The Enigma Eikon is part of the company's Signature range, which means the frame is handbuilt in Enigma's UK premises with incredible attention to detail, and custom geometry is an option – plus you can have pretty much any finish you desire. The aesthetics aren't the only focus, though, with the Eikon showcasing titanium's sublime ride quality while offering all of the stiffness required for a performance road bike.
> Buy now: Enigma Eikon frame for £3,999 from Enigma
For more metal options, check out our guide to the best titanium road bikes.
Enigma Eikon: Ride
The Eikon balances ride quality and performance in a way that only high-quality titanium alloy tubing can achieve. It's a firm bike throughout, most noticeable at the front end and around the bottom bracket area, which highlights that it's designed to be ridden hard on the road, harnessing the power being pushed through the pedals and coping with forces being put through the head tube under high steering and braking loads.
But in the same breath the ride quality softens everything. It has a smooth, vibration-muting effect to it. I've ridden loads of titanium frames over the years, and more than normal over the last 12 months or so, and they all have it, but Enigma has played a blinder here with the Eikon's tube profile and butting choice as the balance is pretty much perfect.
With custom geometry you can dictate how you want your Eikon to ride, but here we have an off-the-shelf 55cm frame which gives a racy position without being too extreme. It's compact enough to feel nimble and tight – and fast – but by not going too steep and aggressive at the front, the handling remains on the fun side of neutral.
I found it an easy bike to ride quickly – you can cover a lot of miles at speed, with fatigue only ever being an issue in terms of leg muscles rather than any upper body niggles.
I loved riding the Eikon. The huge amount of feedback through the frame and the carbon fibre fork means there is loads of involvement between bike and rider. Everything is there, all of the engagement of the surface beneath you is passed through the frameset, telling you what the tyres are up to, and it transmits all of the little details like what the wheels are doing, the chain, the seatpost, the fork legs... There's a smorgasbord of information all coming through to your contact points, but so well controlled its delivery doesn't overwhelm your senses.
All of this helps with things like descending, where I could confidently just let the bike go on steep, technical corners. The feedback lets you know how hard you can push things into the corner, and should you be a little over ambitious, you can guide yourself out of trouble before things go pear shaped.
At 8.39kg in this build it's not as light as a carbon fibre race machine, but that doesn't stop it being a good climber, its stiffness and responsiveness making up for any shortcomings on the scales front.
Overall, I think the ride is excellent. The mixture of stiffness and comfort makes it the ideal sportive machine, club run blaster and all-round general fast road bike. Perfect for those who like to go fast, but without the racing ambition.
And as it's a custom build, you can tailor the ride experience to exactly how you want it.
Who is Enigma?
According to the Heritage Crafts website, the art of bicycle frame making is now an endangered craft in the UK, something it describes as having sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation, but for which there are serious concerns about its ongoing viability. Enigma Bicycle Works is one of those few companies working to keep the tradition alive, though, creating beautifully handcrafted titanium road and gravel bike frames from its base in East Sussex.
Jim Walker founded the company back in 2006, employing renowned frame builder Mark Reilly, who went on to found Reilly Cycles in 2014 before sadly passing away in 2021.
Enigma started off importing titanium frames from the Far East, but by 2008 it was building its own steel frames in-house, before a move in 2009 to larger premises and the creation of its first handbuilt titanium frames.
Over the years the company has grown consistently and now offers two ranges. The Ready to Ride range is made in the Far East to Enigma's own material specifications and geometry and includes bikes like the Edge, the gravel bike I reviewed earlier in the year, along with road, touring and gravel machines.
The Signature range consists of four bikes and all are handbuilt in Enigma's East Sussex unit, created by a small team who cover everything from initial bike fits through to the manufacturing of the frames, including three welders who have mastered the intricacies of working with this tricky material.
As Enigma continues to grow, the plan is to move away from the Far Eastern-built frames to production being carried out completely in its UK factory.
Enigma Eikon: Frame
After discussing geometry and details, I had the chance to travel down to Enigma and watch the Eikon being created, from the initial tube selection, cutting and welding through to the various finishing processes. As I mentioned above, a bike fit is an option, but it wasn't something I needed.
The Eikon is created from custom Gr9 3Al/2.5V (3% aluminium/2.5% vanadium) titanium alloy tubing from UK-based Reynolds, which has been cold-worked and double-butted internally, as in the tubes have two different wall thicknesses along their length to tweak the ride characteristics.
The dropouts are also from Reynolds and are 3D printed…
…while the bottom bracket shell is custom machined and uses the T47 standard.
The head tube is also machined, so it's a traditional looking frame but with a modern twist.
Another modern twist is that, on this version at least, all hoses and wires are running completely internally from the handlebar, to give a very smooth look to the frame. The finish levels are all customisable, though, and you can have cable routing however you want it, or the addition of mounting points and so on.
The seat tube has an external diameter of 34.9mm which will run a 31.9mm seatpost, or you can run a 27.2mm if you use a shim, and the standard build has a Chris King Aeroset 3 headset.
Even though it's a road bike, the Eikon is still designed with decent tyre clearance of 32mm.
In terms of the finish, again you can have pretty much whatever you want. As standard you get a satin bead-blast finish with mirror-polished, anodised or brushed logos. As you can see from the photos, ours is a rather fetching gold.
Enigma also has its own paint works department, not only doing custom paint jobs on its own bikes, but anything else that a customer wants creating. The company also specialises in titanium repair regardless of brand, and full refurbishments.
It was great being able to see the frame make its way around the factory, going through the various stages, and the quality of finish is truly excellent. It is very much a handbuilt frame, and even though machines are used for running the tools, the actual processes very much use the human touch.
The welding is some of the neatest I've ever seen on a titanium frame, with each pass leaving a clean finish – there is nowhere to hide on an unpainted frame after all.
The fork is a full-carbon Enve, which suits the feel of the Eikon's frame, being stiff where it needs to be and compliant where it doesn't.
Enigma Eikon: Geometry
Looking at the geometry, it can be whatever you spec it as for your riding style and body shape, but Enigma also offers 11 sizes off the shelf. The 55cm was pretty much spot on for me, so I went with that option.
It has a 550mm top tube with a 545mm seat tube and a 145mm head tube, which gives a stack figure of 568mm and 381mm of reach. The wheelbase is 999mm, with 420mm chainstays, while the seat and head angles are 73.5 and 72.5 degrees respectively.
A 55cm frame is said to weigh in at 1,350g.
Enigma Eikon: Finishing kit
The Eikon is available as a frame, or you can order it as a complete bike built to your own spec. Ours came with a full Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset which offers stunning performance in terms of gear shifting and braking.
The 50/34-tooth chainset suits the riding intentions of the Eikon, and when matched with the 12-speed cassette provides a wide range of gears.
You can read our full review of the groupset for an in-depth analysis.
The cockpit matches the fork, coming from Enve, with a carbon aero bar and a smart, sleek-looking stem.
The carbon seatpost comes from Enve's catalogue too.
The wheels are from Pacenti, handbuilt in the UK, from its Forza line-up. It's a beautiful set of wheels, with a ride quality similar to the Eikon's frame and fork, being stiff (laterally in this sense) while still retaining a smooth ride feel. The build quality is excellent too.
They are wrapped in a pair of Schwalbe Pro Ones, one of my favourite tyres, being supple, grippy and with minimal rolling resistance. We've reviewed many iterations over the years.
Enigma Eikon: Value
Being handmade from high-end materials, the Eikon's price isn't going to compete with those titanium frames brought in from the Far East, but at £3,999 for the frame I would say it still represents good value for money – especially with the longevity offered by titanium.
A custom geometry option adds an additional £300, and full bikes start from £7,595.
A benchmark for titanium frames in my opinion is Mason's Aspect, and this Eikon very much matches that in terms of quality and finish, though it is a little more expensive. The Aspect is handmade in Italy and costs £3,700 for the frame and carbon fibre fork.
Back in 2020 I reviewed the Moots Vamoots Disc RSL and loved it. It, too, is a very similar bike to the Eikon, using custom titanium tubing and 3D printed dropouts. Back then it was £6,500 for the frame and fork, and a look around UK retailers shows it's much the same now. Moots has since brought out the Vamoots CRD, saying that it has picked up from where the RSL left off, or there is the Vamoots 33 which continues the theme of the RSL and CRD but with larger tyre clearance of 38mm. The UK retailer has that listed at £5,800 for the frame and fork. That makes the Eikon look good value indeed in comparison.
Enigma Eikon: Conclusion
If, like me you are into your metal bikes and want something that is handmade by skilled people then the Eikon should really be near the top, if not at the top, of your list.
The finish and attention to detail is stunning, and while it is a big investment, it's one of those bikes for life kind of thing.
Aside from all of the design and custom speccing, the Eikon is stunning to ride and a real joy to be on regardless of whether you are out for a quick blast around your local lanes or on an all-dayer.
> Buy now: Enigma Eikon frame for £3,999 from Enigma
Verdict
Excellent in terms of the ride, and the handmade build quality is stunning
Make and model: Enigma Eikon Frame 2024
Tell us what the frameset is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?
Enigma says, "The EIKON isn't just a beautiful addition to our line-up; it stands as a testament to the harmonious collaboration between Enigma and Reynolds Technology, seamlessly marrying tradition with innovation.
'EIKON' is a homage to the iconic Reynolds brand and is more than just a bike – it's a symbolic fusion of tradition and celebration of modern sustainability.
We took great care in designing the EIKON, ensuring that it reflects our commitment to environmental responsibility at every turn. By sourcing as many frame components and parts as possible within the UK, we aim to minimize the carbon footprint in both production and supply.
Fusing technical prowess, outstanding performance, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, the EIKON stands as a pinnacle in British craftsmanship and cycling excellence. Ride with pride on a frame that encapsulates the essence of a rich legacy and paves the way for a sustainable future.
Faster, Stronger, Lighter"
The Eikon is a beautifully crafted titanium road bike with a stunning ride quality.
State the frame and fork material and method of construction
FRAME MATERIAL: Reynolds 3al 2.5v CWSR titanium, double-butted internally
FRAME FINISH: Satin bead-blast with mirror-polished, anodised or brushed logos
Overall rating for frameset
10/10
Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?
Stunning quality throughout and finished to a very high standard.
Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?
The geometry of this off-the-shelf model is designed to offer performance without being too aggressive. It's a quick road bike, but not a racer as such.
How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?
Height and reach is typical of this kind of bike in this size.
Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.
Very comfortable. The tubing creates a smooth, vibration-damping ride.
Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?
Stiffness is impressive, especially around the bottom bracket and head tube areas.
How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?
Power transfer is good because of the stiffness and the overall build here is a decent weight.
Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?
No.
How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? On the quick side of neutral.
Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?
The handling is well balanced allowing for quick direction changes without feeling nervous or twitchy.
Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
8/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
8/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
8/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
9/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
9/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
9/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
9/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
9/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
8/10
How did the build components work with the frame? Was there anything you would have changed?
We have a selection of high-end components here, as the frame quality deserves.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It costs a bit more than Mason's Aspect, but is much cheaper than something like Moots' Vamoot RSL.
Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes
Would you consider buying the bike? Yes
Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes
Rate the bike overall for performance:
9/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
6/10
Use this box to explain your overall score
It's a stunning and pretty much faultless frame, both in terms of the build and the ride quality, which is why it achieves a near-perfect score of 9/10. The amount of customisation on offer is up there with the best, too.
Age: 44 Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: This month's test bike My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,
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7 comments
That reminds me, I don't have a lottery ticket for tonight!
It's such a shame that firms like Enigma, which champion UK made, get lumped in with Ribble/Reilly/Laverack etc that just buy in Taiwanese frames. I am lucky enough to have seen the workshop and met the people that make them and it's a great thing to see how passionate they are.
I thought most Enigmas were also made in the far east, only the top model is UK made.
Their bikes are in two ranges, "Signature" (Eikon, Excel, Echelon, Esker) are built in-house, and "Ready to Ride" (Edge, Evoke, Escape, Etape, Endeavour, Explor) are made in the far east to their own specification & design.
The compromises are lead time and price. The Signature bikes cost more and have a longer lead time. The Ready to Ride bikes cost less and are available ex-stock.
FWIW, I don't think there's anything wrong with bikes from the far east. It's where the skills and facilities are now.
Just as Mark1a said below, their core range is Taiwanese-made (or China) and they were very open about it without shying away from it or try to BS their way around it. And I agree, there is vast skill and ability in the Far East. But, with so many companies offering Ti frames these days at hugely discounted prices, you have to wonder where the profit is made in the production line.
If i was buy all bells and whistles UK custom-made or lower price off the shelf far eastern, i'd rather it was by people that clearly know what they're doing.
They fixed a cracked stay on a rival's frame for me, hopefully one I'll be able to afford one of theirs!
That chain is 2 links too short.![cheeky cheeky](/sites/all/themes/rcc/images/smilies/9.gif)
Lovely looking frame.