Van Nicholas

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benb

Evidence based cyclist
Location
Epsom
Lovely bikes, but rather expensive. I ended up "spending" €4,000+ on their bike customiser on the website.
Better start saving! :thumbsup:
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
They are lovely bikes and one will be my next purchase.
The only thing that let's them down is that the graphics on the frame look pretty shyte (sorry to any Van Nik owners out there)
 

YahudaMoon

Über Member
Expensive and no lug work >>>> Just butted welds. Poor. Also no paintwork. OK its titanium though at them prices Id want a quality paint job and a lugged frame.

As its titanium with no paintwork Id guess the stickers would peel off easy if you wanted to remove them, or do you get a lacquered frame ?

To many dull looking titanium frames knocking about nowadays imo. Years back they painted em
 

yello

Guest
I know there are many many fans of Van Nicholas bikes (and from the reports I read, rightly so it seems) but I would never buy one. I fully admit that it's pure preference/bias but there's just something about them (or their image perhaps??) that I don't like.

(Says he that's just professed undying cultish love for a Brooks saddle!)

Edit: but I do love playing with those web configurator tool thingie!!
 
Lovely bikes, but rather expensive. I ended up "spending" €4,000+ on their bike customiser on the website.
Better start saving! :thumbsup:

I am not comparing the bikes here for a second, but you can spend more than that custom building a Madone on Treks Project One site. When they launched the Project One I 'spent' about £9000 building myself a Madone :wacko:

Didn't
Wouldn't buy one though.
 

PK99

Legendary Member
Location
SW19
Expensive and no lug work >>>> Just butted welds. Poor. Also no paintwork. OK its titanium though at them prices Id want a quality paint job

Why?

the advantage of Titanium is that it does not corrode and therefore does not need paint protection, and any scratches can be buffed out, all a paint job does is give you something that looks good till it chips or scratches.

wrt lugging:

<a name="lug1">You don't see lugged aluminum or lugged titanium frames because these materials can't be brazed as easily as steel. The hype is that welding is better than brazing. The truth is you can't braze aluminum or titanium like you can braze steel! Brazing is simply a great way to put high quality steel frames together, that other frame materials can't match.
http://www.henryjames.com/productlug.html
 

srw

It's a bit more complicated than that...
Titanium is the price and weight of high-end carbon. It will last much longer, and gives a more forgiving ride. It looks at the same time classier and less obviously expensive.
 

YahudaMoon

Über Member
Why?

the advantage of Titanium is that it does not corrode and therefore does not need paint protection, and any scratches can be buffed out, all a paint job does is give you something that looks good till it chips or scratches.

wrt lugging:


http://www.henryjame...productlug.html


Lugged titanium frame with paint.

brucegordontiseatlug.JPG
 

jayonabike

Powered by caffeine & whisky
Location
Hertfordshire
Lugged titanium frame with paint.

brucegordontiseatlug.JPG

Looking at that I can see why Van Nic don't bother.
 

GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
cutting lugs from titanium; someone has some expensive machine tools.

but what is the point, it doesn't make for a better performing frame.
 

Norm

Guest
So if titanium is the bees knees but van Nicholas is shite what/which then ?
That would be confusing if anyone had said that van Nicholas was shite.

But they haven't so it isn't.:thumbsup:

I love the looks of bare titanium, and that image YM posted reinforces that, IMO. :biggrin:
 
They are lovely bikes and one will be my next purchase.
The only thing that let's them down is that the graphics on the frame look pretty shyte (sorry to any Van Nik owners out there)

I agree about the stickers. Just as soon as get round to it, I will be removing mine. Big bottle of nail varnish remover is all it takes.
 

Garz

Squat Member
Location
Down
I have a Ti framed machine and it's luverly. I opted for the Enigma, but most of the brands got the same write up. A work colleague persuaded me as he had one and vouched how good it performed (he also got me discount on so was a no-brainer). I concur that painting them is pointless and ruins the look.
 
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