|   Titus/IF/Anvil/Serotta which hardtail? | Zorak
Jan 9, 2002 7:50 PM | | The Serotta Odile, IF Deluxe and Titus HCR Ti are pretty close in price, but the custom Anvil is a couple hundred less than any of the others, and seems the most bang for the buck. I've heard lots of great stuff about Anvil, and Don seems like a great guy, but I absolutely love my Serotta roadbike and think it'd be cool to have another Serotta in the stable (plus they're rare on dirt). Titus is a great company local to me with excellent customer service and it's the only Ti frame on the list. I've toured the factory and it's a clean place with some guys that seem to love what they do. The IF is actually the most expensive frame, and gets great reviews. I like the slack seat tube angle they use, but I've heard the paint is fragile, and that 853 isn't the best riding steel tubing out there, in that it is a little more dead than the stuff Anvil & Serotta would be using.
I know there are lots of other good steel builders out there, but I've narrowed it to these three and the Titus for pricing reasons or just plain old lust after these bikes more than others.
If you've got a strong feeling about one of 'em, I'd like to know what you think. Thanks! |
| can't go wrong | Hank
Jan 9, 2002 8:32 PM | | I wouldn't worry about 853--anyway, it's not the tubing, it's the builder, and IF knows their stuff. I believe the HCR has the 72 degree STA in the larger sizes, also. If it were me it would probably be a toss up between the HCR and the Anvil--if there was something I wasn't sure I liked on the HCR, or if I didn't think the fit would be quite right, or if I wanted something weird or different, or if I wanted to save some $$$, or if I wanted a crazy paint job, I'd probably get the Anvil. But if you think the HCR would fit right and like the idea of ti seems like a no brainer. But then you left out the Ibis Mojo and Soulcraft Option Three and the Steelman Manzanita... |
| can't go wrong | Zorak
Jan 9, 2002 8:44 PM | | I love the look of Steelman's work, but his geometry isn't up my alley. Don't know anything about Soulcraft... Salsas looks nice, but I don't think they're as nice as they once were. I don't really want another Ibis after my Alibi (great frame, lousy company). Besides, who knows where Ibis is headed anyway. Heck, Carl Strong does good stuff, too.
I know there are loads of good steel builders, I've just narrowed it to a few that I'm especially attracted to. Oh, and with Titus local to me, I'm a 15 minute drive from their front door, and that's pretty cool too.
But Anvil is the best bang for the buck easy. Love these decisions!
How's your Mojo doing Hank? Is that a handjob model? Paint or powdercoat? |
| can't go wrong | Hank
Jan 9, 2002 10:17 PM | | the Mojo is doing great but is being sorely neglected in favor of the road bike these days. It is a sorry state of affairs. It's a Sebastopol-built handjob (still running cantis) with fantatsic paint. Yeah, I'm worried about Ibis, too. The Soulcraft bikes are built by the old Salsa welders--basically a modern Salsa. Nice looking bikes. Steelman mtb geometry isn't my cup of tea, either. Yeah, you gotta be ruthless with these decisions! Good luck, it's a tough call, but surely an enjoyable one! |
| link | Hank
Jan 9, 2002 10:21 PM | | here's a link to the Soulcraft bikes. I like the looks of the dropouts, machined seat colar and down tube gusseting.
http://www.soulcraftbikes.com/id36.htm |
| Nice! | Zorak
Jan 10, 2002 8:54 AM | | Thanks Hank, for making my decision a little more difficult!
Like the Seat collar and the geometry works for me. Reminds me of Ibis. Looks like they know what they're doing. So these guys built the old Salsas, who builds the new ones? Salsa sold their Soul? :~) |
| Nice! | Hank
Jan 10, 2002 9:30 AM | | My understanding is that QBP bought Salsa and then moved frame production out of California--at first I heard Croll was doing them in Minneapolis, but then I heard that's not the case. Don't know who's building them or where (maybe someone can clear that up). But the guys who doing the frame building at Salsa decided to stick around and keep doing what they do best, and it seems like in just a few years they've developed a bit of a following (check the reviews of the Soulcraft bikes). If I was buying a new road frame, it would probably be an IF or Steelman, but for a new cross or mtb frame I'd probably be looking pretty close at Soulcraft. |
| Nice! | RandyW
Jan 10, 2002 1:00 PM | | Guys, I can vouch for the beauty of the Soulcraft frames. I've got a Plowboy (the SS version of the Option 3) and I absolutely love it. I'm looking into selling my current frame so I can pick up an Option 3 myself. Matt and Sean are good guys to work with. |
| paint on my IF has been more than durable | timjboston
Jan 10, 2002 6:17 AM | | i've ridden an IF deluxe for 2 years (my other bike is a tracer), and the paint durability hasn't been an issue at all. the paint job itself is a work of art, superior to anything else out there, in my opinion. |
| re: Titus/IF/Anvil/Serotta which hardtail? | SerottaMon
Jan 10, 2002 9:03 AM | | My local shop is a Seven and Serotta dealer and despite having my mind set on a Seven, I purchased a Serotta and the thing is phenomenal. Granted, I went Ti (soft tail), but they have some steel frames in the shop and they are very nice. Paint quality on my Ti (1/2 paint 1/2 polished Ti) is awesome. I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Odile! Plus, You are unlikley to see more than a couple on the trail in any given year--I like that kind of exclusivity--its cool! I think going through the Serotta fit cycle for sizing is a great way to get the perfect ride--my shop made some tweaks from what I was riding based on my 1.5 hours on the fit cycle, and while I was skeptical--I'm a believer now.
Brad |
| |
