When Salsa announced its 2016 range of bikes, the brand had all but eliminated titanium frames from the lineup. It was a noticeable omission, but now the Minnesota-based brand has revived the material by bringing back the Fargo Ti and announcing the Timberjack Ti.
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Salsa engineer Sean Mailen was excited to bring titanium back to Salsa's range. “Titanium has an incredible ride and hits the sweet spot between lightweight, strong, and durable," said Mailen. "Once you fall in love with titanium nothing else can replace it. It’s a frame material I’m happy we are still working with. Titanium has its own unique feel that you just can’t get from any other material.”
To build these frames, Salsa has enlisted the expertise of Taiwanese titanium frame manufacturers ORA. Each frame features 3/2.5 seamless triple butted tubesets and clean TIG welds, which Salsa says will offer an "extremely impressive ride quality."
Fargo Ti
The Fargo is the epitome of the Minnesota-based company’s motto “adventure by bike” and is a drop-bar MTB optimised to work with the Salsa Woodchipper dropbar.
It is compatible with 27.5+ or 29-inch wheels, and ready to tackle anything from singletrack and gravel — and even a paved road if that takes your fancy.
With attachment points for gear racks, fenders and up to five water bottles, it’s ideal for touring and overnight adventures.
The Fargo also comes with Salsa’s Alternator dropout, meaning it can be run geared or single speed; QR or thru-axle; or with a Rohloff Speed Hub.
Salsa claims the Fargo Ti’s frame to weigh 2.8kg, but that’s including the rigid Firestarter carbon fork and Liplock seat collar.
Timberjack Ti
The Timberjack Ti is a more traditional hardtail, designed for a 130mm fork and 27.5+ (or 29-inch) wheels and tires.
It’s got a long and slack geometry, short 420mm chainstays and internal cable routing, and the frameset is claimed to weigh 2.1kg including the Liplock seat collar.
The bike is only available as a frameset and comes unpainted with a black Salsa script logo, model name and head tube badge on a brushed titanium finish for a clean look.
As Salsa marketing manager Mike Riemer says: “Dress up your Fargo Ti or Timberjack Ti as understated or jaw-droppingly stunning as you wish. We’ve provided you the almost blank, dead sexy Titanium canvas."
According to Salsa, the framesets are already available via the brand's network of US retailers. The Fargo Ti with Firestarter carbon fork is priced at $2,499 and the Timberjack Ti frame $1,999. No word yet on international pricing and availability.