let's try Ti

After steel, aluminium and carbon comes a titanium road project. (and the first project I have ever documented)
Will try to finish it in time for the "Omloop" and some training rides before around Ghent.

I don't want to break the bank with this one, but I do want to know what all the Ti fuss is about.
It's not going to be a weenie, but will source the "nicer" parts for it.
Broad plans are, if I like the Ti will be buying a custom frame next year and transplant the lot.

I sourced an older Van Tuyl VT980 for cheap, got rid of the wide bladed forks, the logo's will be removed, frame needs some love and am expecting an Easton fork I got here which will be debadged and matte coated.

Things in my head now are a new Chorus groupset, Zipp beyond black finishing, proper wheels still undefined but have a set DT Swiss R24 which I am going to use. Have a green King SV I will be repurposing and will be the only color on the build so far.

Keywords are naked Ti and all black finishing, but thinking it might become boring.

The state of it today sans fork:

Nice project! Solid ideas so far but I'd bling it up a bit more than just a coloured headset personally.

I really suck at doing thread updates. (and taking pictures of progress, so will do that later)

State of the build so far:

• stripped frame and polished it up a bit to remove some nicks
  
• received Easton EC90 SL forks from TheBonk many weeks ago, sent it off to paint shop for stripping and new matte clear. Should be ready next week.
  
• got my hands on a cheap new OEM 6800 groupset, might get other cranks. no fancy campa for now (will save for future neo-retro fluoro hhsrb)
  
• Zipp Service Course SL beyond black stem, post and bars came in and they look awesome.
  
  

Still need some small bits, seatpost collar, tape, have an SLR I want to strip,...

Gong to use the R24s for the classics will get carbon wheels with matching King hubs built for summer climbing I think.

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what was your process and materials to polish the frame @LeMesjeu? I need to do on mine but I'm not confident on what to use it and how to do it...

I had a tin of Peek polish left over from my Alan that you can see in the back there. (and to keep the NOS Vitus clean)

Just used that with some disposable microfiber cloths I had. Removed all decal ghosting but not the cable rubbing spots and some other scratches. Result is ok, not mirror polished but somewhere in between brushed and slightly polished. Bit prone to fingerprints, so need to see how it lasts in real life during rides etc

Have some green scotchbrite pads I plan to use just in case it's too much of a pita to keep clean.

I have built it up a few weeks ago with a temp Mizuno fork and complete 6800 as they where practically giving them away at Van Eyck. CHose Zipp finishing but stem looks bulky, the training R24's will be swapped for deep carbon sometime in the next months.

Took it on some rides along the canals and some cobbles on the "Ronde" route. Handles great!

shitty phone pic as still not final build.

Did pick up the debadged Eastons but still waiting for lathed steerer tube plugs. Expect them somewhere next week!

Don't really like the straight forks so hope the Eastons will look better.

Pics not working :(