Poll: GURU or Alchemy

[charliedid]

Quick & Dirty market research.

If you had to buy a titanium bike/frame from one of these companies, which would it be?

Thanks

[SPOKE]

Other.......Holland, Strong or Moots

[MattTuck]

Eriksen, Hampsten, Firefly.

[hida yanra]

Eriksen, Hampsten, Firefly.

this guy

[etu]

might want to get rid of the "other" category since you're comparing these two companies. too many other favorites out there!

[charliedid]

might want to get rid of the "other" category since you're comparing these two companies. too many other favorites out there!

I appreciate that but for my purpose it's interesting to see what people are buying and or interested in. Either direct from a builder or from a traditional shop scenario. The other is just as useful to me...

[oldpotatoe]

I appreciate that but for my purpose it's interesting to see what people are buying and or interested in. Either direct from a builder or from a traditional shop scenario. The other is just as useful to me...

Moots, Mosaic

[FlashUNC]

Seven.

[sokyroadie]

DeSalvo
Carver :)

I actually have a Carver on order.

Jeff

[SlackMan]

Eriksen, Hampsten, Firefly.

This.

[jmoore]

budget?

[ceolwulf]

No.22

[rnhood]

Moots or Holland.

[Charles M]

Moots, Lynskey, Bedford...

If it were Carbon, I like both of those brands (and Crumpton, Parlee, Sarto, Scapin).

[charliedid]

budget?


Sorry, maybe I should have been more clear. I am interested form a retail POV what people's opinions of these two brands are.

Thanks

[54ny77]

If you're asking me as a potential customer in terms of market research (which it sounds like is what you're doing): neither. Don't know anything about them, not even on the radar, the brand never even comes to mind if I were to recommend a frame to someone. Does that mean anything? Nope. It just means I don't have any Guru brand awareness.

[charliedid]

If you're asking me as a potential customer in terms of market research (which it sounds like is what you're doing): neither. Don't know anything about them, not even on the radar, the brand never even comes to mind if I were to recommend a frame to someone. Does that mean anything? Nope. It just means I don't have any Guru brand awareness.

Very helpful, yes.

[sandyrs]

Guru has managed to stick around for a while but it seems like they're always doing something wrong, like having 10000 different carbon models. Their titanium models were also at one point really expensive for the quality of the welds, which I recall being kind of middling compared to other smaller titanium builders in the same price range. That may not be true anymore.

Alchemy seems like a tighter ship, but even with them the company's vision is a bit vague. Both, in my mind, fall under the category of too small to benefit from large R&D budgets and too big to give the personal experience that makes buying a custom so great.

Of course, I've never bought from either company, but as you would guess from my impressions above I wouldn't hurry to change that. Among brands like this, Seven seems like the one with the best reputation and staying power.

[summilux]

I've got an Alchemy Xanthus but they wouldn't be my first choice for Ti. Alchemy's focus seems to be carbon. For Ti, Firefly and Spectrum would be top of my list.

[Tony T]

Custom: Firefly (at least a year wait list) Otherwise, Moots.

[eippo1]

I'd say Dean just because most of these threads degenerate to whatever the person posting tends to own (and I have an El Diente SL), but they don't have the best web reputation. I will say that the bike is top-notch, though.

[eak12]

Other- Spectrum. Lynskey if you want a value pick.

Guru's past business practices leave me disinclined to supporting them.

[simonov]

Both brands make me think of carbon at this point. As has been said by most everyone else, there are many other builders/companies that would get the nod for a Ti bike.

[jlwdm]

Spectrum

Jeff

[raygunner]

I didn't even think either did Ti.

[bcroslin]

Moots or Seven. LBS used to carry Guru and I heard too many stories about how arrogant they can be. I've heard nothing but great things about Moots and Seven from people who actually ride their bikes.

With that said, I love Alchemy's carbon bikes but you're not asking about carbon.

[feta99]

No.22

No.22 for value. Spectrum for fit. Moots for style, or firefly if you want to be cool. Hampsten for his great builds. All will ride great given dialled-in geometry.

[josephr]

Dean, Lynskey.

[happycampyer]

Moots, Eriksen, Firefly, Hampsten, Seven, Spectrum, No. 22, Mosaic, Bedford... Strong, DeSalvo, Potts, IF, Crisp, Passoni, Baum...

Lots of great choices.

[krhea]

Love my GURU Ti. Currently own 4 ti bikes and over the years have owned many more. My GURU stands up against them all in build quality, paint quality, dealer communication throughout the process and most importantly, ride quality.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/12197653814_9471b74af6_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/jzSaw7)IMG_0964 (https://flic.kr/p/jzSaw7) by KRhea FrzFrmFoto (https://www.flickr.com/photos/krheapvpics/), on Flickr

[oldpotatoe]

Moots, Eriksen, Firefly, Hampsten, Seven, Spectrum, No. 22, Mosaic, Bedford... Strong, DeSalvo, Potts, IF, Crisp, Passoni, Baum...

Lots of great choices.

Shows that 'recently', titanium has seen a kinda resurgence. Partly for the $ of lotsa of asian made carbon(HOW MUCH??), partly for the 'last forever' rep. All good choices.

Love me Moots.

[charliedid]

Thanks for the input everyone.

[uber]

Having owned Moots, Spectrum and Eriksen, I would choose Eriksen again for titanium. In terms of buying experience and product quality I think Eriksen stands as one of the top Ti frames. I have no experience with Guru, but am not a fan of the aesthetics.
Having no knowledge of Alchemy I was invited to test ride one at my LBS
I loved it. I had recently tried the new C60 and Pinarello F8. All three are outstanding and have their own personality but the Alchemy stood out as my preference. I realize that I am not nearly gifted enough rider to get everything out of any of these superstar bikes, but the Alchemy has the nicest feel for me.

[tiretrax]

From a resale standpoint, you can't do better than Moots, at the moment, but that could change in the future. I think all of the brands/builders mentioned produce great bikes. I did buy a used Guru, and the sleeve inside the bottom bracket shell had twisted. I returned it to the seller - not sure it was a fault of Guru's manufacturing process or the seller. They do make attractive bikes.

[StanleySteamer]

I bought a used Guru Svelti and like it almost as much as my Moots Vamoots.

[Bradford]

Eriksen is the obvious choice because:

A) His bikes are as good as any other top custom option

B) You can go to Steamboat and order it in person:banana:
C) You can go to Steamboat and pick it up in person:banana:
D) You have something built in Steamboat :banana:

[denapista]

Only Ti I would consider...

- Steve Potts
- Mike Desalvo
- Moots
- Mosaic
- Ericksen

[herb5998]

I've visited Alchemy here in Denver, very nice workshop and some really great craftsmanship. They hired some of the former craftsman from Serotta, so that's a bonus. And Ben is/was? a consultant for them.

I also had the joy of visiting the Eriksen shop, really nice people, amazing welds, and the riding in Steamboat is worth the trip. Did the Tour De Steamboat on 18 July and it was a great time.

[JMacII]

Kish (because I have one)
Eriksen, Hampsten, Spectrum.

Fwiw, I think of Guru as a Tri brand. Not saying that's right, just how I think of them. No impression of Alchemy.

[Matthew]

I am biased of course, but I say Moots. Did 149 miles on mine this past Saturday here in Michigan. Absolutely love mine. Great folks to deal with too.

[mgm777]

re: Guru & Alchemy -- don't know much about them.

I am a Ti bike aficionado and if I were in the market today I would consider the following(in no particular order):

-Seven
-Moots
-Mosaic
-Eriksen

Just my preference. That is all.

[roguedog]

Hey, if you order a hampsten now you can a hampsten and an ericksen since they've teamed backed up!

[false_Aest]

aneurysm

[biker72]

Moots or Seven