Titanium is an awesome metal that is used in bicycles because it has a high strength-to-weight ratio and doesn’t corrode. They are now available in a range of bikes, from bike trailers to road bikes. 6 bikes that are good enough to ride forever.
If you’re in the market for a new titanium bike, you’re in luck! We’ve put together a list of 6 titanium road bikes that are good enough to ride forever, and we’ve added a few more titanium road bikes to our best titanium road bikes list as well.
When the dreams of riding a bike are shattered by the realization that a bike won’t fit, rebadged parts or a new model promise to fix the situation, new titanium road bikes can be an attractive option.
The main advantage of titanium is its durability. It is strong, light, and can take a beating. With all these advantages, it is no wonder that people are starting to adopt titanium as a viable option for building a bike.
Road cycling is not something you think of as an especially competitive sport, but it’s growing in popularity all the same, and it’s helped by the fact that there’s something for everyone: from the more relaxed, leisurely rider to those who want to get in on the buzz of riding in a pack.
Titanium, which is lighter than steel and stronger than aluminum, has long been regarded as one of the finest – and most opulent – metals for bicycle frames.
While carbon fiber is unquestionably the material of choice for high-performance racing frames, titanium is no wimp when used properly. Although titanium frames are heavier than the finest carbon frames, the ride quality is outstanding, with a reputation for smoothness across rough terrain.
Aside from those appealing characteristics, titanium has a long fatigue life and, due to its natural corrosion resistance, may be left unpainted for a distinctive, beautiful surface that will look just as good in 25 years as it does today.
Titanium has a reputation for being pricey, and that reputation is well-deserved, but if the idea of a titanium frame appeals to you, it’s worth considering the bike’s whole lifespan. If it lasts you the remainder of your riding career, titanium becomes a far superior value proposition.
The BikeRadar crew has compiled a list of five of the finest titanium road bikes.
Top Picks of This Year
1. Reilly Gradient – Best Titanium Road Bike
The Reilly Smith, Robert
- £3,249 in total (as pictured)
- Excellent control.
- Stunning collection of frames
Reilly’s Gradient is equipped with a variety of intelligent components and is capable of conquering a variety of on and off-road activities.
The frameset, on the other hand, is the true star of the show. The Reilly Axis “ultra-butted” tubing and frame angles not only look great, but they also provide the bike a dynamic ride that perfectly combines speed and comfort.
It comes equipped with luggage mounts, mudguards, and a third bottle cage, as befitting an adventure bike, and Reilly backs its craftsmanship with a lifetime frame guarantee.
2. Reilly T325 – Best Titanium Bike for Racing
The Reilly T325 is a fast-riding titanium bike. Immediate Media / David Caudery
- £3,798.00 (as pictured)
- It’s quick and enjoyable.
- Excellent ride quality
Reily’s T325 is a bike for those who desire one bike to race forever. It features a semi-compact frame for additional rigidity and an aggressively short head-tube to aid in getting into a long and low posture.
It isn’t quite as light as a comparable carbon racing bike, but unless you exclusively do hill climbs or are a true weight weenie, you won’t notice since the ride quality is so excellent.
3. Child Mark II on Sabbath Mondays
Out-of-the-saddle climbs will be no issue for the Sabbath Mondays Child Mark II. Immediate Media / David Caudery
- £2,880.00 (as pictured)
- Frame that is quick and efficient
- Wheels and groupset of high quality
Sabbath’s Mondays Child is rigid enough to race, with a large head tube and bottom bracket, as well as a semi-compact frame shape. Its confidence-inspiring geometry makes it an especially notable descender.
Because of its rigidity, it sacrifices some ride comfort, but the tubeless-ready wheels and tubeless Schwalbe Pro One tyres soften the ride enough to be comfortable all day.
The frame is also covered by a lifetime guarantee, so you won’t have to worry about it holding up over time.
4. Dolan Titanium ADX Disc Ultegra
Dolan is known for creating motorcycles with a lot of bang for your buck. Dolan
- £2,402.00 (as pictured)
- It’s a smooth-riding frame with a decent price tag.
- There’s plenty room for thick tyres.
Dolan has a well-deserved reputation for creating high-quality bikes at a reasonable price, and the Titanium ADX Disc is sure to add to that reputation.
The sleek frame and Deda carbon fork are equipped with Shimano’s Ultegra groupset and a slew of other high-quality components, all at a fairly affordable price for a titanium bike.
It features a sportive-focused geometry (205mm on our tester’s 58.5cm test bike), yet this is a bike intended to pamper you over long distances. You’ll probably enjoy the higher position unless you have the flexibility of a professional road racer.
You’ll also enjoy the Dolan’s wide tyre clearance, which can accommodate up to 35mm tyres due to the inclusion of disc brakes, allowing you to smooth out bumpy roads or tackle light gravel.
5. Kinesis GTD
An all-year, titanium mile-eater that’s also a lot of fun. Immediate Media / David Caudery
- £4,000.00 (as pictured)
- Beautiful frame with a fantastic kit
- There are many customization possibilities available.
Kinesis is well renowned for their aluminum cycles, but it has quietly provided a good titanium road bike for quite some time. The GTD moniker stands for ‘Go The Distance,’ which is exactly what this machine is intended to accomplish — it’s an ultra-endurance, mile-munching machine.
The frameset alone costs £2,100, but when combined with high-quality components, it provides a fantastic combination for audaxing, fast-touring, and all-year road riding.
6. RSL Moots Vamoots Moots Vamoots
Ben Delaney / Immediate Media The Moots Vamoots Disc RSL
- $14,505 in total (as pictured)
- Exceptional workmanship
- Extremely costly
The Vamoots Disc RSL is on the racier end of the spectrum, with stiff, large tubing and aggressive angles and fit, but it still has the traditional, smooth titanium riding feel that the material is known for.
Moots is able to integrate contemporary production techniques like as 3D printing (which is used to manufacture the dropouts, for example) into their process, unlike many small frame makers. The final result is a stunning bike that combines the finest of traditional and contemporary manufacturing techniques.
It all comes at a price, though: whether you opt for the top-of-the-line components or something more utilitarian, there’s no denying that this is a pricey bike. You’re unlikely to be disappointed if your finances are deep enough.
7. Elan Spa Cycles
Flat, undulating, rising, descending… David Caudery/Immediate Media
- £2,180.00 (as pictured)
- Bike that is both comfortable and versatile.
- Style from the past
Spa Cycles has been serving British touring cyclists for over 40 years, so they know a thing or two about what works.
The Elan combines smart, old-school styling and features such as external cable routing and a threaded bottom bracket, with modern touches including disc brakes and decent tyre clearance, making for a reliable, do-anything bike that will serve you well for a very long time.
Although the 10-speed Shimano 105 gear on our test bike (complete with a triple chainset for a real throwback) seems a bit antiquated, it worked well, and Spa Cycles provides lots of customization choices if it’s not to your liking.
9. Yukon Disc by Van Nicholas
The Yukon Disc is a hybrid of a tourer and a racing cycle. Immediate Media / David Caudery
- £3,911.00 (as pictured)
- Excellent control.
- Customizable, high-quality construction
Van Nicholas is a Dutch-based company that has done a lot to popularize titanium bikes, and with good cause. The Yukon Disc has a fantastic structure that, with a few different component choices, may be made to really sing (as on our test bike).
It’s quite light for a touring bike, weighing 9.67kg with full-length mudguards, and its 34t x 34t bottom gear should be low enough to winch you up steep hills. Similarly, the frame has very little flex, making it an effective climber.
Interestingly, the bike offers clearance for up to 35mm tyres, but our test rig came with 25mm Mavic tyres – not terrible tyres by any means, but a bit thin for a bike intended to eat up miles all day. Because the bike we tried was a bit stiff in the back end, upgrading to something with greater volume would certainly make a big impact.
Finally, although the slightly lowered seatstays may not appeal to purists, they are a contemporary design feature that sets the Yukon Disc apart from its competitors.
When Purchasing a Titanium Bike, There Are a Few Things to Keep In Mind.
Geometry of the frame
Geometry, like any other kind of bike, has a big role in how a titanium bike rides and handles, so be sure the bike you choose is suitable for the sort of riding you plan to undertake on it.
Longer wheelbases, a higher head tube, slacker angles, and a longer wheelbase are common features of titanium bikes intended for long-distance riding.
In comparison to a twitchy racing bike, the slacker steerer angles and longer wheelbase improve stability and provide a somewhat slower, more deliberate steering reaction.
It also puts you in a more upright posture, reducing the pressure on your neck, shoulder, and back muscles by reducing the weight on your hands. You may have to give up a bit in terms of aerodynamics, but the comfort benefits may pay out over the course of a lengthy ride over difficult terrain.
You’ll want a frame with a shorter head tube, steeper angles, and shorter chainstays if you want to race or have a more aggressive riding posture.
Versatility
The introduction of disc brakes for road bikes has not only made it easier to slow down, but it has also allowed manufacturers to include considerably more tyre space in their designs. As a result, many titanium road bikes now have space for road tyres up to 35mm in diameter.
This not only improves comfort and perhaps lowers rolling resistance, but it also has the ability to greatly expand a bike’s flexibility, putting it well in gravel bike area.
This is particularly useful if you reside in a nation (like as the United Kingdom, where BikeRadar is located) where road condition ranges from poor to terrible.
Even if you prefer rim brakes, many contemporary calipers can accept up to 28mm tyres on broad rims, so be sure the frame and suspension can support it.
Longevity
Because the nature of the material makes it more difficult to manufacture frames and components from, a titanium bike is likely to cost more than an identical carbon, aluminum, or steel bike.
Without getting into too much detail, titanium bike machining, welding, and finishing are more labor-intensive procedures that require specialized expertise and equipment than other frame-building materials. All of this raises manufacturing expenses, which are eventually passed on to the customer.
The lifetime of a titanium bike, on the other hand, more than makes up for its original expense. Because titanium is such a tough material, titanium bikes can withstand a lot of blows and abuse.
With this in mind, many manufacturers will provide a lifetime guarantee on titanium frames to the original owner, providing you piece of mind that you’ll be protected if you run into any manufacturing problems down the road.
Titanium road bikes are the premium option when it comes to cycling. The material is light but strong, and the frame is stiff. Titanium bikes are also comfortable over long distances, and are perfect for long-distance rides. That said, they are often more expensive than aluminum bikes.
In this article, we have compiled the best titanium road bikes to help you make the most informed choice.. Read more about titanium bike frame manufacturers and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best road bike for long rides?
The best road bike for long rides is the Specialized Roubaix.
Do any pros ride titanium bikes?
Yes, some pros ride titanium bikes.
How long will a titanium bike frame last?
A titanium bike frame will last for a long time. The lifespan of a titanium bike frame is typically around 5-7 years.
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- High tensile steel frame & fork
- Shimano 21-speed stem shifters
- Alloy double wall 36 hole rims, 25mm Width tires
- Single Pivot alloy brakes
- High tensile steel frame & fork
- Shimano 21-speed stem shifters
- Alloy double wall 36 hole rims, 25mm Width tires
- Single Pivot alloy brakes
- Featuring 14 speeds and integrated brake lever shifters, drop bars and dual-purpose 700x38c tires for versatility
- Mechanical disc brakes provide great stopping power in varied conditions
- Lightweight aluminum frame with steel fork is stable for all kinds of cycling pursuits
- Mount points for water bottles and racks to carry what you need on the road or tour
