|   Custom Dirt Drops... | KavuBiker
Jan 15, 2004 10:01 AM | | What do you think of the idea of having a custom set of Dirt Drops (that style, some mods) made out of titanium? Good idea, bad idea? If not ti, what material? And anyone know who could/would try to pull such a thing off?
Thanks!
KavuBiker |
| ti is the best bar material, not sure about bending it | club
Jan 15, 2004 11:30 AM | | everybody's all a'twitter about carbon bars, because carbon doesn't resonate and so damps vibrations. but it's real stiff. ti is superior because it actually flexes enough to take the edge off bumps of all frequencies. Same's true of frames. A carbon frame deadens shock inputs but is very rigid. Ti also deadens shocks, but it also gives enough to provide a clearly superior ride.
the trick would be finding someone able to bend thin ti tubing into a handlebar shape. I don't know that's it's possible. I recall someone at WTB telling me that bending their custom flat bars with an 11 degree bend per side was really tough to accomplish.
but then, does Yeti's ti ARC frame have loop stays like the older Yetis did? if so, that's a pretty severe bend, the sharpest bend of any ti structure I'm aware of in the bike industry. I dunno I could be way off, maybe ti reactor and aircraft hydraulic tubing is routinely bend that sharply.
If it could be done, it would be A Good Thing.
I don't recall ever seeing a ti road handlebar, and you'd think if it could be done, it would have been done by now. |
| That's a good point... | KavuBiker
Jan 15, 2004 11:53 AM | | I think that it could be done. Perhaps the reason it hasn't been done yet is that its too cost prohibitive.
I was thinking of a carbon bar, that would be a lot easier (but then not as fun a project eh?).
A ti bar would be pretty sweet, would probably last forever (unless you took one heck of a digger). Maybe should start talking to local companies, see if they are interested. I think it would be great seeing as how I plan to run it on a rigid bike.
Anyone else like to chime in?
Thanks!
KavuBiker |
| Nukeproof used to offer a nice carbon dirtdrop bar nm | club
Jan 16, 2004 8:00 AM | | |
| re: Custom Dirt Drops... | SSO
Jan 15, 2004 11:58 AM | | If anyone could do it, I'd think Jeff Jones could judging by his frames. www.jonesbikes.com |
| Instead of bending... | aosty
Jan 15, 2004 12:48 PM | | Instead of bending, how about a segmented/welded ti drop bar - sounds more feasible and cost effective than playing Twister with ti. |
| You would need a lot of segments... | KavuBiker
Jan 15, 2004 3:08 PM | | I think it would be more prone to failure (more weld points).
You're right that it would be much more cost effective and probably a lot easier than trying to bend the tubing.
Not sure about the aesthetics of it either...I'm gonna do some sketches tonight to see what I can come up with. Perhaps you could bend some of the segments instead of one piece of tubing...
Thanks for the ideas! Keep 'em coming!
KavuBiker |
| If you're serious about this plan... | gspot
Jan 15, 2004 3:13 PM | | and eventually make / have made up a bunch of replicas / dirt drops similar design bars, email me, and i'd be intrested in buying one.
if its a no go, i'm cool with that also.
gspotbike84@hotmail.com
thanks |
| Yeah, no prob... | KavuBiker
Jan 15, 2004 3:31 PM | | Big IF right now...Hopefully I will be able to find someone inventive (crazy?) enough. I'll let you know though!
Also, have an idea for a fixed gear mod that I'm gonna try...kinda weird idea, we'll see if it pans out.
Thanx all!
KavuBiker |
| You would need a lot of segments... | aosty
Jan 15, 2004 3:48 PM | | Yea, I meant a mix of welded and bent segments. |
| Oh, ok! | KavuBiker
Jan 15, 2004 5:14 PM | | Well, I'm gonna start really researching this. Its gonna be part of my new bike build. Should be pretty funky!
I'll keep those interested posted.
Thanks for the input!
KavuBiker |
| See if Jeff Jones can do it... | aosty
Jan 15, 2004 10:10 PM | | See if Jeff Jones can do it as he already makes welded segmented titanium handlebars. |
| I'm actually already talking to a friend... | KavuBiker
Jan 16, 2004 5:41 AM | | That can help me.
If it doesn't pan out, I'll contact Jeff Jones.
Thanks!
KavuBiker |
| he also does some serious Ti bending | SSO
Jan 16, 2004 6:28 AM | | |
| two other guys who would know re: feasibility of it | club
Jan 16, 2004 8:06 AM | | Gary Helfrich, aka Arctos Machine, Camp Meeker, CA
Mike Augspurger, aka One-Off Titanium, somewhere in Mass. I believe
between them, they know pretty much all there is to know about titanium and its uses
A lot would depend on the alloy, you'd want a very ductile alloy for bending, not sure 3/2.5 has the elongation for the job. Am sure you won't be bending any 6/4 into drop bars. Possibly a grade of CP if anything... |
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