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teagar
Joined: 01 Sep 2008
Posts: 1431
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 Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 4:20 pm |
As the title says.
I've come into a bit of hard earned money, and I'm looking to buy a nice new bike so I can relegate my current £500 steed to "winter bike".
The question is:
Do I go carbon or titanium?
So far, all I ride is a Spec Allez from 2005 and I love it to bits, simply because it's let me do so much riding.
I'm a light guy at 54kg (in case that has a bearing on your answers) and only 21.
I want a bike I will still be riding and enjoying for many years to come, but that enjoyment will come in a large part from the performance.
So, the question is, titanium or carbon? (for that money!)
Cheers!
Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie. |
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dodgy
Joined: 27 May 2007
Posts: 568
Location: Wirral
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eh
Joined: 04 Mar 2004
Posts: 4259
Location:
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 5:50 pm |
If you intend to race then carbon.
Would be better if you specified how long you wanted it to last for, but 10 years is fine for every frame material, with the usual assumptions that it is built and looked after properly.
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skyd0g
Joined: 12 Jun 2009
Posts: 801
Location: Lancashire
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markos1963
Joined: 21 Jan 2008
Posts: 1123
Location: Norfolk
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Slow Downcp
Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 2468
Location: Walsall
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 7:32 pm |
As already said, it depends on what you want it for - racing, fitness, leisure etc. Also it depends which carbon and which Ti bike you're looking at.
I have a carbon Kuota Kharma and a Ti Enigma Etape - the Kuota is more responsive, slightly lighter and has more of a spring in it's step. The Enigma has more relaxed geometry, full mudguards, and magic carpet ride quality. The intention when I bought Ti was that the Kuota would be my dry weather bike, the Enimga for wet. In reality, the Kuota is good if I fancy a blast for a couple of hours and can forgo the extra comfort, the Enigma is used if I want a relaxed ride (but still brisk), longer distance etc.
Each bike has it's merits.
Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos |
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giant mancp
Joined: 09 Jan 2003
Posts: 6893
Location: Essex and Lincs
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 7:39 pm |
The best advice I can give is to test ride both materials, only then will you be able to decide what kind of bike suits you. You will prefer one over the other that much is assured.
Then you are going to have to choose a model in your chosen material in your price bracket. What fun ..
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Finding the right saddle is the holy grail of the cyclist - good luck! This may take some time ... |
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hopper1
Joined: 16 Aug 2008
Posts: 1064
Location: Norfolk coast.
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 7:39 pm |
I have both, well, all three, actually... 
I think that I would side with a Ti frame, with race geometry (to keep your ride sharp).
I have a VN Yukon, which is a little softer edged than my Cinelli carbon bike, but this suits me, for relaxed winter mile munching.
Not sure I'd keep a carbon bike for 10+ years...
Check out Planet X, Sabbath, Enigma, if you can stretch more have a look at Qoroz, they are stunning!
Best bike
Winter bike
Offroader |
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APIII
Joined: 16 Aug 2007
Posts: 891
Location: Leighton Buzzard
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 9:09 pm |
Whatever you choose, don't base it on an assumption that carbon fibre won't last. It's nonsense IMO. The paintjob may be a different story though.....
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Escargot
Joined: 04 May 2009
Posts: 294
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 9:30 pm |
Why do people have this ridiculous notion that carbon will not last more than a few years and that a titanium bike will last forever 
Any well looked after bike will last a lifetime irrespective of the material it's made from.
I think it speaks volumes about a material when the majority of bikes are still being made out of aluminium and carbon. Titanium is still a niche material because the benefits are not great enough when compared with the complexity and price of the design/build.
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redddraggon
Joined: 19 Jul 2007
Posts: 8115
Location: North Wales
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 10:10 pm |
| eh wrote: | | If you intend to race then carbon. |
Why? My Ti P-X is stiffer than my Nero Corsa, especially at the front end.
I like bikes...
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redddraggon
Joined: 19 Jul 2007
Posts: 8115
Location: North Wales
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Escargot
Joined: 04 May 2009
Posts: 294
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 10:41 pm |
| redddraggon wrote: | | Escargot wrote: | Why do people have this ridiculous notion that carbon will not last more than a few years and that a titanium bike will last forever
Any well looked after bike will last a lifetime irrespective of the material it's made from. |
IMO, a frame that will last Donkey's years will be one with a threaded BB, and traditional aheadset.
A frame with integrated headset cups or press-in bearings is likely to last less time. This is largely unconnected to material properties, but unfortunately integrated headsets are a common thing on a CFRP bike.
But anyway, a Carbon frame should last as long as a Ti frame, but due to design and aesthetics, carbon frames will date far quicker than Ti. |
True. I guess that's the limitation with interfacing CFRP with metallic components but in most cases the bearings etc should last the life of the bike (providing you don't do 10k miles a year).
That's an interesting one about aesthetics and maybe one reason why some manufacturers have maintained the butted tube route with carbon tubes. It's a classic look but I quite like the look of large section downtubes. Time will tell if they date badly but if they do then there'll be a fair amount of aluminium frames that will date too.
In this day and age though do people really expect to keep their bikes for a lifetime ? I certainly like the idea as my father in law still has his Eddie Mercx but I very much doubt I'll keep mine for more than 5 years before selling it on.
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eh
Joined: 04 Mar 2004
Posts: 4259
Location:
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 11:48 pm |
| Quote: | Why? My Ti P-X is stiffer than my Nero Corsa, especially at the front end.
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Ok but typically carbon race frames are stiffer and lighter than Ti frames, but I agree this is only a rough generalisation and there maybe exceptions.
| Quote: | | Not sure I'd keep a carbon bike for 10+ years... |
Hope you've told Boeing and Airbus of your findings 
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redddraggon
Joined: 19 Jul 2007
Posts: 8115
Location: North Wales
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hopper1
Joined: 16 Aug 2008
Posts: 1064
Location: Norfolk coast.
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aracer
Joined: 16 Aug 2007
Posts: 1643
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 1:04 am |
| redddraggon wrote: | | But anyway, a Carbon frame should last as long as a Ti frame, but due to design and aesthetics, carbon frames will date far quicker than Ti. |
Yeah because ti frames already look dated 
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teagar
Joined: 01 Sep 2008
Posts: 1431
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 3:10 pm |
Cheers guys.
I'm planning to start racing for the first time next spring.
I also do a big 5 day touring holiday each year through various mountain ranges, (with van support).
Are the performance differences between carbon and titanium (at that price) that big?
I was considering TI because,
a) it's supposed to be a comfier ride for little sacrfice in performance (as I understand it)
and
b) if you do smash it up it's less likely to be a write-off (which I imagine will eventually happen, given that i'm about to start out racing).
Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie. |
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Lunar Tick
Joined: 12 May 2009
Posts: 45
Location: Cumbria, UK
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 8:18 pm |
The performance differences between carbon and Ti aren't that great; the biggest difference is weight - at any given price point, carbon frames tend to be a little lighter than their Ti equivalents, which can help with performance.
However, in reality the actual performance difference will depend to a large extent on the design of the frame rather than frame material. I have a Sabbath Monday's Child (titanium) and it's a very stiff, responsive and fast ride. Makes some of the so-called 'performance' carbon frames out there seem rather wooden and unresponsive in comparison. However, there are some exceptionally responsive carbon frames out there too.
One thing that is beyond dispute is that Ti (when done right) can give a magical ride quality - lively and zingy yet somehow smooth and forgiving (adjectives that you wouldn't normally put together!). As you've guessed it, I'm a died in the wool Ti fan - I race on my Monday's Child and have a Silk Road as my winter/training bike 
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