The TITUS QUASI-MOTO is the one bike that can do it all! Whether you're a CROSS COUNTRY RACER looking for the ultimate in comfort, an ALL TERRAIN rider who likes to climb as well as descend, or a competitive DOWNHILL RACER, the Quasi-Moto has what you're looking for - All in one frame!
Our fully active, adjustable rate, linkage system allows you to quickly switch between 4.5 and 5.9 inch travel as well as dial in the suspension's feel for different shocks and conditions. An extreme downhill option is available which increases the chainstay length to 18.1" and extends the rear wheel travel to 7.5", making the Quasi-Moto the most versatile bike on the market.
Submitted by
Jesse
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2003
Strengths: In three years of continuous punishment this frame has not let me down. Neither has Titus in terms of support - even lent me a bike when I got back to AZ for vacation. So far I have done the following maintenance:
3 sets of bottom bracket bearings (smaller 688 size). When purchased at the local skate shop this works out to about $15 per year in costs.
Weaknesses: All small stuff that has been addressed in subsequent designs of this frame:
1) Small diameter of the bottom bracket pivot bearings. 2) Chainstay could have better tire clearance.
Did any of this really bother me? No. I'd buy it again in a second the way it is now.
Bottom Line:
A great frame. I am always a little surprised that some people will ignore this frame as an option due to weight and spend more money on a lighter and lesser performing ride. When I pass them I thank myself for not getting caught up in the weight war/marketing BS that is rampant in the mountain bike industry.
I may just buy another one to keep as a spare just incase Titus closes its doors in the next 5 years (I expect my current frame to last that long).
Similar Products Used: Mostly junk - AMP Research and Cannondale top this list.
Bike Setup: 99 Z1 BAM (also still kicking), Magura HS-33s, all the usual other stuff
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
jwb
a Cross Country Rider
from St.Paul, MN
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2003
Strengths: Design, construction, finish, mud clearance, durability, good cable routing
Weaknesses: None yet.
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to one of my postings below. After a year, still the best bike I have ridden. Not even a squeek out of the pivots! The only changes I have made to my original build are new cables and housing, a new fork and a new rear shock. Mounted a progressive coil rear shock. Had a minor clearance issue with the coil spring and the linkage plates, but after a quick call to Titus, Alan had me back on the trail. This bike rules. I am so pleased with Titus quality and service, I am selling my 2002 Intense Tracer to build up a super light Titus Racer-X.
Similar Products Used: Owned or still own Uzzi SL, Uzzi DH, Tracer, SC Heckler, SC superlight, Yeti ASX and ASR
Bike Setup: Mostly XT stuff, King HS, Hope Mini's, DT-swiss 240 disc Mavic X3.1's, marzocchi Z-1 SL fork
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Markv
a Cross Country Rider
from Idaho
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2002
Strengths: Quality of construction, adjustability, climbs better than a six inch travel, 29 lbs bike should be able to. What Titus excells at over other horst link four bars is the lack of flex, quiet & smooth bearings/bushings (at the dropouts), and that rare combination of light weight and strong tubing/links. The Quasi is at it's best at speeds of over 20 mph, but handles tight singletrack remarkably well.
Weaknesses: Hmmmmmm....rear tire clearance, but that was addressed in 2002.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike!.....more versatile than a Turner RFX or the Intense Uzzi SLX. I bought this frame used for a great deal, but after riding this bike for almost three months I would have paid list price to own one. I thought that after riding a Racer X for two years that this frame with a 44 inch wheelbase, 14 inch bb height, and 69 degree head angle would be a little slow handling and difficult in low speed technical sections, but I have been surprised at how sweetly this bike handles everything thrown at it. I've only ridden my RX a couple of times since I got this frame........
Similar Products Used: Owned a 98 FSR/BETD link. Same amount of travel, but really no comparison. Also own a 99 Racer X. Have ridden or demoed Turner XCE, SC Superlight, Titus Switchblade & Loco Moto, FSR xc Pro, and owned a Klein Mantra Race (ouch!).
Bike Setup: Combination of new & used...Large 2001 Quasi frame/Fox float RL shock (have a Vanilla R also), 2000 z1/ECC (retrofitted), Thomson stem & SP, Chris King HS & ft hub, Monkeylite carbon bar, Odi lockons, Avid Mag levers & Ti brakes, RF Turbine LP s, Time carbons, XTR ft & rr derailleurs, rr hub, cassette, xt 8 sd shifters, Mavic 519 rims, Conti Vert Pros, Flite gel
Strengths: Quality of construction, FSR suspension, anodized finish & versatility of bike.
Weaknesses: None Yet
Bottom Line:
I wanted a do anything type of bike that wasn't too heavy. I have not weighed it but it certainly doesn't feel that heavy. Titus spent time with me deciding which of their bikes would work best. In the end, it came down to the SwitchBlade and the Quasi Moto. I bought a Quasi Moto with both a Fox Air and Coil rear shock.
The quality of construction is top notch. Functionally, this bike can switch from heavy duty freerider (5.9" travel) to enduro type all around (4.75") in just a few minutes. It has great mud clearance to run fatties. I haven't tried anything bigger than a 2.3", but the clearance with the 2.3 is astounding.
Performance: I have ridden lots of bikes and owned many. The ride of FSR link type bikes is still the best. However, cheap FSR link bikes don't last that long. That is why I bought a Titus.
As you can see in my similar products tried, I have owned an INTENSE UZZI SL. One might ask, why did I get rid of that and buy a Titus? Well, on paper the Intense seemed like such a good bike (adjustable geometry and top tube). However, I could not get the bike set up with the geometry I wanted and have the steering response and BB height the way I wanted. The BB measured 14.5" high with the fork I wanted to use and the head angle where I wanted it. I sold it in the first month to a co-worker.
Overall, I could not be happier. Granted, I have only had the bike for less than a month. I will update my review if anything changes or issues with durabilty arise. I don't expect to encounter any problems.
Similar Products Used: Suspension bikes I have owned: Santa Cruz Heckler and Superlite, Intense Uzzi SL, Yeti ASR and ASX, and a RM RM-6
Bike Setup: The good and reliable stuff: XT ders & shftrs; RF crank, bb, post, headset, stem; Easton bar; Hope Minis; DT Swiss-Mavic X317 wheelset; Marzocchi Marathon 100
Strengths: Top quality construction, Titus will actually spend the time to work with you on setup, problems if any
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I got this bike in a trade for a road bike. I was looking at Turner, Ellsworth, and Titus for a All-Terrain bike but couldn't make up my mind. This has become my best 'find' of all time. Construction is top notch. No creaks or rattles at all. The bike pedals as well as my hardtails and climbs as good on all except the steepest climbs. The four inch stroke fork has a lot to do with that. I just catch up with my riding buddies on the downhills and leave them behind. Don't get it wrong, this bike can climb (just a hair slower). I stripped the bike and rebuilt it to my liking and inevitably, hung up my racing hardtail. I cannot recommend this bike or Titus any higher.
Bike Setup: Mavic X3.1 w/Chris King ISO, Avid Mech. Disc, Race Face Next LP, Marzocchi XFly 100
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jae
a Cross Country Rider
from Dunn Loring, Va
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2002
Strengths: Long travel all mountain trail bike. Stiffer than Intense Uzzi SL and Chuck CR-FS. Longer travel than Uzzi SL. Pedals better than all the other bikes listed in the similar products used. FSR link suspension, pedaling doesn't get affected by bumps. No rear brake induced suspension jacking. Smooth plush travel. I can pick a line that hardtails nor the softails can follow. That's because this is a real suspension bike, not those short travel bikes that just takes the edges off the hits. (Giant NRS)
Weaknesses: Still doesn't pedal as well as a hardtail. But what does? Don't be fooled by all the hypes and reviews. There is no FS bike on this planet that doesn't suck up pedaling power with plush travel, at least not yet.
Bottom Line:
Good trail bike for all around technical riding. Titus service is top notch. Their crash replacement program is awsome. Not a XC racer, not a DH racer, not a softtail. Well behaved all around trail bike. It just doens't look as flash as Intense. It's for the people who aren't hung up on the name Intense and wants a great bike regardless. :-)
I'll give 5 stars to the bike that pedals like a hardtail with a plush travel like this one.
Similar Products Used: Specialized S-works, Chuck CR-FS(owned for over a year), Uzzi SL, GT i-drive
Bike Setup: Large frame w/Z1 5" kit, Hayes hydraulic brakes, Rhino lite wheels, Fox RLC, Thompson seat post, XTR kit. Michellen Hot S tires. Weighs about 29LBS. I weigh just over 200LBS.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
tammy
a Racer
from Wake Forest, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2001
Strengths: Very plush, quick, responsive.
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
This is my third Titus frame, and each time, they amaze me. I'm 5'1" tall, and to find a bike with nearly 6" rear travel, plenty of BB ground clearance, that fits me is darn close to a miracle! I've been riding my Quasi most of the summer now, and we're really starting to bond. This bike absolutely inspires confidence. I was very surprised to find a bike with this much travel that is so quick and responsive. I'm not the boldest rider out there, and on the Quasi I was able to ride a downhill course that has scared the living daylights out of me for years. Even when I got squirrely and nervous, the bike just held its line, twisting in and out of the singletrack, pretty much picking the right lines in spiite of me. It also climbs remarkably well, as effortlessly as my 3" and 4.75" bikes, and even as well as my former ti hardtail, especially on technical stuff, where the rear suspension just digs that back tire in and floats the bike on up the hills. It's a bit shorter in the cockpit than my Loco-Moto, but the ride is still stable and secure, even on the steepest, nastiest trails, and without even a hint of sluggishness. This is probably the finest freeride bike available - it really can do it all - I've raced it cross-country, downhill, and endurance (from 6 hour events to 24 hour events), and honestly have no complaints at all. The bottom line? I absolutely LOVE this bike, and can hardly wait to see what Titus has for me next year!
Strengths: Wow! Where do you start. Titus has made this thing somewhere between a piece of art and a technological marvel.
Weaknesses: The front deraileur cable stop is placed too far around the non-drive side to use a top swing deraileur.
Bottom Line:
The Quasi is the best all-around bike I've ever ridden. It's probably the best trail bike on the planet with the variable geometry. I've ridden with guys on Intense Uzzi's that are missing out. The QM makes shorter travel F/S bikes feel like hard-tails. I know, I have one. Even in the long travel mode, it climbs very well. Downhill it is awesome. You can do things on this bike you have never imagined. It's confidence inspiring. When I first got it the high bottom bracket took some getting used to, but now the shorter travel mode feels strange. If you could only have one bike that would cover all your needs in the dirt, this is the one.
Strengths: It rides better than any Delta Zeta I have ever tried, you kids will understand when you hit college.
Weaknesses: Not much, the cable routing is a little annoying. The inside of the seat tower wears holes in the housing... Not a real big deal, it forces me to change housing and cables.
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks, a bike like this makes you question why people buy stupid little short travel frames. My bike is at 28 lbs with disc brakes, that is light for a 6 inch travel rig. I beat the crap out of this bike and its still as tight as a schoolgirl. The bike sits a little high, and like a dumb-ass I have fallen off the bike when I stop and forget how high it is. The bike handles great at high speeds but is a little clunky at slow speeds, but on that note its not ment for slow speeds. I have never had a bike this fun! My hardtail still out climbs the hell out of it... but how gives a s!!T. The QM has been the best all-a-round bike I have ever built up...
Similar Products Used: DBR X-10 (damn good), Dean Z-Link (junk), GT STS (good)... Lots of others.
Bike Setup: Hope brakes, Hope hubs, Sun disc rims, Psylo SL (crap!), Gripshift 9.0SL, Race Face stem & Post, King H-Set, XTR cranks... etc.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from North Vancouver
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2000
Strengths: this is the best bike, and the best service!!!
Weaknesses: expensive, but with service like that who cares!!!!!!
Bottom Line:
I cracked my swing arm, so I called titus and at my great suprise all they said was "send it over and we will fix it or replace it". No questions, did not ask if I was the first, second or third owner. So yes it is expensive, but it pays in the end.
Submitted by
Beetle
a Weekend Warrior
from Rocklin, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2000
Strengths: Great craftsmanship; flexible setup choices; reasonable weight; incredible performance.
Weaknesses: None that I've found yet. I was pushed to find one, it's not really a weakness, but I have to wonder if I'll ever bother with the 4.5" travel setup position. The 5.8" is just too fun! If you ran a smaller fork you'd probably want the 4.5 though.
Bottom Line:
I switched from a Heckler, wanting more travel, smoother action, but something I could still climb on. This bike is just great! I did a super technical 5 hour ride on it, with lots of hike-a-bike, technical climbs, incredible wicked descents, etc. and it just ate it all up! It doesn't bob climbing, it's reasonable in the weight category (better with the air shock); and eats up big drops and rock garden downhills. It's beyond another level above the Heckler. The frame is not cheap, but it's worth it. The craftsmanship will be immediately appreciated when you start looking at changing around the linkage setup, putting in different shocks, changing the shock rate and so forth. Really nice work. The bike makes absolutely no noise and is soooo smooth! There is no problem riding this as an XC bike intended for more technical riding, or with your tastes being more in the downhill camp. I looked at the Intense Uzzi SL, Santa Cruz Bullit, some Storms and Aeons, and a few others, and found this to be what I thought was the best of them.
Bike Setup: Am trying both Fox Vanilla R and Float R rear shocks; Hope Open Pro discs; Z1 QR20 fork; XTR rear der, cassette, and shifters; XT front der; Hope Bulb rear hub, Marzocchi QR20 front hub, Velocity Aeroheat rims; Race Face cranks, BB, seat post; Easton bar & stem; WTB MotoRaptor 2.4 tires.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Justin White
a Weekend Warrior
from Salt Lake City, Utah
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2000
Strengths: Adjustability, durability (friends trac record), travel, four bar linkage, Horist Link, smooth action, Options when ordering, paint job
Weaknesses: Are you serious?
Bottom Line:
From the first ride I knew this bike was something special. I have been ground bound (dont like to jump) since I tore my shoulder up in '92, until this bike. It screams for air, speed and rough sections. I just sit back, point and shoot, it goes where you want both uphill and down. The uphill takes some getting used to, but it has tons of traction. I was debating between the Quasi and the Uzzi, the lower BB in 4.5" mode, and the option of going to 6.2 inches was the seller, add in the fact that the Quasi also has full bearings and a replaceable derailure hanger are just nice add ons. I have a few friends who are also ridding Quasis' and Uzzis' and the Quasi has experienced much fewer trips to the shop. I will review later with more saddle time, for now, I feel I made the right decision.
Similar Products Used: Specilized FSRs' Trek Y bikes Intense Uzzi SL
Bike Setup: Jr. T, XTR drivetrain, King hubs and HS, grimmecca disc brakes, sun rims, thompson post and stem, Easton c2 bar, 747 pedals, Intense 2.25 tires.
This is for Mr. Quasimoto and Jm. Thanks for all your help on my descision. I will now order one. I got disconnected during our chat. Sorry that it is sticky like your Manitou FS! Thanx!!
Submitted by
Noel
a Cross-Country Rider
from Tempe
Date Reviewed: August 13, 1999
Bottom Line:
I didn't realize there was frameset review section. I posted a review on this frame also in Full Suspension section. I think it's worth reviewing it again since I've got more rides on this frame. I ride about 5x a week in the fall-Spring but in the summer I convert to a weekend warior due to the extreme heat (wimpy reason). This is first FS bike, so in the long term, I can't compare this frame with other FS. But after doing some heavy research on various FS bikes I narrowed down between Intense Uzzi Sl and the Titus Quasi-Moto. I tested both on technical 20 mile route (ranging from down hills and x-country)and found a minimal difference, at least to my perference. I found that Uzzi had high BB height (14inches vs 12.5 inches) and no replaceable hanger. I can almost say that the ride is comparable. The only draw back on the Uzzi, is that I felt a little to elevated which gave me less control then the Quasi. After breaking and bending several hangers on various hardtail bikes, I would never go back to non-replaceable hanger (Aluminum) even though the dealers and the manufactor tells you that it would take a lot to bend or brake one. I have owned this frame for six months but didn't complete the built til last months. I adapted fairly quickly considering that I've rode hardtails for 15 years not including my BMX era. After a few ride, I was able to match my time on a x-country route. On a terrian of high frequency of small bumps and loose rocks, I was able pedal more efficiently in the standing or seated position. On my hardtail, I was only able to do this by sightly taking my weight of the seat and use my legs to absorb the bumps. I can also approach and attack the terrian's better then I've ever had. I feel that I'll even better my time when Autumn swings around. I happy to include this frame to my dream bike.
Like Aaron, I have ridden a lot of DH bikes, and I can honestly say that the QuasiMoto is the best. I have the DH 6.5inch travel rear link with the slightly longer wheelbase as well as the DH seat tower. The shock is the Fox TC. Steering is still moderately quick with Boxxers, but the thing that makes it outstanding is the stability over loose rocks at high speed. Nothing I have ever ridden comes close. It does not bob during pedalling, so sprints well between corners. Outstanding job, Titus.
