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Post by toywizard on Jan 12, 2005 19:18:11 GMT 8
Hi - I was looking at a Bike Plus store the other day when I saw this black cat frame, the jaguar i think and according to the sales people, it is a titanium frame. It was painted so I couldn't tell but it was very light and the sound of the frame kapag pinitik is different. Has anyone tried out these frames or do you know a website with info about them ? Thanks !
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Post by taongbundok on Jan 13, 2005 17:55:54 GMT 8
brad, eto ba yung sa mall? Better if you get your frame from a reputable bike shop. Dami jan whether QC, Pasig or Cartimar area...
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Post by woofers on Jan 13, 2005 19:09:10 GMT 8
Look at the welds at the tube junctions. If they look like toothpaste, it's definitely aluminum.
If they're smooth, it could be anything (my aluminum Trek has smooth welds). But chunky welds are a definite aluminum giveaway.
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Post by toywizard on Jan 14, 2005 0:09:35 GMT 8
Thanks brad for the tip about the store ... roosevelt might have this frame, the ti thing intrigues me lang kasi.
Is there a way to test for titanium ? Its definitely a very light frame but am not sure if its really ti.
However IF it is titanium, is it a good choice for an MTB that will see mostly road use / main trail in Maarat ? I recall reading in bicycling before that frame flex was a major problem with the Litespeeds before.
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Post by taongbundok on Jan 14, 2005 17:38:17 GMT 8
Wizard, my 2 centavos worth lang ito.. try searching the web for this frame, parang wala akong makita..
The beauty of titanium is in its bare color, so medyo tagilid din na its painted.
Also, how light is it? May pang-kilo ba sila? If its more than 4 lbs., dehins na magaan yon. Mapayat ba yung tubo o mataba?
Ti for MTb is fine, If its road and maarat use, I don't think you'll notice the flex. Mas maganda pa nga yung bump-eating abilities. Ti Isn't as harsh as Al but also isn't as plush as steel..
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Post by toywizard on Jan 14, 2005 23:22:47 GMT 8
Thanks again - I will check it out again this weekend. Sana may pang kilo sila. With a budget of say 4K for the frame, in your opinion what would be a good choice to serve as a replacement for my "Specialized" S- works daw ( heh heh ) M5. Its the red one with square tubes but NOT original. Use of the bike is about 70% on road ( maarat cement ) then 30% trail ( main maarat trail ). Am not a gonzo downhiller, I prefer uphills to downhills. ;D
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Post by wcoastbo on Jan 26, 2005 12:41:10 GMT 8
I have a budget Ti hardtail, Supergo's house brand, so probably made in Taiwan. I'm surprise the one you're looking at is painted because Ti looks best raw. Use a magnet to tell if it's Ti, it won't attract. Neither will aluminum, but the wall thickness of the headtube and bottom bracket will tell you if it's alum.
Flex will only be a problem if you use v-brakes, you'll need to get a brake booster.
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Post by toywizard on Jan 28, 2005 0:18:42 GMT 8
Neither will aluminum, but the wall thickness of the headtube and bottom bracket will tell you if it's alum. Flex will only be a problem if you use v-brakes, you'll need to get a brake booster. Thanks brad ! But what s it about the thickness of the headtube or bb ? Aluminium is thicker ? How do you find your ti mtb as compared to an aluminium frame ? Thanks again
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Post by wcoastbo on Jan 28, 2005 3:10:29 GMT 8
toywizard - you're correct, alum will be thicker at those areas. if a BB is not mounted, the threads should be unpainted. raw Ti has a darker color than raw alum, this would be another way to tell. any anodized alum frame will of course make this comparison more difficult. i'm not a welder or metallurgist, but it's my understanding that ti is more difficult to work with because it has to be welded in a special environment. i'm not sure what the process is, but the environment has to be low in oxygen, nitrogen & hydrogen (sounds like the air we breath) and argon is usually used as a "shield" while welding. i mention this because a budget ti frame may not meet your expectations. also, a painted ti frame may be hiding imperfections. I would recommend doing some internet research on the pitfalls of welding ti. www.azom.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=1245that being said, I like my budget ti frame. i've converted into a singlespeed so I stand up and mash on my climbs. there seems to be more flex in the crankset and wheels I use than in the bottombracket area of the frame. I don't have very much time on a alum hardtail, but I would agree that ti is not as harsh on the bumps. I've posted some photos on PCN... "SS convert" photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/philippinecyclingnetwork/lst?.dir=/SS+convert&.src=gr&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/philippinecyclingnetwork/lst%3f%26.dir=/%26.src=gr%26.view=tgood luck and post a photo the bike if you end up buying the frame. Bo
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