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Very valid points.
I'm honestly just interested to know what peoples thoughts on it are.
It's essentially technology vs craftsmanship, but believe there is room to blend two, where appropriate.
Mechy-
Where is appropriate?
i.e. when do you need bespoke when steel won't do?Initial thought is custom bikes for people who want to go as fast as they can.
If you buy a wyndy milla, fifty one, enigma, burls, duratec it's partly about quality/craftsmanship/colourscheme and partly about speed (especially if your bodyshape doesn't suit OTP frames)Printed lugs with tubes of any material (stainless, carbon, alu, ti) bonded could be a super-easy route to bespoke performance.
If you could de-skill the bond process and hone the design rules you could have a scanning booth at the LBS in which customer selects riding style, gets scanned on a fit-bike and returns 3 days later to collect the frame for an "artisan spray job" of their choice.
Rik_Van_Looy
3d printing has benefits over plated or cast frame parts. They can be lighter and stronger. Totally valid to pursue better bikes.
I just find it a bit silly to do this to steel bikes. Whether it is to stand out as a framebuilder or to make lighter bikes. Carbon for performance bikes seem superior to metal. So in my mind let steel bikes be utilitarian or fancy lugwork. Don't try to make steel bikes into carbon bikes.
Take Sturdy Cycles. He has literally removed everything difficult about framebuilding and made it into a TIG assembly. I bet they are awesome bikes, but they don't float my boat.
My comment isn't meant seriously tho.