|   Dean Ti SS | DT
Jul 23, 2003 12:18 PM | | Does anyone have or has had/ridden the Dean Ti Colonel SS? I thought I might look into one of these, just want to try as many different ss frames as I can before making a final decision. Thanks!
DT |
| I have one... | Billy
Jul 23, 2003 4:41 PM | | Great frame at a good price. They will probably take longer to deliver the frame than they will tell you when they take your credit card number. Figure at least 8 weeks, at least. I ride a medium and find it to be adequately laterally stiff, but a friend of mine who has the large complains about flexiness. It does have a nicer ride than all the steel bikes I have ridden, but doesn't ride as nice as some other more expensive Ti frames I have ridden. Hope that helps. For a little extra $, you can get the polished look, I recommend this because the bead blast they use tends to look bad whenever scratches or scuffs appear. Hope that helps... |
| Forgot to mention I have owned it for 2.5 years...nm | Billy
Jul 24, 2003 6:24 AM | | nm |
| I have had mine about 2 weeks | BrianN
Jul 24, 2003 5:59 AM | | I came from a SISS and it's like night and day. The Dean just begs to go fast. It is the best descending hardtail I have ever ridden. The frame is a climbing machine, I have been able to climb every hill I have tried far faster and with less effort than I could on the SISS. It a good balance of comfort and rigidity for me. I would describe the ride as feeling like a super efficient aluminum frame with all the harshness taken out. Build quality is quite good, Its not Seven good but better than some other Ti bikes. I got the EBB version and am very happy with that arrangement. Ordering from Dean takes patience, Whatever they tell you about schedule, don't believe a word of it. I was told my frame would take 6 weeks, it wound up taking 15 weeks and every time I called about it was always 2 weeks from finished. The price is quite reasonable they didn't wind up charging me any extra for custom geometry either. |
| Thats what they told me... | Billy
Jul 24, 2003 6:23 AM | | another 2 weeks...another 2 weeks...etc. |
| Why Support Liars?????? | Andy aka Rut
Jul 24, 2003 8:50 AM | | DT,
I have a large Dean Ti Colonel SS as well. I believe Billy refered to my bike as a noodle~or something like that. The rear triangle is wobblely, but I love that feel on the steep descents. It actually helps on gnarly stuff. It is a great climber too. The bike is what I like. I have had it for over 2 years and have no intention of getting another bike.
Here is my big issue with Dean; they lie to you, you know it, they know it, and everyone is OK with it. It has become an industry standard. It's bullsh!t if you ask me.
Here is my story...
I ordered the frame 5 weeks before I left for Moab. It was supposed to be at the LBS in 3 weeks. After the 1st week or so, I called Dean and asked for extra stickers. "He" informed me the bike was in his hands and the welds looked beautiful, he just needed to polish it and send it. After 3 weeks I called again, expecting it to be shipped. I spoke with someone else and he said the titanium shipment was expected any day. I told him about the previous conversion and I was put on hold to talk with the 1st guy. No one ever picked up the phone. I hung up and called again; now he is unavailable. I called from SoCal and Dean is in Co., it is not a 800 number. Not that big of a deal, just more heat to the fire. After 4 weeks someone from another titaniium frame company (MC) emailed me and asked if I had purchased a Dean. With much regret I informed him that I had. He informed me that Dean just called him and asked if he had any drop-outs. Dean needed a pair for a frame they were building for some guy in Ca. He was obviously disappointed that I didn't get one of his frames, I am too, now.
One day before I left for Moab the frame arrived. Now I realize that it still only took 5 weeks to get the frame. That is great-5 weeks. When I get a custom frame, I want to push the wife out of bed and put it in bed next to me. By the time I actually got the bike together (yes, it went with me to Moab) I just put it in the garage; I didn't even go to bed anxious to ride it. It was not my dream bike anymore. The problem is in how they handled themselves once I sent the check.
To end the story, I emailed Dean and informed them of the disappointment that had transpired throughout the previous 5 weeks. I wrote who I spoke with each time, what day it was and the time of day. I did not receive a reply. A week later I sent out another email expressing even more dissatisfaction.
Dean's response was simple, "sometimes that happens." No apoligies just and only "sometimes that happens."
As I said, I love the bike, but I do everything I can to get everyone else who wants one to spend their money elsewhere. Billy loves his and that is great. Another friend of mine bought one, even though I told him the same story, his geometry on his rear triangle was off by over 2mm's. The wheel never sat right in the drop outs. He had to send it back and wait even longer. He now owns a SEVEN. If you ask me, it's not a Chester, but MUCH better than a DEAN.
Don't let them lie to you, go somewhere else!
andy |
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