titanium tour bike

[weemarie]

I have been looking at titanium tour bikes. Are they worth the money? Does anyone road tested them?

 

[Yellow7]

A titanium frame offers the strength of steel at the weight of aluminium.
I guess it all depends on where you intend on heading & what equipment you will carry, if it's a big tour for several months into Asia / Africa and you'll be carrying lots then maybe worth considering, but it's hardly that much different relative to weight a fully loaded bike weighs in at. If it's around europe then IMO I wouldn't be to bothered as you wouldn't be bogged down with several days worth of food etc.

Obviously the titanium frames aren't cheap. http://vannicholas.com/ makes the best custom ones I've seen. A belt drive Rohloff version is what I’d go for, after some serious saving!!

 

[rb58]

I have an enigma Etape, which these days they sell as a tourer. Fantastically smooth ride. If I lost mine, I'd order another one straight away.

 

[stumpy66]

Guy i met at Inverary youth hostel this year had a custom Enigma with disc brakes, which he has done some big miles on and loves it. Wanted a shot on it but wa sbaout 2sizes too small

 

[ianrauk]

Check out THIS thread

 

[samid]

Check out Habanero cycles - they make touring frames too. Interestingly, the web site apparently has not changed in more than 10 years since I saw it first, but the frames/bikes are supposed to be excellent and reasonably priced. (But they are in the States so shipping to the UK may be a bit expensive.)

 

[craigwend]

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/index.php

 

[Kirstie]

I've also got an enigma custom ti tourer. I bought it frame only and transferred bits from my old tourer onto it. It rides gorgeously on and off road. I clattered over the Gaick pass on it last week and it was awesome. Owning it is a blessing and a curse though as I struggle to leave it locked up anywhere. Also now I've spoiled myself I realise how my other bikes don't fit me properly and that I need more custom Ti. Oddly enough that isn't going to happen!

It is a thing of beauty: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrmichaelwright/7330280298/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrmichaelwright/7330214648/

You can also see it on the enigma fb photos page if you use fb, which I don't.

So if you asked me are Ti tourers worth it, I'd say yes because they combine the comfort of something like 853 with lower weight, which you sacrifice with steel. I would add that I prefer the character of Ti to 853 as it has a much springier, responsive feel. As a shorter female, custom was a realistic option for a tourer because most of the off the peg models are too big. My dawes ultra was massive, although I did OK on it.

 

[weemarie]

I've also got an enigma custom ti tourer. I bought it frame only and transferred bits from my old tourer onto it. It rides gorgeously on and off road. I clattered over the Gaick pass on it last week and it was awesome. Owning it is a blessing and a curse though as I struggle to leave it locked up anywhere. Also now I've spoiled myself I realise how my other bikes don't fit me properly and that I need more custom Ti. Oddly enough that isn't going to happen!

It is a thing of beauty: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrmichaelwright/7330280298/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrmichaelwright/7330214648/

You can also see it on the enigma fb photos page if you use fb, which I don't.

So if you asked me are Ti tourers worth it, I'd say yes because they combine the comfort of something like 853 with lower weight, which you sacrifice with steel. I would add that I prefer the character of Ti to 853 as it has a much springier, responsive feel. As a shorter female, custom was a realistic option for a tourer because most of the off the peg models are too big. My dawes ultra was massive, although I did OK on it.

I really warm to your steed as I am small too. Getting a bike on the top of the car is no small feat and anything that is likely to be strong and light is very appealing. I work 30 miles away and would like to travel some of the journey by bike.