[Closed] N+1 options - titanium or rourke 853

853. 😕

Or that stainless grade, 953 ?
Lovely.

Rourke.

Rourke you say, any excuse to post mine.
[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3813/11796369825_8d11c32f26_k.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/iYptLD ]P1070226.jpg" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3813/11796369825_8d11c32f26_k.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/iYptLD ]P1070226.jpg"/> [/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/rjohnson76/ ]Rob Johnson[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3774/11796378545_a075493f82_k.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/iYpwmZ ]P1070234.jpg" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3774/11796378545_a075493f82_k.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/iYpwmZ ]P1070234.jpg"/> [/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/rjohnson76/ ]Rob Johnson[/url], on Flickr

Whether you go for 853 or 953 the experience of getting a Rourke is a good one. I arrived at the shop and Brian was outside he helped me take my current bike upstairs and hang around most for the next few hours whilst I was measured up and preferences taken. Gareth who does the fitting is great too, didn't get to meet Jason.
With a Rourke it will be custom built and painted to your requirements, mine still feel special after 3 years, I know if it was off the peg I'd be looking for something else by now.

Lush....

I'd buy a longer stem. One size down is no big deal.

Then I'd buy another bike as well. Fixed titanium for me.

Ooooo, that Rourke is lovely.

I'd get a Rourke. It will always feel special. As said above: buying it is an experience in itself.

My Rourke

[URL= http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/kingcozmo/cycles/IMG_0222_zpsc5a23dfa.jp g" target="_blank">http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/kingcozmo/cycles/IMG_0222_zpsc5a23dfa.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

The financially sensible option would indeed be a longer stem. However, after looking at those beauties sensible just went out of the window and mr rourke will most likely be getting a call in the new year. I love the bare metal thing of 953 but its a bit pricey and concerned it will be a little stiff for the 'comfort' ride im after. Lovely bikes 😯

I Would go custom 853 over off the peg ti.
Worth it to make sure it fits you properly, a major consideration at the sort of price point you are thinking of.
Thats just my 2P, ymmv etc

Whilst you're window shopping (and you mentioned discs) have you seen the Enigma Evoke bundle offer? Upgraded frame finish, Enve fork, post bar and stem for £2k.

I started a similar thread a while back and am still shopping.
Also...
Shand?
Mason?
Bowman?

Rourke isn't making 953 any more, I believe. Painted 953 with shiny highlights would be a thing of beauty.

Lovely looking bikes.

Am I the only one who finds the Ultegra chainring one of the vilest designs ever created though?

Never get bored of seeing cheers drives Rourke. A thing of beauty. I'd go for one of them for sure.

For Ti there is also Burls.

Does it have to be Rourke? Saffron frameworks had some nice bikes as well.

I'd still love a Ricky Feather creation...

Rourke still do 953 according to their website, its not massively more than 853 either. Having said that they I don't think that can do fancy finishes like mirror polished section like Enigma or others can.
I chose 953 as the tube sections are Lee's that ti and I like that aesthetic, I also like to be different.

Does it have to be Rourke?

[img] [/img]

But don't you dare steal my place in the queue! 😉

Enigma - I know a lot of people who ended up with Ti and would not consider anything else now. If my Planet X Ti Pro Road ever dies, it will be replaced with an Enigma frame for sure.

I know a lot of people who ended up with Ti and would not consider anything else now

Horses for courses innit. I've ridden lots of good Ti frames and plenty of good steel ones. There's an obvious weight advantage with Ti, but I definitely prefer the ride feel of good steel vs Ti myself. Then there's the cost to consider too, where a decent custom built steel frame is likely to start around £1k and custom Ti probably closer to £2k. Even if I had the money though I prefer the ride of steel.

If I was going 953 it would be with Hartley cycles. Works of art!

Thanks for all the great comments, i must admit i love the look of a bare metal frames and that alone draws me towards titanium. However, from whats been said i would imagine a custom built rourke frame would be both a delight to ride and presents good value. Im a 70s kid so the old school feel is also a draw. I think i might be sold. Are there cost implications on colour schemes and designs?

Having had the pleasure of being shown around the bar area upstairs by Brian Rourke himself, if I could afford it I'd be there.

There is one disc frame that i keep coming back to and wondering if i really do need both kidneys and it's this Donhou, just love the paint on it.

http://road.cc/content/news/130322-donhou-bicycles-signature-steel-dss1-disc-equipped-frameset-launched

[img][url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5535/30715994313_935b9e928a_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5535/30715994313_935b9e928a_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NNguYR ]Donhou Bicycles Signature Steel DSS1 1[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/49281217@N02/ ]Scud75[/url], on Flickr[/img]

[img] https://flic.kr/p/NKtxaE ][img] https://c5.staticflickr.com/1/504/30684393524_556e30984a.jp g" target="_blank">https://flic.kr/p/NKtxaE ][img] https://c5.staticflickr.com/1/504/30684393524_556e30984a.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NKtxaE ]Donhou Signature Steel - down tube 2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/49281217@N02/ ]Scud75[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Are there cost implications on colour schemes and designs?

Thanks for the info cheers_drive, thats good with me, had a similar design to yours in mind but with grey paint and some red/white/blue accents. Better start selling bikes to make room and be financially sensible (or not 😉 ). Will try and pop into Rourke on my travels over the next few weeks to have a look.

Seen two Donhou in the flesh, and they are gorgeous.

I think there's a DS2 gravel bike as well now, if you have any organs left to sell

tripster atr - lovely all round ride

tripster atr - lovely all round ride

'til it cracks near the headtube just outside the derisory warranty. I know there's a lot of love on here for tripsters so just offering a counterpoint, and why I ruled Kinesis Titanium out of my similar search.

Its OK, his PCL snapped before his head tube did.....

tripster atr - lovely all round ride

moorsey72 - i must admit i love the look of a bare metal frames

Could get something chrome plated or there are some good chrome effect powder coats around now.

I pondered the self same question recently and went off the peg Ti (Enigma Etape). Shouldagotta Rourke. I know it goes against the grain not recommending the same route but the Ti just doesn't feel 'special' enough for me. I've learned my lesson, springy custom 853 is the way to go...

thanks Cash, nice to have friends with faith in me

really, really, REALLY wanted a Rourke, but opted for the Mason Definition
in the end .... haven't been disappointed in the year or so all weather, all
terrain it's been on, at or over 🙂

Those Rourkes pictures are gorgeous!

Here's my Rourke——and it's currently for sale! (sorry for the hijack but as this seems to be attracting plenty of Rourke fans!!!!)

It's built in Deda SAT14 tubing, so not as high end as some above, but still a Rourke and still lovely!

Spec is a bit different now (saddle, seat post, bars and stem are all now improvements on this but I can provide spec details if anyone is interested)

[img] [/img]

Just thought i would update the thread. Thanks for advice and thoughts, was a great help in making a decision. Got fitted for an 853 rourke, was indeed a great experience. My frame is due start of August 😀 gone for titanium grey and cream with world champion stripe details. Gathering components as we speak, so far got chris king headset, trp long reach brakes, silver athena groupo with carbon cx chainset. Counting the days.......

And the longer stem? 😕

Contemplating a 953 Rourke to replace the paddy wagon frame. A nicer steel fixed road bike with Enve bits. Or a disc wheel set and TT frame. Too many choices!

I even sorted the longer stem scenario, my other half wanted that bike so everyones a winner 😉

I cant recommend the chaps at Rourke enough, superb knowledge and made to feel very welcome, nothing was too much trouble. The whole thing is an experience and so much more than just buying another bike.

[img] http://https://www.flickr.com/gp/152456540@N07/339y1Y [/img]

Behold

The new camouflage paint scheme?

Grrrrr, still can’t add images 😳
Put on Flickr, copied url and added to post using IMG.

Why oh why??

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moorsey have a look at https://help.yahoo.com/kb/SLN15714.html

Thanks Mrblobby, very kind of you.
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BEHOLD 😉

Like.

Another “ custom “ frame and another pile of headset spacers.
I don’t think I have ever seen a custom frame posted on here without a stack of spacers installed.

Why wouldn’t you have the frame built so it fits you without the need of what looks to be 30mm of height?

To me, a custom frame should be simple, elegant and most importantly fit.

If you spend a lot of money on a custom frame that will last a lifetime, why restrict the fit to the flexibility, riding style and back/neck/shoulder health you have today?

You'd have 30cm of adjustability with a quill stem, you can pull it up with a twist of an allen key in the middle of a ride if you needed to.

Shame it's not as easy with threadless headsets, nor as pretty, but fixing the position for ever seems a bit short-sighted.

Does look lovely, moresy! It would look nicer with fewer spacers, but it won't look quite as nice if you mudguards on it either - practicality isn't always pretty!

True or have a nice looking bike/ frame of the correct size and change the stem as the fit requires.

Each to their own.

Each to their own.

Yup, there's plenty that would say a high rise stem on a road bike is way more gopping than a horizontal stem and some spacers.

I've a Croix de Fer Ti coming tomorrow which i will be swapping bits from my Croix de Fer 20. It is a medium, so will be selling it as a frame and fork....

Appreciate all the comments, hadn’t really thought too much about the spacers and not too bothered personally. All I know is it fits spot on and really pleased with how the design turned out. The spacers might have been to lessen the angle of the top tube as I did say I preferred the classic straight top tube look. Unfortunately I’m a short arse so a bit difficult to achieve that whilst maintaining a relaxed riding position.

Croix de fer ti a lovely looking bit of kit by the way, was amongst the contenders in my initial decision making process.

I'd get an in depth bike fit and then design and order a custom titanium frame from china. It works out the same or less than a custom rourke or off the peg ti.

You also get to design a bike, which is highly attractive to me.

Complain a plenty, moan, moan, moan, moan moan, moan - headset spacer etc etc moan moan, never designed a frame and think slammed stems are everything, moan, moan

The op clearly runs their bar height in a relaxed position and isn't that tall.

How would you design his bike, slam the stem and extend the steerer tube would create a massively sloping top tube and compromise standover which is far worse than a few spacers.

If keeping the headtube the same is essential I'd prob have a single spacer, a slightly higher rise stem and some Spesh hoverbars and put the bar in the same position but without any single aspect looking out of proportion.

But I know sod all about bike design so there's probably a flaw to this approach somewhere.

(Not that the bike doesn't look good by the way!)

Same size as you and Genesis bikes just don't fit me.

Love your new bike and agree that a few spacers are essential.
Also think it looks nicer with the guards.
Beautiful, you must be well chuffed.

Very nice indeed, moorsey. It looks very stylish and tasteful. The colour scheme, silver components and finishing kit all look just perfect together. You clearly had a strong vision of what the bike should look like when you chose the paint scheme and parts, and it looks like you have executed that vision flawlessly.

The only problem I can foresee is that such a bike demands that the rider be equally stylishly and tastefully attired, and it may not be easy to find the sort of kit that would go with such a bike, since ideally it too needs to be classic and understated in appearance (although a plain white jersey, plain black shorts and white socks would be perfect in summer).

As for the comments about spacers, I think you have chosen correctly. The suggestion that there is a definitive correct bar height which will never need to vary is ridiculous: it's not unknown for pros to ask their mechanics to change the number of spacers during a stage race. Slammed stems neither look good nor are they good practice (manufacturers like Trek insist upon a minimum amount of spacers to reduce the stress on the steerer). As for high rise stems, I fear that there is simply no hope for anyone who could even think of fitting such a thing to a lovely bike like that.

Beautiful bike.. a really good choice. Stem position simply replicates where a quill stem and threaded headset would put the head tube, looks just right on a bike of that style.

Thanks for the kind comments, nice to get others opinions and advice.

Slowster- not sure 'stylish' is a label often attached to myself but I am currently searching the web for some more classic atire, fortunately some nice subtle stuff out there at the moment.

Rusty - agree on the mudguards, thought it would bugger up the look of the bike but does seem to compliment it.

Jameso - never thought of it from the quil stem perspective, nice!

Thought i would reply whilst waiting for the storm to die down and get some more miles in on this lovely steed. Have mudguards will travel!

Rather like that. Think the spacer stack actually suits the classic style of the bike, as has been said a bit reminiscent of quill stems. Nicest Rourke I’ve seen in a while.