Kinesis titanium frame, it was great while it lasted!
- Thread starter AlanW
- Start date
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T4tomo
Legendary Member
Butting reduces the weight without compromising the strength of the tube in question, as it retains the thickness where it is needed. It doesn't alter the compliance / springiness / damping properties of the metal involved.
we really need a horseshit icon adding to the Like button pop-up selection.
the post below is prime example....
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Source? There's a reason that aerospace doesn't ever weld titanium.
There are a lot of Ti true believers in this thread.
- It doesn't last forever, or even as long as a steel frame.
- It's laughably expensive.
- It's as un-repairable as a carbon frame, probably more so.
- It's heavier than Aluminium or Carbon.
- They all already have carbon forks anyway, because they're vastly better.
PaulSB
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
Source?
Adam4868
Guru
I can weld titanium and have done before.Alans frame hasn't gone at a weld...more like a stress crack which is different.I could put a decent enough weld on that crack or put a sleeve round it and weld that up.But I'm not 100% sure I'd trust that frame afterwards,close enough to another weld aswell to be putting so much heat through it by welding.Probally a safer bet to take the money and get rid
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
It's just that I'm finding it difficult to believe that a stiff triangle frame in either material will give a better more comfortable ride than the other. I won't call it utter rubbish as you did but a fork and it's geometry it's going to have more influence on ride comfort than frame material.
Plus there are too many other variables at work here, geometry, tyres & pressures, wheels, to categorically say it's all down to frame material.
If you're happy to believe that it's fine but I'll reserve judgement untill someone can come up with A to B comparison that proves it.
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
I don't think anyone is going to be offering him money for it but Kenesis may be taking the proverbial.
Ian H
Ancient randonneur
I had my 7yr old Qoroz fixed TI frame repaired by Ted James. He builds steel & Ti frames. He was going to replace both chainstays but, for reasons, opted to sleeve them instead. The stays had been heavily ovalised for clearance - probably allowing too much flex with fixed riding. Ted's made a neat job and dealt with the design fault. £200.
My 20 something year old Ti Omega (Mark Reilly design) is still going strong.
Newest bikes are both steel though. And no, there's no discernible difference in ride quality between well-built frames of different materials. The differences are down to tyres, saddles, frame angles, etc.
My 20 something year old Ti Omega (Mark Reilly design) is still going strong.
Newest bikes are both steel though. And no, there's no discernible difference in ride quality between well-built frames of different materials. The differences are down to tyres, saddles, frame angles, etc.
matticus
Guru
Loved both my Ti frames. (the first one - an early bonded Raleigh - had steel forks, as it happens).
Do you want to try one? I can ride one of my Alu bikes while you borrow it. x
I think a few qualifiers are required here.. all things (base material properties) being equal, butting will reduce strength in the centre of the tube compared to plain gauge tube of the same dims as the ends of the butting. However, this is usually offset / accounted for by the use of higher strength materials in butted applications.
Butted tubes are fatter at their ends to provide more strength in this area; due to both higher potential loads encountered in these areas during use, as well as to offset the effect of welding / brazing heat on material strength of heat-treated tubes. Fatter tubes are also easier to weld consistently.
Butting doesn't alter the material properties of the tube, but it does alter the tube's behaviour as thinner walls will deflect more for a given load.
Essentially the two extremes for ostensibly the same level of strength are thick-uniform-walled low-strength steel (gaspipe) which is heavy and stiff, versus a butted tube with much thinner walls made of higher strength steel, that's both lighter and more "springy" as a result; making it more compliant over bumps and seemingly more characterful / "alive".
matticus
Guru
Just tell me which one is most
stiff but compliant
stiff but compliant
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
In a word variable. You get the properly laid surfaces which are usually as durable and smooth as in UK.
Then you get the 'Ghana budget' road which is just rolled and tar sprayed on top with chipping.
Soon the potholes will appear.
This is where the new tarred road on the right meets rough ground.
You have to review your route and choose either a road bike or MTB before you start your journey.
I'm sure a bike with a Ti frame would really smooth out those unmade roads
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Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
Isn't that an oxymoron?
matticus
Guru
Alex321
Veteran
- Location
- South Wales
These people think otherwise
https://www.reillycycleworks.com/blogs/news/how-long-do-titanium-bike-frames-last
Similar prices to carbon frames from what I've seen.
These people seem to think it is weldable.
https://22bicycles.com/blogs/news/whats-in-a-titanium-weld
https://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/titanium-bike.html
A bit harder than welding steel, but not prohibitively so.
Lighter than steel, about the same as aluminium from what I've read.
But yes, heavier than carbon.
Don't know about "vastly" when compared to Ti, but yes, pretty well all bikes beyond the real budget end now come with carbon forks, regardless of frame material.
BTW - I do NOT have a Ti frame, my hybrid is aluminium, my road bike is carbon frame, so I have no personal interest in whether Ti is better or not.
