Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Titanium Disk Bike

Hey Guys,

Quite new to the forum so no idea of this has ever been covered before.

I'm looking at getting a new bike and I'm considering getting a Titanium frameset and building it up. The problem is I want a disk brake bike with internal cable routing, and as far as I know the only titanium option is the Kinesis Gf_Ti, which is a bit pricey for me at £2000 for just the frameset. Does anyone know of anything similar at a lower price point?

Thanks a lot!

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

Add new comment

20 comments

Avatar
londoncommute | 7 years ago
0 likes

Could really have lived without the internal gear cable routing on my Gran Fondo V3.  Adds nothing and is just a hassle.  Having said that, internal rear brake cabling is great as you can then hang your bike from hooks on the top tube without scratching anything.

 

Shame you need need discs as there's a lovely 55cm rim version going on BikeRadar:

 

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40091&t=13075014

Avatar
thelighterthief | 7 years ago
0 likes

The laverack can be ordered with a threaded bb but I'm not sure how common replacements are. It looked like only hope make one when I was looking. Could be wrong though. 

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 7 years ago
0 likes

It was a toss up for me between the Laverack and the Tripster V2, what swung it for me in getting the Tripster was the head angle is more relaxed across the sizes where as the Laverack head angle became steeper in the model sizes I needed.  Also I would need to go up a size to get the Stack I wanted making reach a possible problem.

Then the minor points of wider tyre capability, chain hook, bottom bracket(must be threaded for simplicity) and mounting points.  The Tripster V2 is a better option for me.

Avatar
antigee | 7 years ago
0 likes

internal cable routing is pretty new to Ti frames so not much choice and pricing is premium reflecting this - I'm not sure if value for money or that practical but internal cable routing does look good

heres one other option - similar pricing to the Tripster 

http://www.jlaverack.co.uk/jack-frameset-build/ 

there are reviews on here somewhere - looks good - no idea what extra cost is for customising but takes the risk out of dealing direct with the frame manufacturer which I assume is in China (I can be corrected on this) 

 

Avatar
graybags replied to antigee | 7 years ago
0 likes

antigee wrote:

internal cable routing is pretty new to Ti frames so not much choice and pricing is premium reflecting this - I'm not sure if value for money or that practical but internal cable routing does look good

heres one other option - similar pricing to the Tripster 

http://www.jlaverack.co.uk/jack-frameset-build/ 

there are reviews on here somewhere - looks good - no idea what extra cost is for customising but takes the risk out of dealing direct with the frame manufacturer which I assume is in China (I can be corrected on this) 

I think you'll find these are manufactured in China to a UK spec/design and mark up  1

Avatar
Nick0 | 7 years ago
0 likes

I confess I was tempted by an Enigma Etape disc 13 months ago and I LOVE it. More than the £££ Trek Domane six series I've also got! 

If you don't mind I question your desire for internal cable routing - it's a massive pain in the arse when you have to change the blinking things, and if you are considering 11 speed cables then in my experience that will be one every six months. 

For your budget there is one outstanding candidate, the On-One Pickenflick. A guy I met on the commute rides one and says it is every bit as good as the reviews, including road.cc's, say.

It's true they don't put mudguard eyelets on them but fit a set of PDW Full Metal Fenders and you have possibly the best mudguards out there too, no problem!

 

Avatar
Bike Swanky | 7 years ago
0 likes

Beware, not all Ti is made equal  1

If it's cheap then it's probably not the quality of Ti that will give you what you are aiming to achieve from the frame material properties.

Avatar
graybags replied to Bike Swanky | 7 years ago
0 likes

Indeed, but Waltly have a good reputation and mine has turned out very nice and I'm not the only one       http://www.spanner.org.uk/2015/10/roys-ti-fixie-commuter-from-cielo-ross...

Bike Swanky wrote:

Beware, not all Ti is made equal  1

If it's cheap then it's probably not the quality of Ti that will give you what you are aiming to achieve from the frame material properties.

Avatar
graybags | 7 years ago
0 likes

If you know exactly what you want in terms of dimensions etc, you could have Waltly Titanium build you one for about £800  http://www.waltlytitanium.com/  you'll be sent a frame plan so can be sure you're getting what youi've ordered, no problem with disc mounts and internal cable/hose routing.

Avatar
londoncommute replied to graybags | 7 years ago
0 likes

graybags wrote:

If you know exactly what you want in terms of dimensions etc, you could have Waltly Titanium build you one for about £800  http://www.waltlytitanium.com/  you'll be sent a frame plan so can be sure you're getting what youi've ordered, no problem with disc mounts and internal cable/hose routing.

 

I went through this a few months ago and found with the collapse in GBP, the direct import had started to look a little too pricey (if you include import VAT & Duty).

 

Another option are Burls, who seem to be a bit of a half way house:

 

http://burls.co.uk/

Avatar
Gasman Jim | 7 years ago
1 like

Another vote for the Lynskey Sportive Disc here.

It takes full guards and has a BSA threaded bottom bracket.

Avatar
londoncommute | 7 years ago
0 likes

Not titanium but this is rather nice if your size:

 

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40091&t=13074942

 

On the PlanetX mentioned above, they don't (or didn't when I checked) have mudguard eyelets etc so worth thinking about if this is for year round use.

 

As an aside, why discs?

Avatar
Walternator replied to londoncommute | 7 years ago
0 likes

Thanks for all the advice so far, giving me lots more things to look into!

 

londoncommute wrote:

As an aside, why discs?

 

I don't want to be restricted in terms of tyre width, and I'm considering using it for cross.

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 7 years ago
0 likes

There is also the Kinesis tripster v2 which has greater tyre width than the GF and has full internal wiring, slacker head angle making it a better tourer. Still pricey, you pick your own fork whether through axle or QR. My Tripster frame arrives tomorrow, yay  1

Avatar
hoffbrandm | 7 years ago
1 like

I absolutely adore my Lynskey sportive disc.

£1200 if I'm not mistaken for the frame.

last years model on sale I think:

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/advancedsearch.aspx?Term=lynskey

I was going for a Kenisis GF_TI, as well, so I know the shopping around you must be doing! my bike shop guys pointed me in the direction of lynskey, great herritige in Ti bikes, they arent too popular but Ti bikes in general arent. 

 

Avatar
700c | 7 years ago
0 likes

Only have experience of the Kinesis GF Ti rim braked version (had a v1 and v2),  but it's a wonderful bike to ride - responsive , stiff and efficient. Great at going fast and descending. No doubt the disc brakes will help in winter too. I can see it online for a shade over £1600 currently. 

£2k is excessive for the disc braked version - you shouldn't be paying that, as the rim braked version is sometimes available for as low as £1200.

Irrespective of the braking system and tyre clearance, the GF and GF ti are most definately bikes designed to go fast on the road. I've heard of people racing on them. Do not think of this as a tourer or cyclocross bike.

 

 

Avatar
drosco | 7 years ago
0 likes

Planet X maybe? Several Titanium cx bikes on there.

Avatar
MrB123 | 7 years ago
0 likes

The Kinesis is usually available for a bit less than 2k if you shop around. PBK currently doing them for 1800 quid and you can usually find discounts codes for them to save a bit more.

Avatar
paulrattew | 7 years ago
0 likes

Boardman SLR Titanium 9.8 frameset is £1700 - https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/284-ti-9.8-frame-set.html

I've ridden a fully build up version (with ultegra and DT Swiss RC 38 wheels) and it was really lovely. It has internal cable routing. Still expensive though.

Avatar
Ogi | 7 years ago
0 likes

Hi,

Try finding Genesis Equilibrium Disc version (2016 model). Not sure what else comes to mind...

Latest Comments