the geometry makes it easy to set up for a fairly upright riding position. It does feel a tad heavy after I've been riding my 7 kg carbon frame around for a week or two, but after a couple rides, the Ti frame feels light enough - it's still a very light bike after all. I'm looking forward to putting paniers on and taking it bike camping this season.
We haven't had the Escape in for review but we did have the Evoke a few months ago and it scored 8/10 road.cc/content/review/229488-enigma-evoke-disc The escape might be a something we can get in to test 👍
I find the commentary unhelpful as it just mouthing generalisations and motherhood statements. More like a marketing video for the manufacturers. Pity.
Titanium is supposed to be a bike for life, yet very few manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty (Kinesis only 3 years, not much confidence in their product?). I’ve had three titanium bikes crack, reckon you have to spend A LOT to guarantee decent manufacturing processes.
Tomas Jenkins I had a GF_Ti crack in less than a year! Mine went around the cable feed on the down tube. Also had a Van Nicholas and a Forti crack. Have two lifetime warranty Cervelos now.
Google "Titanium bike lifetime warranty". First page shows over 20 different manufacturers. I didn't bother to look at the second page. Chances are you bought those Ti frames from a manufacturer who had no idea how to weld Ti. If you don't use inert gas like argon to keep air from reaching the Ti when hot, it will absorb oxygen and nitrogen and become brittle. I am surprised a bit by Kinesis's short warranty. It's not a Ti specific warranty, though. That's for all their bikes. But they do work their Ti tubing cold, which would strongly suggest they understand the problems with hot Ti.
Christopher Cornette I think there’s also an issue that some do not temper their frames. Some of the ‘lifetime’ warranties are limited lifetime warranties and when you read the small print are only 10 years too!
I bought a Paradox with 12sp XX1 Eagle/Force Crank/Ultegra discs 8.48kg out of the box, Enigma now build it and its good, I live just on the edge of the Lake District where there are few flat roads, it climbs well. I've fitted Thorn 10 deg' flat track bars cut down to 45cm with their J bar-ends, which approximates being on the hoods, so I can tuck out of the wind. For the last 14 years I've only ridden Rohloff geared bikes (and motorcycles) so flat bars fall naturally to hand.
Van Nicholas are gas , lots of beautiful refinement and little touch’s to drop outs and other bits . Then they lob cheap transfers on top of the beautiful frame that degrade very quickly .
08:32 - Not quite right my friend; titanium is NOT lighter than Aluminium, so many people quote this without knowing basic metallurgy or school-level chemistry. Cycle frames in Ti can be made lighter than Al due to Ti's super strength. Anyway it doesn't corrode like steel (even 'stainless), aluminium or even carbon fibre (galvanic) or fail catastrophically, so WE LOVE Ti :)
"titanium frame should last for ever" IS COMPLETE BS! My litespeed frame severely cracked after 9000 miles - according to Litespeed "DUE TO METAL FATIGUE" they refused to honor their "Lifetime Guarantee". So please - you can love titanium - but don't say it lasts forver. that is a bold lie.
My ‘98 Merckx Ti Ax was built by LiteSpeed, with geometry spec’d by Eddy. My only road bike for 24 years, coming up on 100k miles. So, barely broken in. I can’t speak to how LiteSpeed frames hold up today, but the Lynsky era frames seem to have stood the test of time.
I cannot believe you would advertise for Van Nicholas. Their entry level frames are built in China, hairline cracks in weld apparent from inadequate gas shielding. They tried to cover it up with heavy polishing. I rejected the frame on arrival, and have to pay expensive freight costs (both ways). Do not even try your chance. If you are ever going to buy a titanium with inferior welding, you might as well go for steel.
Anyone experienced or own one? Spa Cycles Titanium Audax? I’m thinking about buy one since it cheaper Ti bicycle but I want k ow if they are very good? Comfortable? Worth buy? Or just go for Spa Cycles 725 Steel Audax? Hope to hear your reply and thank you for your time cheers
My teledyne titanium still holding strong,,,after some 25 years,,, my Merlin titanium is also great and yet you didn’t mentioned them..... The pioneers of titanium....
What a joke of a list. Most of these frames are from China. Just a badging job by an importer. The best looking Ti bike is a Passoni, next would be Seven (who are the best welders and make more custom Ti bikes that all the other builders combined), next would be Firefly, then Independent Fabrications, then Moots followed by Lynsky. Video should be called "bargain Ti bikes for cheapskates"
Surprisingly hardly anyone seems to test the Vaaru MPA. A smaller brand and perhaps less well publicised. Cyclist/Bikes Etc reviewed it and gave it 9.2/10. 10 for frame and 9 for the others. It was marked down for weight, head tube height and non-tubeless tires but the weight is on a par with Kinesis GF Ti Disc and the others listed here. It's obviously slightly heavier than the non-disc brake variants but that's a given. The geometry is on a par with Mason's bikes and my bike is tubeless. It takes 32mm tires. There is a GTA which goes up to 38mm but is a little slacker. Mine is just under 9kg even with a SON deluxe dynamo hub and wide 38mm deep rims. Super comfortable and great for fast endurance rides but also happy over rough roads or racing with club riders. It's not pedestrian. I frequently head out for a 40-miler and sit at a 20mph average. I'll cruise at 25mph in the drops. It's no slouch.
It's simply a case of it being a smaller brand and we don't always have enough people to review every bike out there from all companies. Also, when we have covered some smaller brands there hasn't always been the interest from our readers
The Snowdon Paradox is now built by Enigma, I bought one speced 1x12 XX1 eagle/force crankset and ultegra discs, I fitted 44cm flats with long horizontal bar-ends, the original bars are way too wide, its still called Snowdon Paradox and its great, Enigma will custom build to customers choice.
No Steve Potts, no Kent Eriksen, no Baum, and no Moots?? This list is a clown's list. Those four titanium builders tower over any builder you put on your list. An Alchemy over those four??? Get serious, an Alchemy would not be close to anything made by the 4 I mentioned. Same is true for everything else on your list. Heck a custom Carl Strong Ti frame made out of Bozeman, Montana would put to shame anything or builder on your list.
Our clown's list is based on what we have had in for review and what we can get our hands on with us being based in the UK. It isn't easy to get hold of brands from the rest of the world when they are massive companies. How many of the bikes on our list have you ridden?
You could try this road.cc/content/review/242815-first-ride-review-reilly-t640 which is a 6/4 or this buyers guide that has a few 6/4 frames in road.cc/content/feature/213004-terrific-titanium-14-loveliest-titanium-road-bikes-weve-ridden
