[Closed] Anyone got a Titus El Guapo??

No, none on STW.

😉

search might work?

I bought one last year, my wife has one of the older ones which I really enjoyed riding, so I thought I'd get one as well. To be honest the differences between hers and the new one in geometry disappointed me. The newer slacker one is fantastic going downhill, but it's just not as good as an all rounder. The lower BB and pedal strikes are annoying.

If I'm honest I wish I'd got to try one first, because if I had I wouldn't have bought it.

what is it like to ride?
[s]any issues i should be aware of?[/s]

EDIT: what i meant to say was how does it ride compared to say a specialized enduro evo, commencal meta am or a trek remedy?
is it a good climber, good descender, handles well, how good is the suspension design, how good is the frame in terms of long term maintenance etc...sorry if i'm asking a lot but the bikes look really nice but i'm not that familiar with them so i'd like to know as much as poss before i take the plunge...

if you get one that was built straight it's pretty good up and down and round about.
if you get an early v3 it might well be a pig.

hummerlicious when did you buy yours and have you measured bb drop?

August or september last year. No, not measured the drop.

Can't get full travel, if I let too much air out it's a squidgy mess.

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8357380939_3514a414a6.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8357380939_3514a414a6.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/8357380939/ ]Titus El Guapo[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/jimbosussexmtb/ ]www.sussex-mtb.com[/url], on Flickr

This one is a pretty good all rounder, descends well, is good through the singletrack and climbs OK.

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8314/7988870921_cc9b8cdabd.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8314/7988870921_cc9b8cdabd.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/7988870921/ ]DSC01096[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/jimbosussexmtb/ ]www.sussex-mtb.com[/url], on Flickr

This one descends like a dream, but it feels compromised pretty much everywhere else as a result of it. I realise this is all personal taste, but as I said above if I'd realised there would have been such a difference I'd have spent on something else. I am rather disappointed.

it's not just personal taste, they f***ked up. check mtbr forum. on-one probably owe you a new frame for that 2nd one. new batch should be near enough dead on (in erm next month i think?).

basically brant did change the spec a bit, but kinesis went and made something way further out.
i'd also have preferred a v2 and less hassle but what can you do, there's nothing close in value afaik for frame only deals. Spesh Pitch might be closest if they're still available.

edit: also, try that fox shock on your frame, while you wait for on-one to respond, might be interesting.

it's not just personal taste, they f***ked up. check mtbr forum. on-one probably owe you a new frame for that 2nd one. new batch should be near enough dead on (in erm next month i think?).

If your BB is more than 5mm below centreline with a 160mm fork and 15mm external headset then let on-one know and they will arrange a replacement.

Ahh Brant, just the man we wanted to speak to! Can you confirm that if I ordered an in stock el guapo frame today that it will be clear of these faults?

OK, but i fitted a rockshox revelation 150 as it said on the on one site that was also a suitable fork. Are you now saying that is too short?

http://forums.mtbr.com/titus/why-bottom-bracket-height-my-new-eg-v-3-so-low-813147-19.html

read last few pages, explains what to do.

just seen your post below:
i think about page15 you can see mine being measured, you can follow that. you need to be pretty accurate.

don't get hung up on fork length, i run a Rev150 and with correct frame it's good.

fwiw i still think it's pretty poor they made no attempt to contact customers and even were reluctant with people having trouble.. there'll be people riding around for years on ones bought summer to autumn 2012 not having as much fun or complaining the EG is crap, when it isn't.

OK Brant, I just looked I got it August 22nd last year, tried to measure BB drop it looks about 5 - 10mm. Does this mean it does or does not have issues?

So the site says: "Advised Fork Length: 150/160mm Rock Shox/Fox"

Is 150 too short then? I'm just a bit upset about the revelations above. Regardless of what it cost I still expect everything to be correct 🙁

Can you confirm that if I ordered an in stock el guapo frame today that it will be clear of these faults?

Brant, a mate is waiting to push go, but just needs an answer on this?

brant probably isn't allowed to say "don't buy one now".
i can tell you just by deduction the old stock hasn't been through his new QC process (like the incoming batch and all the 29ers) so although it may be near enough to spec, it may not be. the one i got from last (current) batch was about er 8mm too low i think. that's pretty bad still in engineering terms.

So i'd not buy one now until you see them fully restock, which is past due so any day i guess?. even then, a few might be the older batch so watch it if your choice is currently in stock. heh sorry but on-one aren't really being forthcoming about this so someone needs to say it. apologies if any of this is wrong and brant can correct me.

Glad i bought the pitch and cancelled my el guapo

Smiff, its the second time I've asked the questin, so I think I'll get him to wait or buy something else. Any alternatives to an el guapo at that price?

Pitch and NP Mega were main contenders when i looked (frame only) not sure if either still avail.

but fully built there's lots around £2k, that YT?

or just wait until new lot are confirmed ok.. which might take a while, because most buyers just take what they get, it's only when it's really far out (like my first) that anyone gets the tape measure out.

out of curiosity have you ever measured your Pitch, rob? i dunno what others tolerances are, probably better than +/- 10mm though (tbf, as brant said most of this is due to linkage).

what am i measuring for you?

Smiff, yeah nothing as good a value as the El Guapo on frame only deals. At 599 if its a good frame its 150 cheaper than everything else.

well rob, you can measure anything you like for me 😛 but all i meant is i bet other makes have some surprisingly large amount of variations too, though maybe not usually as bad, and not usually as public. bb was the obvious problem here, but it turned out to be all over the place, all over the place. check out my frame comparison pics on mtbr (wish i'd bothered line them up better).

toys, comparable frames i was looking at were well over a grand, what are you seeing for £750 ish?

linky?

Smiff, NP mega on CRC currently 759. [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=75355 ]clickypoos[/url]

jesus this is getting worse and worse. anyone thinking of an EG read last page of this again! they seem to be adding problems rather than fixing old ones :/

http://forums.mtbr.com/titus/why-bottom-bracket-height-my-new-eg-v-3-so-low-813147-21.html

a few days ago we got this announcement (update at top)
http://www.titusti.com/2012/07/whichever-hole-youd-prefer-its-up-to-you/

(to which i said how tf did they sell a frame/shock combo for 9 months without noticing they didn't fit properly...?)

rob sorry my pics were a few pages back in that thread too.

at least on-one have done right thing finally and pulled them off the site whilst they figure this out. wouldn't surprise me if they can the 26 EG now :/ can't be much profit in it at £600, more on 29ers. shame as it is/was a top bike.

NP megas are sold out at CRC too.. bummer, the world needs a value 26 AM.

also worth saying hat on-one have been helpful to me personally, if sometimes slow and contradictory. i'd still shop there, but probably wouldn't buy another EG v3.

a few days ago we got this announcement (update at top)
http://www.titusti.com/2012/07/whichever-hole-youd-prefer-its-up-to-you/

(to which i said how tf did they sell a frame/shock combo for 9 months without noticing they didn't fit properly...?)

We have very many customers, staff and sponsored athletes riding around with CCDB's without issue, but it seems crazy to recommend something that has been an issue for some people when the shock can very very easily be tuned to work just the same in a position with more clearance for muck and debris.
That shock can is huge and it makes no real sense to move it to the forward position.

fair enough, but why is it an issue brant? because you have an unacceptably large amount of variation in the frames and/or not enough QC?
and people with damaged frames and shocks (before this announcement), they are going to get both replaced i hope?

I still hope you're going to do another rev. of the 26 EG - even if you have to up the price by £100 to cover the time or whatever. and you seem to have no competition there either without cheap Megas and Pitches?

i don't blame you it just seems the bike is jinxed. so why was it taken off sale?

edit: ah ok i see you're still offering the CCDB version sorry, weird, just out of Monarchs?

i have one, it's my 2nd frame as the 1st one had the low BB issue (swapped out by on one, with zero fuss), since having the new one it's the perfect bike...

if anyone is having issues getting full travel on their CCDBa then give the guys at TF tuned a call and they will do a warranty fix on the shock and replace an air can for a higher volume one (i think!!) free of charge... again i've had this done and it's now perfect, it was turned around in 3 days.... this is [b]NOT [/b]the fault of the frame...

lucky you, i got a low bb swapped for an almost as low bb. still love the bike, and still getting pedal strikes.
btw, that thread has gone proper popcorn mental i don't even dare touch it now. some damaged shocks are the fault of the frame, no one is complaining about travel afaik.

hey there Brant,

i just got back from a nice, long sweaty ride today. i'm sending you my sweat saturated chamois underware. chew on those for a while.

goddamn hilarious 😀 ahahahahaha. ah.
the court stuff, not so much. on-one need to get a grip on this. still. again not really brant's fault. (if the company supported him better, maybe he'd have more time to sort the issues?)

I have one, and I love it. Up, down, sideways it's all good. I don't get pedal strikes as I adjust my feet (tekkers). My bb height is 13" dead on - v3 el guapo. Best bike I've ever had, even 'shock horror' better than my Bfe.
[img] [/img]

I have one on order for my mate, its been in shipping since Wednesday, I guess they are still having issues?
Has anyone received a frame in the last few days?

hopefully they are just checking them and they're good. dunno find out soon.

tiz those are huge tyres and quite long fork? not surprised you get a 13" bb.

also can see the CCDB is tight in there.

Yeah 170mm fork but the slackset with internal lower cup equals it all out. 2.4 RQ is a beast but isn't adding much to the BB height, 2mm at most compared to a 2.3 conti Baron
Don't you worry about my CCDB, snug as and no issues after a lot of riding. Kept it in the lower mount though, it's the forward position that causes the issues.

yeah, well the spec is about 13.3"-13.4" bb with a 160 fork (actually 0 bb drop with lyrik 160 and 15mm lower cup), so without doing the math, 'cos with slackset i can't, you're around .5" (12mm) too low still? that seems fairly typical and from what brant said bad enough to get it changed if you want, but you like it so that's fine.

is that not very very slack btw? my first frame felt too slack with a rev150 and normal headset. personal i guess.

Just been sent to this thread by a mate after spending this weekend in the lakes moaning about pedal strikes & stupidly low BB height (a standard moan since I got it in Aug) on my Guapo! Running 150 Rev's on it, I think it is time to get the tape measure out!

yeah, well the spec is about 13.3"-13.4" bb with a 160 fork (actually 0 bb drop with lyrik 160 and 15mm lower cup), so without doing the math, 'cos with slackset i can't, you're around .5" (12mm) too low still? that seems fairly typical and from what brant said bad enough to get it changed if you want, but you like it so that's fine.

is that not very very slack btw? my first frame felt too slack with a rev150 and normal headset. personal i guess.

Interesting results, BB height of 12.4 inches and almost 2cm of BB drop. I like the bike but that is way off the stated geo and certainly explains some of the factors in my only real gripes

that's about unpedalable on anything but smooth ground. but you'll have to wait and see what's wrong with current batch before you ask for return! maybe notify on-one you want to return via returns@planet-x-bikes.com (that's Barry I find him more helpful than Neil) then wait till users get the new ones to confirm they're good..

Could someone explain "bb drop"? I was about to recommend one of these to a mate but reading that mtbr link...jesus!

I have one of the old versions when Titus were still Titus, love it.

I bought my Guapo in OCt 2012 - was apparently a V3 2013 version in orange (full orange rear end)
Running an on-one smoothie mixer headset on it, I was running a 150mm Fox Float fork with std 175mm cranks, 2.1" tyres. And was suffering a lot with pedal strikes. Reading the reviews I changed fork to a 160mm Fox float, Due to the stanchion height (A2C)it raised the front end by around 20mm, and also BB was raised by about 10mm..
Havent measured actual BB drop yet..

After all this crap when round at the back end of last year, I rang on-one to ask about a low BB issue, got through to the technical help dude (cant remember his name) but he said "there is no issue that he's heard of regarding BB height).

I personally would like some official clarification of this from On One. Again there are lots of factors that can influence BB height (sag, tyre size, fork, crown stack etc etc), the bike is recommended to ride with a 160mm fork, which I did and seemed to cure the issue?

Any one else in the same boat?

Well I got onto twitter and exchanged a few messages with Brant to clear up the issue a little giving my measurements, headset (smoothie mixer) & forks (rev 150) and he agrees it is too low. Next step is to contact returns directly (thanks for that e-mail link!) and get something sorted. I like the frame but that BB issue needs all the help it can get! Correct frame geo is a start...

Measured bb drop, with the above set up its around 2-3mm drop. And bb height of just over 13". That compare?? Or shud I be trying to contact on-one again??

So I rang on one today and asked about this, I was told they are having QC problems regarding these frames. My mate decided to cancel the order due to this.
A real same as I am a fan of brants work

yer i'm now happy i got mine replaced when i did (last of last batch which Neil held to his credit i didn't want to say he was unhelpful, just Barry seemed to know more about the issue!). my replacement is around 8mm low rather than 18mm of first batch of v3 (22mm effective with my fork). which was like toftm's. low has some plus points like amazing stability. too low and it's not an AM bike any more, it's a sled.

cb, you'll need to read that thread is all explained there sorry.. work back from end, i posted a big set of pics of mine being measured.
edit: here http://forums.mtbr.com/titus/why-bottom-bracket-height-my-new-eg-v-3-so-low-813147-post10109584.html#post10109584

stumpjumper, that one sounds fine. not all the frames are bad, and you're probably not hearing from everyone without a problem.

larry, oh dear so there really is something wrong as i suspected. yes it's not brant's fault, Kinesis are unable to make the frames he draws? no idea why. he even went out there to go over the QC with them for this. what's worse (for on-one) is if the 29ers are ****ed up as well. word is the carbon rockstar is a nice bike.. but i wouldn't buy the first of anything titus now. no idea who makes the carbons at least with carbon every one should be the same, from same mold..

where this leaves everyone with a much too low frame i've no idea, you'll have to wait to see what on-one says, it might have to be something else or a refund?

just been riding my EG when you get suspension dialled it's amazing, shame ..

I had issues with my V3 (December 12) not being able to run a 2x9 set up without the front mech hitting and gouging out the chainstay when set up correctly, on one had the bike back and said it should be run with a 1 or 2 x10 to elimnate this problem - obviously nowhere in the bumf does it mention this. Also no way to run a double chainguide with this set up - not great
The bushes went in the shock after one ride and the bolt in the pivot came loose too
Add to this a shit paintjob which had cable rub after one ride.
HOWEVER
The bike rides sweet, the ccdb is amazing botomless on every drop, jump and even the odd pedal strike doesnt matter as the bike makes me smile everytime I ride her.
As for On-Ones customer service its definately contradictory and slack but as the old adage says you get what you pay for or not as the case may be

Off I pop to measure the BB drop 😀

I got mine to run 2x9 but it's a pain in the backside to setup properly! Want to go 1x10 when I have the monies.

It's a shame really as it rides great down the hill but the pedal clearance is dire! Hopefully the issue will get resolved and I'll have a little more room to play with. I'll keep you all updated through the progress!

i know toftm there's only so much you can learn (to ride with), when you're ratcheting the cranks everywhere it's just silly, and you can't pedal if leant over.

i've had no problems running 2x10 on either frame, not heard of that one. but when your tolerances are whack all sorts of things can happen..

there is a known issue with chain devices on double rings but that's not what you mean is it. that annoys me because i have a useless ISCG mount and i don't know why brant couldn't have fixed this in the first update after v3 (sometimes he says it's on spec, but whatever, we can shim out, we can't shim in). this one is also covered on mtbr forum for anyone interested. i'll have to update my list of issues cos there's about 3 more i've learnt in last week.

better pray mine doesn't break or get nicked eh.

You noticed a slightly bizzare offset BB placement? Had to run a bizzare spacer setup to make my BB fit properly.

Considering Brant never answered my question if the current batch are clear of these issues or not, plus all this other crap, I've steered my mate away from this frame now. Shame.

OK just measured the BB height (from center of BB) just on 13" - how does this compare with spec?
Running 160 forks and slackset to 66deg

i've had no problems running 2x10 on either frame, not heard of that one. but when your tolerances are whack all sorts of things can happen..

2x9 is the problem!

yours is probably one of the "good" ones (although a bit low, that sounds ok). need to measure drop to be sure.. if your drop is >5mm i think that's what brant considers out of spec. he will not talk about bb height.

toys19 oh yeah def don't recommend, buy your tyres and tubes from on-one, or your cheap inbreds/scandals only..

i suspect brant is muzzled by on-one, could be loyalty/job preservation! but then he can be very straight up sometimes.. how many companies let you talk to the designer.. this is good, but using customers as unpaid testers bad. if i was billing them in hours it'd be worth hundreds more on the frame eh.

I e mailed On One twice in the last week and got no reply, so I decided to call them today, to get some answers..

The On One guy on the phone admitted that all the frames were being checked for 'BB drop issues' and that all customers would be e mailed within the next 24-48 hours with their options..
waiting for another batch was mentioned, as was a full refund..

When I said 'this isn't looking good is it? ..the guy just replied 'No.. it isn't'...

😯

Not a happy bunny...

To be fair at least they have not shipped them. I am glad i did not have to build it then send it back!

Sent mine back yesterday, looks like my dream bike hasn't quite gone to plan

hummerlicious are they offering you a replacement frame or is there nothing to replace it with??

Dunno yet, I'll call them tomorrow........

Frogleek - I'm really interested to hear that, I had the exact same problem and spent hours trying to get sufficient clearance even though it buggered up my shifting. My frame is back with them and I'm waiting for the issue to be resolved, however knowing that it requires a new drive train is making what looked a good deal seem otherwise.

I don't really want to have to replace a perfectly good Sram x0 drive train and if I had known I would have gone elsewhere.

chillidave - i had to send the whole bike back as refused to take it apart having built it up the week previous.
Same as you perfectly good drivetrain, the said they had never heard of the issue and when they looked at it they moved the front mech down and said the hitting the chainstay wont effect the integrity of the frame!
i asked them to change their literature to refelect the issue and advise new customers to run 10 speed gearing.
ive put a carbon patch over the chainstay where it hits as a stopgap - nice on a new frame
now moving to 1x10 as want to run a chainguide and be done with it - adding another £300 to the "cheap" frame
mail me if you need more info - id be interested to hear their feedback to you

[url= http://www.commencal-store.co.uk/Mobile/MBSCProduct.asp?pdtid=11819814 ]Fill your boots[/url]

Brant why do you like selling visually challenging frames? 😉 😆

Does this v2 go into the brant clangers file?

Hora, rubbish link, no shock!

Fill your boots

Commencal?

Frying pan - fire

Its a cracking ride whereas the Titus is a slouch(er)? 8)

ermmm.....i think i'll avoid the El Guapo then... 😯

is hora on drugs again?

brant just took an old design and lengthened and slackened it a bit (then turned it into a 29er) this isn't his design.. [i]shouldn't[/i] have been a big deal.

i'd rather have a slightly older design because all the kinks should be worked out. aha. ahahahahaa.

see, on-one have pissed off their loyal customers so now we're going to find every single. little. niggle. with it and put it all over the web since they aren't (or weren't for nearly a year) telling potential customers what's up. accidents happen.. it's not the crime, but the coverup. etc. or they're just understaffed and disorganised.

when i get chance later i'll post a big list of everything wrong with the EG26, it'll be a laugh. you can repeat for your frames, i'm sure everyone can find at least half a dozen faults with any of them.

smiff you've just argued a Brant-clanger and then turned around on yourself all in the same post.

yeah i know these are some good drugs. brant's ok, i'd rather have someone with a clue answering some questions than none or typical PR BS. now i'm sorted out (almost, they still have my first shock) i should write to the on-one CEO about all this. just to you know, get it off my chest. i had to wait in 3 f***ng days for a courier. oh boo hoo.

owning one of these is very much like being in an abusive relationship. 🙁 it's all consuming, sometimes it beats you up, but when it's good..

look here's what happens when you push buy on an El Guapo*

* for about 33% of customers.

Eh?

understaffed and disorganised

On One's business model, in a nutshell.

"this v2 go into the brant clangers file? "
I thought it was V3's that were problematic?
My V2 wrong as well then?

Hora in 'spouting from blowhole' shocka.

I'm concerned that you can't read higgo. I replied to earlier posts with a '?' on the end asking if it was a brant clanger. Are you struggling to understand?

I guess you own a el guapo and think it has feelings?

The 2013 Nukeproof Mega will be in stock in April.....for those guys complaining earlier in this thread.

owning one of these is very much like being in an abusive relationship. it's all consuming, sometimes it beats you up, but when it's good..

😀 True, so true..

Are you struggling to understand?

I guess you own a el guapo and think it has feelings?

You seem full of repressed anger. I own a c456- its ugly. If anyone says its ugly I shrug. I wouldn't consider someone on the internet to be wrong and take it personal. Soon I'll own a Meta5, they have a track record of QC issues. Should I marry said-frame, take on its name then defend its faceless-aluminium body to the hilt. After all theres nowt thicker than alu-blood?

There really some strange ****ers 's on the internet.

If theres a clanger - I'll name it. Boy there have been a few. Glad I returned those carbon bars that turned up with 'characterful blemish's' out of the box too.

Let's not play 'ugly bike' Top Trumps.
I used to own a Whyte JW4.

(and my c456 is a thing of beauty)

Well the frame is due for collection on Tuesday to be checked over by the in house mechanic types. If found to be out of spec (read as WHEN...) then I'm told it's a straight swap for a new one.

No idea on what the status is stock wise however, and I quote, 'I believe the wait time should be very little as i understand we have more frames which have arrived and are currently been checked over.' We shall see... Not expecting miracles after that sentence....

Let's not play 'ugly bike' Top Trumps.
I used to own a Whyte JW4.

I always wanted one of those. What was it like to ride? Do tell!

Guapo update! The frame eventually went back last Wednesday & I have had confirmation a new 'in spec' frame has been shipped out to me today. Pending what I actually receive tomorrow it's not a bad result all in all (They should really have had some quality control straight up), something tell's me my headset however may just have gone AWOL...