Traveler
new member
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 3
|
|
Hi All,
I am thinking of buying a Ti bike. I will be using the bicycle for daily commute as well as weekend charity rides. Which make would you suggest I go with:
Spectrum
Moots
Serrota
I know that in the end its a personal choice, but your collective experience and wisdom is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.
Utpal
|
TheMightySkunk
journeyman
Reged: 12/26/03
Posts: 82
|
|
If you're interested in a Serotta, probably the first step would be learn to spell it.
www.serotta.com
--------------------
"I haven't failed. I've just managed to find 100,000 ways that don't work"
--Albert Einstein
|
Nev
captain
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 376
Loc: Never where I want to be
|
|
Quote:
Traveler wrote:
Hi All,
I am thinking of buying a Ti bike. I will be using the bicycle for daily commute as well as weekend charity rides. Which make would you suggest I go with:
Spectrum
Moots
Serrota
I know that in the end its a personal choice, but your collective experience and wisdom is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.
Utpal
Far as I can tell you're looking at the top of the heap. About a 1k $$ difference between the Moots and the Spectrum/Serotta. If you purchase before I do, let us know what you got, and why. I've been struggling for a couple months to make my decision. But it's coming soon.
|
Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
|
|
Where is Seven? They are gorgeous, beautiful welds, custom sizing, you pick the stiffness/compliance on a numerical scale, plus I've never met a owner who did not love their Seven. I know people that have more than one model.
I hope this confuses you more. 
|
Kahuna
Forum Admin
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 162
Loc: Maui, Hawaii
|
|
If you like shaped, swaged tubes then go with the Serotta. If you like round oversize tubes and details like internal rear brake cable routing, clearcoat over bare ti, then go with a Spectrum. Can't say I know anything about Moots but I'm a former Serotta owner and current Spectrum owner and I can tell you it's hard to go wrong with either. Actually, I take that back. It's easy to go horribly wrong with either. If the fit turns out wrong, you loose big time. If that happens you're going to wind up spending a truckload of coin on a bike that hurts when you ride it. My advice to you is spend excessive, inordinate amounts of time making absolutely sure you know what fits, what works, and what doesn't. Don't just take one fitter's advice. You should double check this with second opinions. This is somewhat like going to the doctor to discuss a custom prosthesis or a major life changing operation. The ones who are happiest are the ones who have done their homework.
Anyway good luck. Please let us know what you eventually decide.
-K
|
Nev
captain
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 376
Loc: Never where I want to be
|
|
Quote:
Lon wrote:
Where is Seven? They are gorgeous, beautiful welds, custom sizing, you pick the stiffness/compliance on a numerical scale, plus I've never met a owner who did not love their Seven. I know people that have more than one model.
I hope this confuses you more.
Thanks a lot Lon 
|
ColnagoFE
new member
Reged: 02/05/04
Posts: 22
|
|
They are all great bikes. GO with one you can get locally from a LBS that has good service and knows how to fit bikes. Anyone who claims that one is vastly superior to another is blowing smoke. Why TI? It's not always the end-all be all material for a great bike? Think about steel, AL, CF as well.
|
Traveler
new member
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 3
|
|
Thank you all for your replies. Why Ti? I have a CF frame, and wanted to get a Ti bike.
Edited by Traveler (05/27/04 01:11 AM)
|
Kahuna
Forum Admin
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 162
Loc: Maui, Hawaii
|
|
This is exactly what I have. I think CF and Ti on two different bikes compliment each other very nicely. Both materials can perform magnificently when used on high-end frames, yet each material provides unique ride characteris and has its own "personality" to keep things interesting and fun.
Some days you will find yourself craving to ride your Ti frame, while other days you will find yourself reaching for your carbon fiber bike.
Advantages of Ti? Hmm... let's see.. strong, lightweight, resists corrosion, beautiful, compliant, lasts forever.
Disadvantages of Ti: Heavier than comparibly stiff modern alloy or cf frames.
Advantages of carbon fiber: even lighter weight, stiff, responsive, comfortable.
Disadvantages of cf: Generally not regarded as a keep-forever material. Can be damaged by point impact more easily than metallic frames.
|
Allan
journeyman
Reged: 05/04/04
Posts: 198
Loc: Bds,W I
|
|
Traveler,
I'm happy to hear you are thinking about a Ti bike,and believe me you cant go wrong with most, but to me a Moots is really a great frameset.
I had mine custom built since 98' and its definately money well spent, its a blast to ride,really comfortable and i'm totally happy with my purchase decision.
Contrary to what many would say, i personally dont want to see a carbon stay of any type joined to any other dissimiliar material.
With the laws of averages working in perfect order, a weld is definately going to outlast anything glued/bonded.
--------------------
Its time to ride.
|
vaxn8r
contributor
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 222
|
|
Allan, I agree 100%. While I do love CF for what it is, it does little but add weight to the rear triangle of your frame. Personally I'm also not a fan of CF hybridization with any other frame material. Why? I don't understand the point. Why bond two dissimilar materials when what you really want are the benifits of CF? Why not just get CF from a reputable, experienced builder? At least builders like Colnago, Trek and Calfee have 12-15 years of experience behind them in bonding CF tubes. No way would I spend the bucks on any framebuilder's first attempt at CF (many probably made in Taiwan or China anyway).
Ideally you have one of every kind of bike in your quiver anyway... 
|
Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
|
|
Carbon to Ti is one thing and I guess that can justify it to some degree plus the Serotta's and Lemond's that have done it get great reviews.
However what puzzles me is carbon to aluminum. They do not react well together and the aluminum must be isolated completely from the carbon. If not the joint fails. That is what happened to early carbon bikes with aluminum lugs. I would not even consider that combination. If someone does not do the joint just right your bike is toast. As you said many of these are made in production lines in the Far East. Who knows what their quality control is? I'd rather depend on a weld I can see.
Take care.
|
vaxn8r
contributor
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 222
|
|
Ben Serotta has such a good reputation that his Ottrott has been near universally accepted. Though it is a new design and we shall see how it holds up. I find it odd that Lemond is rarely mentioned as a player in the hybrid bike talk. Even though, to me, his choice of CF and ti tubes make about the most sense to me of anybody's. I also find it odd that Merlin is almost universally denigrated with their Cielo. All 3 designs came out about the same time. It seems Seven probably paved the way in the hybrid design.
I do agree ti/CF makes more sense than any other. That's why Calfee uses ti BB, HT sleeve and dropouts instead of aluminum like Trek and Colnago.
But I think it odd that Serotta is about the only builder given credit for a good hybrid design. I think it's all about reputation. It certainly can't be about durability because we can't say that yet. But maybe that's fair. Ben's probably earned his rep over the last 25 years or so.
Edited by vaxn8r (05/29/04 02:09 AM)
|
Allan
journeyman
Reged: 05/04/04
Posts: 198
Loc: Bds,W I
|
|
Further to my reply i have noted the following posts and the reasons given as well by the posters.
Just a few further points i had wished to set out, maybe someone might have an outstanding plus opinion for a reason.
Why would a frame builder put a carbon rear end, whether seat stays only, or whole rear section on a bike frame made of Aluminum or Ti.
On either bike the carbon will in reality, weigh a little more and give little, if none, in terms of integrated structural strength compared to a welded rear end.
Ok so the aluminum bike might ride a bit more smoothly in the rear,but i can live with the stiff feel of an aluminum frame and besides how many riders use really bad roads for their road bikes anyway.
The Ti frame will be compliant anyway, so carbon stays will be of little significance here, other than to be a focal point for conversation.
I would not mind trying out these hybrid frames for a test, and i'm sure they have really great warranties, but for me it would just be a matter of when and not if it would fail.
--------------------
Its time to ride.
|
Previous
Thread Index
Next
Threaded
Which Ti to Buy
Edit
Reply
Quote
Re: Which Ti to Buy
Re: Which Ti to Buy
Ditto