"If you're a rider looking for rock solid performance and value from a lightweight, long travel trail bike, then check out the 2004 Titus Loco-Moto.
Mountain Bike Action says ""You'd be hard pressed to find a better long-travel trail bike""(1) and we fully agree."
Submitted by
mtnman1850
a Cross Country Rider
from northern NJ Date Reviewed: December 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Cannonball trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Super versatile all mountain bike. Rolls over the rough stuff like it wasn't there, great balance, and handles technical single track like it's on rails. By far the best all around bike mountain bike I've ridden, and I've ridden lots of them. The single pivot works great, and I haven't been able to hurt the bike in over a year of thrashing. This was the best 800 bucks I've ever spent!
Weaknesses:
Kind of rare, so it's hard to find one.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale super V, Specialized Epic, Klein Mantra, Kona Dawg, Trek fuel, Schwinn homegrown.
Bike Setup:
100-130mm Manitou Sherman up front, Romic with Ti spring for rear, Hayes hydraulics for stopping, Full XT drive train.
Bottom Line:
It would be hard to beat the over-all performance of this bike, and it can be set-up to be anything from a 4 1/2 inch travel, 24 LB.x-country ripper, to a 5 inch all mountain bruiser, and work well either way. These frames were handmade in Tempe Arizona by skilled craftsmen, so you have the honor of riding an American made boutique brand as well. These guys obviously take pride in what they do. Because of the single pivot, this is probably the most under rated bike on the trail, except when I'm whipping past those other posers on their Specialized, Treks, Cannondales, and Gary Fishers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Terry
a Weekend Warrior
from Fairfield Ohio USA Date Reviewed: December 13, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Brown County IN
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
WEST CHESTER CYCLES
Strengths:
The bike is a can do everything bike, it can hammer with the CC guys or use it for all mountain bike.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
GT LTS GT RTS
Bike Setup:
RACEFACE XT SHIFTERS AVID DISC BRAKES FOX TALAS RLT MAVIC ENDURO WHEELS XT FRONT AND REAR DERAILURES CHRIS KING
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike so I could do it all. I counld not afford to buy a bike for every ridding condition so I picked the loco moto to do it all. When I buy another bike it will a Titus.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Maxwell Oliver
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA 91913 Date Reviewed: July 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Nat-catcher
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
from a friend
Strengths:
Lots of travel and plenty of ways to adjust this bike to your personal style of riding. My previous bike was more of a XC type and I prefer a stiffer set up, but like that I have the long travel available on both ends. Set up for disc brakes in the future.
Weaknesses:
I am not sure a single pivot is going to work for me. I'll update this after a few months and let you know. Getting a front derailer that fits this bike then adjusting it is a pain. Limited on tire size in the rear. (2.3 probably the largest you could run.)
Similar Products Used:
Alpine Star 930, Trek 930
Bike Setup:
Psylo Fork, Fox Float in the rear. XT hollow tech, LX Front derailer, XT rear Derailer, XTR v-brakes.
Bottom Line:
Bought the frame used so the price is not really applicable to value. I Like the bike so far I am not in love with it. I weigh 205 lbs. The frame seems to stand up to my weight really well. The bob when I climb might be something I can fix with a lock out shock in the rear, but for now it gives it all back on the down hill. Will upgrade to disc brakes when I can afford to do so. I think that might make the feeling grow for the Loco Moto.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mtbstevo
a Weekend Warrior
from Issaquah, WA Date Reviewed: April 13, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Fort Ebey SP
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Weaknesses:
single pivot and rocker arm a tight fit with other components (front deralieur) but everything seems to work, sizing for Titus bikes seems larger than other bikes
Similar Products Used:
Marin Bear Valley SE, Kona Kikapu
Bike Setup:
Marzocchi FR SL, Fox Float RL, XT/XTR/SRAM 990 drivetrain
Bottom Line:
I bought the frame to take my riding to the next level of weekend warrior freeriding (nothing too crazy since I'm 36 and don't heal fast). At first I had buyer's remorse with the single pivot and coming from an XC, but the more I ride this bike the more I like it. It's given me the courage to try new stuff (and keep coming back even when I crash). Plush enough to take rough inclines or table drops, extremely well balanced for track stands, ladders and other stunts, tall for good clearance of logs yet the X-frame doesn't threaten your crotch if you fall off, and agressive enough to hammer with the XC'ers. A very versatile bike. What more could you ask for?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mat Coffey
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, OR, USA Date Reviewed: May 19, 2004
Favorite Trail:
3 corner rock
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Rage Cycles
Strengths:
Simple, STRONG, stiff design. Very little (almost no)pedal feedback due to low pivot point. Design perfectly utilizes SPV rear shock technology.
Weaknesses:
None after getting the X-frame front triangle. Tried a 5" Vanilla up front, but (like MTB says) it was meant for a 4" Float -- I switched back after one ride.
Similar Products Used:
Yeti ASX (my other bike), Rock Lobster, Gary Fisher, few others.
I shopped, I asked questions, I rode many bikes and for the type of weather, trail conditions in the NWest I opted for a simple single-pivot. At first, there was some remorse until I slapped on the SPV rear shock...Now every time I ride I comment on how absolutely KILLER this bike rides. Tough, uphill, off-camber switchies, rock gardens, log rides, 3 foot drops, roots just roll right under the bike. Then when you go to hammer, there's no hesitation.
Also, Titus makes you feel appreciated. They were very cool about swapping me for the new X-frame front end for a pittance, even though I was technically uneligible. I never see myself coming or going and compared to Rocky's and Specialized, etc. there are no weak, "you'll replace two a year" components of the frame. The pivot is absolutely tight and shows no chance of freeing up. Riders know what I mean when I say there's that "solid thud" feeling when hitting it hard. No twangy, flexy, "I think I just pushed it to the limit" wincing with this frame. You feel so confident that your only concern becomes whether or not you're smooth enough to avoid a pinch flat -- probably the only problem you'll ever have with this bike.
For the price, I can't see any other bike that's worth it. Price aside, the only bike that feels as neutral and good would be a Turner 5 spot, but damn, they're expensive.
I promised Alan at Titus he'd get a real review from an obsessive rider, so here it is: Buy a Loco and be happy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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