Broken titanium bicycle frame, £3k

[Ianonabike]

I'm sure we can all agree that £3,000 is an aspirational price for a broken bike frame, even one with the special qualities of titanium. But what if it was a unique work of art? The sky would be the limit! In fact, £3,000 might now seem like a bargain.

What would make it art, you ask? Well, what makes anything art. Alas this is not something we can get into in an eBay listing, other than to say that art often involves a muse. This irreparable frame has been just that for me, as you can see from the photos of it on tour after its third and final crack. (Thank goodness it didn't crack four times, as I'm charging per crack.)

To be clear, I'm not making claims that this is a work of art or has any particular value except to the most discerning of collectors. However it is indeed suitable for hanging or just sitting around as a fascinating conversation piece. I'll even sign it if you like.

Comes with bottom bracket – I can't get it out – but not the headset as pictured, sorry.

Has been on eBay for a few years, but no serious nibbles so far.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115444170113

 

[Emanresu]

The fracture looks quite artistic. To me it looks like a runner reaching out for the finish line. Being art, people will see their own version.

Will you accept Trumpcoin?

 

[Drago]

Comes with bottom bracket – I can't get it out – but not the headset as pictured, sorry.

Have you tried a hammer and chisel?

 

[sevenfourate]

This kids; is exactly why you shouldn’t dabble with drugs…..

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Nice try, bit it is still crap and devoid of value.

 

[Milzy]

Looks like some welder did a repair job. He would have known full well that the material would have shrunk & become brittle with all the excess heat. Thus resulting in it fracturing away. They just take the money & run.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Looks like some welder did a repair job. He would have known full well that the material would have shrunk & become brittle with all the excess heat. Thus resulting in it fracturing away. They just take the money & run.

It's not the repair welder's fault. It's the fault of whomever specc'd the frame with an inappropriate material. Titanium on bicycle fames is just wrong.

 

[Dadam]

Titanium on bicycle fames is just wrong

Why?
Just curious, I'm not some Ti fetishist.

 

[Milzy]

It's not the repair welder's fault. It's the fault of whomever specc'd the frame with an inappropriate material. Titanium on bicycle fames is just wrong.

Why I hammer my Ti bike & it looks brand new. They’ll be 3D printing Ti bikes soon.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Why?
Just curious, I'm not some Ti fetishist.

I've explained this often on this very forum. If you search within my posts for keywords inappropriate and titanium, you'll get the jist of it. It's a hot topic and often explodes here. You can try brittle fracture as keywords as well.

 

[Milzy]

I’m not having that. The bike industry doesn’t want us on Ti because they’re frames for life.
The SR71 blackbird flew at Mach 3 and was mostly made of Titanium.
I see Carbon failing more often & you can re-cycle it like metals.

 

[Webbo2]

I’m not having that. The bike industry doesn’t want us on Ti because they’re frames for life.
The SR71 blackbird flew at Mach 3 and was mostly made of Titanium.
I see Carbon failing more often & you can re-cycle it like metals.

I had a Titanium frame that cracked on one of the welds. Just saying like.🤔

 

[Drago]

The SR71 blackbird flew at Mach 3 and was mostly made of Titanium.

Alas, bicycle frames aren't subject to frictional atmospheric heating and thus aren't re-tempered every ride.

If you could ride your bike at Mach 3+ for several hours at a time it would be a valid comparison, but I suspect you can't.

 

[Milzy]

Alas, bicycle frames aren't subject to frictional atmospheric heating and thus aren't re-tempered every ride.

If you could ride your bike at Mach 3+ for several hours at a time it would be a valid comparison, but I suspect you can't.

It’s strong enough, light enough, stiff but compliant. They focused on carbon so Ti had its development pretty much stopped.
I sold my carbon bikes and only use Columbus alloy and Ti now. Never have any problems & keep up with the big hitters on club rides. It will always beat cheaper carbon frames & looks better than anything.

 

[Drago]

But its not re-tempered every time it is use in the manner that the skin on a Blackbird is.