Description:This bike is the titanium mainstay of Titus' mountain bike line. It is optimized by tube diameter to provide a stiff and compliant ride unlike any other ti bike on the market. Responsive and stable, the HCR is a cross-country racers dream. Disc mounts are standard, but of course you can run cantilevers if you'd like. Even if you don't race, the ride of a Titus Titanium hardtail cannot be denied. Hop on one and live the dream!
Submitted by
Dennis
a Cross Country Rider
from Belle Mead, NJ Date Reviewed: May 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Many
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1900.00
Purchased At:
Abington Wheel Wright Bike Shop
Strengths:
Rear Dropouts can be swapped between single speed and geared. Frame is very precise- point and shoot. Compliant in the rough, and stiff for the grinding climbs- nice balance.
Weaknesses:
Price but it is a ti frame- what do you expect?
Similar Products Used:
SPOT SS
Bike Setup:
Small Eleven frame, Fox Vanilla RLC 100mm, White Industries Cranks, Hubs and freewheel, Phil Wood BB and Thomson seat opost and stem.
Bottom Line:
Review is for a 2007 Titus Eleven.
I ride what I would call Cross Country- and the trails range from very smooth flowing singletrack to down-right knarly, rock/root infested “marches-of-death.” Typically my rides are limited to 90 minute sessions (family commitments limit the all-day epics to nearly nill) and are done with all the essentials in water bottles and a seatpack.
Okay, onto the bike. The frame I chose was a Small 100mm Eleven. The frame it replaced was a dedicated SS SPOT and although the two frames have slightly different geometry measurements the Eleven fit a bit better (longer top tube, etc…).
The build is pretty straightforward- components were chosen not for weight savings, but dependability; everything besides the seat post slid directly over from the SPOT. The Fork is a Fox Vanilla running at 100mm, the brakes are Avid Mechanicals, the drive train is White Industries (cranks, free wheel and hubs), the BB is Phil Wood and the seat post/stem are both Thomson.
Ride Impressions.
The bike is faaaaaast. I never thought a frame could contribute so much to a great wheelset (the WI hubs are ridiculous). I find myself getting into corners a bit too hot and it surprises me. I have noticed with this frame that I need to revert to my pedal ratcheting skills to get through some taller rock gardens. I attribute this to two factors- one, the frame is fast and I am getting into the thick of it a second faster than I had on my previous frame and two, my older frame was designed with a 63mm-80mm fork in mind and by running the Vanilla at 100mm I am sure it raised the BB a bit. I mention this simply because it is something I have noticed during the first few rides but seems to be tapering off steadily as I readjust my timing accordingly.
The biggest question I had prior to throwing a leg over the frame was the ride quality; more than one review/reviewer has commented on the stiffness of the frame. Keep in mind I am a heavier rider and tip the scales closer to the upper weight limit of the frame more than most would. With that being said, I don’t see much of a difference between my older SPOT frame and the Eleven in the fast and furious rooty and baby-head sections. The frame rides like a high performing hardtail should- it is not a softtail and it is definitely not a dual suspension. I do feel the stiffness of the frame in a few places that stand out from the SPOT such as- quick climbs when I am really, really cranking down on the pedals and really tough rock gardens where I need to track stand to reassess my line and need the bike to respond ASAP to my body English- frame just seems to spring/surge forward.
One nit-pick, “out-of-the-box” chain tugs may not fit the SS dropouts of the Eleven unless you take 5-10 minutes to “dremmel” them into a working solution. Sounds like a big deal- it’s not and shouldn’t be a deal breaker.
So, why did I buy the Eleven?
What caught my eye first was the dropouts- I always wanted a frame that could run cleanly as both a SS and a geared bike. Other aspects of the frame just fell into place, like a longer top tube, geometry for a 100mm fork, etc… The price tag is steep for a hardtail but I had the dough and I found it to be a reasonable price for everything that I wanted (also I had all the components on hand from the SPOT).
Finally, I am completely satisfied with the bike and would buy it again if given the choice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mar
a Racer
from vernon, ct usa Date Reviewed: November 7, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
mean wheels, massachusetts
Strengths:
handmade ti....
Weaknesses:
none that i've seen.
Similar Products Used:
nothing like it...
Bike Setup:
xxs, very light
Bottom Line:
HOT HOT HOT! super light, great fit for little ladies (i got the xxs hcr: it's better to go smaller and fit stem and seatpost than be over-reaching on a too large frame). get one titus instead of the three crappy bikes you'd break over the next five years. bonus! brushed ti finish=no paint to chip and scratch
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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