Production titanium bikes for mid-reach brakes of yesteryear?

doomridesout · #1 10-19-2019, 11:49 PM

If, hypothetically, someone wanted to save a bunch of searches for overlooked production titanium bikes for mid-reach brakes of recent years, what would one look for? I feel like this is something Kona made but can't recall. Name brand cachet is entirely irrelevant (Moots LTs are unicorns, apparently).

charliedid · #2 10-20-2019, 12:13 AM

2015 Kona Esatto Ti frame. Made by Lynsky and pretty sure they made a similar bike.

happycampyer · #3 10-20-2019, 01:29 AM

When I think of ti bikes made for mid-reach brakes, my first thought is Hampsten, but those aren’t production bikes. Most ti builders (Seven, IF, Serotta, Litespeed and Lynskey) had a touring model designed for mid-reach brakes, more often than not with a steel or Wound-Up fork* (like the Vamoots LT (Light Touring), IF Club Racer, Serotta Rapid Tour, etc.). For the most part, these were not stock production bikes, and there probably weren’t a lot made in the grand scheme of things. Strada Bianca tis are probably one of the more plentiful options.

* Of course, Seven made (and I believe still makes) a really nice carbon touring fork, which has better clearance than most in its class. For a while, Serotta made an AR (All Road) fork, which was basically an F3 with extra long dropouts with fender mounts).

StanleySteamer · #4 10-20-2019, 01:56 AM

Marinoni Ti Sportivo.

StanleySteamer · #5 10-20-2019, 02:17 AM

Habanero Ti bikes.

owly · #6 10-20-2019, 05:32 AM

Dolan ADX frameset/bike (UK).

oldpotatoe · #7 10-20-2019, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomridesout

If, hypothetically, someone wanted to save a bunch of searches for overlooked production titanium bikes for mid-reach brakes of recent years, what would one look for? I feel like this is something Kona made but can't recall. Name brand cachet is entirely irrelevant (Moots LTs are unicorns, apparently).

Give this guy a shout. Mark Hickey..I've sold a few of these and they are great frames for not much $. I'll bet he can fix you up.

http://www.habcycles.com/

eddief · #8 10-20-2019, 08:35 AM

http://carverbikes.com/frames/custom-titanium/

buddybikes · #9 10-20-2019, 08:43 AM

Careful of Habenero if you aren't flexible - the headtubes are real short for touring/gravel

NYCfixie · #10 10-20-2019, 08:47 AM

Airborne. Remember them?

For a short while they did make a mid-reach brake flat bar road bike that could easily be converted to drop bars.

I should have bought one when I had the chance...

Andy340 · #11 10-20-2019, 10:19 AM

Seven RedSky (steel and Ti) was in their lineup for a while but they stopped producing/selling 5e midreach fork and a-c is non standard (383mm)

David in Maine · #12 10-20-2019, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy340

Seven RedSky (steel and Ti) was in their lineup for a while but they stopped producing/selling 5e midreach fork and a-c is non standard (383mm)

Redsky is still in the Seven line-up. The new Seven Pureroad fork with tapered steerer is available drilled for mid-reach brakes. I'm about to finalize an order for one!

David

Look585 · #13 10-20-2019, 10:47 AM

The touring company “Backroads” had a custom design built by TST or Airborne that was designed for big tires and fenders.

I found a nice one for the wife, it fits 35s comfortably under 47-57 brakes. The stock fork was a carbon leg/steel steerer tank that I replaced with a Woundup.

semdoug · #14 10-20-2019, 01:34 PM

The Lynskey Viale was mid reach designed before they switched it to disc and then a couple years later discontinued it all together.

mhespenheide · #15 10-20-2019, 02:27 PM

Just a note of thanks for these suggestions. I only knew about the Esatto.