Show us your Titanium! - Ti and Stainless bikes

And a side on view

1 Attachment

...cross-posted from Current Projects
Picked this cracked Litespeed up recently. Need to get the headtube/downtube junction repaired and the plan is to build up somethinginspired by @t0-ster Rock Lobster (but more budget friendly).
First issue - who/where to repair the frame. Any suggestions? I emailed Enigma a fortnight ago but no response...

2 Attachments

Does anyone on here own a Litespeed that hasnt cracked?

Ha! It would be great if some of those who have first experience could give me some pointers on best way to get it fixed. I've had a couple of pointers in Current Projects but still all ears! ;)

I'm no expert, but I'm doubtful that frame will ever live to ride again. I know most Ti builders are quite often hesitant to attempt repairing cracked frames.

I may well be proven wrong though.
Good luck.

yeah, I think it depends a lot on where the crack is as to whether it's repairable too. They usually go along the welds, I've never seen one crack at the top of the down tube before.

I was talking to a custom frame builder a while ago and he was saying how he'll never touch Ti because every other builder he knows has had multiple returns of cracked frames, even if they're regarded as master builders. They're so senitive to any contaminents in the build process that it's pot luck whether it cracks later or not.

Yeah that frame is destined for the bin.

Enigma initially agreed to try to repair a similar crack for me, but when they saw the pic they quickly changed their minds. IIRC someone else had already said no too (it was years ago) - in the end I gave the frame to @le_corbeau who I think planned to get it repaired in France..

Yes.
Actualy still have it but not repeared.
I have asked to Mr Levacon from France) and he was actualy ok to repear it (depending of his planning) for about 500 euros.

for about 500 euros.

Hah that sounds like code for the 'the bin is over there' to me.

Ive had a seem crack repaired on the inside of a chainstay by Dekerf in Canada (not that its much help) but yea defs depends on the location and type of crack.

Good luck though @Quincy . Thanks for the shout on my lobster, glad i could inspire a bit

:) :(

Like that thing when you massively price yourself out of a job and the bloody customer ponies up with the money anyway and you are like "Well. Fuck."

So much this.

I've had two vastly different quotes for the work. I'm going to wait to hear back from a few others and make a plan. Thanks for the positivity @Howard 😂

Me me me! The secret is not riding it for 20 years.

You could speak to Vernon Barker.
I think the bike he repaired is still alive? but you'd have to ask MA3K

Plus one for Vernon Barker.

My experience having taken a bike up to him , OK, it wasnt just a bike but Mrs NLL's Burls, which had a floppy front mech mount. Dropped bike off they said it would be a while so off the boss and I trotted to get coffee then walk on the moors etc to kill time. We hadn't even finished the coffee before SMS came through saying the work was done

Sorry man - to me it's just an old MTB frame, if you could save it for £100 then maybe it's worth it depending on your emotional attachment but that crack says you can't. Treat yourself to something nice.

Nicely edited. Spoken like someone who has cash to splash. I don't. Best wishes!

you bought a cracked titanium frame, you have.

If you paid for the frame please do not spend another 500 repairing it. You can probably find another 2ndhand frame for that.

Put a jubilee clip round the tube and chuck it on the turbo?

Having had 2 Litespeed frames that cracked - one of which i had welded and it cracked again through the weld and then i had it welded with a plate and it cracked again. Now another one cracked on the chainstay ! may use on the turbo or sell it as a wall hanger. no more TI frames for me. i would recommend that you bin that frame - it will crack again - and a crack there is a critical failure place that will result in you under a bus or losing teeth if it fails suddenly.

Ti framebuilders who have a lifetime warranty ( a lot of them ) wouldn't ever repair a cracked frame. They'd make you a new one. That should tell you something about repairing a crack in an area that's under a lot of stress. Another vote for don't bother. There are plenty of cheap Ti frames in the U.S., if you want help with procuring one, I can help with shipping.