Titus exclusive ATF-formed 6000 series aluminum front triangle
Advanced Thermal Forming uses a super heated, pressurized gas to soften an aluminum tube so that it may be formed into complex shapes and butting profiles inside of a clamshell mold. The resulting tube has optimized strength and weight profiles, providing for a lighter and stronger frame.
1.5" Headtube offers greater strength and compatibility with newer long-travel, single crown forks
Strengths: Shred allmountain track both descending and ascending greatly. Very controllable on downhill section, comfortable for all day riding. Uphill like XC bike, seriously, if you go with 'propedal' choice on rear shock it keep pedalling efficiency high.
Great deal on pricing
Weaknesses: Some issues in 2012's low bottom bracket frames, but solved in 2013 line up
Bottom Line:
We don't need fancy bike to obtain great performance of riding. I used this el Guapo for 6 months. It descends and shred bumps of rocky section with a buttery smooth-agile-stabilized feeling, cornering in full speed and control. It also climb confidently jut like XC bike. I have a great moment in some events when passing by XC carbon bike on asphalt long climbing section (both 26er andn 29er!) and giving them a smile plus thumb.
Yes this is simply and truly do it all bike.
The el Guapo frame's weight 3 kg, quite light for alloy fullsus, event some carbon AM frames reach 3 kg.
Very confidence inspiring ride. Built up right it is capable of epic day rides, techy single track, steep climbs and DH. It's a real do it all bike. If like me you can't justify or afford more than one bike then the El Guapo is the answer and at £599.99 from on-one it's an absolute steal!
Strengths: Climbs incredibly well- scary good. Holds a line well, very light for 150mm frame, corners well, looks sweet.
Weaknesses: Low BB takes some getting used to. Not the same attention to quality as the old Titus but still a solid build. The head tube was not reamed out properly but Brant, not On One/Titus, but Brant made good by me.
Bottom Line:
So, if you are looking for a bad asss AM bike that climbs like a hard tail or 3" XC bike, look else where. I'm not sure why you'd want that. Those bikes tend to get hung up on square edge stuff, big rocks and roots, etc. IMO, this bikes biggest attribute is how well it climbs. Just stay seated, put it in low, get into position and pedal. I am completely amazed at what I can clear on this bike. It's actually made me like climbing, well... as much as possible. This bike clears chunky, super steep, techie sections like nothing I've ever ridden. The low headtube doesnt wander and the front stays planted with little lift if any. This is how an AM bike should climb - not like a locked-out 22 pound racer.
The low BB takes some getting used to. I have the v2 El G. With a 150 Sektor on the front and fatty tires my BB comes to about 13.25 inches. If I had a Lyrik it would raise it to about 13.5. More in line with other AM sleds but still a bit low. It's a trade off though as the bike corners like a slopestyle ripper. The HTA is more trail-bike like with the 150mm fork, about 68 degrees. A proper 160 fork would slack it out a bit more.
I bout this bike to replace a gen 1.5 SC Nomad. The Nomad beat this bike in the DH category as that bike could plough through anything and eat it up. However, that is one of the same things that made the Mad feel sluggish on the less gnarley trails and it felt overkill for general trail riding. It also suffered incredibly from pedal feedback and tech climbing was not its strong point. Great bike though.
The El Guapo is super nimble and feels much more like a trail bike in tight singletrack but has true AM pedigree and can hang with the best of them when the trail points down and things get fast. It is also the best iteration of the Horst link that I have ridden, and I've been on a few. No bob, traction in spades, doesn't squat on steep climbs - it's just the titties.
Bottom line, if you are not looking to drop $2500+ on a Knolly, SC, Ibis, Turner, etc. this should be one to consider.
Similar Products Used: Past frames: KHS xc604, Salsa El Kaboing, Ragley Blue Pig, MotoLite, SC Blur 4x, SC Nomad
Bike Setup: El G v2 with Sektor 150 air, x9/XT mix, KS dropper post, Oozey wheels and a high-mid level component mix. Sick bike.
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Submitted by
Richard Parenzan
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2012
Strengths: -Super strong build quality
-Looks great
-Handles fantastic
-Confidence builder
-Made in the USA
Weaknesses: -Low bottom bracket
-Can't think of anything else
Bottom Line:
Let me start by saying that I'm 6'5' 225. I needed a big burley bike. The El Guapo does not disapoint. It has given me a tremendous amout of confidence which has made me a much better rider. No longer am I feeling scetchy and afraid to hit moderate obstacles. I say moderate because I'm a 36 year old father of 2 and have not been able to grow the calzones to huck myself off a 20 foot gap jump. 5 foot drops? No problem. Fast rocky downhills? No problem. The bike can do so much more than my ability allows.
Up hill is just as surprising. The pedal feel is great and the frame just wants to go. I go faster uphill on this bike with a 160 mm Lyric fork than I did on my Kona hardtail.
If your looking for a bike that goes downhill like a 6" bike but climbs like a 4" bike than the indestructable El Guapo is worth looking into.
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Submitted by
Paul
a All Mountain Rider
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2012
Strengths: Its allright as an xc trail bike, but a tad heavy for uphill. A stock GT Sektor is a lot better bike.
Weaknesses: Too jittery and twitchy on steering. Noticeable flex on sudden turns, berms and rock beds, too scary for jumps. Felt like the rear wheel is gonna come off. Will not recommend fork travel more than 150mm, anything else will make it more jittery and increase the wheelbase, then more flex is noticeable.
Bottom Line:
Too flexy for an all mtn. The GT Sektor felt more solid, nimble and predictable and its only an xc category. My el guapo has a bit more travel but the frame design is to weak for the intended purpose. Very unpredictable and hard to handle on downhill with oncoming imbedded and loose rocks, gotta slow down. I have no confidence on this frame so I'am selling it really cheap.
Similar Products Used: GT Sektor and Trek Rumblefish
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Submitted by
Johnny RC
a All Mountain Rider
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2012
Strengths: Stiff, stable, very burly frame. Properly set up, the most forgiving bike I have ever ridden. Corners incredibly, and climbs like a 3"xc bike.
Weaknesses: Low BB, causing more pedal strikes than I ever had before, but learned to adjust pedal cadence, and that was over. I can see how some would think the cable routing is tricky, but I personally had no problem with it, and the cables have not gotten in my way. One of the cable tie grommets is right where my Right knee goes by the frame, so really trimmed that zip tie down, and even filed it smooth so when I do hit it, it doesn't scratch me.
Bottom Line:
This frame doubled my love of mountain biking. I love to ride this bike. Here in Montana, we have everything from slickrock, to loamy back country trails, and even some downhill parks, and this bike does it all with ease. I can climb some very gnarly technical ascents, and then bomb down without being too picky about my line. This bike bombs right through rock gardens I would have walked with previous bikes. The low BB makes cornering insane, I almost feel more like I'm surfing the trail sometimes, because it seems like I just THINK where I want to go and it happens. I guess I really can't properly put it all into words, you just need to ride one for yourself and see. Bottom line, I have done DH and Back Country epics on the same setup, all performed A+. This bike is not necessarily for weight weanies, though if I used mostly carbon furniture and wheels I bet it could get below 28lbs. As mine is set up, it runs a little over 30.
Also note, I'm a mini-Clyde, at 5'6" and 200lbs. I switched the fork to a RS Sektor coil 150mm, and the bike could care less about my weight.
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Fat Possum, Demo'd Trek Fuel, and Spec Stumpy, wanted my EG right back.
Bike Setup: Mostly SRAM x9, RaceFace bars and seatpost, easton rims, 2x9 drivetrain with bashguard, Fox RP23 and Rock Shox Sektor coil, Avid elixir 5's with 185mm rotors (clyde friendly), and WTB Bronson 2.3 front and back. Though I think I'm going to switch the back tire to a Tioga psycho genius 2.3, as the Bronson on the back has a tendency to slide out on angled rock ascents, even running pressure at 30psi.
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Submitted by
mabplana
a Weekend Warrior
from Sammamish, WA
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2011
Strengths: Amazing predictability! Low bottom bracket with spot on Geometry allows you to rail the corners and stomp the hits! Pedals very well, and climbs like a goat!
Weaknesses: If you XC most of the time, the bottom bracket is on the low side, so you need to change your rhythm at times and to have pedal strikes. However if it was not for the low BB the would not handle as amazing as it does!
Bottom Line:
Don't buy it if you are a weight weeny! Buy It if you ride like my next statement! This bike is so much fun, and versatile! I have never had a bike where I can session the pump track, go for a 20 mile ride, then stomp 30 foot tables in the bike park, while hitting 7 to 9 foot drops, all in the same afternoon without having to make any adjustments! Enough said! 2010 El Guapo!
Bike Setup: Fulcrum Red Zone Wheels, Shimano XT drive train, Rock Shox Lyrik with DH damper and dual flow rebound, Rock Shox Monarch RT3 shock, Straight Line pedals, Rock Shox Re-verb seat post, 750mm bars with 50mm stem, Tire: knobby knicks,
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Submitted by
*MoonDogg*
a Cross Country Rider
from San Clemente, CA USA
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2011
Strengths: - 1.5 HT is burly and stiff.
- Short HT for flexible headset options.
- ISCG tabs like a true AM bike should. Hammerschmidt works awesome.
- Room and mounts for proper coil over shock
- Stylish! It is the 'El Guapo' after all.
- Lots of cable attachment braze-ons for nice cable routing.
- FSR suspension is battle tested.
Weaknesses: Even though there are a lot of nice attachment points for cable routing, in can still be tricky to get it right, and prevent some of the cables from sticking out into your legs when the rear compresses.
Company went bankrupt, and though they are back in business with new owner, what becomes of Titus remains to be seen. They claim to be honoring warranties still.
Bottom Line:
Aggressive, true all mountain bike that can honestly climb anything, and I mean I can climb some trails that people can't believe are even possible. Pop my Reverb seat all the way up, drop the Talas to 100mm, lean forward and pedal up anything.
Once you're at the top, pop the fork up to 160mm, drop the Reverb, and bomb down, purposely aiming for the roughest sections, hitting all the drops, and do it all in stride and style.
For the rest of the XC single track, I put the Talas in 130 and just rally!
Similar Products Used: Specialized Enduro, Specialized FSR, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR
Bike Setup: Talas 160 (Push'd), RockShox Monarch, X.9/X0 SRAM 3x9, with gripshift (FTW!), Race Face SIXC carbon bars, Race Face Havoc stem, Avid Elixir CR brakes, Hammerschmidt, Reverb seatpost, Crank Brothers Iodine wheels, WTB Weirwolf, Crank Brothers Acid pedals, WTB seat, ODI Rogue lock-on grips
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Submitted by
Mon Guapo
a Cross Country Rider
from Paranaque, NCR, Philippines
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2011
Strengths: Great in climbing, stiff, corners with ease, descends with confidence, very plush, 2007 and 2008 models looks handsome
Weaknesses: Eye catching
Bottom Line:
My 2nd fullsus mtb is a 2007 Titus El Guapo, it was a great bike, but someone told me to upgrade or try other brands, so I sold it and tried other bike brands. Finally I've decided to buy the bike that makes me a better rider. A late 2008 Titus El Guapo.
Similar Products Used: Haro x6, Ellsworth moment, Turner 5.0 TNT
Bike Setup: Frame: 2008 Titus El Guapo with Fox DHX Air 5.0, 2007 Fox Talas R 32, Truvativ and Sram components, Thomson 70mm stem and seatpost, 2007 Mavic SLR Wheelset, Kenda Nevegal 2.1 tires, Hayes rfx9 hydro brakes
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Submitted by
Shredr
a Cross Country Rider
from Chico, Ca
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2011
Strengths: It's beautiful- the frame is a functional work of art. It's a highly-refined frame. Horst-Link fully-active design is plush. Shock & linkage are tucked in tight. Has a low BB, giving it spectacular cornering & has very quick handling for a 6" bike. The geometry is awesome. It's a tight, quiet running bike that's incredibly STIFF! Beefy (2009 model)rear tubing. Can run either air or coil shocks with 2 different mounts. Can build it lighter for CC or beefy freeride. Very versatile, truly the "one" do-it-all bike. This is an 6" bike that somehow has very BMX'y handling qualities built into it. Simply, it makes me a faster rider & feels like a secret weapon.
Weaknesses: Non-tapered (2009) 1.5 headtube. More rear tire clearance (for big fatties) would be nice. Maybe a 12-142 rear for the future? Pedals hit the ground sometimes. Really, this frame has some kind of magical qualities that make it really special, so if it ain't broke don't fit it.
Bottom Line:
This is the "one" bike everyone is looking for. Here's why:
After much research (about 1 yr) on every decent 6" frame, I bought this as a replacement for my beloved but aging 5.5" Switchblade.
I was VERY, VERY skeptical about getting a heavier 6" "freeride" bike with slow handling & slack geometry, etc... Boy, was I wrong! This thing smokes my old trail bike on every level. You simply cannot compare the two, the EG is far superior in every way.
For example, it's way plusher (big 1.5 20mm 6" fork), stiffer (1.5 headtube & hydroformed big-ass tubing & thick linkage) & it handles even better (the excellent geometry & low BB makes it stick like glue in the corners & in the fast & tight choppy/technical stuff).
At speed it sucks up bumps & doesn't rock you around,it's completely stable. My old bike would get shaky & scary.
I can now plow through very nasty stuff instead of looking for clean lines. This one thing has totally transformed my riding style overnight. My trailbike would buck me around on hits at speed while the EG simply spits them out. With my stem dropped all the way down, the 6" EG handles even faster than my trailbike- amazing! There's instant response at the handlebars. When pushed hard, the bike turns into a magic carpet ride over harsh terrain (keep in mind my wide rims, fat tires & Stans) & begs you to push it even harder. The EG behaves much like a grown-up BMX bike in the fast flowing twisties & like it reacts well to throwing it around. Getting aggressive on this bike is fun.
After getting used to it & breaking it in (about 1 month), this bike alone has changed my style of riding. Now, I pick whatever line I want, knowing the EG will go through it quickly without rattling me around. This alone will make anyone faster. & the EG does it all so smoothly!
This bike doesn't give you confidence, it turns you into Superman on wheels because it simply does everything so outstanding. It's a well-blended chorus of stiffness, plushness, excellent geometry & a low BB that all combines into one of the best handling 6" bikes on the planet. & it's pretty lightweight too. Climbing is fine as well. That's why it's the "one" bike.
After this past month of break-in & learning how to ride a 6" frame, I now wish I would've gotten this frame years ago. I had no idea a "slack" 6" "freeride" frame could behave more like trailbike with the right build & still gobble up the rough stuff without complaint (& still be lightweight). Amazing.
I'll never own another 5.5" trailbike, the EG is that good. The plushness & stiffness is way beyond any 5.5" bike with hardly any weight penalty. & it handles snappy like a trailbike too. If I swap wheels, mine's at 28.5.
I love this bike. It's made me a faster rider overnight. Rough terrain that used to scare me I now shoot through with ease.
Buying this frame is one of the best things I've ever done. I just wish I'd done it sooner, so don't wait- get one!
Good job Titus- thank you!!!
Similar Products Used: Offroad then 2 Proflex's, Mongoose AMP, 2 Turners, Cocalis Titus's & now Titus/On-One.
Bike Setup: Chose the 2009 (small) on purpose for the burly rear tubing. Fox Float & RP23, Full XTR 9 spd with 10 spd XTR Race cranks & XTR Trail brakes. Thomson 50mm stem & post. King, Salsa Carbon bars, Ti-Fly seat. Azonic 32 spoke wheels, Weirwolf LT's & Stans. Weighs 29.5, lighter wheels would put it at 28.5. Rides & feels lighter than what it is. Front to rear weight is well-balanced.
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Submitted by
neverdie
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2011
Strengths: Very stiff rear, Beautiful Hydroformed top tube
Weaknesses: Frequent Pedal strikes, due to a low BB height. But it can be easily overcome with some adjustment on my pedaling techniques.
Cable routing is a pain. Had to reroute my cables a couple of times to get the optimal shifting.
Bottom Line:
What can I say about this frame? It's a confidence builder. It gives you
more confidence riding the gnarly stuffs and gives you more confidence to pass other riders during climbs. This bikes begs to be ridden fast and hard. Coming from mostly Xc setup I was used to selecting my lines especially during decent so I won't get stuck on those ruts. But the El Guapo showed me a totally different riding style. Just point and ride, with a stiff rear and a 20mm T/A front it will just go though on any obstacle . One thing I am still adjusting is the Pedal strikes, because of the low BB height. Overall a very good frame/bike.
Similar Products Used: Intense 5.5, Turner Flux TNT, Santa Cruz Superlight, Rocky Mountain Element 50
Bike Setup: El Guapo 2009 RP23 small, 2010 Fox F36 FIT, Hope Pro 2 w/ Mavic 819 , Full XTR Drivetrain/brakes, Thomson stem/seatpost, WTB Devo SLT, CaneCreek headset, Xpedo pedal, Continental Speed King 2.3 Supersonic tires for marathon runs and Continental Mountain King 2.4 Tubeless for Technical/gnarly rides Rides (Bike weight at 28.9 lbs with Speed King SS tires and 29.7lbs with Mountain King Tubeless tires )
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Submitted by
Betarad
a Cross Country Rider
from Lahaina, HI
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2011
Strengths: Looks, Performance, Durability, Weight
Weaknesses: Size - Large isn't large enough
Bottom Line:
I love this bike like none other. At 6' 4" the Large(est) size is still a tad small for me, but the performance is nonetheless phenomenal. I built it light with top shelf stuff, which means I have a lightweight 30 lb All mountain ripper that's as tough as nails, but still climbs with the best of them.
I can't say enough about this bike. I recently took it with me on a two week MTB trip through Washington, Idaho, and BC interior....we ripped it up without so much as a hiccup from the bike. I came prepared with extra parts, but no need 'um with the EG.
Best bike I've ever had, hands down. I'm anxiously waiting to see what the new owners of Titus have in store for the EG. Hard to imagine it getting better, unless they offer an XL - something I'd jump on without even checking with the wife.
Similar Products Used: Intense 5.5, Specialized Enduro
Bike Setup: Fox Talas 36, Fox Float R, Magura Marta SL brakes, I9 AM wheels, XTR shifters, drivetrain, Chris King headset, Thompson stem and setback seatpost, Monkeylight bar, 2.3 Nevegals
Similar Products Used: Numerous all mountain bikes
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Submitted by
Crankmiester
a Weekend Warrior
from Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2010
Strengths: Plush, solid, confidence inspiring, great up, better down and let's not forget dead sexy.
Weaknesses: It's almost too good looking.
Bottom Line:
This is the best bike I have ever ridden. It is amazing. I have never felt so comfortable with a bike after such a short time on it. I was flying like I never have before after about an hour on the bike.
My set up isn't the lightest at 36 pounds (I ride up to go down). It is however pretty respectable for a bike with a hammerschmidt and a 7 inch coil fork, but it pedals up hill just as well and better than many bikes I've ridden. It is a little extra work but it is very rewarding to climb. From the second I got on it felt smoother than anything I've ever thrown a leg over.
Down hill it is amazing. The bike begs you to push the limits and rewards you when you do. I am always afraid of tight switchbacks but the first one I hit I slid around like I never have before. The bike loves to get sideways and I was shocked because I kept scraping my pedal on the ground. I never felt so comfortable leaning so hard like that.
Bottom Line: Support the best bike makers out there. They are closing up shop and they don't deserve it. Let's keep them in business. The bike world needs more companies like this... I am so grateful that they were around to make this amazing bike.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Nomad, Yeti ASR-7, Maverick
Bike Setup: Marizocchi 66 RC3 Titanium, FR Hammershmidt, Avid Code 8", X-0 shifters, X-9 short derailluer.
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Submitted by
kimi rossi
a Weekend Warrior
from manila, philippines
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2010
Strengths: build quality, good suspension link, full length seat tube
Weaknesses: smallest size is 17" with a standover of almost 30". Not so good for smaller riders.
Bottom Line:
a very good bike, very similar feel as my giant reign but the great part is the full length seat tube. my only problem is the smallest size still has a high standover which can be a problem for small riders like me. my balls almost touches the top tube. but i feel that this frame can better handle jumps and drops than my reign especially with the dhx coils..