Enigma road bikes - experiences please?

As a larger rider, steel or carbon should serve you better than titanium.

@forked any reason you think that? None of the Enigma reviews suggest the frames are noodly or flexy. And I'm not a particularly powerful rider - someone who spins rather than mashes the pedals.

It's just my experience with (a couple of) titanium framed bikes, they certainly didn't handle as well as a steel equivalent. This Enigma may be different though, but I've heard experienced frame builders say similar.

I think if I were to buy titanium, then I'd certainly consider Enigma as an established brand. I can't help but think it's not much bike for 4 grand though.

I have an Enigma Equinox, no longer produced but I've found it fantastic. It's a compact frame, Size 56 and certainly not noodly with its deep aero section downtube. I'm running 6800 Ultegra and Prime RR50 Carbon wheels, it comes in just under 8kg with pedals and kit. I've found it perfectly comfortable on ton rides as well as smashing a quick local circuit. Mate has a Esprit, beautiful frame, more traditional with its horizontal top tube. I don't think you'd be disappointed.

I've an Etape disc and it's been a really nice day rider. Not flexy and handles like one of the lightweight Audax bikes we used to ride. Bit lighter than steel as well. It also rides just like a CAADX I have which is a lovely responsive ride and reasonably stiff being Al.

Enigma service is generally good though I recently had reason to contact them about a minor though critical spare and they needed a bit of nudging to make progress. Might be they're inundated with the Covid-19/post Tdf cycling upswing so not a show stopper.

I'd buy another from them.

I sent out emails to all the well known Ti bike brands earlier this year, asking about a spec that was going to cost the wrong side of £4k.

Jim at Enigma was one of only two that even replied. If Laverack hadn't been just down the road, I'd have happily given Enigma my money.

I had a frame off them when I turned 40. I thought I wanted a Ti one, but all the bikes (from a few sources) I tried felt “Soft” for want of a better description.

In the end I settled on a semi custom Enigma Elite HSS (steel) and couldn’t be happier. I could wax lyrical about the ride quality, but suffice to say it’s exactly what I was after.

Enigma were painless to deal with. The bike sold itself, there was some good natured haggling over the special bits I wanted. Paid a deposit, waited, sent off my paint design. Had some comms with Jaco about exact colours, paid the rest and then it turned up. I’d say the welding was decent but not spectacular, but the paint was absolutely spot on. It built up easily too - no issues with frame prep.

6 years on I still look forward to riding it, in a way I just can’t do with my (equally steel) winter roadie.

Hi Fraser, Richard at Enigma here, I think we exchanged an email or two already.

Just thought I'd add that flex really isn't an issue on a modern ti frame, the thinking behind this is a hangover from the very first ti frames that used 'steel' tubing diameters, 28mm top tube, 32mm down tube etc. The 60cm Evoke uses 35mm seat and top, 44mm down tube, and with a bolt thru rear end and reasonably chunky chainstays you won't feel like it's lacking in stiffness. I'm 6'2" and frames with 32/32/38 tubes still feel stiff enough for me.

We've built custom frames for riders up to about 7' tall and had no complaints, we do a lot of repeat business!

We can of course also do steel but personally I'd have Ti for the weight saving and finish resilience.

Edinburgh Bike Fitting can get you sorted too by the way.

Any questions give us a shout.

Cheers

This Enigma may be different though, but I’ve heard experienced frame builders say similar.

Who?

I’ve two Enigma Ti bikes - Excel in rim brakes and Echelon in disc version.

Both bikes are superb and I’d not change either.

They handle well, are comfortable and look great - if going Ti I can’t think of anywhere else I’d buy from if I’m honest - add in the customer service and you struggle to find better in my opinion.

Richard (sales manager) and Jim (owner) are very easy and helpful to work with and from my experience have the patients of saints and will offer you the best unbiased advise.

As for noodle bikes? No - mine are stiff, fast and responsive - the weak link is the old fat bloke sitting on them.

I’ve had decent carbon bikes (I still ride a Scott Spark 900rc Pro off road) but for the road the Ti suit my needs better.

Before buying an Enigma I researched the granny out of what’s out there and had the budget to be able to buy from where I wanted (Moot and Seven inc) but I went Enigma and I’d buy from them if doing it over again......... There may be a need for a gravel bike at some point.

I’m no ‘fan boi’ in fact I’m an awkward fickle customer but I would 100% recommend Enigma and no I’m not connected in anyway and I don’t even live near the factory.

This isn’t an add for them, just my honest review.

Quality 10/10
Customer Service 10/10
Ride, feel, handling 10/10
Value (to me) 10/10

I've got an Enigma Evoke (59cm, I'm 6'1 - it's about right with a longish stem and no spacers). I'd also rate the customer service and buying experience as a 10/10 - they're genuinely great to deal with (and I had a few of additional requests). Definitely buy with confidence.

As for the bike, I find it a great cruiser (I guess 'endurance road' would be the category?). It's really comfortable, responsive and fun if not as light as a comparable carbon bike. I wanted a bike for life and long rides that could take a few knocks in airports etc rather than a racer. The finish is very nice and I think it was good value all round. I certainly can't think of anything to beware of. Mine is the previous model and I have 28mm tyres - I think clearance has gone up a little since.

@four and @corroded - really helpful and just what I thought and wanted to hear, many thanks for taking the time.
Endurance Road is exactly what I'm after really.
@duner I'll drop you an email this afternoon, many thanks, and apologies about the radio silence over the past week.

I know this a worn out old cliché but cracking would be a worry for me.

I lusted after a Ti bike and everytime I mention the build, the LBS crew would shout "cracking" at me.

I've since bumped into a few guys running decent Ti, Van N , Enigma , etc and all have suffered cracks.
Last one was last week , chatting to a guy with a Van Nicholas and he told me it was a warranty replacement due to cracking.
I also heard certain makers were reducing warranty periods from lifetime down to say 10 yrs.

Really not looking to derail this thread, but is it a concern for others ?

Handy that Duner is on this thread mind.

I have 4 titanium framed bikes - some nearly 20 years old and never had one crack. To bikes I have seen crack we’re predominantly Litespeeds and Merlins from about 15 years ago where there was a tendency to go too light on the build. No problem making a stiff ti frame - it comes down to tube choice and the way it is fabricated.

Another Enigma owner here. I've had an Etape for eight years now. Never given me any trouble
and the build quality is excellent. I doubt very much that you'll be dissapointed if you buy one.

I have an Evoke which is now 2 and a bits years old. Its awesome!
I had it built with custom geometry so it was a bit more aggressive and I now have over 10,000 miles on it. I am 6'1, 85kg and it is no flexy old school Ti frame. I find it more than stiff enough and doesn't feel much different to my carbon Supersix.
I would also echo the statements above about dealing with Enigma - they are great, super easy to deal with and very accommodating to ideas.
If I could only have one road bike, this would be it.

I'm sniffing around the idea of a ti gravel bike and cracking is a concern. Having looked at bikes that are designed in place A and built in place B has made me wary.

At least with Enigma, there's a decent warranty and they have the kit and skills to do the warranty work.

If I import a designed in USA made in Asia frame, the cost isn't going to be much more to go custom from someone like Enigma and it's going to be do much easier and quicker to sort if it does crack.

Flex in titanium frames can definitely be an issue.

A number of years ago I rode four titanium road bikes back-to-back all day as part of a magazine photoshoot for a group test.

Two of them were terrible, I was shocked that bikes priced north of £5k were like that. The flex in one frame was so bad that at 63kg I could make it jump cogs at the back under load. A friend at 85kg could make it fully change gears. The other bike handled like a £200 shonker, though I think a lot of it was due to the titanium handlebars that were also fitted to it.

The Enigma and Van Nicholas both rode great though.

@maurice we're all now intrigued as to the other two brands! You willing to tell? And was the resulting magazine review honest enough to state that about them?
Thanks for everyone's input, everything that I'm hearing in making me think that Enigma would be a great choice.
I could go carbon, but there's just something beautiful about a titanium bike in my eyes and I've lusted after one for about 25 years!

fatmax
Full Member
I could go carbon, but there’s just something beautiful about a titanium bike in my eyes and I’ve lusted after one for about 25 years!

@fatmax you do realise the correct answer is 'get both'?

you do realise the correct answer is ‘get both’?

I thought so, but jeez, when they talk about the "slow boat from China", I didn't realise how slow!

@fatmax not really without treading on peoples toes. Can't go wrong with an Enigma imo.

I was planning an Enigma for my 50th but my wife decided on a divorce instead. Then I thought I'd do it this year for my 55th but along came Covid to shut down my whole industry so that went out of the window as well.

I shall not make plans to buy one again - they aren't far from me so I'll just pretend to be going somewhere else and at the last minute divert and leave fate cursing it's failure to thwart me a 3rd time!

I have had my Enigama Echo for 6 years, still love it and don't see any point in changing, it does rides to work as well as Sportives, foreign hols and 100 mile rides with the lads.

I find it very comfortable even on 23's 🙂

Would buy another off Enigma if this ever breaks.

you won't be disappointed

15 and a bit stone ex prop here. Had a Ti Litespeed for 15 years and never broke it. It was between that and a carbon Specialized at the time - suspect that would have been retired by now

Recently changed to Enigma Escape (as did my wife). We both love them and doesn't feel noodly to me.

I will echo comments about them having the patience of saints - Mrs M changed spec about 48 times......

Not road but I use to have one of their Ti hardtails and couldn't fault it. The build quality was exceptional.

Have also spoken to them personally a few years ago when Windmill Wheels became a dealer for them and they were their. Was patient and very helpful in any questions I had.

Re the supposed 'flexiness' of titanium... I'm not someone who ascribes certain characteristics to materials and nor am I bike-building expert but I'd think that a good bike designer can add or subtract flex as required. So, my Enigma has a seatpost of 30+mm (I forget exactly what) which is pretty stout. I would guess that is because it's quite hard to build a stiff-ish ti frame with anything less, especially around the BB area (again, I have no inside knowledge). Whereas you will find narrower seat tubes (and 27.2 seatposts) on many steel frames (like the Fairlight Secan) and I guess that's where a lot of their 'comfort' comes from. I've had high-end steel bikes (a Shand for example) and my Evoke definitely feels different - a little less leaden and more than stiff enough for me.
As for cracks, I doubt I'd spot one given that I don't wash my frame from one year to the next.

I got an Excel GR and Mrs YP an Etape earlier in the year. (My big birthday and no big holiday so we bought bikes instead!).
We got them from Prologue in Harrogate who were superb.
My Excel is awesome, I ride primarily on roads rather than gravel or trails and I find it is so much fun to ride.
I've had steel, aluminium and lately carbon fibre road bikes, all have been ok and I've enjoyed them but nothing has even matched the comfort, pleasure and speed of the Excel has given me.
Since I got the bike in July I'm 1800 miles in (a greater distance in 3 months than any other bike I've had). During those miles it has been absolutely faultless.
Not that I've ridden it, but the Etape produces a similar endorphin rush for my wife.
I can't speak for dealings with Enigma themselves, but wouldn't hesitate to recommend the team at Prologue who after much discussion specced mine and Mrs Yp's to perfection.
I doubt I'll ever need another bike (I'm 60) but I'd certainly look at Enigma again.

Have also spoken to them personally a few years ago when Windmill Wheels became a dealer for them and they were their.

Windmill Wheels are amazing as well. A mate wrecked a tyre pulling into the car park for the cafe next door, went into WW expecting to have to pay £30+ for a new tyre. Explained what had happened, we were 50 miles from home, they had a rummage round the stock room and found him a brand new tyre someone had upgraded on a new bike, offered him it for a tenner, and fitted it for him.

I quite like the look of the etape. It has mudguard and rack mounts. Question is, does anybody know if enigma make their own racks?

If it's not listed on their website, I'd assume that they don't make racks. Would be an interesting project if they had the time, but not a money maker

HansRey
Full Member
I quite like the look of the etape. It has mudguard and rack mounts. Question is, does anybody know if enigma make their own racks?

Obv question: why? Tubus make lovely high end racks - some versions in Ti if you must. Topeak and Tortec are 90% of them at ~50% of the cost.

some versions in Ti if you must.

That's what I went for

superb bit of kit 🙂

Had an Esprit, sold is as part of the post divorce house fund. I will own another enigma, best bike I have ever had. Ex County Wing forward, 16 stone and didn't think there was any flex about it.

Same experience for me as above, I currently have an etape disc & a elite hss disc. They are both fantastic bikes. If I could only keep 2 bikes, it would be them.

Previous to that, I’ve had an etape rim & an ego hard tail, again, both great well made bikes.

I’ve always found Jim & Richard great to deal with too, so I’d recommended them.

I have two Enigma road bikes- Evoke and Etape, both 59 frames. Evoke is set up as a bit more of a 'nice' bike (carbon wheels, bits of Enve/King) and Etape a bit more 'winter/commuter' (Mavic on Hope wheels, sensible finishing kit). Both are manual Ultegra groupset/Hope brakes. I've had them getting on four years or so riding round the Peak and down into Manchester/Cheshire (about 10000 km on the Evoke, 5000 on the Etape).

The Enigma descriptions of both are pretty accurate. The Evoke feels livelier and I seem to want to push on more, while the Etape is a bit more of a cruising around bike although actually times over my regular routes are very similar.

Before them, I had a decent carbon framed Scott Solace. I moved it on 4 weeks after the first Enigma showed up and I can't imagine going back to a frame like that. I am very very pleased with both Enigmas. I'm a big lump with a good bit of leg strength and occasionally give it some grunt, and I have very occasionally noticed a tiny bit of flex when I am doing something quite unkind to the bike but actually less than the Scott.

Edit to add- back in the 90s I owned a Raleigh Dynatech Ti road bike. Now that DID flex....

Geometry = handling
Material = weight
Tube diameter = stiffness

Some modern steel frames have thinner but larger diameter Tubes. I have steel as titanium frames and aside from weight, can’t notice the difference. Nothing is as stiff as the oversize carbon downtime on my Defy. I love Ti, the hint is in the name. You can’t go wrong with either, nor Enigma, but modern steel has come a long way in the weight department now. But shiny.

Is there any topic with more myths than frame material?

"I saw a few cracked ones"...

"My mates said"...

Gotta laugh.

I have a six year old 59cm Enigma Equinox and am 189cm / 90kg and have had no problems with flex. I was knocked off by a car driver (which destroyed my rear wheel) and had the frame checked and it was still straight and not cracked. Service was excellent and would definitely buy another. My previous bike was a carbon Bianchi and this is a much nicer ride.

Thanks everyone, the input is much appreciated. 👍
In a nutshell, everyone that has one is evangelical about them, which is really good to know! 😁

All I can say is, good luck if you've gone ahead and bought one. I mean it; lots of Enigma owners haven't had any problems. Unfortunately I wasn't one of them.

I loved mine. It finally died a week ago.

I say finally because that wasn't the first crack.

or second.

I've just been informed that they consider the two repairs to be fulfilling the terms of the "lifetime" warranty (I bought this back before they changed that to 10 years and a loyalty scheme). They've asked for £600 to build a new frame. It would be foolish of me to give them any more money, so I'm out of luck. I hope you have a better ride.

That's quite the catalogue of misfortune

I don't normally name my bikes, but after the second crack I privately started calling this one Edsel.

I have two other road bikes: a Langster and an old ti Litespeed. Both have seen a lot of miles. Neither has come to similar grief.

Despite your other one being rubbish, £600 for them to build a new frame is a pretty good deal isn’t it? Even if you get it built around fairly standard geometry and flog it on as new.

Well, that was certainly Jim's view of it. I take note of your clever plan, but I'm not much of a bike flogger, on top of which, it would be physically impossible for me to give them another penny. My hand would fall off first, a spontaneous amputation from the pure gall of it.

Here are more pics. This is going to be my new favourite thing to share with the world.

How many years did you get out of that frame?
If it’s more than 7-8 years I wouldn’t grizzle that much especially as it’s Ti.

I’m not a fan of Ti and prefer steel, I would have taken the offer and had the best steel frame they make (Columbus spirit or maybe stainless)

I have a pegoretti that cracked a couple of years ago, had it from 2007 and Dario repaired it for free, I did spend 700 euro on a new fancy paint job and a new falz fork to match and the shipping. Had it 14 years now and the cost per smile/mile is of little consequence.
It’s been worth every penny.

That new steel frame could do you 10 years and so much easier to repair if needed.

Are you searching out Enigma threads to share your woe? The last post before yours was 6 months ago...

I beg to differ, MrSmith: It wasn’t an offer, it was an insult (on top of the insult of multiple frame failures). Lifetime warranty = right to “grizzle”, especially after the first crack came at the measly 5 year mark. I may indeed end up with steel if I decide on another custom job. If so, at least I know where I’d not be getting it.

TomB, this came up on a search and was still open. Perhaps I should've started a new one, but I also think it can be useful to build on old threads.

That's a heck of series of failures; I've never seen a failure quite as bad as that. Did you not notice something earlier (creaking, etc) as that doesn't look like an instant fail.

As above, if that were my frame and it had done me more than 5 years, I'd happily pay the £600. Hell, think of it as a cheap upgrade.

I've never really bought into the lifetime warranty when purchasing any frame, let alone a Ti one. Mechanical things break, they wear out. Some last longer than others, but rarely does anything last forever. Pay the £600.

My £40k Z4MC developed rust inside the rear boot skin within the 12y corrosion warranty, it was repaired. It happened again, it was repaired. It happened again and they wriggled out of it and I had it repaired at my own cost. At no point did BMW offer me a new car @ ~25% of the actual cost of a new one. Had they done so, I would've probably said yes and considered it good customer service.

Just sayin...

You’re more forgiving than I. If Enigma sees this, I guess they’ll be heartened by such responses. As I said above, it would be foolish (daffy, even) of me to give them even more money, especially given the track record on the last frame.

The first crack came with creaks, whereupon I immediately took it to them. The next two came without warning, and I was nearly thrown from the bike.

I think if it failed that many times, I'd be a bit hesitant to give them more money too.

(otoh, I don't think I'd be entirely insulted by the offer of a replacement for £600 - but I might look to see if I could arrange to sell it on)

How much did it cost originally ?
Ive had a Ti frame crack pretty quickly, my friend had another make and that also cracked.

I beg to differ, MrSmith: It wasn’t an offer, it was an insult (on top of the insult of multiple frame failures). Lifetime warranty = right to “grizzle”, especially after the first crack came at the measly 5 year mark.

To be honest you did better than you would have done with the Cannondale lifetime warranty

Don't get me started on Kona, absolutely awful warranty, refused to even inspect the frame. The coke can thickness down tube creased at the butting simply not a fit design for MTB. Kona don't honour warranty claims in my experience.

There is definitely a range of lifetime warranties. Therefore you put your faith in someone and hope for the best.

Scruff, the frame was just north of £1500.

The more I look at this, the more I'd say that the first failure and repair was the cause of the subsequent failures.

I'd wager that the first repair caused some level of shrinkage and embrittlement around the DS of the BB putting increased strain on the DS chainstay. This would've meant that the response in the two chainstays to conventional loads would've been asymmetric with one flexing more than the other. This could've caused the resulting dropout failure. The repair to the dropout may have further increased the strain in that DS chainstay and/or its attachment to the BB shell. The final failure looks to be a classic brittle failure mode fracture of titanium in and around the welds/repairs to the BB.

How much heat treatment did the frame get after each repair? Without going into too much detail on grain phases - too much heat and not enough heat treatment will result in poor properties in the fabricated titanium parts and in this case, possibly differential properties to other areas of the frame.

From your blog...

With 20k miles on the odometer

20,000 miles on a singlespeed is good going, kudos! (actually amazingly my singlespeed is one of my most ridden bikes also but only has about 3000 miles on it...).

I honestly reckon you're just one of those outliers than manufacturers don't include in their warranty calculations. If they'd sold me the same frame I'd still have approx 18 years to rack up a similar sort of mileage on it! (in my defence, my annual mileage is split fairly evenly over numerous bikes).

I think you've also fallen foul of the 'bike for life' myth that I've also heard about ti, in fact, if anything the thread above has convinced me maybe I should go steel for my next build...

Not sure if Enigma could have handled it much better, I guess like most brands they're guilty of not making clear what a 'lifetime' warranty really means.

We have had quite a few bikes over the years, the Ti ones that have cracked were a Van Nicolas MTB that my partner owned the frame was promptly replaced, a Litespeed road bike and was repaired in the States by Litespeed, a Bontrager mountain bike which cracked and was replace by Trek with a different bike. I have a year 2000 Litspeed MTB which is still in one bit and an Independent Fabrications mtb which has not cracked. In that time I have broken my steel Kona commuter bike frame.
I would speculate that all frames are liable to crack and it depends on the quality of the materials used and the design of the frame not on the frame material.

Aye 'lifetime' sounds great in Marketing speak but is usually just bullshine. Anyone remember Karrimor's KS100e 'lifetime guarantee'? Try phoning Mike Ashley to get your repair and see how far you get...

I was the OP.
Despite the post from @anothersam I'm still keen on an Enigma. There's lots of great feedback and happy owners in the thread. Sam has put huge miles into the bike (more than I would do!) and Enigma have at least tried to resolve or assist in some way. Any manufacturer is going to have some issues to deal with. On balance they get great reviews and seem to have lots of evangelical fans. And I accept that NO bike is a bike for life.
Once I've paid last year's tax bill there should be enough pennies left in the piggybank!

Thanks for all the replies, and for stopping back, OP. Hopefully you and everyone else with an Enigma will continue to be happy with your purchase. When you've spent a bundle on a bike you want to believe in the brand; there are lots of evangelicals about. I used to be one myself.

I've put my case as best I can (again, a major failure after 5 years upon which I should've been given a new frame, followed by the two other failures). Of course, opinions are going to differ. I know if I'd come across a thread like this when I was doing my research, I would've looked elsewhere. Clearly, YMMV.

Is there any reason why Ti frames should be more prone to cracking than any other metal frame (or indeed are they)?

Is there any reason why Ti frames should be more prone to cracking than any other metal frame (or indeed are they)?

AIUI, Ti is very fussy when being welded. Prep, during and post. Plus tube utilisation/frame design is critical to long life.

I've broken dropouts (steel) during use and bent frames during 'exciting episodes' (AKA, 'crashing') but haven't fatigued a frame to death be it Ti, steel, aloominum or plastic.

Just to add my 2p, I've had an Enigma Efo MTB for 9 years now, never broken.

But, in 2016 my 4.5yo carbon Bianchi broke at the chain stay whilst climbing at normal effort up a hill. To cut a long story short, Bianchi asked for my frame back for inspection, received it, denied all knowledge of receiving it, lost it then stopped talking to me all within the guarantee period. Therefore IMO there's far far worse that what Enigma are offering you.

It got resolved eventually by Wiggle - through whom I bought the Bianchi - proving me with one of their stock bikes which I still have an use today FOC as a replacement all credit to them.

Kryton, you've got to admit that's an extremely low bar set by Bianchi. I think it's a good idea to try to hold people to their word, else we get used to all kinds of nonsense.

All frames can break. All materials have pros and cons. Let's start there.

I am a lifelong ti bike fan, but they aren't unbreakable (although I have personally not had one fail). Unfortunately over time ti bike frame folklore and marketing haven't helped. Things like 'bike for life' are a bit flawed, and the price of ti vs other materials also raises the expectation. So, when a ti frame breaks, it is usually newsworthy. In reality fashion, standards and geometry changes make a 'bike for life' a pretty redundant statement. What is true is that a ti frame is somewhat more timeless, particularly if left bare. No paint to date it. No model years as such. My Seven Evergreen 'gravel' bike is 8 years old now, and still looks new. My Sola hardtail is younger, but already the geometry looks dated. Both frames will potentially last longer than the standards that they are equipped with.

If it is well made, backed up by a decent warranty (and clearly 'lifetime' is open to some interpretation) and well supported, then I could heartily recommend ti, and despite some comments earlier in this thread, despite rider weight. A good ti manufacturer can make a bike relevant to any rider weight.

Expensive ti manufacturers (the likes of 22, Seven etc) custom make bikes for the rider, and select the tube sets respectively. Also, if something goes wrong, they are the fabricator too and can fix things. Some brands don't fabricate, and dealing with warranty can be tricky. There is a component of 'you get what you pay for', which is not to say that cheap ti is problematic, but you only really know whether it is well supported when you really need to fall back on that support. It kind of works like this:

Low end - you pay your money, you take your risk. A warranty claim usually means a new frame.

High end - well supported, capable or repair, but you pay for the privilege

Mid end - maybe that's what we are talking with Enigma (hope I am not being too dismissive here). small enough to be bespoke, small enough to be custom, but perhaps not large enough to offer limitless warranty.

The middle ground of any debate is often a grey and difficult area. With high end, you expect the best in terms of product and support. With low end you kind of accept a certain degree of risk. In the middle expectation is high, but not always delivered.

Having said all of that, despite one exception above, I have only ever heard great things about Enigma and their product and service. As I opened with, all frames can break. Between my riding buddies, we have broken pretty much every brand out there, regardless of material, source or brand. None of it would put me off, unless there was a systematic and regular failure rate. One offs are one offs. The bike above has failed in so many ways that I suspect it simply wasn't made properly. Too many welds have failed and maybe they weren't properly purged and cleaned prior to welding. Just speculation and internet armchair critics are the worst kind since I haven't seen the bike, but it is just so bad that I could almost dismiss it as being so far from normal that it wouldn't harm my image of ti or Enigma.

Solarider, I think your putting Enigma in the mid-end slot sounds right (though some of their prices are enough to make normal people faint). I couldn’t afford truly high end. I would also agree with the poster above that I’m somewhat of an outlier; I’m assuming there aren’t that many of us who get a custom built singlespeed (in my case to add to his other singlespeeds. I don’t do gears.)

I think I got a lemon which was turned into a bigger lemon by their less than expert repair. That’s what warranties are supposed to be for, and it’s not like I washed up at their door after 20 years.

My image of Enigma actually wouldn’t have been irreparably harmed either, if they had been willing to make this right. Asking for more money to cover their mistakes, isn't.

Definitely sounds like a lemon, and would have expected better from Enigma to sort it since there is clearly something wrong to have failed in so many places. It is so comedically wrong that they should have just held their hands up.

Just as a wee update, I eventually ordered an Enigma Etape from Pedal Power in West Calder (Scotland). Currently being built up and I'm pencilled in for a bike fit on it and to pick it up on January 4th. Zipp 303 wheels, Enigma finishing kit, Pirelli tubeless tyres, and largely an Ultegra groupset - cannae wait to get it and get the miles in.
Thanks so much for the input, all very much appreciated. Fraser 👍

Holy thread resurrection Batman!

@fatmax how are you getting on with it now? I’m considering buying an Etape in the spring.

I've got an Etape that I bought direct from Enigma about 16 months ago. I went with an Ultegra groupset and hope wheels, headset and seat collar.

It's been and continues to be faultless. I've just put the mudguards on ready to ride through the winter and this week I did a PB on one of my local routes. I'm riding local routes quicker than I ever did on the carbon-framed bike it replaced this is despite the Etape being heavier.

If anything happened to my Etape I'd buy another without thinking about it. Four grand well spent as far as I'm concerned.

Is that a weld over a previous crack? Looks like its cracked along the edge of the toe. Also looks like craters on a couple of the weld stops.

My Etape disc is my third Ti bike and the second Enigma. I really like the ride, like people say above fast endurance as is my take on it. Point to point (say 100k) its as fast as my Colnago C64, but not as fast on any of the hills. I love riding it. I find it lovely to descend, its a mega bike.

I have broken a bike, it was a Kinesis and it snapped for no apparent reason around the downtube near the oval cable ports. I feel the oval nature of these ports was the issue (see DH Comet crashes). This also road well.

I’ve got an Etape that I bought direct from Enigma about 16 months ago. I went with an Ultegra groupset and hope wheels, headset and seat collar.

That’s exactly what I’m planning. I’m looking at a rolling chassis as I already had suitable saddle, Hope post, Easton carbon bars and a Hope stem. Just want frame, Hope RD40 wheels (most likely, or maybe new Shimano RS710 wheels) and a new Ultegra DI2 group.

I've an Etape disc. Force 22, Hunt something or other light wheels and Ritchey/Fizik finishing kit. It's a lovely day bike, very happy with it.

@bensales
Sorry for the delay in responding.
I love it, no regrets, buy one!
It's the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden - I think a combination of the titanium and 28mm tubeless tyres at 63-67psi make it buttery smooth. Makes my old Canyon Ultimate CF on 25mm tyres at 100psi seem like a boneshaker. Love the Pirelli tyres - grippy, fast, hard wearing so far.
It is 1lb heaver but doesn't feel it when riding...and an irrelevance when I'm 200lbs.
When I'm out the saddle it's definitely got a bit of flex in the bottom bracket compared to the Canyon, but not in a way that I find slow or annoying, and I think it's this give or spring that makes it comfy.
Their finishing kit - well shaped (flattened) bars, stem and carbon seatpost - are all good and good quality items.
Welds all beautiful / faultless, and I loved the flared headtube.
Since I've got it, it's done 100 mile/ all day rides, Mont Ventoux a fortnight ago, and the full distance Lakesman triathlon - so covers all the bases I need it. I'm 48 and a not a fast rider, so to me it's the perfect cruiser or all day / all conditions bike. If you wanted something sportier / stiffer then I'm sure there'll be other Enigma's for that too. Hope that helps, but fire away with any questions, and in Edinburgh and it's a 60cm frame if you wanted a test ride. All the best.

Adding another happy voice: I bought a second-hand Enigma Escape during lockdown. Absolutely love it.

@fatmax wrote:

Sorry for the delay in responding.
I love it, no regrets, buy one!
It’s the most comfortable bike I’ve

Appreciate you responding.

I’m a touch heavier than you at 240lbs but potential flex doesn’t worry me. I’m very much a ‘potter round the lanes’ type and looking for all day comfort rather than outright performance. My Dad has had an Enigma Esprit for ten years or so and loves it, but they don’t do that any more. The other models are more sporty than I’m flexible!

Size-wise, their 58 is almost identical to my current Kinesis 60cm, albeit a degree slacker in the head tube which is fine. I plan on going to see them for a bike fit anyway just to make sure.

@bensales - just a FYI, but road.cc have just reviewed the Evoke...the next one up / sportier version if the Etape. https://road.cc/content/review/enigma-evoke-mk3-296545 - just in case that's useful.