Custom Titanium frame from CS

[tripleDot]

A few months ago, I finally went ahead with a project that I had been considering for quite a number of years. I got my custom Titanium bike frame built. This is gonna be my road/gravel/touring/bikepacking bike.

With a lot of research, I know which Chinese Ti frame builder I want to go with, my problem is that the company build according to customer specs and I'm just not knowledgeable with the technical details. Luckily, Peter of Carbon Speed had partnered with this company and I went through him instead. I know it costs a bit more but I needed the assistance. Plus I have a few transactions with him before and he's proven to be very reliable.

I still haven't got the frame yet but Peter had sent me some pictures and it is ready for shipping.

[carbonazza]

Wow ! That is very interesting. I look forward to see your build.
I did some research too last year, but without knowing who to ask for it, I dropped it.

Is it internal routing ?
Was it custom built on some of yours bike fit measurements?
What is the frame size, and how much does it weight ?

[tripleDot]

Yes, I had it done with internal routing. You can see the holes in the pictures. I did request a DI2 and dropper post compatible (more for future-proofing), although I still have to see it if it was incorporated.

The geometry was largely copied from the Jamis Renegade Exploit (chromoly) with some tweaking. Most notable tweak is the horizontal dropout. I chose the Exploit because it shared the same geometry as the Jamis Renegade Exile (the aluminum version) which I have riden and really loved. Also the Exploit being of chomoly tubing is much closer to the Ti tubing. As for Ti tubing size, I referenced it with a friend's Salsa Ti bike (I forgot which model).

Sizing is size 54 of the Exploit. Weight, no info yet... haven't landed yet.

Edit:
In case you want to know, frame tube diameters were based on Salsa Ti Colossal.

[lRaphl]

Sweet looking frame!!!! 

Can I ask how much it costed you?

Thanks!

[tripleDot]

For the specs and features I commissioned... US$670, excluding shipping. Cost includes the thru axle/rd/disc brake adaptors (not sure what's it called), axle and custom etched art work/lettering.

[Flying Trunk Monkey]

Hi tripleDot, I'm new to this site and joined just to ask about your frame. I am in the market for something similar so sorry about all the questions.

Have you had a chance to weigh it?
2.5Al6V tubing I'm assuming?
Max tire clearance?
Is the headtube tapered?
What did shipping and up costing?
Who should I contact when I want to do something similar?

Thanks,
FTM

[tripleDot]

It's been a while and here's why... the local customs decided to screw me up by holding the package for a couple of months and if that wasn't enough, I had to pay a US$250 ransom (duties, VAT and some other charges). It is still cheaper than going for a branded Ti frame.

I just literally came back from the Post office and have yet to open the package. Will post updates tomorrow.


@Flying Trunk Monkey,
Weight to be announce.
Yes, 2.5Al6V tubings.
Max tire clearance is 700x42c.
Yes, tapered headtube and internal cabling.
Shipping via EMS was, I believe around US$60... I'm in Asia so it would be higher if you're in America or Europe.

Contact: Peter of Carbon Speed.

[carbonazza]

You didn't have such problem with carbon frames right ?
Was titanium the reason ?

[tripleDot]

You didn't have such problem with carbon frames right ?
Was titanium the reason ?

Yes, never had this problem with the carbon frames. But definitely nothing to do with this being Titanium. I still have all the boxes from Peter, 5 of them, 3 carbon frames, this Ti frame and carbon wheelset. None of them have specified what material, it just "bicycle frame", "bicycle fork", "bicycle wheelset", etc.

As per EMS customer service, it was random. What bothered me was it was the customs office of another city. It made me questions their jurisdiction but I'm left with a take it or leave situation. My package is held by people who are 1.5hrs away by plane. And I'm afraid that if I call the attention of the local customs, they'll probably just screw me a second time. I just charged it to experience.

[tripleDot]

Here's the weight, just a tad shy of 2kg, 1.935kg to be exact.
Was trying to upload a picture but I kept getting an "upload folder is full".

[Flying Trunk Monkey]

tripleDot,

Thanks for getting back to me, I'm looking forward to seeing what you think when you get it built. I think I'm in a similar position as you regarding needing help to facilitate a design and the process as a whole. Considering your pre-shipping price came to $670 I think that whatever price Peter's involvement added was worth it. Regarding Peter did you use the petercycles@foxmail.com email to contact him?

Is there anything you would have done differently in the process?

FTM

[tripleDot]

@FTM, yes, that is the correct email address of Peter of Carbon Speed.

As for the process, I don't think there was anything out of the ordinary. The only difference is I communicate with Peter (who by the way is very good in English) and he communicates with the manufacturer, most probably in their native toungue. Based on my researches and readings, folks who went direct have exchanged dozens of email going back & forth for a month or so with the plans before finally building the frame. In my case, the planning stage was about a month but less than a dozen emails between me & Peter. My guess is that Peter, having experience with building frames understands my needs and wants, fleshed out the details with the manufacturers. Which is exactly what I needed.

These are what I did to get this project done.
 - supply geometry of bike I wanted copied,
 - supply tube diameters for each part,
 - indicates any tube preferences, like ovalized chainstay, etc.
 - list of features and/or preferences

For the tube diameter, Peter can actually do that but I just happened to have a source that I wanted to use.

* Bonus from my research. The manufacturer allows you a custom name/logo laser etched to your headtube & toptube. Don't forget to avail this freebie.

If you are designing from scratch, then you might have to talk with Peter specifically on that plan.


Edit:

Is there anything you would have done differently in the process?

FTM

Sort of misread your question before. If there were any process that I would have done differently it would have been:

a. be specific with the size of the custom logo/name. I kinda felt one is a tad too small while the other a tad too large for my liking.

b. chainstay clearance for chainring, l had it made for 2x road crank but now seriously considering going mtb 1x. But it seems I'm limited to a 40T chainring, and I wanted a 42T or 44T oval. While this is still not final as parts have yet to arrive. Still I wished I have foresee this.

c. I consciously did not specify the Ti finish as raw finished (default) was my choice. However, if you want it in a different finish, you have to specify as Peter didn't ask (probably forgot).

[carbonazza]

Nice ! Too sad there is no pictures.
Why not post the images on imgur.com and link them here with the img tag ?

You can find this link directly on imgur after posting an image.
On the top right corner of the image, in the Get Share links, then copy the BBCode.
Do not forget to set the width to avoid too big pictures, eg:
[ img width=800]https://imgur.com...[ /img]

[tripleDot]

Here's a few picts of some details.


Weight of frame (in grams) with the plastic TA for shipping. Aluminum TA is 65 grams. Frame with aluminum TA is 1950 grams.


Welding details. IIRC, l did supply a photo of a weld finish that l wanted. And they came pretty close.


"Ning-Jing", "Serenity" in Chinese. My custom logo for the headtube.


Underside of downtube, internal cabling.


Sliding dropout/disc brake bracket. With rack/fender boses.


Threaded BB.

[carbonazza]

Thank you for the pictures!
Titanium is so beautiful

I didn't know you could choose the welding type.