Bontrager Ti lite

[benjabbi]

Been out on it this morning. 23 miles of mixed road, bridleway, gravel track and singletrack. It's a very smooth ride but then so is a steel one. No appreciable flex in the bb area that I could tell, saying that I weigh 10 stone and don't mash at the pedals, might be different for a bigger person. It's not so different to either of my others, just a bit lighter but then I suspect that was the point, Keith knew how he wanted a bike to ride! I think if I'm being honest, if you want to experience a Bontrager and aren't particularly bothered about all the little features, just buy a Privateer. 95% of the bike for 25% of the price. This is lovely though!

 

[slackboy]

just buy a Privateer. 95% of the bike for 25% of the price

So true. That looks ace though.

 

[pw_pw_la]

And here was me holding out for just the right Race...

 

[benjabbi]

And here was me holding out for just the right Race...

Don't get me wrong, the Race frame is definitely better built, has nicer welds, has all the gussets on the seat tube and chainstays which are missing from the Privateer. Also has much better paint. Only you can decide if that's all worth the extra money to you. Its just from a ride (and weight) perspective they are not really much different.
As for this ti one, well just look at it! That's enough for me!

 

[pw_pw_la]

Yeah, I'm mostly about the looking, to be honest.

Who cares how it rides.

It just needs to look cooler than the next guy's!

 

[ibbz]

That looks absolutely wicked!

 

[benjabbi]

Thanks @ibbz

 

[M-Power]

My fav 89 steel bike rode better than all the early 90s Ti frames I owned and tried out. The early plain gauge Ti frames were just too BB flexy and some were properly scary descending at speed on the SDW or Welsh fire roads. FFWd to around 7yrs ago when I could finally afford the equivalent Ti frame to my 89 steel and yes it exceeded expectations. At the time a new Ti frame was $3000 + shipping and import, ‘seemingly’ just too much with a build on top, even with $2:£1. If I had read decent ride reviews at the time I would have saved a fortune not buying lots more ‘affordable iconic’ bikes which ended being disappointing and just dropped on the $3k Ti import. Ti alloy frames and forks need a custom spec and more design input to benefit from its useful qualities. Many early bikes just marketed the fact they were made of Ti. Each to their own though.

 

[Magpiegifts]

That Sir is a beauty

 

[benjabbi]

Thank you @Magpiegifts
I was rebuilding the Privateer last night and had got some green Z2s ready to fit, they didn't look right colourwise so I decided to put the Judys back on that and the Z2s on this. Also fitted an m952 front mech, still not quite what I'm after but it was £8.50 and more period correct than the m980.
Also trying a Velo Bontrager Ti railed saddle, it seriously needs Peachyfication but I thought I'd try it first. It's not as comfy as the Selle San Marco so probably won't stay.