[Closed] £5k - one dream bike or...

Dream bike? I thought we'd already established that £5k is mid range?

If you go custom, make sure that you know what you want and the buider knows what they are doing.

My only custom build was also the worst bike I've ever had.

I think it depends on the type of riding you do . Last year i had 3 bikes stolen ( full suss hardtail and roadbike) and when the insurance paid out i was tempted to just get myself a fancy full suss but I knew i would still want to go out for the odd road ride and i wanted a cheaper  hardtail for riding with the kids so i ended up replacing like for like  . If you know the dream build will cover all your bases then why not , your only 50 once .

I built up an absolute dream XC race bike build for my 40th last year, don't regret it for a minute. Had a blast XC racing it during 2019 & am enjoying beasting myself on it locally this Spring even though there's no xc racing right now.

I own less bikes than most of my friends nowadays but am glad that I do have my top notch, 'posh' xc bike to wheel out, a year on it still feels like an absolute treat when I ride it. As a modern 29er 10.5kg 100mm full sus it's thankfully actually pretty versatile so can still cope pretty well as a general trail bike. Just my perspective.

Have you ever owned or riden a titanium bike. I have had 2 and the conlusion I have come to is that a good steel frame is better much better value. Ok ti looks nice it doesn't scratch and people admire it. But if you shut your eyes when riding I doubt you could tell the difference. Plus its easily repairable and repainted.
I am talking mtb here so maybe not applicable for your use. Good luck with your project.

Depends, I got my dream bike paid about 4.5k iirc but alas it wasnt my dream bike, sold it lost lots got another dream bike, it was very good but it honestly didnt really do all that much over my pretty cheap pinnacle so sold it, still got the cheap pinnacle and wish i still had the 4.5k in the bank, along with the extra I spent of bike fits to make the perfect bike feel right doh..still got a better bank balance than I did have lol and dont miss the first bike at all, the second just a little bit, ramble ramble

Have a look at some of the 'show us your Ti bikes' threads on here from times past - some severely under-whelming bikes on display (plus a couple of WTF is that? eye-waterers). I don't know - seems risky, like the bespoke designs plus expensive fabrication material can be an excuse for mediocrity.

What do people ride on Audax's these days? Thought steel frame drug out of a skip was more the ethos than titanium poncery.

I wouldn't, diminishing returns, what if standards do change again, what if you don't like it that much?

I speak having had a few dream bikes (before £5K was imaginable) some were great some not.

Are there any odd geometry quirks, or special mounts, that you're looking to address with custom?

Geometry trumps material every time. Be sure what you want from the bike. What riding do you do now? Buy the bike for that not the riding you think you’ll do.

Personally, I love titanium but it is not magic. I went from a stole Ti road bike to a high end carbon. The carbon was better in every way.

Do you want electronic? And if so SRAM wireless or internal wires. If internal then be sure to spec this on the frame. If not, leave the cable stops off (custom).

The difference between Ti and nice steel is about half a water bottle. The difference in cost is a nice pair of wheels or electronic shifting.

Thanks for the replies

Going to be a stock frame unless a bike fit throws up something weird, which they have never done before.

I get the "steel is better value" argument - still got a MK1 Soul and have a first generation Fratello Disc which this would replace. Similar spec current Fratello would be 2/3 the price and I'm quite tempted, but this is possibly my one chance to scratch the luxury Ti itch, short of winning the lottery or wishing ill on my elderly parents.

That said, seems there are some CdF Ti frames in my size in the system, so trying to see if LBS can get one in. That would save £1k

If you like your fratello’s handling then you do not want a CdF. Two degree shallower head angle will mean that it has slow handling compared to the Conor. Geometry is everything and plenty of people (on here) have bought CdF and sold them as they handling is slow. Geometry is everything. Might suit a little by Audax when you are tired,but I wouldn’t

I think it depends on the bike... For what seems to be yours of a gravel based thing instead of say a Santa Cruz Bronson, then i'd say the odds of getting exactly what you want are quite high. With Full Suss MTBs though you can end up with something that just doesn't suit you at all.

For a road bike, budget on some nice wheels, it will make far more difference.

For an MTB, budget on some nice wheels and suspension.

I suspect you could get an off-the-shelf aluminium or carbon frame which would be just as good, if not better, than your Ti frame, and will last just as long, but will leave you with cash to spend on other parts that will make more difference.

Had a titanium audax build in mind for a while now as a frame to see me through the next 20 years...

I have always like the idea of this myself. But... Would you not get bored?

You know in 10 years time, when everyone is now on 900c wheels and slick electronic hub gears. And you look at your primitive machine, tired and gritty. Would you yearn for a change? I think I would.

It's a personal thing though. How you feel about a bike and how it influences you is quite important in my experience. If a tailored bike is something that inspires you to ride and puts a smile on your face when you do so, it's money well spent. And I think it's awesome we still have an industry of traditional frame-builders, which seems as good as place as any to support with your cash.

That said, seems there are some CdF Ti frames in my size in the system, so trying to see if LBS can get one in. That would save £1k

Plenty of other Ti options for that kind of money or less. Vaaru, Engima, Sonder, PX, Ribble, VN, Reilly, Kinesis

Most of those brands are on the list.

Most of them don't reply to emails or messages and can - quite frankly - whistle for my money.

Anyone gone down the dream bike route and regretted it?

Yes. Carbon full-sus MTB when I had a hefty insurance payout.

OK, £4k isn't so much by today's standards but in 2013 that was top end. Lovely bike but it was soon superseded by bigger wheels, longer frames, slacker head angles, etc.

Not the same as a ti road bike I know, but it did teach me that "dream bikes" are a marketing gimmick and the desire for them can be self-indulgent or even deluded.

Plus, I'd have carbon over ti for a road bike any day.

I had a CDF, was ok. Heavy, not great finishing kit for the price, but was solid and dependable. But for me it’s not a dream bike, unless you are also going to be bike packing or touring?
For me, it would be a Fairlight, I know it’s steel, but I’d be going for Di2 and nice 30mm Carbon wheels. But no one can say what your dream bike is.
I went out today on my winter bike, first time for 2 months. It’s an absolute dream to ride, Trek Domane with 32mm wheels. I was saying to my riding buddy how much I absolutely love riding that bike, more so than the summer bike.

Spend it all on a titanium Audax bike.

The people I know who have had custom bikes still get the same itch to sell / move on 3-4 years down the line as something new ends up coming out / changing.

The only exceptions to this are tourers or audax bikes that get ridden on once in a lifetime rides and or cover mega miles rather than just a few Sunday runs and shopping.

Having owned a 'high-end' Ti MTB I certainly wouldn't be in a rush to buy another. I would go steel or alu and spend some money on 'dream' wheels. Looking back, the bikes I have enjoyed more than any others are the ones that have fitted me properly, regardless of frame 'quality'. There is also a lot of joy to be had in simply changing frames every now and then!

The difference between Ti and nice steel is about half a water bottle. The difference in cost is a nice pair of wheels or electronic shifting.

This way of looking at it makes a lot of sense to me!

There are some lovely steel bikes out there. That’s where I’d go I suspect.

That would save £1k

Which is a week or two of comfortable credit card touring on your new bike.

Touring or audax I wouldn’t bother with ti.
I’d go carbon or 953.
As mentioned above, buy it for the riding you do now, not for what you think you will do.
Brian rourke should be on your list too imo.
If i had 5k burning a hole I’d like a 953 rourkie, with nice wheels and tyres, clearance for 28s with guards, di2 DA, and the right finishing kit (that may be different to you, I accept)
But everyone is different, others may prefer ti, or carbon, or plain old alu.
Weight, (or the lack thereof) would be relatively low down my list of priorities.
Fit and geometry would be top.

I've been drooling over and dreaming of Mason bikes recently. They look rather nice.

I bought the dream bike when I inherited some money and I know it will become obsolete eventually (27.5 😎) but every time I pull it out it makes me smile. It’s ridiculous, I can’t ride it even close to its limits and realistically I’m sure it’s no more capable than a bike a third of the cost, but I am so glad I didn’t get 3 bikes instead. There’s something really nice in owning something you would never buy rationally...

Interesting mix of opinions as ever. Thanks everyone.

I think maybe the problem is that your particular 'dream' has probably always involved a Ti frame before anything else?

Being honest about it that's either going to take a disproportionate chunk of your budget or you end up settling for something off the peg, potentially not quite right for the sake of a using material that had it's heyday long ago, I doubt this purchase will last you the desired 20 years...

But if it has to be Ti then it has to be Ti, it is a "dream bike" not a sensible investment. Just accept there's a bit more heart than head to this purchase and crack on...

My Dad left me some money and I went the dream build Ti framed option.
Tripster, 2 set of wheels, all top notch parts, not regretted owning that bike for a second.
Must have had it 4 years now. And it's been ridden almost every day. Luckily have a job with a safe bike shed, so commute on it, sometimes riding home offroad.
Standards, schmandards! It's just lovely. Absolutely covered in dust at the moment from lockdown gravel rides to the beach, looks gorgeous. 😀
Do it!

I am sure you have worked hard for your money do what ever you feel best you cant really go wrong.

Must have had it 4 years now
It's coming up for 5 years in August 🙂
Found a newish pic

If i had 5k burning a hole I’d like a 953 rourkie, with nice wheels and tyres, clearance for 28s...

Many people riding way bigger than 28s for audax these days. Not just the guys enjoying the view at the back either, bigger tyres are becoming popular in ultra-distance racing. Which is just one example of how standards change.

Clearance for just 28s is already quite dated on anything other than a race bike.