Lynskey

[DamienCBR]

Anyone got one? I rode a Cooper about a year ago and loved it. Didn't buy for several reason and stuck with the Cervelo through the summer.
I am looking at a new R240 which is the same geo as the cooper. Just wanted to see what experiences people have had with their Lynskey's
Thanks
D

[gazza285]

When anybody finds a way of welding titanium without introducing accumulations of brittle titanium hydrides into the weld zone, then I might consider buying one, until then it is only a matter of time before a welded titanium frame cracks.

[m444ttb]

My father in law has one he bought second hand last year. He loves it and now rides it more than any other bike (he has 9!). While it wasn't a Lynskey a friend of his had a Ti framed Van Nicholas and had issues with cracks.

[paulmon]

gazza285 said:

When anybody finds a way of welding titanium without introducing accumulations of brittle titanium hydrides into the weld zone, then I might consider buying one, until then it is only a matter of time before a welded titanium frame cracks.

Would you mind expanding this. I have a Ti frame and purchased it with the intention of keeping it for a very long time. However it appears that you are suggesting that all welded Ti frames will crack at some point.

Cheers
Paul

[DamienCBR]

m444ttb said:

My father in law has one he bought second hand last year. He loves it and now rides it more than any other bike (he has 9!). While it wasn't a Lynskey a friend of his had a Ti framed Van Nicholas and had issues with cracks.

I tried a Van Nicholas Ventus, good bang for buck, but preferred the Lynskey, slightly stiffer all be it a Ti is never going to be as stiff as a Carbon.
D

[PHmember]

paulmon said:

gazza285 said:

When anybody finds a way of welding titanium without introducing accumulations of brittle titanium hydrides into the weld zone, then I might consider buying one, until then it is only a matter of time before a welded titanium frame cracks.

Would you mind expanding this. I have a Ti frame and purchased it with the intention of keeping it for a very long time. However it appears that you are suggesting that all welded Ti frames will crack at some point.

Cheers
Paul

Still riding & racing a 1996 ti frame with no issues here.

[Justin S]

Rode a Kona Ti hardtail for 10 years without any reason to believe it was going to crack and it didn't. This was made of Sandvik titanium, if that makes a difference.

[m444ttb]

Another very. Ice looking Lynskey alternative having looked at tons of Ti bikes at the cycle show) is a bike Beacon are just launching. It isn't on their website yet but is just about to go on same. I think the model they had on their stand was just over £3k with hydraulic discs and Ultegra kit.

[Gruffy]

I'd be interested to hear more about that Beacon. I'm in the market for a Ti audax bike with hydraulic discs and Ultegra Di2.

[m444ttb]

Not sure when it will go on their website so perhaps best to call them. I think they pretty much build it to your spec though. The frame is an endurance type geometry and there's enough clearance for gravel spec tyres with mudguards so properly versatile

Edit: Some pics here http://road.cc/content/news/165817-11-cool-bikes-s...

Edited by m444ttb on Tuesday 6th October 20:29

[Herman Toothrot]

I've been abusing a Planet X 456Ti Evo (built by van Nicholas) for a couple of years now and it looks like new after a wash. I bet less percentage of titanium frames eventually crack than aluminium.

[rhinochopig]

gazza285 said:

When anybody finds a way of welding titanium without introducing accumulations of brittle titanium hydrides into the weld zone, then I might consider buying one, until then it is only a matter of time before a welded titanium frame cracks.

Funnily enough I was asking one of our structural integrity specialists (also a keen cyclist) this question this morning - I work in the nuc sector. I asked because I quite like the Planex X cyclocross frame and was wondering the same thing; although stress corrosion cracking was my concern.

He wasn't concerned but then he's a SSteel specialist rather than Ti.

It is hard to weld correctly, nees very careful gas control, but does get used for safety critical components and the Russians built pressure hulls for Alfa Class boats in the 90s, which took an age to get right but did work in the end. So it can produce a reliable weld.