[Closed] Titanium 27.5" Evil D.O.C for $800 from XACD? What dropouts and tube diams?

I'd go EBB rather than doing the SS with dropouts personally and I'd also go big on tube diameter (and wall thickness) if you're doing trials on it.

Have you spoken to Waltly, they're a bit more forthcoming with suggestions than xacd in my experience?

Why EBB instead? There are also 5 mm dropouts used for trials bikes, albeit then you lose some flexibility to run larger tires etc.

44x0.9 mm downtubes seem standard normal so my design def needs beefing up, contacting Walty is a good idea, I'm new to the chinese custom Ti market so didn't even know they existed heeeh

What length of seatpost are you going to use and how much insertion will it have. That whole seat tube/top tube bit looks like a recipe for failure with that length of seatpost.

Essentially an ebb separates the chain tensioning from the wheels so no issues with tire size, lining up rotors etc.

In tube thickness 0.9 is normal but I went for 1.2 on my gravel bike because I'm fairly big and fairly paranoid about frame failures!

If you've never heard of Waltly have a look at www.spanner.org.uk - really useful site for custom ti.

@scotroutes 450 mm with 125 mm of insertion I reckon. Trouble with longer seat tube is not being able to lower the seat as much when messing about.

@IvanDobski the only thing is that I'm terrified of creaking. Perhaps dropouts like the ones stanton use could be a good middle ground, use fixed ones for now, with the option of using sliding ones later? Awesome resource! Thanks 🙂

There's some spray stuff called CarboGrip which you can use to cure any creaking - I used it on my notoriously creaky Niner and it'd be silent for a good 10-12 months then just a good clean with the removal spray they use and reapply for the next year.

(My bike's the Ti monstercross by the way!)

Interesting project, could be a great little versatile bike.

I had a fairly similar frame built by xcad I presume (it was through a company called Setavento, now defunct). I'd question that long a reach on something for riding street and trials on though, but I guess you know what fits you best. Also the BB drop is high for everyday riding, but I guess you want it that high for trials and street. Still seems quite high with 27.5" wheels. Have you considered going 26"?

I specc'd an oversize top tube to help strengthen the front end. It failed where the seatstays join the seat tube, I think that the dropped stays design puts more force through them, smaller more acute of a triangle. I'd consider making that joint as strong as possible, maybe having them join with the top tube as well - as per Stanton's (and I'm sure many others).

Good luck with this, interested to see a pic when it's finished.

@stevet I mainly use it to get around, I have no other bike hence it needs to be fast. It should be street and trials able, but I'm not looking to compete in either discipline exactly - only for fun! 27.5 wheels are what I have.

I don't see how 30 mm less BB drop than normal will affect day to day riding ? Bit more wind resistance perhaps? Center of gravity is still quite low.

3 more questions:

1. Is 1.2 mm tubes all round the way to go? Perhaps you can keep the steel look this way..;)

2. Does it need any extra reinforcements for trials?

3. What disc brake mounts? See inspired use is.

Google Spanner Be your own brand (if not mentioned above)

Edit: scratch that.

Re. dropouts - I prefer sliders to EBB (disclaimer; never had the latter)

http://www.spanner.org.uk/

I should have just done this the first time...

Thanks! Already got that one. Reckon I might do a 15 mm BB drop, don't think it matters a lot, but that puts it at the same BB height as the Chameleon and e.g. Transition PBJ (a 26" dj frame).

Thanks for the mention guys! (Newly created commercial wing is now over at  http://www.spanner.bike  too).

@yohandsome Don't forget to factor in postage + import duty + VAT in to your calculations. Good luck with your project!

$800 is an optimistic price everything included, once the design is final I'll get quotes from the main players. I read some people dodge VAT but doubt that's possible in Germany hah!

You've spec'd a reach measurement at least an inch longer than any DJ/Street mtb frame I've ever heard of.

Many years back I had a similar idea to get a Ti DJ frame made but realised Titanium is really not a great material choice for such use.

@geex yeah because it's primarily a bike to get around town and I'm 6'3", never DJd although I'd love to try. Mostly do manuals, bunny hops, small drops, pedal hops etc nothing too gymnastic I don't have time for injuries or the budget to buy new frames lol. Just want a fun, rigid, can do a bit of everything bike. It will also get fender mounts 😀

I'd also be happy with a Santa Cruz Chameleon in Medium, but if I can get a custom Ti for about the same price..

Might shorten the effective top tube 5mm to 620 mm which is what I have ATM, there are extra long 24.5" DJ bikes btw, here one close to what I've designed with 27.5" wheels.

I've used Waltly Ti and XACD in the past.  I have another Waltly on the way in a few weeks.

I found Waltly much easier to deal with, while also being cheaper and turning out a better quality product.

XACD start cheaper, but add on big bucks for anything extra, ending up way more pricy.

Personally, I like an EBB.  If you get a 46mm BB shell, you can use a Beer components or similar BB.  They work well.

Otherwise, I'd go for rocker rather than sliding drops, they seem a bit more solid to me.  Possibly nothing in it though.

I've gone 50mm DT and 34.9 TT on my new frame, 0.9 wall.  Should be stiff enough!

They also do a discount on a second frame... first one was about £850 all in inc taxes and delivery, next one should be about £100 less.

I don’t see how 30 mm less BB drop than normal will affect day to day riding ? Bit more wind resistance perhaps? Center of gravity is still quite low.

Reckon I might do a 15 mm BB drop, don’t think it matters a lot

Hmm...I'm not one of those people that can detect 5mm difference in top tube length, but I'd notice those massive BB height changes you are mentioning straight away. That said I used to have an on-one Compo frame with a massive BB height that rode okay, but it was designed for climbing a descending technical rocky trails not razzing around town or normal xc.

Should not have looked at  http://www.spanner.bike ...