Titanium Hardtail MTB
 

I’m thinking about buying a custom titanium hardtail MTB. Is there anything inherently better or worse with the material for mountain bikes....

No paint to chip and no frame rust.

I don't know about a custom titanium hardtail bike.

But, I bought a custom titanium cross bike. I do not race it. But I love it. It rides great. Everything gets soaked up with no problems plus love the way it looks and rides. My vote is, if you can justify it, go get one and see for yourself.

simply put, no.
get the ti.
:)

Why?

Mine is double butted. Made by Alliance. Had it set up rigid and it clocked it at 19ish lbs. Fantastic for soaking up bumps and hits. I wouldn't think of getting another frame material for dirt.

As long as you're not going for Lionel's geometry recommendations.

I love my Moots. A buddy just got a Bearclaw ti hardtail and he's very happy with it. I think it's probably the best material for an mtb. Go for it.

I dunno. I have a Lynskey hardtail and it builds out to around 22-23 pounds so - lightweight, no scratch finish, plenty stiff but not obnoxiously so. I had a Lynskey in the past that was one of the stiffest bikes I've been on - didn't like it, sold it and kept a Cielo 29er steel bike - really nice ride quality, which I eventually sold as it wasn't getting ridden (a bad habit I have with mtn. bikes).

Other than lighter weight and better wet weather durability, not sure it would give you anything you don't already have in your 44 (unless you're going for + size or something) particulalry in terms of ride quality.

Custom builder - Kris? - should be able to give you the ride you want.

I have a Form built Ti hardtail. One issue to consider on a Ti frame is rear tire clearance. I'm pretty limited to 2.25 Ardents but many other 2.2 tires do not clear the chain stays. I still really like the ride but my buddies who ride carbon have skinnier stays and more clearance.

I have ridden a carbon specialized stumpjumper hardtail. I have ridden a steel Spot hardtail. I have ridden an alloy Cannondale hardtail.
And I have ridden a ti Moots and a ti Blacksheep hardtail.

There are those that will tell you that for mtb bikes, the material does not make a difference. That since the tires are so "fat", one really cannot experience titanium's inherent and legendary ride qualities. That the "fat" mtb tires mute the ride qualities of the frame.

In my experience I have found that not to be true. I loved my ti hardtails. Despite the 2.25 to 2.4 width tires I put on them, I would like to believe that I could still feel titanium's ride qualities.

The carbon felt stiff and the alloy felt jarring while the steel felt a bit "sluggish". But my ti hardtails, ahhhh....the ride was unmistakably titanium. You own a ti mosaic. you know what i am talking about.

just get a ti hardtail. i would choose 44, or built, or firefly, or strong.

If you paint it pink you'll have to remind/tell everyone you come across it's made out of titanium.

I'd build it as a rigid 29'r going "reasonably" lightweight. It would be a nice companion to the 44 assuming you would keep it.

Titanium much better crash worthiness, if ya throw it into a rock garden, compared to plastic. Never rusts, lasts forever if made well. Can be pricey..and if it's a chinese/russian made one, for less $, may not be as durable.

http://www.habcycles.com/mtb.html

Change is nice, but I don't think it would be a significant improvement over what you have. A bit lighter, and rust proof. Scratch resistant if you don't paint it. IMHO, your 44 is near perfection as far as hardtails go.

(My ti experience: I race a modern ti cx bike, and had a ti hardtail. Ti can be as racy as top-end carbon - torsionally stiff, etc, but not as light.)

FWIW, my recent mtb upgrade was to a modern xc fs race bike (this one): low and slack, 120mm front and back. That thing is fast and perfect for long days.

Yes, do it.

if it lasts forever then it´s trouble because all the hub, stem, brake, headset, bottom bracket, rim, tire standards will have changed inthe near future and he won´t find replacement parts anymore.
Picture the owner of a Seven 26in hardtail made in 1999.

I´ve had a titanium hardtail and like my steel mtn bikes better. i am sure it´s not about the material but design.

Gonna check out their fleet when I get up to Traverse City this summer. Thinking of picking up one of their all-road bikes.

All other things being equal. A little lighter and a little more forgiving in the rough than steel based on my experience.

Hey awdwon, are you in Michigan? Traverse is beautiful. He got his at Einstein I believe. He did have to reduce his rear tire size due to some rub but loves the bike. He came from a full suspension Specialized Epic World Cup. Likes the hardtail better.

Everything matters, gaucho.

My Ti indy fab deluxe has been quite awesome. immediately loved it over a FS trek fuel ex I had previously. I guess it depends what you are looking for, but I think its a great choice for MTB. only issue to note is after riding through a lot of standing water and not doing anything about it, BB got corroded. I left it in there for a while though, with no special grease or anything, so you may want to pull that every now and then. Other than that, yes its cool to not care about paint chips.

Titanium makes the best handlebars... that´s all i know.

Makes sense...

Nah, I’m from SW Ontario. I’ve been up there the last 2 summers with the family and we always have a blast.


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I had a Santa Cruz chameleon and had Seven build a ti version when I worked there. Waste of money. My subsequent steel mtb's from another builder were better. I love the lack of paint but the ride was nothing special.

Here is my Ti hard tail, its a blast to ride and takes a beating without missing a beat! :p I have crashed it quite a hard a few times and the decals were looking a bit ragged so I just removed them with an razor, and gave her a scrub with a scotch brite pad and she is just like new. ;)

My Moots is a 2002 and parts haven't been an issue yet. Threaded BB, 1 1/8th headtube, 110mm stem, disc brakes, etc. I am worried about wrecking my wheels though. Guessing there aren't many 26in wheelsets sitting around anymore.

My 26in HT is 2000 and it´s susp. forks are busted. I have been looking for a replacement 26in 80mm travel rim brake fork and all there is used marzocchis.

I believe this and would love to know this (future upgrade planning)

I currently have two titanium hard tails and a cx bike. They're nice.

In contrast to someone above, I had an early Seven Sola (15? years ago) that I seriously wish I had not sold.

My front shock
 

Yup, my suspension fork taking a poop and dying is my second biggest worry about having a 26er. Will be a real bummer if this happens. Can't imagine there are many in good shape to be found that aren't too expensive. Good thing I mostly road ride.

For flat or riser handlebars, it's true.

The titanium ones last forever, are very comfortable, and for 25.4/26.0mm stems (can be easily shimmed to 31.8mm stems) there are many on eBay for very cheap, in many rises and sweeps, that a Scotch-Brite pad will make look like new.

For 31.8mm brand new, the Thomson ones are beautiful but expensive, Ti-Cycles more affordable, Jones (his H bar, I think are expensive also), a few from other titanium frame builders like Moots, and at least several other options (many of these might come from Control-Tech, etc. initially (even the Thomsons might be) but I am not sure about that, and anyway Control-Tech is good quality).

Good ones out there if you look long and hard enough. I tend to prefer the alt styles with some extra sweep.

Groovy Ti Luv Handles
Jones H and Loop Ti

My current favorite is an old set of Fatback Titanium bars. Shaped very similar to the Luv Handles but nice and wide. Picking up my new custom steel Long Travel HT frame tonight designed around these bars.

I would love a slacked out, short chainstay Ti hardtail with room for a 2.35-2.6 in back. 66.5-67 HA with a 130 fork - oh yeah!

My carbon hardtail is awesome for fast "workout" rides but it beats my old body up.

Great, now I have to call Erik and get another frame...

There are many cheap chinese ti 560mm /580mm bars but those are way short, ain´t they? Then there are Thomsons at the new 31.8 standard and the right length but you will spend a bit more. Anyways hbars make the perfect application for titanium.

I want the old Fat Chance ti bars at 24in length and 8 degr. sweep. Made by Merlin?

I can attest that Erik gets that kind of bike!

me likey

I am probably not a good one to ask because I am not a racer and do not have endless budget.

I bought the titanium cross bike because I never had a ti bike before and wanted to see what it was like. My bikes have all been steel or aluminum (been riding for over 30 years). But the ti bike rides great and is the smoothest riding bike I ever had. The bike was built custom for me, but having ridden it for the past five years, the bike always feels great. Not worried about dings, rust or fatigue life.