Interesting in having a custom bike frame built

General Discussion Build Logs
1

So I was toying with the idea of having a custom Ti bike frame built.

Ive found a place (china) that will do it to whatever specs I provide, but was curious if there were any US based people or companies as well?

Other than that here was my brains creation and im curious what issues im going to run into. The goal is to reuse as many parts as I possible can.

Current part list:
Custom Built wheels with Hope Pro5 Hubs 135x10 single speed rear bolt axle and front 100x9mm QR. There hubs can be rebuilt to 142x12 thru axle along with converting them to cassette hub.

Chris King 24mm BSA 68mm BB
Chris King nothreadset 1 1/8th
Sram S300 GXP crank
Hylex RS Flat mount disc brakes (current using IS to FM adapters running 180mm rotor up front 160mm rotor rear).
27.2 Thomson Seatpost
Thompson stem and my drop bars.

My current frame can accomodate up to 42mm tires (running 700c x 40 currently and loving it).
My current frame uses IS brake tabs for the mechanical discs, but ive added adapters to conver IS to Flatmount but had to add adapters which required 180mm disc in front 160mm in rear.
My current frame has horizonstal drops.

With this new TI frame idea, Ive been toying with this ides:

Similar geometry, BB width, headtub size etc, but was curious about my rear options.

Are sliding drops still used? Would i be able to run 135mm x 10 single speed with possible a Flat mount caliper in the rear and front BUT if i wanted i could build my hub with a geared spline and add a hanger and run 135mm geared setup.

Something like this?

Thoughts?

2

If you go long distance Asia sourcing make VERY sure you spec every small frame detail. The advantage to dealing with a builder who can be talked with over the phone might be priceless. Andy

2 Likes
3

I’d parrot what Andy said,

dealing with a custom builder used to dealing with “bike-rider” customers, and dealing with a manufacturer used to dealing with ‘professional-frame-designer’ customers can be two very different propositions; in the former, they are responsible for the unsaid things; you’d go to a builder you trust, because they’ll be responsible for those small decisions, in the latter, you spec the location of every cable guide, or you take the risk of it being put somewhere you don’t like.

so make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into, and be ready if that involves a couple attempts to get on the same page (like any manufacturer might do with samples)

this might be worth double checking, if you plan on using a composite fork.

4

There are many American (and Canadian) custom Ti builders. A simple search should give you a list. If you want cheaper and overseas, why not try Taiwan rather than China? Good luck.