Any experience with 333fab Bikes?

[akelman]

If you've had any direct experience with the company or the bikes, I'd love to hear about it. Actually if it was a positive interaction, feel free to post about it here. But if it was a negative interaction, maybe shoot me a PM if you want. Thanks!

[slowpoke]

I was going ask a similar because I've seen folks here recommend the builder, but curious how many people actually own a 333fab.

[jm714]

I have a butted Ti frame and Max was super easy to deal with. I don’t hesitate to recommend him. The process was enjoyable and we are still in touch. My frame originally came decals, but after a while a few started to peel and I sent the frame back to him have the logos etched/engraved and that was easy too. I think his prices are fair, but I wouldn’t do it for the price I would do it again because he was good to work with.

[FlashUNC]

Max still building? I know he was battling cancer last year.

[jemoryl]

A perfect derailleur for one of their bikes: http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=f3e0102b-3503-415f-80e2-5ada2fdc5ddf&Enum=108

[jm714]

He’s still building and he relocated to Marin County. He’s back to building and he’s been posting on his IG account some of the rides he’s been doing.

[theboucher]

He’s a super nice guy and a top notch welder. Several of the guys I ride with own a bike or bikes made by him.

[FlashUNC]

He’s still building and he relocated to Marin County. He’s back to building and he’s been posting on his IG account some of the rides he’s been doing.

That's great to hear.

[Iansir]

Max built me a wonderful butted Ti all road about 2 years ago. Before that I had been through countless frames...his frame is by far my favorite, with great balance of stiffness and comfort. Highly recommended, I still ride it daily. Have even podiumed on some gravel races on it. He is a super nice guy to deal with as well.

[PacNW2Ford]

I have a titanium 333fab and two steel Hampstens built by Max. Top notch builder and person.

[Kirk007]

Max is a great guy and a great frame builder. I have one of his Air Land Sea bikes. If you want a really experienced take, contact Steve Hampsten, Max welded the ti Hamsten bikes for quite awhile.

[CNY rider]

Bicycle Quarterly did an extended review of one of their bicycles within the last year or two I think.
That would be worth finding.

[oldfatslow]

No one makes finer Ti welds than Max. His bikes are beautiful. Go get one!

[robin3mj]

I also have an AirLandSea and its a fantastic bike.
This was his limited run of "stock" sizes (and amazing paint), and he was great to deal with throughout.
As soon as I got it it reminded my of my old Serotta HSG Cross bike in terms of ride feel and mannerisms - that's not a bad thing.

https://66.media.tumblr.com/6e85851de1e3f06f20945ce19dec279c/72599f26080fd6f2-b9/s1280x1920/74732c837f48641643af14bd3d3f7714c939e461.jpg

https://66.media.tumblr.com/e9b7656de9462f5bf3ced2d5e61dd082/tumblr_pdo4x2SuRt1qg7g9so7_1280.jpg

[palincss]

Bicycle Quarterly did an extended review of one of their bicycles within the last year or two I think.
That would be worth finding.

BQ 62 (Winter 2017) P. 40 Bike Test: 333fab AirLandSea

[sjbraun]

Max made my Hampsten Strada Bianca. It's a superb bike. At one time, I also owned a Pegoretti Marcelo. After a year alternating between the two bikes, I sold the Pegoretti. The Max built Hampsten did everything the Peg did, just a little bit better.

[mistermo]

https://66.media.tumblr.com/6e85851de1e3f06f20945ce19dec279c/72599f26080fd6f2-b9/s1280x1920/74732c837f48641643af14bd3d3f7714c939e461.jpg


This Air Land Sea appears to be quite different than the model shown on the 333Fab web page. Have the specs changed? Or is ALS merely referring to the paint job?

[theboucher]

From what t I know about it, there are two fork options. Everything is specced, no a la carte. If you want different options you can go custom. Saves a lot of time on the front end for the builder with back and forth, etc. They’re stock sizes with tubing decisions already made.

I rode the original one he made (the one that BQ tested) for a bit. Seriously thought about buying it.

[robin3mj]

This Air Land Sea appears to be quite different than the model shown on the 333Fab web page. Have the specs changed? Or is ALS merely referring to the paint job?

ALS was steel, stock frame geo and paint job, with a choice between a steel low trail fork or the ENVE.

I moved all my parts off a trek Crockett and new 650b wheels, but have been putting a pair of 700x27 wheels on it occasionally.

[9tubes]

Max is one of the best Ti welders in the country. As I recall he started at Seven Cycles. He moved to Seattle and spent several years in Hampsten's shop, then partnered with Bill Davidson. He moved to Marin County last year and continues that sumptin-sumptin magic mojo that seems so rare.

Ti welding seems to be like playing the guitar. Many people can do it well. But very few can do it perfectly.

[slowpoke]

I also have an AirLandSea and its a fantastic bike.
This was his limited run of "stock" sizes (and amazing paint), and he was great to deal with throughout.
As soon as I got it it reminded my of my old Serotta HSG Cross bike in terms of ride feel and mannerisms - that's not a bad thing.

Isn't an HSG Cross more of a mid-to-high trail bike, whereas the AirLandSea is supposed to be low trail? Or does yours have slightly different geometry?

[mhespenheide]

This Air Land Sea appears to be quite different than the model shown on the 333Fab web page. Have the specs changed? Or is ALS merely referring to the paint job?

I think this one is our own Kirk007's bike?

[Hellgate]

I do own one. About 12,000 miles at this point.

Max is very easy to work with and responsive. I'd buy another from him.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200527/038eda76567bcd7584776e6a43544cb8.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200527/7de0e0f5b9dfeecd1d5d6c3c9e0b6502.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200527/bc70d852a4063b703b7a57b71b544115.jpg
1698000593

[akelman]

I do own one. About 12,000 miles at this point.

Max is very easy to work with and responsive. I'd buy another from him.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200527/038eda76567bcd7584776e6a43544cb8.jpg

Absolutely beautiful paint there. (I also love the paint on the ALS.)

[robin3mj]

Isn't an HSG Cross more of a mid-to-high trail bike, whereas the AirLandSea is supposed to be low trail? Or does yours have slightly different geometry?

Geo differs with the Enve versus steel fork. I went the lighter/higher trail direction.

[Hellgate]

Absolutely beautiful paint there. (I also love the paint on the ALS.)Dark Matter Finishing

http://www.darkmatterfinishing.com/

[slowpoke]

Geo differs with the Enve versus steel fork. I went the lighter/higher trail direction.

Makes sense. Thanks for answering!

[Kirk007]

I think this one is our own Kirk007's bike?

I have the ALS with both steel low trail fork and a Seven Matador fork, which makes it feel more like a traditional cross bike. I like it best with the Seven fork and 650b wheels but for carrying a front load on rough surfaces the steel fork is really nice. Mine is bigger than the test bike in BQ.

As someone noted, Max worked at Seven and during that time he was also one of the exclusive welders for Tom Kellogg's ti Spectrum bikes. In a conversation with Steve Hampsten one time he remarked how he had the opportunity to work with the two finest ti welders in the country, Max and Brad Bingham.

[old fat man]

Max is one of the best Ti welders in the country. As I recall he started at Seven Cycles. He moved to Seattle and spent several years in Hampsten's shop, then partnered with Bill Davidson. He moved to Marin County last year and continues that sumptin-sumptin magic mojo that seems so rare.

Ti welding seems to be like playing the guitar. Many people can do it well. But very few can do it perfectly.

He actually started at Merlin and was one of the first to join seven when Rob started it.

I had a ti cross bike from him. Beautiful craftsmanship but awful geometry recommendations from seven. I'd buy a 333 if funds allowed though.

[akelman]

Many thanks to all of you who participated in this thread. I appreciate your feedback. I should also mention that nobody DMed me with any horror stories. The only DM I got was more praise for Max, with whom I had a very nice conversation today. He seems like a lovely guy, and obviously he's got an immense amount of experience on the torch.

[Joe]

I’ve not ridden one of Max’s bikes, but he did some work on my Legend earlier this month. We talked for a bit when I picked up my frame, and I was impressed that he is very knowledgeable regarding fit, frame design and construction techniques. He also took time to show me his shop; Max is very friendly, gracious and generous with his time.

[zetroc]

I'll chime in here, seemingly extraneously, with yet more praise for Max's abilities. The Hampsten Strada Bianca he built for me is a truly incredible bicycle that has hardly seen more than a few days off at a time since I took delivery, and has had zero issues.

[Bob Ross]

I'll be honest, I keep getting 333fab and No.22 confused. Can we move past the numbers thing and go back to putting someone's name on the downtube? :)


Ti welding seems to be like playing the guitar. Many people can do it well. But very few can do it perfectly.

There was a thread not too long ago, either here or across the hall, where someone pointed out how Ti framebuilders self-select for obsessive perfectionism: People who suck at welding Ti don't even get out of the basement; people who are just adequate at welding Ti can't build a sustainable career. All that's left are the welders whose work is exquisite: Max, Kent, Carl, Kelly, Bill, maybe a dozen other pros...

[ERK55]

Mike.....

[enr1co]

More Max love- He built my Hampsten Ti and its a superb ride and one of my keepers- really! Last spoke with him a couple yrs back to discuss a SS coupler retrofit. Super nice guy, exceptional buider , artisan rolled in to one. :beer:

[donevwil]

More Max love- He built my Hampsten Ti and its a superb ride and one of my keepers- really!..........

Ditto! Max was the torch master behind my wife's Hampsten GP Ti, she loves that bike. I get a kick when she asks me if her GP Ti or her Kirk is the better bike. I simply say "Yes".

Max is an elite builder.

[coreyaugustus]

Max is great. Super nice guy and easy to work with, even if you're not local. We did all of the work on mine over the phone and a lot of emails. Very happy with the result.

Check out mine here. (https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=243506)

[mistermo]

I'll be honest, I keep getting 333fab and No.22 confused. Can we move past the numbers thing and go back to putting someone's name on the downtube? :)
Don't forget 44 Bikes too.




All that's left are the welders whose work is exquisite: Max, Kent, Carl, Kelly, Bill, maybe a dozen other pros...

Brad Bingham certainly deserves to be included in this club.

[9tubes]

There was a thread not too long ago, either here or across the hall, where someone pointed out how Ti framebuilders self-select for obsessive perfectionism: People who suck at welding Ti don't even get out of the basement; people who are just adequate at welding Ti can't build a sustainable career. All that's left are the welders whose work is exquisite: Max, Kent, Carl, Kelly, Bill, maybe a dozen other pros...

Maybe it's us who have obsessive perfectionism. A Litespeed could be aligned just as well and mitered just as well. And its welds would be just as strong and the frame last just as long. But noooo, we want the perfect stack of dimes welds, and all the way around every weld on the bike. I chuckle imagining one of these guys thinking to themselves, "OK, I've done 11 welds perfectly. Don't screw up the last one with some tiny mistake!"

I can name quite a few steel builders who have the same obsessive perfectionism. Ever seen a Glen Erickson bike? But those guys get to fix their mistakes with filler and paint.