Ti frame care

DougA said:

I just got my first Ti frame. It has some shop worn scratches on the top
tube. Must it be sent back to Seven for a polish? Any tips on Ti/Carbon
frame care would be great!

If it's a brushed finish then the scratches can be taken out by rubbing
it with one of those green scrubbie things used in the kitchen. If it's
polished, you will have no end of imperfections, scratches,
fingerprints, etc. A friend of mine has a polished ti frame, and hates
the maintenance. Mine's brushed. Maintenance? I sometimes scrape the
dirt off, and it looks fine.

--

David L. Johnson

It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster.
--Greg LeMond

How do I tell if it is brushed or polished? It does stain from
fingerprints. Does polished have a mirror finish? I can't see myself in
the frame...

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

DougA said:

I just got my first Ti frame. It has some shop worn scratches on the top
tube. Must it be sent back to Seven for a polish? Any tips on Ti/Carbon
frame care would be great!

If it's a brushed finish then the scratches can be taken out by rubbing it
with one of those green scrubbie things used in the kitchen. If it's
polished, you will have no end of imperfections, scratches, fingerprints,
etc. A friend of mine has a polished ti frame, and hates the maintenance.
Mine's brushed. Maintenance? I sometimes scrape the dirt off, and it
looks fine.

--

David L. Johnson

It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster.
--Greg LeMond

A clean polished frame acts like a mirror. A brushed frame shows only
a fuzzy reflection at best.
On my brushed frame, I just wipe fingerprints, dried sweat, gatorade
and dirt off with one of those wet wipes designed to remove grease.

DougA said:

How do I tell if it is brushed or polished? It does stain from
fingerprints. Does polished have a mirror finish? I can't see myself in
the frame...

DougA said:

How do I tell if it is brushed or polished? It does stain from
fingerprints. Does polished have a mirror finish? I can't see myself in
the frame...

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in messagenews:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

DougA said:

I just got my first Ti frame. It has some shop worn scratches on the top
tube. Must it be sent back to Seven for a polish? Any tips on Ti/Carbon
frame care would be great!

Quoted message said:

If it's a brushed finish then the scratches can be taken out by rubbing it
with one of those green scrubbie things used in the kitchen. If it's
polished, you will have no end of imperfections, scratches, fingerprints,
etc. A friend of mine has a polished ti frame, and hates the maintenance.
Mine's brushed. Maintenance? I sometimes scrape the dirt off, and it
looks fine.

Quoted message said:

--

Quoted message said:

David L. Johnson

Quoted message said:

It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster.
--Greg LeMond

To keep finger prints from showing on brushed Ti, wipe the frame down
after cleaning with something wax based like furniture polish or chain
lube.

Quoted message said:

To keep finger prints from showing on brushed Ti, wipe the frame down
after cleaning with something wax based like furniture polish or chain
lube.

Or a greasy rag.

--

David L. Johnson

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by
little statesmen and philosophers and divines."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

On Aug 24, 3:19 am, "David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

To keep finger prints from showing on brushed Ti, wipe the frame down
after cleaning with something wax based like furniture polish or chain
lube.

I have four Ti frames, two polished, one 'dull' and one matt (OK, I
have issues to resolve). I went through all of this cleaning business.
Then I realised the best answer is to get a life. Spend the polishing
time on riding a few extra kays or loving your partner/gf/kids. You
have a frame that laughs at the elements. Sell your wet weather bike.
Hose your Ti bike down gently after a rain ride. When it's dirty,
clean it with kerosene on a paintbrush and hose off the grease
emulsion. Put most of the effort into the drive train. If really
obsessive, follow that up with some carwash detergent and a hose. Then
get straight back to that life and don't even look at the 'marks'.

Donga

"DougA" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:RJgzi.83809$fJ5.10739@pd7urf1no...

Quoted message said:

How do I tell if it is brushed or polished? It does stain from
fingerprints. Does polished have a mirror finish? I can't see myself in
the frame...

Seven only does a brushed finish. Here is what they suggest:

"It's quite possible that your frame might get scratched simply from normal
usage. Try Scotch Brite Grade A (very fine) to remove surface scratches from
your frame by gently polishing perpendicular to the length of the tube. You
may notice that the area you've polished is shinier than the rest of the
frame, and that's O.K.: Titanium oxidizes over time, resulting in a darker
shade of gray. The shiny spot is temporary, and will, in time, match the
rest of the frame. Although we have yet to see a crack propagate as the
result of dents or gouges-even those from major crashes-you should have your
frame checked by your dealer if you experience any serious damage."

Tim McTeague

Just one question I have tried 2 high end titanium frames and don't want to
mention the brands so I don't get accused of product bashing. After riding
sever carbon frames (With the exclusion of Trek Madone which was horrible,
could not resist that bash) why would anyone choose titanium over carbon. I
just can't see any reason.

Larry said:

Just one question I have tried 2 high end titanium frames and don't want to
mention the brands so I don't get accused of product bashing. After riding
sever carbon frames (With the exclusion of Trek Madone which was horrible,
could not resist that bash) why would anyone choose titanium over carbon. I
just can't see any reason.

They bounce, for starters.

Good way of putting it simply!

Carbon seems to kill the feel of the road, the spring is lost, it can't be
repaired and now it has lost it's "magic" as everyone and their dog are
making it in China.

I have only had a Ti bike for a few days but like it more than my C-40
already.

"Donga" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Larry said:

Just one question I have tried 2 high end titanium frames and don't want
to
mention the brands so I don't get accused of product bashing. After
riding
sever carbon frames (With the exclusion of Trek Madone which was
horrible,
could not resist that bash) why would anyone choose titanium over carbon.
I
just can't see any reason.

They bounce, for starters.

DougA said:

I have only had a Ti bike for a few days but like it more than my C-40
already.

I don't doubt it for a second. It's a Seven?

I also feel very smug when other cyclists are whimpering over a paint
scratch. Who needs 50 grams of paint? Pffft.

Donga

Larry said:

Just one question I have tried 2 high end titanium frames and don't want to
mention the brands so I don't get accused of product bashing. After riding
sever carbon frames (With the exclusion of Trek Madone which was horrible,
could not resist that bash) why would anyone choose titanium over carbon. I
just can't see any reason.

My MTB is a mid-90s, 20" Litespeed Ocoee. I raced it when I was
younger and lighter, and pound the trails with it now that I'm older
and 220lbs. I've crashed it in rocks/trees/etc, oh, 20 or 30 times?
Maybe more? It has ground it's way up Mount Snow and white knuckled
down Plattekill's sport DH route. After gradually replacing the forks,
bars, stem, bb, cranks, pedals, seatpost, saddle, plus all those
crashes, I still trust the frame.

Every steel frame I have (mtb, road, track) wears a ding somewhere,
and I bent the top tub on an aluminum Spesh XC in a week. And I'd
consider myself an average (if heavy) XC kind of rider. Like I said,
not a sign of significant damage to the Ocoee.

Maybe I'm misguided, or maybe it has all been luck: if I put a carbon
bike through the exact same treatment, I might be surprised and
impressed with it's toughness and resiliency. But would I still TRUST
it not to suddenly come apart on me on a rocky downhill?

Hmm....

Titanium ain't the lightest, or stiffest, or -est anything anymore.
But for me it was an excellent investment. I've been tempted by other
bikes I've ridden which were very nice, but I just don't have a good
rationale to get rid of the Ocoee.

/s

Larry said:

why would anyone choose titanium over carbon. I
just can't see any reason.

because ti frames don't shatter without warning. because you
can't inhale cancer-causing particles if the frame is damaged.

Larry said:

why would anyone choose titanium over carbon. I just can't see any
reason.

For Ti I have an idea about failure mode, damage signs and
tolerances. For CF I haven't, at least not in a any cost-effective
way. Going over rough roads I prefer to know why I trust my frame
and fork...

--
MfG/Best regards
helmut springer panta rhei