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
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..
Bike Setup: fox 36, dhx rc2, avid and sram, shimano slx cranks, kenda, syncros, sunlline, wtb
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Submitted by
Stereo Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Greentown
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2010
Strengths: 08 bike. Lateral stiffness with no unnecessary bobbing. Nimble, even on the slow technical stuff. Well balanced making fast technical descending a breeze. This bike will allow you to up your game. It's my one, do everything bike. The RP23 works great as does the propedal setting. I only take pp off when I'm doing tech downhill. Definitely for those who don't like a sofa bike. Never mushy. Jumps, climbs, rails and puts smile on my face.
Weaknesses: I haven't found any. However, I hated it when I first got it and then I realized it wasn't set up correctly. Once I dialed in the front Shock (Lyric Solo Air) after it broke in and adjusted the stem height with the spacers it turned into a true dream machine. In other words, no weaknesses.
Bottom Line:
Totally confidence inspiring. A responsive machine. I think anyone would love this bike, just don't expect mush. The build quality is great.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Nomad, Spec stumpy
Bike Setup: rp23, lyric solo air. chris king headset, x9 rear derailer, wtb Lazer disc trail, Juicy 5 disc
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Submitted by
epicjurneez
a Weekend Warrior
from sjc, ca
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2010
Strengths: What everyone else says
Weaknesses: Haven't found one yet.
Bottom Line:
I'm heavier @ 220 lb.
uphill:
I wanted a lighter bike that climbs as good as my old Truth(I too heavy for it now). This is and better. when pedaling, i prefer the propedal off. It bobs from my shifting weight but not from energy loss. I'm pretty sure of this and it contrasts with jasonski's views! If I learn otherwise I'll update this post.
What's better is that climbing up/over big bumps was nuts! I've never felt rear suspension do that! My Bighit is so heavy, it just stops! The Guap sucked it up as I powered through the rock! The Truth would have stopped due to lack of travel.
Descending:
Wow. It's like my Bighit with faster handling... It switches/turns directions so fast, I am yet to get used to it! Not twitchy tho. I carves confidently!
The rear suspension is great! I'm a recovering dwlink rider... I switched from and enduro130 to an ironhorse mkiii and now, WOW. A horstlink as good and better than anything I've ridden before! I always wondered what I was missing out on when I unfortunately found out about titus after I got my Truth in '01. Now I know. Better late than never.
btw, as a heavy rider, the frame is stiff and the RP23HV does not wallow -- I would give this performance credit to Titus' suspension design (leverage ratio) and not the shock.
Everyone liberally throws around the 5chili rating, but this bike is something special. Thanks Titus!
Similar Products Used: ellsworth truth for climbing....kind of, and 03' Bighit comp for the descent.
Bike Setup: budget build... I imagine it's 33~34 lb but DOES NOT feel like it when climbing. New Fox VanR36 xt/xtr, avid bb7 203mm,...
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Submitted by
AxisTTSS
a Weekend Warrior
from Boise, ID USA
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2010
Strengths: The bike functions great. Light for the travel that you get and responsive. Perfomed pretty much as i expected. Which was good.
Weaknesses: Titus - Customer service sucks. Irony is they try to sell you a product based on the premise that you'll have it and use for a life time; Not. Titus does not support their older bikes. They do not provide parts or service of any kind for the older bikes, some only couple years old. CAn't even purchase old CADD/CAM files to make the parts yourself.
If you are looking for your ultimate, once in a life time, high end bike do your home work. Hard tails ain't much of an issue; Full suspension don't even look at Titus.
If you're looking at a high end US made bike look some where other than Titus.
Bottom Line:
If you're looking at a high end US made bike look some where other than Titus.
Submitted by
jaysonski
a Cross Country Rider
from uk
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2010
Strengths: sheer beauty, fast, great price, reasonable weight, excellent geometry
Weaknesses: riding cross country have to switch pro pedal lever frequently
Bottom Line:
the first time i rode this bike i thought i had made a BIG mistake, i had just got off my santa cruz caron blur & it felt like a tank, i rode it round my local (very muddy) trail & it hurt!, i got it home & dialled in the shock, set rebound & set up the propedal setting, so i took it out the following day & it was a different bike, i admit it takes a little more to get rolling but once it is its amazing, i have lyrik solo air on it with maxxle on iodines & the thing track through switchbacks like its on rails, the low b-b height helps the bike switch so quickly its incredible, i found myself hucking off stuff i never attempted before, beware tho, riding uphill use propedal or it bounces around sucking juice from your legs! (a remote lever like on the old vanilla's rear shock would be great)& i cannot tell you how purdy this bike is, its jawdroppingly gorgeous, if you dont beleive me look!
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/4707060/
Bike Setup: 09 el guapo, rockshox lyrik air, crank it up kit, full xtr, crank bros iodine wheels, hayes stroker brakes, joplin seatpin, straightline stem & spacers, goodridge hoses, monkeylite carbon dh bars - 30lb
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Submitted by
NMPhi767
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2010
Strengths: I have a 2008 frame. This bike a swiss army knife. It does everything well. It climbs well, descends well, and the frame seems pretty bombproof. I have taken it down the gnarliest downhills in Phoenix and while I can't keep up with the pure downhill bikes, it does pretty well. I also have ridden this bike on 15 to 20 mile XC rides and it did just fine as well. Of course it is not as fast as a pure XC race maching, but you can't take one of those to a bike park or run shuttles, now can you?
Weaknesses: If you have the Pearl shock, it has to be set up perfectly to perform adequately. When it dies, I will replace it with something better.
Bottom Line:
If you need one bike to do everything well, this is your bike. It looks good, it pedals well, and it can descend with ease. This bike at the end of the day, is the favorite in my stable because I know I can take it on any trail and it will perform incredibly well.
Similar Products Used: Haro Extreme X2, Chumba EVO (possibly a slightly better descender but cannot keep up with the Titus on the climbs)
Bike Setup: Marzocchi 55 ETA, RS Pearl, Shimano Saint and XT, King headset, Sunline cockpit, Easton Havoc AM wheelset, Kenda Nevegal tires.
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Submitted by
suvlako
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, Az
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2010
Strengths: Stiffness in the rear is unparallelled. Hard to believe they took Specs design and improved it!! 32# climable wrecking machine. I literaaly became a faster rider over night. My wife didn't believe me till I got back on my Enduro after Demoing the Guapo for a week. She couldn't keep up with me to save her life until I got back on the enduro.
Weaknesses: Cable routing is funky. Other than that, no complaints.
Bike Setup: 09 Green Guapo, Xt drive train, Elixir brakes, Fox 36 shock, Sunline carbon bars, CB Iodine Wheels, CB Joplin seat post, ODI matching lock on grips. Soooo SEXY!!
I did as much research and as many test rides as I could as I have been out of the sport for over a decade. I was set on a Maverick Durance when I stumbled upon a 2010 ano El Guapo Read More »
Just taken the plunge and ordered an EG frame from the UK.
Coming from 2 x 29er hardtails, this will be a totally new experience.
Build is going to consist of:
EG medium
Rocksho Read More »
Well, after purchasing a frame last last summer and the next 6 months researching and gathering parts up, I finished my bike early this year.
I built this so that it would be ab Read More »
Welp, suffice to say, but I LOVE my new EG! I have ridden lots of bikes, most on demo, and my bike previous to the EG was a '10 Stumpjumper. I am SO happy with the just about every Read More »
