I am looking to buy a custom Ti road frame. Does anyone have any experience with Moots, Dean or Everti? How do you buy a bike, and expensive one at that, before you even test ride it? I am looking for references on the frame builders.
Don’t worry this bike will not be used for triathlons, and I promise that eventhough I do not own a Cervelo, I will purchase a P2C as soon as the new color is annouced. I would buy a P3C, but I do not want to counted as one of those “I passed xx P3Cs.”
A friend of mine (mtb/XTerra) is sponsored by Moots. His bikes are beautiful. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Moots. I think you’d be very happy with a Moots.
Couple of my roadie buddies on Moots - one is a serious sprinter/masher/big guy and loves it. Never heard a bad thing about 'em
The wife is also looking for a ti bike so we have been doing some research. Its not the first time we have put down the cash sight unseen so to speak with a small custom builder. Best bet is talk to a few ask a series of consistent questions and choose from there. I cant see how you can go wrong with some of the better know builders.
In Washington there is Davidson and TiDesign. Also Steve Hamspten (made by Erickson ex Moots) is also in Seattle. Why not give them a call.
I would also call the likes of Erickson as mentioned before (Steamboat CO), Tom Kellog at Spectrum and Bill Holland in San Diego. Also find a local Lynskey dealer and grab a test ride. The only ti I have experience with is a stock merlin but I have seen some really nice workmanship from Holland, Kellog and Serotta.
Have fun
SimpleSimon has it right. Moots, the Lewenskys, Rourke, and TomKellogg all do custom bikes right. Holland in SoCal I have heard is good, I have never ridden one of his bikes. Tom Kellogg is a great designer. Kent Erickson and Moots have a history and their bikes are pretty similar. I have a Hampsten Moots and a compact Moots and love them both. I have not ridden a Kellogg Ti bike but my Track frame from him is spot on the best riding track frame I have ever ridden.
Good hunting.
I’m loving mine…
I ride a custom serotta and felt the same way you do about dropping large amounts of cash on an unknown. My advice is to find a fitter that you can develop a relationship with, even if they are not a dealer of the builder you are looking for.
Get your frame dimmensions squared away-reach top tube etc. then start shopping builders, work with people that give you good advice and are familiar with what you are trying to do.
You can pay 300-400 and have an independent fitting done where you will walk away with frame dimmensions based on the interview and fitting. If you buy a bike from the fitter then that money is deducted off of the bike purchase (in my case I can not speak for all fitters).
When i spoke with Kelly at serotta and i explained that i am a 230 lbs sprinter that turns 80-90 rpm but will be using the bike at IMLP he helped with tube selections model choices, frame geos and there effect on performance.
I have 2 bikes from Paul Levine www.signaturecycles.com and the proceedure has been flawless, I would reccomend him to any one considering doing custom.
good luck
Kevin
How about a Seven?
Guru makes a couple of really nice Ti frames… Only a three week turn-around on custom frames!
Much thanks everyone. Definitely helpful. I knew of Dean, because I went to undergrad in Boulder; Moot I have seen at races, and on the few days that I am inspired to bike to work, I see this guy on an Everti, but I had some idea that there was more out there, but not that much more, especially knew nothing of the builders right here in WA. I need to find one of those crazy set up bikes at a bike store and spin on that for a while.
Everti is a local Vancouver Island company that has their bikes made in China, or so I am told by an ex-team rider. Not heard anything bad about the bike. They use to be called Epic. Given you are in Seattle and this is your first custom bike I would sugget going to someone like Andy Hampsten to get measured and have someone to talk to face to face, ditto with Davidson. This way you might feel a bit more confident without a test ride. I tend to agree with Tom D that test rides can be very misleading unless you can do a true apples to apples comparison for an extended period of time against with what you like/know. And if you dont know what your ideal set up is, its hard to do any real comparisons. Another option is to check the serotta web site for serotta dealers in the area and go that route. The serotta site has some interesting pictures of ti bikes (go to the forum and do a search) recently saw a very nicely set up Lynskey and Holland (exogrid), with the latter only seen up close an all ti Holland not the carbon/ti creations.
Hamspten has their ti bikes made by Erickson but use to use Moots so you cant really go wrong. There is also Strong in Montana and DeSalvo in Oregon that do custom Ti.
I have a fully custom Seven and it is the most comfortable bike I have ever owned. I also have a Kuota Kredo and a Griffen Vulcan B4C. I was shocked by the ride quality of Ti given that I ride a carbon bike and a boron carbide bike. Seven’s custom program is top notch and they have more model choices than Moots. Don’t get me wrong, Moots are gorgeous bikes. You can’t go wrong with them in my opinion. However, for almost the same price as their off-the-shelf SL I was able to get a fully custom bike. You should at least give their program a look.
I have also heard very good things about Lynskey, for what it is worth.
TiCycles out of Seattle. I’ve got two (a ti road Softride and a steel SS/track Softride). Their fab shop is in Portland.
Check out Roark. They do custom Ti. In fact thats all they do. Google roark and I’m sure the page will come up.
Good Luck!