Submitted by
edouble
a Cross Country Rider
from LI,NY
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2005
Strengths: stiff front triangle and bb,compliant "banana stays". quick singletrack handling. geometry (a cross between the voodoo bizango and my own measurements), climbs without the front wheel wandering at all. im a big guy (6ft 2in @ 245 lbs.)so i needed a frame built for big dog xc riding. also my vacations are always mtbking ones, i go away to ride in many places so the bike had to be versatile in the handling dept with an emphasis on tight singletrack which is what i ride at home. doug nailed my design goals on the head.
Weaknesses: takes a little while to get the frame but worth it.
Bottom Line:
all the strengths of the voodoo and dragon with none of the weeknesses. im looking forward to many long rides a mtbking vacations on my curtlo. by far the best value in custom frames. the others (custom builders) look foolish for charging so much more while offering less.
Similar Products Used: voodoo, bizango (awesome), jamis dragon (excellent).
Bike Setup: z2 atom 80, mavic x618 cd rims w/ specialized super stout hubs. sram 9.osl, truvativ stlo, avid single digit ti brakes and levers. klein death grip tires thomson stem and post. titec hellion ti riser and sdg bel air saddle.
Strengths: These frames are a pure degree of excellence,like no other. After breaking 3 1999 Fisher hardtails in the same place everytime down by the bottom brackets and then give the Fisher Sugar a try and the same crap broke 3 swingarms about every 4 months and then had to wait each time 4 to 6 weeks for fisher to send a replacement swingarm. A good friend/bikeshop owner told me that I need to get off all that aluminum crap because I was to strong and at 190lb the aluminum is just not going to hold up,so he recommended the Curtlo and have been in love with all the frames ever since,AND THE BIGGEST +++ IS NO FRAME BREAKAGE.
Weaknesses: There is no weakness when you have quality,skill,and pride.
Bottom Line:
If your a hardtail freak the mountaineer is for you, be sure to get the banana stays on the mountaineer such a plush ride, the banana stays take edge off though all the rough sections on the trail without losing any power in the pedal stroke.
Just can't go wrong with a Curtlo. Doug put's nothing but quality and pride into these frames, something you don't find much anymore.
Similar Products Used: Let me know when someone finds something similar!
Bike Setup: Whatever you like or works best for you, the frame itself is where it's at.
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Submitted by
Big Daddy Blue
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2004
Strengths: Super inexpensive, super super super nice!!! Perfect welds (who fillet brazes any more?), perfect fit. Doug Curtiss demonstrates through his framesets the highest form of cycle artisanship.....Unmatchable!!!! Price is unbeatable. Try buying an Ibis or Moots softtail at anything less than 1300 dollars.
Weaknesses: Yeah, right.
Bottom Line:
Anyone in the market for a nice bike whether they are a racer wannabe or not should look hard and long at Curtlo. Steel is the real deal, not that flimsy overpriced titanium or the brittle and WAY over-hyped aluminum garbage they're trying to pass of as bicycles these days. Its light, strong, can be easily repaired, and the ride.....If you haven't ridden a nice steel frame you probably haven't been riding for more than about 5 or 6 years.... you are missing out on the best ride of your life. Magical. I'll never go back to production frames again. What a waste of time in comparison. Get one now!! I haven't seen a more perfect frameset. Merlin and Seven Cycles have nothing on this guy.....
Similar Products Used: No lousy off the rack production bicycle frame can be considered similar. Ever.
Bike Setup: I have the Epic Mountaineer soft tail pivotless rear suspension. XTR Baby! With an Atom race 100 mm fork and SID air rear shock. You know, the good stuff.
I feel bad writing a review of this bike after only riding it for a few months. However, it warrants being reviewed now and possibly later on after I've had the frame for quite a while longer. Anyway, I decided to make the switch to steel after riding a friend's steel Serotta. I was originally going to go with the Serotta Odile, but they stopped making it right as I was entering the market for a new frame. So I did some shopping around and I came across Curtlo. I should mention that Doug is very easy to work with. I've never gone the custom route before, and I felt that I was in good hands with Doug. I knew what I wanted out of my new frame, and he was able to translate my ramblings into geometry, weight, and ride quality. This guy knows bikes. Anyway, there was a 3+ month wait from the time I placed my order and from the time it showed up on my doorstep. I had heard from other Curtlo owners that Doug can take his time, so I was happy to see that the waith wasn't as bad as other had made it out to be.
But enough of that, let's talk ride. It took me a little bit of time to get used to the much talked about "feel of steel." Now that I feel like I've gotten used to it, let's ask what is the "feel of steel?" More importantly, what is the feel of steel like on a bike that's designed to fit my body and riding styles?
The best way I can put it is the bike feels alive. In comparison to all the aluminum bikes I've ridden which weren't designed for me, I don't feel like I'm ever forcing the bike to do something it doesn't want to do which to some extent, I always assumed was what I had to do with aluminum, in retrospect. A steel bike that's designed around me feels like it wants to be ridden fast and loooooooovvves to be leaned hard into the turns. There was kind of an "aahh haa!" moment when I figured this out. Almost by accident I entered a turn faster than I normally would have and I felt the bike underneath my butt come to life. It seemed to convert lateral energy of the turn into forward momentum. Awesome.
This bike also climbs very well... well, about as well as I can climb and it's well mannered on the descents. However, the Curtlo shows its true colors in the twisty, technical singletrack. That's where it really comes to life.
Over all, I don't know if there's a better frame for the price... or any price for that matter. $700+ for custom steel is really hard to beat. Now all I need is a better set of cranks....
Similar Products Used: I've ridden mostly aluminum frames up until now... so I don't know if I could say anything I've ridden is a similar product.
Bike Setup: white bro's XC.8 fork, sram x.9 drivetrain, old xt cranks
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Submitted by
Randy Carr
a Cross Country Rider
from Costa Mesa, CA
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2002
Strengths: Super build quality! Great welds and attention to detail. This is my first custom hard tail bike. I will never do the "off the rack" thing ever again! The order process was simple and straight forward.
Weaknesses: None that I can think of!
Bottom Line:
Great bike on technical stuff and truly a pleasure at high speed. As for the wait.....it was worth it!
Similar Products Used: Previous Curtlo hard tail bike I owned back in early 90's. I got the bike second hand from some huge 6'5" dude with a bald head and a chin wig...said he owned Critical Racing or something. I still remember the sweet ride it had with an Action Tec front end....hey what happened to Russ?
Bike Setup: Full XT rig with Judy DH up front. Bike is built to make it back to the truck (no matter where I left it) and so it is a little beefy at 26 lbs. Solution: I decided to loose some weight and leave the bike as it is!
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Submitted by
W.B.
a Cross Country Rider
from L.A., CA
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2002
Strengths: Frame integrity, quality materials (tubing), craftmanship, the ability to have every frame detail tailored to your specific needs and VALUE
Weaknesses: For those who care more about looks- quality of finish (paint) not equal to quality of the frame
Bottom Line:
Absolutely the best frame you can get for the money. Arguably the best custom steel frame available. The issue of paint quality is not as important as the feeling you get when riding this bike on some good singletrack. It might be a good idea to have a spare bike since frame delivery might take longer than expected, but it's worth the wait.
Similar Products Used: Trek, GT, Cannondale, Schwinn, Bontrager, DeKerf, Gary Fisher (steel) - all hardtails
Bike Setup: Atom Race fork, King hubs laced to Bontrager ceramic rims, Arch Supremes, Next LP's, Sram 9.0 shift/derr. TIME pedals
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Andover, MN, USA
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2002
Strengths: Ride quality, custom everything. Price!! (for a custom-I shopped around a lot and nobody else that I could find gives you so much for so little. My cost was a little higher than most due to some personal 'options' (multi brake mounts, bottle opener, Salsa quick release Collar). Working with Doug to get exactly what I wanted.
Weaknesses: None yet. Others have said finish durability poor, but mine is holding up fine so far.
Bottom Line:
I just got this and rode it last weekend. I am somewhat of a newlywed and my wife told me to go nuts and build exactly the bike I want so I am not upgrading and changing every year-so I built a bike that would be a good all arounder. I knew I wanted steel and I did not experience any problems with the wait or time frame with Doug. He was honest with me and you have to expect a bit of a wait for a custom. From start to finish hew as very easy to work with and I am very pleased with the finished product. It helped to consult with Doug on not just what you feel the technical specs should be, but the ride quality you are looking for. I race cross country and had a race this past weekend. It obviously isn't the lightest bike around, but it rides so smooth. I have been plagued by lower back pain for a long time and somehow Doug took care of that. I got the Ritchey type stays and it seems a bit softer than my other steel hardtail, an old Yeti FRO, but still accelerates fairly well. I noticed there have been gripes about the paint and decals-Doug told me that he had a new painter. The paint quality was fine on mine-as were the decals. Granted, it's only a few weeks old....Time will tell how it holds up. I can go on all day about how it steers, accelerates, etc., but it's built for me and how I want it to so yours could be totally different and I could be full of a hot cup of jack squat. Besides, if there were any problems they would be mine cuz I designed most of it. Doug gave me exactly what I asked for and so far I love it. I think my wife may be regretting giving me the go ahead because now I spend even more time on my bike and away from home. Maybe she'll want one next????? Latr. E-mail me if you have any questions.
Bike Setup: Atom Race, Chris King Headset, Thompson Post and Stem, straight carbon bar, XTR Shifters and der.'s, Avid Arch Supreme Brakes, Race Face Next LP Cranks, Flite Seat, Hope Ti X-C disc compatiblle hubs laced to Richey OCR rims, Panaracer Trailblaster tires,
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Submitted by
gonzostrike
a Cross Country Rider
from Missoula, MT
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002
Strengths: custom geometry, light weight, nice powdercoat finish, sweet dropouts, curved seatstays, excellent ride, Doug Curtiss is easy to work with
Weaknesses: what? full custom for $630? lay off the kind bud, man.
Bottom Line:
This review is for the Solo Mountaineer, which is the Advanced Mountaineer with singlespeed dropouts and no derailleur hanger. This is an incredible frame, excellent finish, ride quality and handling are equivalent to my Airborne Lucky Strike geared hardtail, which is what I was seeking and what I told Doug I wanted. He delivered, in spades. True Temper OX Platinum tubing throughout delivers a ride that is compliant yet very responsive. If you are looking for a steel frame, contact Doug. You'll be very happy with the finished product. http://www.curtlo.com
Bike Setup: FSA Orbit XLII headset, Marzocchi MXC fork, Shim UN72 BB, FSA Afterburner crankarms, QBP Engagement Ring 34t, Black Spire Ring God, Titec Knucklehead DH stem & bar, Avid SD7 levers & calipers, Surly NEW 1x1 rear hub, ACS Claws 18t freewheel, Shim XT 11mm front hub, Sun O Deg Lite rims, DT 14 ga spokes, Conti Vert Pro front and Hutch Python Airlight rear tires, Time ATAC or Sun/Ringle ZuZu pedals
Strengths: Awsome ride, custom geom., low cost, relatively light weight (for steel), personal service (Doug Curtis was easy to work with).
Weaknesses: Nada thing!
Bottom Line:
I purchased my bike directly from Doug Curtis. When I say directly, I mean I went to his house in Winthrop, Wa., went over the geom. I wanted, he took some measurements of me and my current bike set-up, had a few suggestions of his own, and we designed a screaming, stable, great handleing bike that fits me perfectly, rides the way I do, and damn, it only cost $640! Everyone complains about the wait. Come on, it's a custom bike! Doug live's in the middle of nowhere. Winthrop is a small western town (they still have wooden sidewalks)in the north Cascade mountains in NW Washington (if you have the chance, it's an excellent place to ride). It's about 2 hours from any large cities (hard for you East coasters to realize). He has the frames powdercoated in Wenatchee, WA and I don't think he takes each frame down there individually. He waits till he gets a few frames together to take them down. I'm happy with my bike and it was worth the wait. If you can't wait, go else where or order it in the offseason.
ride is just what I was looking for, no dissapointments. The stickers peel easy, but I'm on it for the ride not the look. True Temper steel is great, even comparing to 853. my frame was a couple ounces shy of 4lbs., very respectable. The little ladies loves hers too and says so after every race, she's happy/ I'm happy!!! Buy this frame if your not in a hurry and know exactly what you want, but dont expect a builder to read your mind. Do your homework and you will be pleased.
Bike Setup: frame geometry to my specs. 16.5 stays,71.5HT, 73.5 ST, 23.5 TT, 105mm stem, 12.25bb
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Kyle
a Cross Country Rider
from Arlington
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2001
Strengths: Price, brazed joints, tubing
Weaknesses: Powdercoat chips, the WAIT!, mistakes, no protection for decals.
Bottom Line:
I could not believe it when I saw a brazed frame for just $675. It was my first experience with custom so I was very excited to design my own. The frame took three months to arrive - far longer than promised. The chainstays were 16.75 even though I had asked for 16.5. Consequently, the bike rode like a tank with the long top tube I had specified. The brazing was spectacular and the bike looked great. However, the paint began wholesale peeling of the stays. Like - in big wads. Doug took the frame back to repaint it. It took TWO MONTHS to get it back and that was only after I got very angry. I honestly do not think he would have returned it had I not reminded him he had it. The new paint job had pits at the cable stops where someone had done a half-ass job of blasting the old paint. The new decal scheme started peeling before I has built up the frame. Doug quickly sent new decals and defended the acyclic decals saying that they could easily be replaced in the event of a scratch. But let me say - my girlfriend has one of the nice Yeti Schwinn Homegrowns and somehow, these folks have found away to clear coat decals in such a way that replacement is simply not necessary. Sorry to rant. Like they say, you get what you pay for. Please email me with any questions.
Similar Products Used: Fisher Supercaliber, Rhygin Juke, Brand new Bohemian
Bike Setup: XTR, SID, Crossmax
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Jonathan P
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2001
Strengths: Actually the Epic Mountaineer Softail. Completely custom fit, Workmanship, Ride. Doug is a nice guy.
Weaknesses: The wait!!!! Doug curtis does not do anything quickly.
Bottom Line:
Initially it took close to 17 weeks for Doug to get the frame to me, after saying it would be 10. Frustrating as hell but I knew the wait would be worthwhile. The frame arrived and I couldn't be happier, except that the clear coat that I payed extra for had already begun to separate and peel from the frame before I even had the frame built. After three months of riding and more clear coat peeling I decided to send the frame back to Doug for a refinish at his expense, he was more than happy to get things right. That was 5 weeks ago. I am still waiting for the frame to come back. He has been vague about when I should expect it. You should really get more from a custom builder. There are many nice bikes out there, think long and hard before you buy a curtlo.
Similar Products Used: MAny other hardtails of aluminum, metal matrix, titanium and steel
Bike Setup: Full XTR, MARS Elite, Ringle RPM Lite wheels, Easton Monkey lite low riser, Thompson stem and post, King headset.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Henry
a Cross Country Rider
from connecticut
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2001
Strengths: Doug Fit Craftmanship the "feel of steel" stifness everything..
Weaknesses: nun
Bottom Line:
I began looking at steel bikes about a year ago, last spring. I looked at Ibis, Salsa, the Rocky Mountain Blizzard (which I still like) and the now defunct Smorgasbord. I knew I wanted steel- I’m a pretty light guy and found that I preferred the ride of steel over aluminum. Then one day I was looking through an old MBA issue when I came across a review of the Curtlo 24- hour. Wow! I was hooked. I went to the Curtlo website and looked at what they had to offer. I settled on an Advanced Mountaineer. At 605 bucks and totally custom, the bike couldn't be beat. The summer passed and I rode my Fisher Kaitai to shreds, whilst thinking about my Curtlo that did not yet exist yet. I waited untill late fall until I went through with the order. I was fitted at a bike shop to dertermine the proper angles and lengths and whatnot. I then started emailing Doug to tell him what I was up to. I sent him the fit stuff and we talked over the phone about what I wanted out of the bike. Doug is the nicest person I have talked to ever. He was always honest about what worked and what didn't, and I could tell just by talking to him that he was a true professional in every sense of the word. He even took the time to take photos of the bike as it was being built. This was an added bonus for me as I am very interested in bike fabrication and hope to weld frames together for a living someday. I recieved the parts about a week later and then the frame a long time after, almost 4 months. This may turn down buyers who couldn’t wait that long, however the wait is worth it: once you get the frame, you won't want to do anything else but ride it (after it's built up, of course.) WOW! The ride is awesome, and the bike fits me like a glove. It's pretty stiff, but in a good way, and the whole bike feels very solid and strung together. It is very stable but agile when I need it to be. It’s super easy to shift your weight fore and aft when you are on it, too, making steep technical sections easier and fun. This thing eats singletrack and fast fire roads for breakfast. I asked Doug to include a disc mount, too, so when I want to switch to discs I will be able to. The welds on the frame are nice and smooth, and even my non-mountain biker friends remarked that the frame was cool. All bikes should be built this way. The bent seatstays are sexy and help bite into the ground to aid traction. I may write another review in the future when I have more riding time, but for now, I am extremely happy and impressed. My next bike will be a singlespeed, which Doug will build for me.
Submitted by
Anthony
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Altos, CA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2001
Strengths: Nice strong frame with gussets. Fine craftmanship. Low cost and custom, if purchased new.
Weaknesses: None that I can think of
Bottom Line:
This frame compares favorably with other high end steel frames I considered, including Fat Chance, Independent Fabrications, Ibis, Steelman, etc. The frame might be a little heavier (4lb?) but you get stronger frame in return. You can't go wrong with the price either!
Similar Products Used: Fat City Yo Eddie, Rocky Mountain Hammer Race, Bontrager Race Lite, Klein, Schwinn, Specialized Rockhopper, Gary Fischer Paragon, etc.
Bike Setup: Good
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
wc
a Weekend Warrior
from Casper, Wyoming
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2000
Strengths: Doug Curtiss-Gives better personal service over the phone and net than many shops do in person. Prompt response to questions, great design, set up, and component advice. After dealing with Doug, you feel like you've made a new friend. Craftsmanship. Geometry-Very well balanced ride characteristics. Custom fit, design, and options (all at no extra charge). Price-Especially compared to other high end steel bikes. Ride quality of steel.
Weaknesses: Long wait between placing order and getting a bike. But that's to be expected for a custom frame built by a one man operation. Besides, the anticipation is half the fun (remember counting down the days til Christmas?).
Bottom Line:
I decided to go with Curtlo after having shopped IF, Fat, Ibis, etc., for several reasons. One was the good reviews in the magazines and on this site. Another was price ($625 vs.$1100 for Fat or IF). The biggest was Doug Curtiss. My request for a brochure and order form was filled immediately vs. the 2-3 weeks Fat took. When I would e-mail a question, Doug would respond that same night. After a couple of follow up calls on some questions, I was sure Curtlo was the way to go. Doug was friendly, helpful, and courteous. He explained the pros and cons of various options, component choices, etc. and really worked with me in getting me the bike I wanted. All the options I chose (rack mounts, seatpost QR collar, curved seatstays, etc.) were no extra charge (except the candy color powdercoat was a slight upcharge) and were met with a "no problem" type of attitude. Doug gave me better service over the net and phone than many shops give in person. It's also a real good feeling to deal directly with the company owner, designer, and builder of your bike. The large companies just can't touch that.
It did take over five months after I placed my order to get the frame, and a couple more weeks to get the parts kit. Doug kept me posted throughtout the wait and didn't leave me feeling like I'd sent my money into a black hole, never to be seen again. While the wait can be both frustrating and full of anticipation, it is well worth it.
During the time between the arrrival of the frame and the parts kit, I had the frame on display in my office like the piece of art it is. Everyone who saw it, including several of us who've made half-baked attempts at welding and brazing, absolutely marveled at the crafstmanship that went into this frame. The candy apple red powdercoat is gorgeous. I'd always thought of powdercoating as an industrial finish or one you put on the undercarriage of automotive restoration projects, but this is as pretty as any paint job I've seen.
The frame weighs a little more than I expected. An MBA review said their Advanced Mountaineer weighed 3.75 lbs, but mine weighed 4.6 lbs. Some of this extra may be the two stage powdercoat, extra brazeons, and the seatpost QR. With Shimano 747 pedals, the 517/XTR wheelset and full knobbies(not semi slicks), etc., the bike came in at 23.5 lbs. It's still fairly light, but I have no durability worries, either.
Due to a lot of below zero temps, high winds, and snow, I've only got about 100 miles on the bike now; some commuting on rough snowy roads, and some on some lower elevation singletrack that is only covered in a few inches of trampled down snow. These trails have some short, steep climbs, sidehills, twisty sections through the trees,and some switchbacks mixed in with rolling singletrack sections. After even the first ride here, I decided this bike is SWEET. Front and rear traction are very easy to balance, even when sliding around. It climbs like a billy goat while keeping the front end planted and tracking straight, and it handles sidehills and switchbacks with none of the "about to tip over" feeling or front end wandering of my Cannondale Delta V. While I never thought either of my Cannondales were overly harsh riding, I can feel a difference with this frame. After finally getting a day or two when the conditions allowed going fast enough to actually feel rough sections of the trails, I can now feel the fabled steel "ride". It's still a hardtail, but there is more give and spring to the ride than the aluminum frames I've had. I don't notice any bad flex to go along with this.
I have no qualms about recommending a Curtlo to anyone with the patience to wait for a frame.
Similar Products Used: Shopped but didn't ride Independent Fab, Fat Chance, and Ibis (all very nice bikes). Have owned (I keep my bikes for a long time): -85 or 86 Panasonic w/ biopace, u-brakes, etc. -88 or 89 Cannondale w/rigid Funk fork, Klein bar/stem, Suntour XC pro (wish I still had those old components). -92 Cannondale Delta V 1500 hardtail w/ Deore XT and first year Headshock (sturdy, stiff, moderate weight, but lousy frame design).
Bike Setup: XTR, Race Face crankset, BB, stem, King headset, Wheelsmith 517/XTR wheelset, Mythos K XC, Mars 1, Thomson, Flite Ti, 747 pedals, gorgeous two stage candy apple red powdercoat, 23.5 lbs.
Hail to Doug and Russ for making this sled possible!! Needless to say that it´s a blast to ride (classic 71/73 Norba geometry and light 21 lbs.) and given the color even the chicks Read More »
Curtlo frame for 29" wheels. Handmade in the USA from True Temper Ox Platinum.
[url]http://classifieds.mtbr.com/showproduct.php?product=49569&cat=[/url] Read More »
