Head tube reaming on a new frame

[Lucidone]

...and if you've got this far, it was the frame!

 

[bikeworkshop]

Given this is on-topic:

We ordered in an Enigma ti frame for a custom build - I had persuaded the customer that it was the one to go for.
When we got it, weeks late, the welds were all a bit scruffy and the head tube wasn't reamed.

A hope headset definitely wasn't going to fit, even with Fairlight's hammer!

Our reamer wasn't up to a decent cut into Ti, so a colleague rode down to argos and they reamed it for us, £40iirc, it wasn't just a quick tidy - the tube ID was just plain wrong!
I suggested enigma paid that cost, we'd live with the hour taken, but they didn't offer us anything.

They did say their ti welder had left and the new guy was getting up to speed

Last frame i bought off them.
Can't say I've done much recommending either.

 

[d8mok]

My enigma is very good quality wise and I’ve found them great to deal with. But I’ve also heard a few bad stories about them too.

It puzzles me why these relatively small companies don’t go above and beyond for every customer as that is what will make or break their brand. Middle aged cyclists are fairly loyal to brands so if they treated you right with the first one , it’s likely you’d return.

 

[Frankenorange]

Not heard great things about Enigma myself. Welds are one, if not the, selling point of a titanium frame and done right are gorgeous. I saw a frame repair done by a known builder, who may not of specialized in ti frames, that was like someone had filled bagpipes with a load of silver custard and played into the new year.
It was shocking. I think it may have been Vernon Barker, or someone he got to do it. There was definitely a link to him with the repair job.

 

[Frankenorange]

If i had ti money i think would go to Sturdy, in Frome.

 

[bikeworkshop]

If i had ti money i think would go to Sturdy, in Frome.

Xacd, in China, sadly.
My xacd custom frame has superior welds to my lynskey litespeed and sandvik orange

My enigma is very good quality wise and I’ve found them great to deal with. But I’ve also heard a few bad stories about them too.

It puzzles me why these relatively small companies don’t go above and beyond for every customer as that is what will make or break their brand. Middle aged cyclists are fairly loyal to brands so if they treated you right with the first one , it’s likely you’d return.

Small businesses can just get too busy, and dont have time to consider the options.
It would have been far more work for enigma to get the frame posted back, unpack ream and repack and courier back, than to just pay argos the £40.

But they did neither.

We have a point between "too quiet" and "too busy" where work is fun and we are making a profit, which can then be used to cover costs when we are either too quiet or too busy!

 

[d8mok]

Not heard great things about Enigma myself. Welds are one, if not the, selling point of a titanium frame and done right are gorgeous. I saw a frame repair done by a known builder, who may not of specialized in ti frames, that was like someone had filled bagpipes with a load of silver custard and played into the new year.
It was shocking. I think it may have been Vernon Barker, or someone he got to do it. There was definitely a link to him with the repair job.

Yeh Vernon was well known for his Ti welding (not in a good way)

His other work though was spot on. I had many frames painted by him and he was great.

My enigmas welds are lovely. The bike has been faultless in the last 4 years or so. It’s had some major miles on it too.

Worth mentioning that the cheaper enigmas are imported. With the expensive ones done in the UK. Mine is a cheaper one (still £2300 for frame)

 

[d8mok]

Xacd, in China, sadly.
My xacd custom frame has superior welds to my lynskey litespeed and sandvik orange

Small businesses can just get too busy, and dont have time to consider the options.
It would have been far more work for enigma to get the frame posted back, unpack ream and repack and courier back, than to just pay argos the £40.

We have a point between "too quiet" and "too busy" where work is fun and we are making a profit, which can then be used to cover costs when we are either too quiet or too busy!

Yeh but that little bit of effort from enigma would have likely won them more ongoing business.

What do they say “ a happy customer tells 1 person but a unhappy one tells 10”

 

[bikeworkshop]

Worth mentioning that the cheaper enigmas are imported. With the expensive ones done in the UK. Mine is a cheaper one (still £2300 for frame)

The enigma frame i'm referring to was UK built and iirc we had to send the 1st one back it was not straight.
That had piled the time pressure on us for a custom build.

You could really see that it was prone to looking like a craft product.

 

[Frankenorange]

Yeh but that little bit of effort from enigma would have likely won them more ongoing business.

What do they say “ a happy customer tells 1 person but a unhappy one tells 10”

Now with the internet and social media 1 person can tell 10,000, who could each do the same, and so on. It is the biggest threat you can put on a business these days by telling them you have alot of followers on social media.