Titanium hardtails

[damonik]

I keep getting told that I can't ride a Carbon hardtail with panniers, I don't like Alu bikes, so that leaves me with a steel or Ti hardtail. I'm only interested in mtb touring, I don't really have any desire to get into proper mtb, if I did I'd just buy a Specialized Epic and be happy with that

Chasing any opinions on locally available Ti or Steel frames - I'd love to find a Kona Raijin, but I'm yet to find anyone locally who stocks the frame.

Damo

[queequeg]

I keep getting told that I can't ride a Carbon hardtail with panniers, I don't like Alu bikes, so that leaves me with a steel or Ti hardtail. I'm only interested in mtb touring, I don't really have any desire to get into proper mtb, if I did I'd just buy a Specialized Epic and be happy with that

Chasing any opinions on locally available Ti or Steel frames - I'd love to find a Kona Raijin, but I'm yet to find anyone locally who stocks the frame.

Damo

http://www.lynskeyperformance.com

They make the Kona Raijin, and they have just launched their new "Silver Series" of Ti frames/bikes at some very nice price points.

[TailWind]

There's the Van Nicholas Xion - no experience with it, but would love to have one...

[damonik]

http://www.lynskeyperformance.com

They make the Kona Raijin, and they have just launched their new "Silver Series" of Ti frames/bikes at some very nice price points.

They are sexy!

[damonik]

There's the Van Nicholas Xion - no experience with it, but would love to have one...

Bah image too big - click here

Yes please! Thanks for that link

[TailWind]

There's the Van Nicholas Xion - no experience with it, but would love to have one...

Bah image too big - click here

Yes please! Thanks for that link

The guy to speak to there is Gabriel - met him at the Melbourne Bike Expo last year where he had some Van Nicholas and Schindelhauer bikes on display. Helpful - well worth taking some time to chat with him.

[Jean]

Not exactly local, but easy to buy and bring in are the On-One Inbred steel frames, for either 26" or 29" wheel sizes. They have mounts for panniers and if the online photos are any guide are frequently used for MTB touring. I have a 29er Inbred and it's a great bike, though mine is set up for XC, not touring. Much cheaper than the Ti offerings, particularly if you keep an eye out for one of their sales.

[WestcoastPete]

Not exactly local, but easy to buy and bring in are the On-One Inbred steel frames, for either 26" or 29" wheel sizes. They have mounts for panniers and if the online photos are any guide are frequently used for MTB touring. I have a 29er Inbred and it's a great bike, though mine is set up for XC, not touring. Much cheaper than the Ti offerings, particularly if you keep an eye out for one of their sales.

This was my first thought too...

I have a 26" Inbred, currently setup for MTB, but bought for touring. The one with the dropouts that you can swap has the disk brake tab inside the rear triangle, which makes mounting a rack A LOT easier. The older versions were all like this. The new ones seem to have the tab on the outside of the frame, like pretty much all other MTB frames around.

They're well made frames, and cheap!

[Jean]

Yes, I have the 'swap-out frame', and the rear brake calipers are indeed placed inside the rear triangle.

[silentbutdeadly]

Singular Gryphon from Larry's Custom Cycles in Melbourne. Comes with rack mounts...

If you can handle the drop bar geometry in a 29er then you are good to go.

Frameset is $800 from memory

[cobba]

Singular Gryphon from Larry's Custom Cycles in Melbourne. Comes with rack mounts...
If you can handle the drop bar geometry in a 29er then you are good to go.
Frameset is $800 from memory

Where's the rack mounts on that frame.

http://www.singularcycles.com/shop/index.php/frames/singular-gryphon.html




A bit over $600 will get the same frame from wiggle.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/singular-cycles-gryphon-29er-frameset-2013/

[silentbutdeadly]

I would assume the points on the back of the seat stays to be the rack mounts.

As for Wiggle selling Singular's...that's new. They are charging the same as Singular does in the UK...and the same as Larry's does here (actually Larry's frameset price is $700). Except when you take VAT out of the Wiggle price that's where the price difference is. Hard to see Larry's being able to compete with that since that'd be his margin and transport costs. The final price difference (delivered) though is just $80. I think I'd shop locally on this one...

[DavidL]

I keep getting told that I can't ride a Carbon hardtail with panniers,

Why not? There are always options!

- If you have to have panniers, then get a seat post mounted rack
- Have you looked at frame bags and seat bags (here is some examples but there are many options: http://www.revelatedesigns.com/ )
- If you have heaps of gear maybe a trailer might be an option BOB Ibex

If you want a Ti frame then that is different, but carbon has benefits for loaded travel.

- David.

[cobba]

I would assume the points on the back of the seat stays to be the rack mounts.

They'd be brake cable clips.

It looks like some frames have rack mounts and some frames don't have rack mounts.

Rack mounts.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l564/canyoneagle/Singular%20Gryphon%20mr/SingularGryphon-Offroadmode-side1.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7179319412_c4f1a70d9e_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6665719515_86ac86eacf_b.jpg
http://dirtstories.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/first-ride-singular-gryphon.html

No rack mounts.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5147/5602 ... d67e_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5001/5259147533_031c4edabe_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2658/4142653021_6793396c30_o.jpg
http://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/make-mine-steel-singular-cycles-gryphon.html