Firefly Bicycles

[Tyler Evans]

Titanium 29'er...















.

[John H.]

Tyler,
Would you say that your frame with ISP, PF30 bb, 44mm headtube for tapered fork and butted tubeset would be considered the Firefly incarnation of the "factory lightweight"?
I am asking because I am considering a frame like that vs. a classic frame with standard post, threaded bb, 11/8 headtube.
Anything else new coming from you guys that will make me wish I had waited?

[Tyler Evans]

Originally Posted by John H.

Tyler,
Would you say that your frame with ISP, PF30 bb, 44mm headtube for tapered fork and butted tubeset would be considered the Firefly incarnation of the "factory lightweight"?
I am asking because I am considering a frame like that vs. a classic frame with standard post, threaded bb, 11/8 headtube.
Anything else new coming from you guys that will make me wish I had waited?

Hey John,

We have chosen to not have models. We intentionally only have types (MTN, Road, Cross, etc...) and even those we only consider departure points.

Any bike we build couldn't be considered anything other than a bike built to suit the needs of the individual customer and the intended use.

I wouldn't know what options to recommend to you without first having a conversation about a bunch of things.

Tyler.

[joep2517]

Hey John,

I can tell you I've been working with Kevin getting my specs and riding style to determine what my bike will be and it's been amazing working with these guys. I know you were wondering about something new but I can tell you they've been great to work with so far. I'm still not 100% with my future ride, yet I can't wait for delivery.

Joe

[Dave B]

Originally Posted by Tyler Evans

Hey John,

We have chosen to not have models. We intentionally only have types (MTN, Road, Cross, etc...) and even those we only consider departure points.

Any bike we build couldn't be considered anything other than a bike built to suit the needs of the individual customer and the intended use.

I wouldn't know what options to recommend to you without first having a conversation about a bunch of things.

Tyler.

This needs to be on the front page of the website!

On any custom bike website actually.

[garth]

Tyler... each time I look at this thread I get more and more impressed with your creativity in regards to anodizing. Just when I think you can't raise the bar any higher, especially after Jack's ISP 29er, you come up with something even better.

If you keep on hitting these home runs I'll be ordering up a frame by the end of the summer.

[dyerwolf]

Tyler- Outstanding work. It's good to see Summahvil's still kicking out awesome work. Obviously, New England's most densely packed city still has it going on and thanks to Firefly for keeping the creative industrial spirit burning bright
These precisionwelds are a joy to behold and the frame lines are so eloquent. I'll have to look at getting a way to add a Firefly into my stable soon.
Thanks for sharing.
Evan

[John H.]

Firefly fan and deadhead? Parallel universe?

Originally Posted by dyerwolf

Tyler- Outstanding work. It's good to see Summahvil's still kicking out awesome work. Obviously, New England's most densely packed city still has it going on and thanks to Firefly for keeping the creative industrial spirit burning bright
These precisionwelds are a joy to behold and the frame lines are so eloquent. I'll have to look at getting a way to add a Firefly into my stable soon.
Thanks for sharing.
Evan

[thinpin]

Originally Posted by Tyler Evans

Titanium fat chance mtb circa 1992-3? Still ridden today. Anodized.





I'll work on a real answer later... must build bikes now.

.

Tyler,
Still interested in the real answer.

[Tyler Evans]

Originally Posted by thinpin

What a show!
I'm fascinated by the anodizing. Leni Fried has beeen doing it for a while now but I notice Seven will not warranty any frame that has been anodized. A quote from their site.


Tyler, what are your thoughts on this?

"A small number of manufactures offer anodizing as a way of decorating the surface of titanium frames (or components). Basically, the process creates a dense, colorful film of titanium oxide, which adheres to the frame's surface. Ironically, this is the same type of oxidation that any skilled titanium welder will prevent at all costs, because it will cause the weld joint to become extremely brittle. (This is why Seven's expert welders bathe both the inside and outside of a titanium frame's weld joints in an inert gas, thereby protecting the molten metal from the high levels of nitrogen and oxygen that naturally occur in the environment.)

The titanium oxide film created by anodizing is, thus, extremely brittle, so the frame's surface cannot flex as it would during normal use. Cracks form through the anodized shell, which will eventually propagate into the tube wall, ultimately causing frame failure.

Seven strongly advises against anodizing titanium. Hence, we will void the lifetime warranty on any Seven frame that has been anodized."

Firstly, I would be curious as to where they get their information... It seems as though they are confusing people. Not all oxides are the same.

Oxides formed by welding: titanium heated over 800 degrees and not properly argon purged binds with Oxygen, Nitrogen and carbon creating a brittle (multi) oxide layer that could lead to crack propagation. Also, oxides created through a contaminated welding process become mixed with the molten metal and em-brittle the entire weld down to the crystalline structure. Not a controllable process.

Oxide formed through the anodizing process: Titanium Dioxide, which naturally occurs on the surface of all titanium exposed to air at room temperature. This is a highly controlled process and results in a layer of titanium dioxide approximately 300-800 nanometers thick depending on color and has no effect on substrate strength.

On a side note, I would not warranty a frame if someone other than us anodized it either... I trust how we do it, not so much others.

[jh_on_the_cape]

I remember anodizing some ti bars back in the day. i did not get the colors, just brown. but i did stripes by masking.
i did something like this: I used coke and some 9v batteries.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Anodize-Titanium/

warranty VOID!!!

Originally Posted by Tyler Evans

Firstly, I would be curious as to where they get their information... It seems as though they are confusing people. Not all oxides are the same.

Oxides formed by welding: titanium heated over 800 degrees and not properly argon purged binds with Oxygen, Nitrogen and carbon creating a brittle (multi) oxide layer that could lead to crack propagation. Also, oxides created through a contaminated welding process become mixed with the molten metal and em-brittle the entire weld down to the crystalline structure. Not a controllable process.

Oxide formed through the anodizing process: Titanium Dioxide, which naturally occurs on the surface of all titanium exposed to air at room temperature. This is a highly controlled process and results in a layer of titanium dioxide approximately 300-800 nanometers thick depending on color and has no effect on substrate strength.

On a side note, I would not warranty a frame if someone other than us anodized it either... I trust how we do it, not so much others.

[thinpin]

Tyler, thanks for that. It certainly is a very beautiful way to finish a Ti frame.

[Ahneida Ride]

Hey

Maybe we need a section just for Fire Fly ?



What more can I say? Amazing work !

[Tyler Evans]

Titanium Road : Bespoke : London :



















.

[mrk_d]

Absolutely stunning.