Titanium touring / audax / adventure / do it all bike. (Assistance appreciated!)

I've always dreamed of owning a titanium bike and i'm not getting any younger so have decided to get one together. It'll need to last me a good few years if not forever and I'll be selling most of my mid level bikes to make it happen so it's not on a whim. Since the frameset will be such an expense i'll initially fit second hand and random parts from the parts bin until I can upgrade. A decent dynamo set-up and discs are a must though.

I'll be using it for long day/weekend rides, lightish touring, hopefully audaxes and the ability to hit up some light off road stuff would be a bonus. I'm pretty much after a do it all bike but at this stage I'm really struggling to make my mind up in what direction to go. After a hell of a lot of online browsing I think i'm looking for something smack in between a Kinesis Tripster and the Kinesis Granfondo Disc.

I've always had a soft spot for Burls but i'm not sure I want to go down the custom route again, it seems there's always some niggles and it could be a long stressful journey. I read about Cielo Rosso as a cheaper custom ti builder but haven't managed to contact them. Mason bikes are lush but I have a tendency to scratch paint so steel isn't really going to cut it (It would be gutting if they had something ti in the pipeline though.) The Enigma Etape Disc (poor tyre clearance options?), J Lavarack (unproven, dodgy looking welding?), CdF Ti and Sabbath September Disc are on the shortlist, as is the Spa Cycles ti tourer. There's just something that keeps bringing me back to Kinesis.

My worry about the Tripster is that it's slightly old technology and the wheelbase is crazy long. I do like the low bb though which is the same as my Salsa Casseroll. The Granfondo looks stunning but I wonder how it will work for touring or on bridleways. Or perhaps there's something that I've overlooked? How much do I need to worry about flat mount compatability, tapered headtubes, thru axles, internal cable routing etc?

As for the other bits i reckon roughly:

SP PD8 Dynamo hub
Edelux II light
Sinewave reactor usb charger (maybe)
Campagnolo chainset
Maybe a big top rando bag
Salsa cowbell bars
SKS guards
Yokozuna cables
Conti speed ride tyres
Spa cycles Aire saddle
No idea on brakes/levers, maybe TRP
Not thought much about wheels

I may use front panniers, I tend to pack light though so i'll probably just bike pack but it would be good to have the option though. I've not even looked at gears/ratios yet. I'm using a triple at the moment but i'd like to move to double. I ride quite spinney and i'll occasionally be pulling a couple of kids with a trailer.

I need to get cracking on this as January sales will have an impact on my choices. I'd hugely appreciate any advice as it's pretty daunting dropping more money than our car is worth on just a frame and forks. Thanks in advance.

Kinesis GFTi Disc

Kinesis Tripster ATR

Lynskey?

Shimano hydraulic brakes but mechanical groupset

Pacenti rims

Hope hubs

Latest shimano cables for gears are awesome

Like this

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Nice, i'm guessing it's yours? Just got to nail down the f&f and then i'll worry about the rest. I'll have another look at Lynskey too. I guess the sportive is the closest to what i'm after.

Yep its mine. One thing I'd change is to not use a CX intended frame as the rear triangle is fucking stiff. This is why I had to soften this with the canyon vcls post.

Yep, just looked at the Litespeed T5 Gravel. Good tyre clearances and thru axle's but probably too CX for what i'm looking for, plus there doesn't seem to be any stock of the larger models anywhere.

I'm flicking through titanium tabs like a madman, too many decisions!

Have you looked at the Sabbath AR1 Cam? There's a frikkin lovely moots on Bikeradar at the mo but too small for you

Yep, saw the Sabbath Sunday, i'll have another look at the AR1, cheers. So hard to decide.

Have you considered Genesis Datum?

The man dreams of Ti! Plastic bikes >>>>>

lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTLyXamRvk4

More for reference but Salsa do the Vaya in Ti, ticks a lot of boxes but the geo might be a bit relaxed, no front rack option and probably near impossible to get hold of over here...

If you embrace a handlebar bag/frame bags, a Salsa Colossal Ti is well swish.

I can vouch for the Lynskey Sportive. Fucking lovely frame. I have the mechanical brake version. It has an amazing ride, is quick off the mark and comfortable for multiple days in the saddle. The craftsmanship is amongst the best I have see in Titanium frames. It's defied lay nippy enough to ride as a roadie and has subtle rack mounts should you want to load up. Room for 32s I believe. I run 28s with room to spare. And I had a buddy at work grumbling the other day that my bike was lighter than his carbon Giant TCR. Could not recommend enough. Oh and if you want to go stealth like the Kenisis the decals come off nice and easy with a couple of wipes with acetone.

Couple of sketchy Instagrabs of my Lynskey all I have to hand. Hope the info helps you make your decision. I'll be riding mine forever I hope.

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Nice @Kuku_Penthouse, that's very much what i'm aiming for with the bar bag and campag chainset. The Lynskey Sportive Disc Di2 looks pretty sharp. Perhaps that frame would work but then i'd need to start looking for suitable carbon thru axle forks which is a whole new world of pain.

@andy_k @JB Salsas are nice but super expensive, I've just seen last years frameset for £2125.

Such a ball ache looking at incomplete geo charts in both metric and imperial. I wonder if there's a geo app for that?

Close enough: http://www.fitandfind.com/

Please consider Datum unless you are infatuated with Ti which I found a bit red herring-y. Carbon will ride better, will be lighter and just as (if not more) strong. You just lose out on mounting racks but bikepacking is a good alternative. It will also be the cheapest of the options.

But how long will it last? I'm looking to get 10-20 years out of this thing. And what will carbon look like after I've squashed it into the car a few times? I know ti is pricey but I've been lusting after it since the 90's. I'll check out the Datum now.