Italian brand Nevi is known for producing exquisite titanium frames, but its new Titanio Legno adds another exotic material into the mix.
The Titanio Legno (that’s Titanium Wood for those of us whose Italian lessons are now a distant memory) uses identical geometry to Nevi’s Spinas race bike, but its top tube and signature oversized down tube have been replaced with hollow 10mm thick sections of walnut wood.
At present, the Titanio Legno frame you see here is the only one in existence, though Nevi has announced it will soon become an option for Nevi customers.
The walnut used for the frame was sourced locally to Nevi’s Bergamo HQ and is laminated from solid sections in a process that’s used frequently in the nautical industry. The sections were then machine-cut, treated and bonded to the rest of the titanium chassis.
As well as its striking aesthetic and exclusivity, the wood has been chosen for its damping qualities, which should mean extra compliance over the all-titanium Spinas.
When quizzed on the process, builder Sergio Finazzi noted the hardest part of the build was getting a perfectly flush finish between the wood and titanium. Ever the perfectionist, Finazzi was able to point out one very minor flaw with the fit of the wood at the down tube — something that will, of course, be rectified for production builds.
Each Titanio Legno frame will be made to measure, making use of Nevi’s in-house bike fitting jig offering what the company calls the "Savile Row experience".
Like the Spinas and many other Nevi bikes, the Titanio Legno uses Nevi’s own fork — a beautifully made component that combines a cast section with 0.6mm sheet metal for a unique look and ride characteristic that you won’t find from other brands.
The build photographed here with its Campagnolo Super Record group and Shamal Mille wheels tips the scales at 8.5kg.
The price for this bike? For now, at least, it remains a POA affair.
