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TECH NEWS
J.Guillem titanium bike brand launches with three models
J.Guillem is a new titanium bicycle brand developed over the last three years on the roads of Majorca by Jan Willem. The range includes five models (three road bikes) inspired and named after the many iconic roads on the Spanish island.
Sitting at the top of the range is the Formentor, named after one of the best roads on the island. The bike is designed for “uncompromised speed” and is manufactured from a 3Al/2.5V seamless titanium tubeset, which has been hydroformed to produce aerodynamic profiles.
There’s a tapered head tube, Di2 compatible internal cable routing and 3D dropouts. The geometry has been designed to be aggressive and racy. A frameset costs €2,938 and complete builds are available priced from €4,499.
The Orient is a disc-equipped endurance model, with geometry designed for long distance comfort. A 3Al/2.5V seamless tubeset is used with a tapered head tube and 3D cast disc dropouts, and internal cable routing, compatible with Di2. A frameset costs €2,123 and complete builds, which can be fully customised, are available.
“The Orient has been designed for the sheer pleasure of riding the open road, certain in the knowledge you have a machine that can cope with whatever demands you make of it.”
Lastly, this is the Major. At €1,985, it’s the company’s most affordable offering. Like the other frames, it’s made from 3Al/2.5V seamless titanium tubing and has a tapered head tube and there’s a press-fit bottom bracket. It gets the same 3D cast dropouts as the more expensive frames, and the geometry is billed as “competitive racing”.
Each frame comes with a 35-day money back offer. There’s also a lifetime warranty and a crash replacement policy, where your frame can be replaced for 50% of the retail value.
Jan Willem has expertise with titanium. He founded Van Nicholas, but stepped down in 2013, following Van Nicholas becoming part of the larger Accell Group (and includes Koga) in 2012. It’s clear Willem has a passion for titanium and feels titanium is the best material for building a road bike.
“He realised he had unfinished business, designing and building beautiful titanium bicycle frames that were beautifully fit for purpose,” says the press release. “He went back to the drawing board and began sketching. Drawing influence from the island’s stunning scenery, his inspiration returned. And he began developing and refining titanium prototypes.”
If you’re in any doubt as to the strength of the market for titanium road bikes, www.cyclingindustry.news reports increasing demand for titanium road bikes with one British company, Enigma, reporting a 40% increase in December over the same month the previous year.
So there's probably space in the market for another titanium brand. On first inspection, these bikes look really nicely finished, and we look forward to getting one in for review soon.
More info at https://jguillem.com/
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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17 comments
Yeah - nice enough.
I like the look (and the idea) of a Ti bike as much as the next rider... but don't they all look a bit samey? Apart from "signature" dropouts and crap like that I struggle to tell them apart.
I think J.Guillem need to do a bit of work on their downtube logo an' all. Just sayin'.
I've ridden a Litespeed for 17-odd years, but I have to say that it takes so much more than a frameset to make for a 'comfortable, smooth ride', etc. The Litespeed wasn't very comfortable at all under its initial build - Kysyrium SL wheels - alloy, low-end Easton bars, seatpost, and stem, etc. So I rebuilt it: Thomson seat-post, stem and carbon bars, and hand-built wheels: two sets - winter 36 spoke Open Pros and a set of 28/32 Hed Belgiums and the same, very knackered Aliante seat.
Now it rivals my C50 for comfort - though rides very differently. So, IMO unless you're comparing one frame against another with exactly the same build roads it won't make for a particularly impirical - or helpful - exercise. And don't get me started on tyres! Like the look of the JG bikes, by the way, but if my Litespeed ever breaks I've promised myself a Speedwagen.
I got a Major recently - amazing value in Fatbirds. I thought it was a bit meh; it's quite heavy, the stock parts had to get to replaced; then I got back on my race bike yesterday and realised how smooth it really is.
Good to see Jan Willem back - wondered what had happened to him after he left Van Nicholas. If anyone knows titanium, he does.
Press fit bottom bracket rules any frame out for me. I'll stick with tried-and-tested threaded bottom brackets, thanks.
I get how titanium bikes are supposed to be comfortable. But some carbon race bikes are also supposed to be comfortable these days. Anyone have experience of the ride quality of something like the Formentor compared to say the new Supersix Evo? If there's not much in it ride wise and the frame is nearly twice the weight then what's the point?
Because they'll still be going strong long after a carbon frame has broken or just become dated
I'd be more concerned about my own longevity than that of a reputable carbon frame - I'm at an age when I'm starting to reassess the comfort/speed trade off - but I get your point.
I was interested in any comparisons on ride quality i.e. can good carbon rival titanium frames built with an emphasis on performance?
And I'm familiar with n+1 but my wife, not so much.
My Wilier Izoard is way more comfortable than the Ti Planet X made by Van Nicholas I had.
It's now an old tech carbon frame, quite heavy for carbon, but all day comfy. I won't sell it for love nor money.
I've just built a new Ti bike, so I'll see how this rides
My Cervelo R5 is far more comfortable to ride than my Van Nicholas Ventus was. Mind you, so is my Kinesis T3. The titanium hype is just that - hype. Titanium doesn't impart any magical quality to the bike frame. The designer is responsible for how it rides.
Good lord. Frame only price very competitive up against Kinesis, VN, & Genesis
Shame about the press-fit BB, can understand having it on the Formentor but not the other bikes
Well the 'Formentor' is around £800 more expensive than the kinesis equivalent rrp (a quick google shows over £1000 less) but we don't really know what makes their top end model so much better than the others here. I can't see the aerodynamic tube profiles myself!
Although you can make a ti frame stiff, responsive, reasonably light, it starts to become a costly exercise to try and do so. And it'll always weigh more than top-end carbon.
And the press fit BB is a shame on Ti!
The 'lower end' of the range might be a more attractive proposition, otherwise you may as well get a supersix evo/ TCR advanced etc
Fair point - hadn't checked the exchange rate recently
A bit more utilitarian but the Kinesis GF Ti now goes back to the top of my list on price (and having a proper BB)
It's good! I've got one (non-disc). Quick, rigid, nice looking, descends brilliantly - pretty much everything the review says.
Loving the detail on the dropout/disc mount of the Orient. But i'll take any of them, they sure are pretty.
Go on then, I'll take the Orient of your hands
.
My my, they're some fine looking bikes! I'll have the Formentor please. Anyone else up for the other two