I think that there is a massive difference with ti bikes compared to other materials.
Steel is the most similar and for a Ti frame to be noticeably lighter and stiffer, whilst retaining its comfortable ride qualities you do have to spend a fair bit more than the plain gauge offerings out there.
I recently rode Litespeed's top end ti road frame for a long 180miler, and swapped out to a Trek Madone 6.9 and also Titus carbon/ti roadie.
Stiffest? Hard to tell really. They all had different wheels... But all 3 had excellent power transfer and if anything, the Titus was the least stiff.
Overwhelmingly though, the Litespeed was the most comfortable to ride.
It is however f*****g expensive!
My Dad has a Burls Ti fixed wheel. It's plain gauge and rides very, very nicely. But not really any difference in comfort to my Bob Jackson and not any stiffer than my Columbus keirin frame.
It was however not much more than Burls' steel offerings and I think worth the premium for the antic corrosion qualities of a Ti frame.
(and it looks cool).
Verdict -
if you want a noticeably different ride w/stiff/comfy/light spend ££££
if you want a ride w/stiff/comfy £££
if you want anti corrosion qualities but very similar to steel spend ££
If you want £ - buy a decent steel frame!
I think that there is a massive difference with ti bikes compared to other materials.
Steel is the most similar and for a Ti frame to be noticeably lighter and stiffer, whilst retaining its comfortable ride qualities you do have to spend a fair bit more than the plain gauge offerings out there.
I recently rode Litespeed's top end ti road frame for a long 180miler, and swapped out to a Trek Madone 6.9 and also Titus carbon/ti roadie.
Stiffest? Hard to tell really. They all had different wheels... But all 3 had excellent power transfer and if anything, the Titus was the least stiff.
Overwhelmingly though, the Litespeed was the most comfortable to ride.
It is however f*****g expensive!
My Dad has a Burls Ti fixed wheel. It's plain gauge and rides very, very nicely. But not really any difference in comfort to my Bob Jackson and not any stiffer than my Columbus keirin frame.
It was however not much more than Burls' steel offerings and I think worth the premium for the antic corrosion qualities of a Ti frame.
(and it looks cool).
Verdict -
if you want a noticeably different ride w/stiff/comfy/light spend ££££
if you want a ride w/stiff/comfy £££
if you want anti corrosion qualities but very similar to steel spend ££
If you want £ - buy a decent steel frame!
Hope that helps.
(p.s. Ti bikes look nice...)