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I'm considering either a Sonder Signal Ti NX Eagle Revelation or a Titus Zestar GX (or possibly something similar, max budget £2000). My head says have the Titus but my heart wants the Alpkit.
I'm interested in any views, especially from anyone who owns either.
Thank you.
I'm still intrigued to find out what the story is with these- if they really are just 100% ripped off basically.
But alpkit aren't shy about copying other people's stuff either so it's not like there's a high moral ground here if that's what it is. I'm an official onone h8er but it's not open and shut I don't think.
Jez... that Titus Zestar is a carbon copy rip off of the Sonder. My Soner Signal Ti will turn up this week 🙂 I say buy the Sonder... (but I would say that 😉 )
Also the Sonder would be £200 cheaper and not the "copied" version.... That's the most blantant rip off of another bike I have ever seen!
2year On One warranty Vs 10 year Alpkit warranty. I know where my money would be going.
Loving my Sonder Signal Ti
Wasnt Brant assisting with the design of some of the Sonder frames? Can't really see an issue myself... can't copyright geometry.
Anyway, that aside, i reckon the price is a tad high on the Titus... exact same kit as Scandal GX as far as i can see and thats £999 so £750 for build kit, Titus £799 frame which makes same build kit £1000; basically buy the Titus frame & Scandal GX, swap bit, flog Scandal frame.
nuke
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Wasnt Brant assisting with the design of some of the Sonder frames? Can’t really see an issue myself… can’t copyright geometry.
When On One put the original sillouete (if that's how you spell silhowette, which I doubt) pics on their website they were literally the Sonder pics photoshopped black. That's a lot more than just pinching geometry.
Anyway, that aside, i reckon the price is a tad high on the Titus… exact same kit as Scandal GX as far as i can see and thats £999 so £750 for build kit, Titus £799 frame which makes same build kit £1000; basically buy the Titus frame & Scandal GX, swap bit, flog Scandal frame.
That's not a bad idea actually. Anyone know how the 35 gold RL compares to the Rev RC?
Copyright issues to one side; if the frames are the same, then the main decision is GX and the 35 Gold (and save £200) or NX and the Rev RC.
They're not quite the same, unless the geo charts on On One are inaccurate. Sonder has 425- 435mm chainstays depending on size, On One has 430 all the way through, at least on the geo charts.
On One has straight tapered headtube rather than curvy job on the Signal. Think I prefer the straight one, though.
unless the geo charts on On One are inaccurate.
Aha ha ha ha ha ha
Straight headtubes are cheaper to make!
The Revelation fork on the Sonder would swing it for me, even though it means downgrading to NX gears - I'd go for that if I had to have one of those two (which to me both look like an OK titanium frame with cheap, crap kit put on them to get down to a price point).
That's probably fair. Problem is I have my own price point to worry about. I'm open to suggestions for an 130mm hard tail under £2000. I'm not 100% it absolutely has to be ti.
Can you go for frame only or frame and forks? Classifieds/Germans/parts bin for the rest?
There is a 2nd hand Ti Sherpa just under 2K on a FB selling page I've seen a couple of times. Some nice bits on it. I'd be happier with 2nd hand Stanton than most other 2nd hand Ti, especially now they're doing Ti production in-house in Derbyshire.
Virtually the same frames bar the slight differences mentioned above. I have recently bought a Signal frame to replace my Stanton Sherpa 853 and I am glad I did.
As for which of the Sonder or On One to choose, the respective warranties would have swung it towards the Sonder (the Zestar came out about a month after I Bought the Signal). I have heard plenty of tales about titanium not being a forever material and a longer warranty is preferable. Not that I have ever kept a bike for that long....
If it doesn’t have to be Ti couldn’t you go for a fancy (but less expensive) 853 steel frame? Something from Cotic / Stanton etc and then do your own thing on the build kit?
If I were spending £2k on a hardtail I’d want at least GX Eagle, Pikes, decent DT Swiss wheels, decent brakes, decent tyres etc. Less bothered about an expensive dropper (brand x is fine) / handlebar / stem etc.
Alpkit Sonder are one of the best companies I've ever dealt with period.
On One are not.
The Signal is a cracking bike and the fork is the main component.
Get the Signal with the best fork you can afford.
If you are not worried about Ti then there are some amazing alloy frames that you'll get great spec on.
The Transmitter with a Pike for example.
Sorry to say it but steel is certainly real, as is the over inflated cost of a steel frame. Sure there are some that ride with some spring but good forks and larger volume tyres mean the ride feel is geometry based over magic dust steel is real. All steel adds at your price point is weight.
For the record, I have a carbon Transmitter, built up myself and it is stunningly good.
I also have steel and alloy HTs.
That’s a lot more than just pinching geometry.
Yeah, fair point. Just surmising, maybe brant, in addition to helping with design, 'introduced' sonder to whatever factory is producing them, O-O now order similar spec from same factory already tooled up for the Signal etc.
unless the geo charts on On One are inaccurate.
Was wondering this for the eTT of the medium as it comes up lower to me...reach for small, med, large are 420, 440, 460, ha & st angle same all sizes and yet eTT is 588 small, 6mm jump to 594 on med then jumps to 632 on large
Surely something like a Whyte 905 would do the job nicely? Pike or Revelation and NX or GX depending what year you go for, and £500-300 cheaper. Or if you don't fancy aluminium, Kona Big Honzos are going for about £1700 in the sales and Ragley Piglets are £1400.
I've got the Signal it's a fantastic bike! I'm really annoyed at the zestar rip off!
Not as much as Alpkit I imagine.
I just noticed the Signal TI frame has gone up to £1249! I paid £999 for mine. I wonder if it’s an error.
I'd certainly consider a Transmitter. I might see if I can demo a Signal and a Transmitter and just pick the one I like the most.
Where do live, TW?
Buckinghamshire.