I Built a Custom Titanium Frame for Under $1000

Description: I Built a Custom Titanium Frame for Under $1000. Big shout out to PMC (Port Melbourne Cycles) for my custom titanium build.
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[@MrHockaluger]

My favorite bike is a used 2011 Lynskey Cooper Ti bike that I bought last New Years for $1500. It already had an Enve fork and Bontrager XXX Lite carbon rims. So simple but elegant in my eyes. Love it. Never going back to carbon.

[@cyclingmaven]

The bike was 9.1kg finished with pedals and bidon cages. Not light but maybe fewer donuts and I'll compensate. ;-)

[@jorisjanssen12]

where did you get the wheel fork and the rest?\

[@Youtubefana]

You seem to have lost lots of kilos already. Saw your channel after a long time. Miss the cycling videos

[@thiosemicarbizidebenzoylal2921]

Not being aware of Aliexpress or Alibaba in 2019 is more or less ridiculous. Titanium frames all day long for cheap. In fact the entire bike shown built with complete Sensah empire groupset and carbon clinchers is about 1, 600 bucks total. All titanium comes from China folks.

[@rlkmtb6272]

but being practical now a days that frame will last forever compare to carbon frames.

[@HarryTzianakisTheGodOfSpeed]

@@rlkmtb6272 ha ha ha shit for brains! kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3OmmYyhi5uFmq8

[@benyujr.6545]

I too have a titanium frame built by the same company last year. Already put about 1,500km on it and really loved it.

[@johnbailey520]

Thanks for posting the process. Great to see that you are trying new things.

[@91F2Z]

Mark thanks. I picked up a Waltly mountain bike frame second hand, and it's now my fave bike. Although I've got a Lynskey Ti bike, the Waltly is like a Porsche and fun to ride. Impressive quality!

[@stephentaylor634]

Great video Mark. Thanks for sharing and can't wait to see more updates done about this bike. You're dead right that titanium is very expensive from most of the bike brands. But still titanium is to drool over for me so this really hits the spot for what I would say is the majority of riders that would like titanium.

[@tthheekk]

Sweet vid mate. Strikes back at the core of why I started watching you in the first place! Plus those circular tubes are just sublime!!

[@richm.3477]

I am a big fan of titanium frames. My last 3 frames have all been from Lynskey, and I have been extremely pleased with all of them. It's great that you have been able to find a solution that works for you, and that you enjoy it. For me, the biggest surprise in the video is that De Rosa and Pinarello are made in factories that, admittedly in one person's opinion, are second tier.

[@refinedimages2869]

Thanks Mark, I'll be doing this shortly.

[@aid1013]

Nice video mark, something I’ve been looking to do myself. Keep up the good work 🤜🏼🤛🏻

[@road5ter86]

been looking forward to this video for a while. thanks mark!

[@ActivesuezenOutdoors]

Hey Mark, such a well presented informative video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience. .... 👍

[@AaronGale85]

Great to see ya face mate. Hanging to go for a spin. Hope this gets the ball rolling on some more content broseff. There's people having Cycling Mace withdrawals out there.. 😘

[@superstrada6847]

Thanks Mark. I was one of your first viewers watching your in-race analysis. Glad you're still around. Noce video. Did you mention the Chinese wheel manufacturer? I have two sets of Yoeleo wheels, no problems at all with them. Thanks again, love Titanium, maybe some day will do it. 👍🏼

[@67Bigsby]

Great video thank you!

[@markdoddridge1828]

+1 for farsports wheels. Great product 👍🏻

[@donjagoe]

Beautiful bike-so good to see you! Doing CF again? Looking good. And Jack is growing fast! Cheers Mate.

[@leedorney]

Great to see the Maves back on YT again..and his lad is getting waay bigger too. 👍

[@derekcravenPT]

Soooo enjoy your vids, keep them rolling.

[@davidlenneberg4303]

Nice bike 👍And you’re looking good the training must be going well 😊

[@db79887]

Good to see you back on KZbin

[@phildavis1825]

Awesome looking bike Maven. Great vlog.

[@NotSureWhatToPut]

great vid, and thanks for exposing us to other options besides big box names

[@mattjns]

I’ve started the Waltly process thanks to this vid and others. Cheers mate.

[@jmoore46jm]

Good job on the build Mark bike looks stunning 🤙🏼

[@andykerr3803]

Informative and encouraging 👍 Thanks 😊

[@genova2006]

Thanks. Great info!

[@chrisjames1924]

Wow, wasn’t expecting to be recommended a CM video after not seeing any of the channel for 4-5 years. I hope all is well with Maven and family. Such fond memories, it was such a great channel. Rhino, anyone remember him? Such a great character! Ah man, where has the time gone!? It flys by…💨

[@jwilly7032]

Great video mate, thanks for sharing.

[@bluewanderer9903]

This is a great help for those of us wanting to go that route the first time, thank you. That bike is beautiful, but I must ask how are the chainstays and seatstays holding up when fully loaded at top speeds? Any flex? Chainstay to seat post welds? Thanks

[@leemedd8189]

Thank you a really good review

[@theothefox]

Great one Mark, looking impressive and with the SRAM groupset. fantastic looking Bike.

[@reinholdachleitner2069]

Great video clip Mark,great value for money Ti frameset.You have some serious stem length on the bike in the background.Is it a Ritchey WCS Pro 140mm?Cheers.

[@pierrenobile3890]

this is awesome!

[@ChinaCycling]

Good to see more people showing the world what gems there are in Chinese bike parts. Good on ya mate.

[@ChinaCycling]

and for the record I think we have similar opinions; I'm not anti-western brand by any means. I ride 'western' bikes and I ride Chinese bikes. It's about putting the information out there and letting people choose what they want. Cycling shouldn't be only for the rich, so lowering prices is only good for consumers too. I liked the bit with the factor CEO too. While I disagree that open mold bikes are the worst thing for the industry, what he said about different tier factories, etc was totally accurate. Interesting video!

[@HarryTzianakisTheGodOfSpeed]

China Cycling all i got was Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla ha ha ha ha 👌

[@robpetrie]

Sweet bike dude! ✌🏼👊🏼👍🏼

[@wheelwizard8563]

Hope you got a replacement gear hanger at the same time as you received the frame. It looks like it is treaded for the 12mm through axles

[@adrienlimsowtin6662]

Nice bike!

[@rrobotman]

You are looking in good shape brother despite the 4 days of gastro! Great info too.

[@kalijasin]

It looks nice 😊

[@geoffsemon7411]

Other Chinese frames to look at are XACD who make frames for Habanero and Titan Titanium. I’m about to get a custom titanium gravel bike frame with S&S couplers for about $1200usd delivered to Sydney. I had my frame designed by Steve Hogg so I know the design is going to be perfect. We already have a couple of ti Seven’s road bikes and a Habanero. For good quality carbon rims I build a lot of Lightbicycle rims but Nextie are also really good quality

[@DiegoRevs]

Awesome Vid!!!!

[@seanmchughnt]

Yay! It's Maven!

[@trashkovic]

Thanks for posting Mark. I am keen to go titanium. Primarily because of the material properties with respect to ride comfort. But also like the thought of potentially being able to hand it down to my kid one day. Besides the new bikes on the market all seem to be same same and hyper expensive. Great videos as always.

[@casualguy393]

Get a bike made from a reputable maker with good quality control. Disc brakes are good, but there really isnt anything wrong with rim brakes.

[@David..]

Where are you located? If you’re in the US Lynskey and Lightspeed offer made in USA framesets for very reasonable prices with excellent finishing/tolerances and top notch customer support. I’d wager there are similar builders in Europe or Australia. Ti really is a great value but it’s not very workable so treat it like carbon where it’s important for the MFG to get it right from day one.

[@saleemwaheed9956]

Great bike, and your son looks just like you!

[@davewattimena3491]

good info thanks...

[@earthstick]

It's the geometry of the bike that has the greatest effect on handling, loaded or not.

[@CruiserBrah]

Awesome Vid, I am looking at doing the same thing, what were the wheels that you put on it?

[@EveryTongue]

Classy building 🤟

[@CM-id3gg]

Like the hardwood floors in your house.

[@plantpoweredhealth9383]

I bought a Hasa Ti800 for $2100 complete with Shimano 105 11 speed and rim brakes. Did Indipac team relay on it twice and it hasn't skipped a beat. It is my regular road adventure bike and is really comfortable to ride. I love my Trek Madone 7 series Project One when I want to do spirited effort or a race.

[@danielpupovac5570]

Great Vid as always :)

[@geoffsemon7411]

Waltly frame are great value for money. Welding is pretty ordinary and I don’t like the way they do cable entry points but that’s just me. I built up one recently for a guy who races and he loves it and finds it plenty stiff enough. They used to try making frames to light and they had a rep for being a bit noodle but frames today are excellent.

[@willowwatts]

That's a sweet looking bike..😍😍

[@BruceChastain]

that is a straight up beautiful bike

[@ianiscaratti4924]

something like this but with t47 and external cabels and maby a wishbone will be my next build. this and rapidtitan are one of the only affordable ti frames with thru axles

[@davidmcilvenna3710]

Hi Mark! Enjoyed the video.. thank you! Could you tell me the spec or components on your bike please... - what wheels - disc brakes - saddle -stem - handlebars - seatpost?!! I would be very interested to know! Dave Mac.

[@ahmaddimasyqi9314]

i am genuinely curious how the 90 dollars carbon fork hold out? would love to hear an update on your experience riding the bike for the last few months.

[@jonpoon3896]

Oh the disc brake facing thing.... my Lynskey had that problem....

[@tsettle44]

Awesome vid mark, do you know the tire clearance on the frame?

[@potstab2875]

Could you do a review on that Belcarra saddle please? How dose it compare with the other high end saddles out there?

[@scottw6598]

Great video

[@shred3005]

Thanks for this Mark, I’ve just been through a titanium build myself. In last few months Lynskey (Ti since the 80s with Litespeed and then Lynskey) had one of their Road frames shipped from their Chattanooga, Tennessee factory for US$875 ( inc. shipping to Aus). But usually they are a lot more than that although I got my Lynskey GR270 gravel frame set including carbon fork, titanium seat post and Cane Creek headset for US$1,500 so even with a US made known brand with history, titanium doesn’t have to be expensive. Good quality carbon frame sets are way more expensive. As far as carbon versus titanium goes, it’s a different thing, horses for courses naturally. Compared to my Canyon Ultimate, the titanium gravel bike with road tyres just doesn’t have the out-of-the-saddle power transfer or nippy tightness of carbon in the way it goes but titanium has so much comfort and compliance that it’s like riding on a cloud. No wonder ultra endurance riders like them for all day comfort and suit gravel as well. Mine is 9.3kg with 2x Ultegra and gravel tyres so no as light as a carbon bike but tough for the conditions

[@shred3005]

AMPITUP ITTY I get the theory behind your question. As I ride the Ti bike daily for commuting, it’s occurred to me the extra 2kg over my carbon Canyon and compliance through the frame make it less ‘sprightly’ by some margin and that it might be marginally more effective for training. But really you can do as many others do and simply run training wheels / tyres on your carbon bike and get your marginal training benefit. I think there’s lot more effective things you can do with training than simply running a heavier bike. It might have some marginal benefit but switching to the carbon bike is more in the feel - a bit like putting your deep dish carbon race wheels on. I am appreciating both for different reasons. Choose a Ti bike for other reasons and other uses that benefit from a tough but compliant frame with all day comfort. N+1 is always a good reason :)

[@jaycahow4667]

I have five Lynskey Titanium frame bicycles (plus an older Litespeed) but they all predate disc brakes. I see these days Lynskey only sells disc frames now having moved on to the latest trends. I have nice older steel frame bicycles and a nice half carbon/half aluminum bicycle but my favorite ones are the Titanium ones. The reason I have so many Lynskeys is that for some reason they cleared out a ton of Titanium frames and carbon forks on eBay 5-6 years ago direct from the factory at tremendous discounts. I was able to pick up frame/fork combinations for less than half the regular cost of just a normal frame. A bunch of my friends bought them as well as they were such a good deal but the company seems to have scaled models back these days and I never see them sell direct on eBay anymore.

[@shred3005]

@@jaycahow4667Lynskey still seem to discount a lot straight from the factory but you’re right, the deal I got on their GR270 gravel frame set with carbon fork, titanium seat post, brushed finish, etched graphics (no stickers for me) and Cane Creek 110 headset was excellent 4.5yrs ago. I’m on the mail list and I get tempted when I see they are only asking US$1,150 for an R300 road disk frame but by the time you get the etched graphics and a carbon fork the price starts to get up there but they are still cheap frames for titanium.

[@BigPowerAL]

Hi Mark, I ve been looking for a new set of carbon wheels. Could you please let us know where you got them? Thank you.

[@mechpatt]

Mark, great video, how about an update if you have had time to ride it! Your relative absence on KZbin is keenly missed, you do great work!

[@antonlasy7501]

Great review! What TI finish is this? Brushed right?

[@soodzy]

Great video Maven! Where can I get those wheels?? Thanks mate

[@SarahWood-jd1wl]

Beautiful bike! Did you use double butted titanium or just normal straight gauge? Thank you!

[@JFRides]

Mark, That frame looks absolutely amazing. Titanium will last forever and is light and comfortable as well. Glad to see your bike videos again.

[@HarryTzianakisTheGodOfSpeed]

ha ha ha No it don't .. forever ha ha ha

[@JFRides]

Harry Tzianskis The God of Speed titanium has lasted alot longer for me than any of my carbon frames. I guess to each their own experiences.

[@HarryTzianakisTheGodOfSpeed]

JF Rides my name is Jeeefff. I had a titanium colnago it cracked in the headtube and a titanium mountain bike failed at the welds. Titanium bikes are known to fail at the Welds and Through Time the metal cracks. This is a known fact. Metal cannot Outlast carbon that's just ridiculous. If you crack your carbon frame it's fixable. All carbon frames are fixable no matter the damage.

[@JFRides]

Harry Tzianskis The God of Speed sorry to hear about your frame. I cannot say I have had the same exerience.

[@HarryTzianakisTheGodOfSpeed]

If you damage your metal frame it's garbage. I smashed my carbon frame and I paid $350 and they fixed it it's as good as new. I can put out 1500 watts and nothing happens to the bike. If you bend your frame it's going to cost more to fix it then what you bought it for . 👈 fact!

[@philadams9254]

Yeah, I know 4 people who have ordered one. Same small issues with all of them - it is to be expected that something will be slightly out in terms of measurements or tiny details.

[@pioneltapinessi947]

That frame's finish looks similar to the Stainless steel Otso Warakin I have, I wonder what's the difference between Ti and Stainless Steel besides steel weighing more.

[@yareckey]

Hi great video! I'm in the middle of the process to have my own frame from Waltly. Can You tell how is the bike doing after 3 years of use?

[@joshfilan]

hello. i just went through a similar process and i see you have the same rear dropouts as my frame with that teardrop piece that seems to hold some kind of thru axle nut. can you please tell what you did for this? what thru axle size did you wind up using? was there an axle nut? thank you!

[@evangelosziamos2860]

Looks great I am thinking of doing a Titanium order, what did you pay for your wheels.

[@TheCrossroads09]

Simply having a naked titanium frame , unpainted corrosion resistant, that you can do a quick visual inspection with gives me confidence in a bike frame. A carbon bike that has a little creek that you can't find isn't fun to ride.

[@PoltergeistWorks]

Oh titanium can creek too... trust me :) Especially when something steel goes in contact with it, and on the bike it most definately will ;)

[@chongki3832]

Hi! Been wanting to ask how's the frame now after this amount of time and if you kept it still? Thanks!

[@bobmajew53]

Oddly enough Christmas is getting close!

[@chiefrocker12]

Good review indeed. I am in a process of helping my mate build a Ti frame out and we are looking at Waltly. Before we get to that, I concur with the need to understand your bike fit requirements. You used an Aeroad as a template, and given Aeroad is designed for speed and inherent stiffness neing carbon materials, we are looking to build out an endurance style bike. Are you able to comment on expectations when mirroring another bikes dimensions ? I am assuming by mirroring, you are simply sizing it that way, and naturally not all the performance attributes will come across. Appreciate your any relevant feedback.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

That’s a pretty nice bike

[@Pranav_m_Mistry]

A very neat build. If you don't mind sharing. What was the cost break down of your entire build? You did share about the frame, fork, seat post clamp. But not the rest of it :)

[@standard9886]

Where did you get the fork? I am interested in ordering one? Does it come with the Waltly frame as well?

[@woaychee]

hey Mark, what fork you are using for this frame. great build!

[@JayrodXD]

Hey Mark What tyres have you gone with on the bike?

[@peterbaskind9872]

I am a Ti convert. Light, lively, and no concern about cracking your carbon frame in a routine crash.

[@just_T4U]

Dangerous frame

[@jasonng8143]

hoyeahh! Great video as always :D

[@andrewhall127]

Interested to know the feedback on this frame a year on? I am looking to have a gravel bike frame made with them.

[@calrc123]

Where did you get those beautiful wheels?

[@Wolfman1250s]

Great looking bike Maven👍 Love it 😊

[@lyanbv]

Congrats! max tire clearance?

[@MrHumbletrev]

which fork and seatpost did you get to go with the frame?

[@Kelvin_c]

Hi Mark, may I know hows the bike after 1 year of riding it. Does it still hold up after tons of riding?

[@darrenhill8503]

Is there a follow up on a long term review?

[@joebikeguy6669]

Mark, Hello from a former subscriber! I unsubscribed about a year ago when your channel stopped being the Cycling Maven and became Bringing up Baby. I hasten to add, I was a big fan of Hanna and Jack, (I really wanted you two to get married already!, I see that you did . Congrats.), however, I signed on for your insights about cycling, so when the channel changed, I decided I would bid you all a fond farewell (and I do mean fond). Anyway, during my ride yesterday, I thought of the three of you and wondered how you all were and this morning there you were in my thumbnails . . . talking about bikes no less! Coincidence? You decide. I checked out your recent videos and it seems you are back to mostly bike stuff. I am going to watch them later today. BTW, it looks like you lost weight. Good on ya mate! Regards to Hanna and Jack.

[@shi1483]

Where do u get the fork? Is it also from Walty? thanks~

[@richardhutchings1980]

Great choice of frame and groupset. Are you using this bike for your pilgrimage to The Tour Down Under?

[@cyclingmaven]

Yep that's the plan mate.

[@ebigarella]

How's the thruaxle fixing nut?

[@jev2867]

I'm sold. Ordering a gravel.

[@attybong]

cheaper than my lynskey .. what brand is that? pretty nice frame .. love to have one like that

[@hotcakes1117]

Would like to see you at Peaks next March