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Someone is definitely making butted frames in China as Bearclaw write in plain text that they are made in China and they also claim that the frames are double butted.
@leggy_blonde - yeah, fair, but still, you're only gonna save 1lb if you're riding a 62cm frame. I think he's being fairly up front and honest about the advantages of butting titanium. Just as Gaulzetti was when he designed my Seven.
Clearly I really am an outlier. Even though I could afford it, I chose 105 over Ultegra last time I bought a Shimano groupset!
JB-
and anyone riding a 62 isn't going to notice a 1lb difference anyway!
I think buying for yourself with your eyes open is one thing (I have 105 mechs on my "ultegra" cross bikes) but a brand having to sell things is quite different.
@PhilDAS could you do the equivalent the trendy MTB steel frame guys do* and use a double butted down and top tube?
*use one 853 tube with the rest basic 4130 and put the 853 sticker on that one
leggy_blonde
For sure, I'm just kidding.
But yeah I think it comes down to it might be a bit comfier/less stiff depending on who you ask but mostly, nobody will know the difference, however people's perception of butted frames is higher and they think they will notice a difference so perceived value may be higher.
Think I'll still pursue finding a factory that will do it. Cost is never going to be low and margin is never going to be high. I'm not trying to start the next specialized. Just trying to make some cool frames that don't break the bank for people like me who couldn't find exactly what they were looking for in the current market.