Titanium demands dedication: the shimmering, precious metal is sensitive and difficult to control when welding frames. This is not the only reason why titanium racing bikes are so fascinating. During a visit to the American Bicycle Group, manufacturer of the Litespeed and Merlin brands, TOUR investigated this fascination.
You can find all the basic knowledge about titanium wheels in the free PDF download.
THE TEST
Why a titanium frame? There is hardly any rational justification for investing in the expensive, difficult-to-process light metal. Technically at least equally good aluminium frames cost only a fraction of the price. And the best carbon frames, which are just as expensive as top titanium frames, are streets ahead in terms of weight. Super-light carbon fibre frames undercut the featherweight in this test, the Merlin "Works CR", by almost 500 grams. But such calculations leave real titanium fans cold. Titanium is absolutely corrosion-resistant, even to road salt, and rust is therefore no threat, they say. An argument that is convincing: even after tens of thousands of kilometres, some titanium frames are as good as new.
SHORT & SHORT
The most important finding of the test: Cube in particular, and to a lesser extent Kocmo and Van Nicholas, make titanium frames a reasonably affordable dream. The test also shows where the sensible limits of the material lie. A titanium frame should weigh at least 1,200, if not more than 1,300 grams, in order to offer uncritical riding characteristics at all times. Add to this, as with all eight candidates, a high-quality finish and it is hard to resist the appeal of titanium.
You can find these models in the PDF download:
Cube Litening HPT
Kocmo Road Master
Litespeed Icon
Merlin Works CR
Nevi Grimsel Mega
Serotta Ottrott
Van Nicholas Aeolus
Wiesmann Palnatoki Titanium
