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I'm planning to order two custom steel frames over the winter. A 29" singlespeed XC one and a 29" enduro one.
My heart tells me to go for a pair of Curtis frames, I've listed after a Curtis frame for years. But there's no denying that they're expensive and two frames would be £2500 plus I'd have to replace my current 31.6 dropper posts as Curtis use 30.9 seatubes, so the cost would be close to £3000.
My head says go for somewhere like Marino where the cost would be closer to £1000 for both frames and I spec seatubes for my current droppers.
Really I know Marino or similar is the sensible option, but can't shake the thought of a Curtis.... Hopefully you can talk some sense into me!
You’ll get the Curtis’ eventually, due to always wanting one/wondering what they are like. May as well get them now.
If going ‘custom’ then can’t see why they couldn’t fit a 31.6 dia seat-tube unless it doesn’t come as part of the tube set?
Ask for the tubes that you want and see what they say
pop along to Bespoked and have a look at the options
If you want a Curtis get one. Scratch an itch. You’ll always wish you had so will likely end up getting one down the line.
Not overly impressed with the one Marino I rode. Quite a few threads on here about Marino, most have been pleased but timeframes were long and communication patchy.
Custom XC I can see, but plenty of enduro hardtails around, why not one custom one off the shelf? Or one Curtis and one Marino?
WishIwascalledwishIwascalledSteve with that sort of dilemma.
Being a Steve ain't all that, tbh
Columbus do some external butted Zona seat tubes that should work with your seatposts. Easy to get from Ceeway (or buy your own - will be about £30 each plus post). Page 19 of the Columbus catalogue on ceeway website.
Neither Curtis nor Marino is going to be quick. Personally I'd be looking at a Curtis, other options are also available. No UK built frames are going to be "cheap" though.
Deposit placed on a Curtis here recently, 4 months from now hopefully the brazing starts.
I reckon get one Curtis and one Marino.
Marino you get more customisation and it’s cheaper - the Curtis will be more beautiful and lighter as they use 853.
Get the xc one from Curtis and the enduro one from Marino.
4130 or 725 tubing will be perfect for the enduro one as you want it to be robust.
Both have long lead times, but I’m guessing Curtis will actually keep in touch - Marino are pretty shocking at keeping you updated.
Overall I’m pretty happy with my Marino frame - it just required patience and hanging on in there.
Id go one of each.
SS from Curtis.
Enduro from Marino.
Not overly impressed with the one Marino I rode.
Maybe it wasn't designed to your taste.
That's the thing with custom built frames...
Thanks for the replies folks.
I could go off the shelf, but there's not many XC/SS frames that I could find... Maybe I've not looked hard enough!?
The only hardcore hardtail I fancy is the Chromag Rootdown, majority/all others have a dropped top tub and brace (which my current frame has) bit I think I prefer the look of a 'normal' styled frame. The Chromag isn't available until next year and UK price is £750.
I'm in no rush for either and expect a wait from wherever I go. One of each is an option I'd not thought of.
Part of me is worried that if I went Curtis I'd expect a 'wow' factor from the ride due to price and how disappointed would I be if it's not there.
It's definitely not a bad position to be in, but if I have to work then I want nice things to enjoy my days off
Shand - UK made and lovely.
Shands are even more expensive than Curtis. Thanks though
Shands are sold as complete or frame and fork combo's though, that isn't a frame only price.
That's not too far off ti money.
Travers make some nice stuff at not-too-silly prices...
Unless I missed it, the Shand Bahookie frame and fork only was £1895
Yeah, and an AM Explorer (closest equivalent) is £1550 with standard paint and no fork. Shug is £2095 with a Helm making the frame cost less than the Curtis (annoyingly the Shug is listed in completes but as a F+F only option).
If you don't want the fork that's fair enough but the economics are broadly similar.
18 Bikes? Hatter seems very happy with his.
Why not get a Marino to see how you like it, if the geometry is what you want then you could get a replica made by a more boutique brand and sell the Marino for not much loss. I love my Marino and would have been happy if it had cost more however it was cheap enough that I wouldn't have any lingering doubts about it anyway. Personally if I was spending £1k or more on a custom frame I'd be expecting perfection (may or may not be a reasonable expectation but I don't own very fancy bikes and can't justify spending a lot more for no massive gain).
It’s definitely not a bad position to be in, but if I have to work then I want nice things to enjoy my days off
Absolutely. It wasn’t meant to be a dig if that’s how it came across.
I've ordered a gravel frame from SingleBe, currently on V2 of frame drawing/dimensions. Cost is very competitive with Reynolds 853 main triangle and Colombus SS and CS. Looking at Feb for delivery.
Id go one of each.
SS from Curtis.
Enduro from Marino.Not overly impressed with the one Marino I rode.
Maybe it wasn’t designed to your taste.
That’s the thing with custom built frames…
Completely agree Stu, although this was a Marino made frame for S*ck cycles so not bespoke. Geometry certainly didn’t help but it wasn’t comparable to other steel bikes I’ve had. May have been tubing or a number of variables. At the same time, I can only say it how I see it.
OP - for the enduro build kona esd doesn’t have a brace at the seattube if I recall properly?
Thegreatape, not taken that way at all mate.
I'll check out SingleBe, cheers
For your sanity avoid marino at all costs, 18 months after placing my deposit I finally received a frame.
The rear end was bent so the rear wheel sat in the frame on an angle so the tyre rubbed so badly the wheel wouldn't turn.
What about a BTR?
Was that a full suss rather than a hardtail by any chance (I forget which you ordered)?
I’ve seen a few things with misaligned rear triangles on the full suss bikes online.
Buying a custom frame so it fits an existing consumable seems a bit odd, especially when droppers are so cheap now.
Our local shop has a couple of Marin steel HT's in that look pretty gnarly...
wildcard option : do a frame building course with Dave Yates and build one of the frames yourself. Can do pretty much whatever angles/tubes you want, quality of finish might not be up there but the sense of satisfaction is immense.
What about a BTR?
Lovely bikes, but incredibly expensive.
Brian Curtis helped The Bicycle Academy get going, with some of the teaching.
And they were in the same building as BTR until recently.
https://thebicycleacademy.org/
Courses
UK
https://www.ellisbriggscycles.co.uk/framebuilding-course/
https://www.bicycles-by-design.co.uk/courses/frame-building-courses/
http://www.geoffrobertsframes.co.uk/frame-building-course
https://thebicycleacademy.org/collections/framebuilding-courses
http://www.geoffrobertsframes.co.uk/
Germany
https://bigforestframeworks.com/en/frame-building-courses/
(take your seatpost with you and get some tubes to fit)
No mention of Swarf or Stanton?
Yeah Swarf does custom as well.
Tora is another thought, not sure if they do custom but they made a nice looking e-stay.
Lovely bikes, but incredibly expensive.
They're at the upper end of Curtis but a significantly smaller outfit. Don't think for a minute similar outfits won't be as expensive, sourcing materials and general cost increases are putting pressure on them.
I had wondered Stanton too, but I don't know if they do custom geo at the moment. I might be wrong - worth dropping them a line. They seem to have sorted out some of their delays and comms issues that I experienced. And no doubt my 853 frame is beautiful.
Have you checked out Bird? They've just recently brought out a steel hardtail you can get frame only.
Chromags are lovely looking frames but they tend to be over built, heavy-ish and not the most forgiving.
Check out Hardtail Party on YouTube for reviews.