Show us your Titanium! - Ti and Stainless bikes

If people were considering buying a new titanium road frame, is the affordable choice Walty, Kinesis or Burls and then the more expensive option being Van Nicholas or Enigma? Or holding out for a decent second hand US frame like Moots, Seven etc?

I know a chap with a Burls and he has nothing but good things to say about it. I chatted to Justin (Burls) about a frameset and while I didn't go ahead, he was helpful and knowledgeable.

I wouldn't necessarily discount a far east frame; the better factories have been making titanium bikes for 25 years now and know exactly what they're doing.

Also consider Paradigm. I have 1 coming in a few weeks, so I'll report back further after that, but Charlie who runs it has given absolutely superb customer service (much better than some more established brands/framebuilders I could mention).

The obvious alternative to budget Ti is a top end steel frame. A Rourke 853 with Futura forks is going to be c. £1600 and I honestly don't think you can go wrong with that.

In my experience I’ve only had one new Ti frame which is an enigma esprit (still use it, purchased 12/13 years ago?!) Far East manufactured and still looking & riding well.

Also had a Sabbath Silk Road (sold) and the gazelle which were purchased used for about 1/4 of their new price. If looked after they stay looking almost new.

To keep them looking nice a dull polished finish is easier for upkeep rather than bead blasted, but it depends on how you use them/look after them.

The Enigma is a lovely soft ride, the gazelle frame is a little smaller and feels quite a bit stiffer, but both have their own personality.

Torus are another Ti frame company located near to me (Shropshire U.K.) and have tie ins with Burls, but their bikes are always built to a high standard with good reviews.

Good luck in your search 👍

I’ve had three ti frames so far, all 2nd hand - https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/244590/
a Lynskey, an Enigma and a Moots currently... the Lynskey was a custom build butted frame and was fantastic, comfortable and capable, gutted I sold it... the Enigma was one of their Far East built plain gauge ones and also painted - it was nice but stiffer than the Lynskey and a bit of a dull ride, with limited tyre clearance, sold it and no regrets... now I have a Moots, also plain gauge I think, Vamoots CR, it’s stunning, very nice but struggling a little to dial in the fit as the front is much higher than other bikes I’m used to... might have to sell it... what size are you looking for?
If I was to consider a new ti frame from a shop I’d be favouring another Lynskey I think, but given the cost of new vs second hand I think I’d wait for something high end to pop up used and see how I get on with it... ideally butted tubing...
what kind of thing are you looking for? Discs? Gravel or road? QS or thru axle? Tyre clearance? One thing I’d want to look for is something with a replaceable rear mech hanger - just in case etc...
also I’ve seen a few stainless Genesis about for reasonable money I’d like to try at some point...

I wouldn't exclude Kinesis. I've a Condor Moda, Dedacciai Strada K-19 and a Kinesis Racelight GF (all three are Ti) and to be fair, considering both the Condor and Dedacciai are made in Italy by Dedacciai, the build quality on the Kinesis is equally comparable to the Italian frames.