BAUM Ristretto 54

The rear (at least) is stainless xcr which is pricey steel.

Ofc its expensive. Is it worth it? thats another question. Some will think a ferrari is worth its tag some will say you get way more bang for the buck when you buy mustang. Same old same old.

Very nice looking bike!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWdd6_ZxX8c

builded in 2014

BUILDED! Y u no keepdid?

Forgive my ignorance but how does Baum/Stelbel set themselves apart from all the other local guys (eg. Field, Donhou, Talbot etc) that make race geometry steel road frames with tapered head tubes and oversized tubing?

By the looks of things, everyone with an Instagram account makes a bike like this these days.

"The bike is in Spain - Madrid"

Wind it in please

On a side note a spick span from Baum Ristretto was £4000 with Ultegra so I will agree this is "keenly" priced.

Genuine question, as I don't have experience with either: why? What actually makes the difference?

@badboybjorn

Some will think a ferrari is worth its tag some will say you get way more bang for the buck when you buy mustang.

... that's not really a good comparison, as the two are extremely different in most ways imaginable. However, I'm absolutely not an expert on expensive steel bikes, so I'm curious to know what actual advantage this bikes has compared to other steel offerings (which also look very very nice).

Stelbel is a name that has been resurrected 3, 4 years ago by an online retailer, working with a third-party fabricator. It's not like Stelio Belleti will be designing your bike. Paint possibilities are also actually quite limited.
Darren Baum has been around for much longer and him and its team do everything in-house, from fit to paint. He still welds, apparently. Although there is a distinct aesthetic to them, there is definitely a lot more choice in what you can have visually.
Don't get me wrong, I like Stelbel and I actually contacted the owner in 2016, but to me Baum operates are a different level (I'm not saying his bikes are twice as good though).

WOW! this is even on the "cheap" side of things!!

I just came here for the pictures, are there any?

Baum Ristretto
• Frame configuration Oversized custom blended Columbus and Dedacciai tube set, Bi­‐ovalised chain stays; Stainless steel rear triangle.
Frame price 5.250.-€ (Delivery time 1 year waiting list)

Baum its the most exclusive steel frame, so please don't compare with just steel frames, its another league.

Any case, Im open to reasonable offers.

No, we're just arguing about perceived value in the custom-made steel frame market.

ahh... I'll come back later...

Baum its the most exclusive steel frame, so please don't compare with just steel frames, its another league.

Yeah but why. What makes it 'another league' apart from people just believing it. I still haven't heard an actual thing that sets this apart to the extent of costing twice as much as a frame alone compared to really good 'normal' bikes...

In general (if you were to get a custom frame):

• Geometry (how the fit data is translated into the design, to achieve desired handling charateristics).
  
• tubing selection, taking into consideration rider weight and desired comfort level
  
• aesthetics (proportions, paint, flourishes etc...)
  
  

Of course if you buy a bike made for someone else the first 2 points might be moot.

Well, that kind of matches what I thought. It's a very nice bike for sure, but I can't quite see that alone making up for the price.

Blame Brexit!

This is all marketing waffle. Every Baum Ristretto in every size uses the exact same tubing - just more or less of it.

All you’ve got to do is check out the Baum site to see why they charge so much and why they are valued as “special” compared to other frames such as Donohue (which I am not taking away from one bit). 29 years of building including mentoring from a master frame builder across all sorts of materials (which obvs require special skill sets to work with). Just to start with there are only a few companies out there that can offer that kind of bespoke finish that people are looking for. For reference a Cinelli Xcr is £3270. You can have a made to order custom Baum frame for around £500 more...

Cinelli isn't a great example of price though, even a custom stainless Saffron is less than that

I visited their site, and I can't say it was particularly illuminating. 'Bespoke finish' in what sense? Also I could kind of understand that if you have extremely specific wants, but once you sell it on, that reason for the frame's value completely evaporates, as @Lolo already said.

"X years of building" and "master frame builder" in itself doesn't really mean much to me as long as no one is able to name an actual advantage one gets from that - it's not like other frame builders, or indeed bigger companies, don't know what they are doing, right?

Again, the bike definitely looks great and I'm not putting it down as such, but I'm struggling to see much in the finish that sets it apart to another league. Will it feel significantly different from other high-quality frames? Does the experience actually translate into a ride that is somehow better or unique in a way not achieved by 'cheaper' frames? I'm still really struggling to see a justification for €6k. That is a big chunk of money, I'd kind of expect to see a bit more in the way of actual 'unique selling points' for this...

Anyway, it's a bloody nice bike. GLWS op!

"X years of building" and "master frame builder" in itself doesn't really mean much to me as long as no one is able to name an actual advantage one gets from that

Well I guess that point alone is the debate. I know personally I’d rather be riding a lovingly hand made custom frame (with a lifetime warranty and excellent after sales care) than another offering such as a Taiwanese factory made S works or the like...

You might not feel the difference between an aluminium Pre Cursa or a £2k Look on the track but you’ll ride it knowing the attention to detail and R&D and all sorts that have gone into the frame and that’s what you’ll appreciate? I don’t know. I just think that £5200 for a custom made Dura Ace di2 Corima wheel specced bike in immaculate condition seems reasonable to me. (Not to mentionthe EE calipers and the Enve finishing kit)

That's a great price for a bike of this caliber. Not sure why so many people are bitching. Stop comparing apples and oranges.

For 6k i’d want something custom made for me not someone else.

I guess it's the law of diminishing returns and exclusivity. Obviously a frame built by a guy with a huge understannding of bike geometry and superb construction. But better than a Pegoretti or Sachs etc ??