SOUL frames

Instead of a bike designed in America built in Asia, would you be interested in a frame designed in America built by Americans for you? If so then take a gander heather: - Lynskey Performance Designs | Titanium Bicycles Handmade in the USA | Houseblend and Custom Road, Mountain, Cyclocross, Touring, Triathlon and 29er bikes

Dave67 said:

Has anyone tried these,Frames ?
I have been thinking about going to a Ti frame and found these. I haven seen many reviews of these bikes. The Faith frame set look good too.

Soul's been selling frames for 2 or 3 years now. I don't know anyone that's bought a frame, but if you do a search at Weight Weenies, you'll likely find some discussion about the frames.....if I dismember correctly. Sean, the owner, is a customer service oriented guy with a pretty damned good rep with riders. I don't know if that helps or not.

The Alien creature has an interesting site, but neither the Soul or the Lynskey are in the weight listings, but they are discussed on the forum, go here to read about both: Weight Weenies • Search

The Lynskey got Bicycle Magazine the 2010 thumbs up rating, see: http://www.bicycling.com/gear/detail/0,7989,s1-16-155-2802-0,00.html

Thanks for the info.
Froze I can't afford American labor rates, this is why I'm looking at the SOUL frames.

Dave67 said:

Thanks for the info.
Froze I can't afford American labor rates, this is why I'm looking at the SOUL frames.

How much is the Soul? I did a web search for price's but couldn't find any on road bikes. I know that Lynskey has a Cooper on sale for $2,799 with Sram Apex and Mavic Aksium wheelset.

The Ti frame startes at $1700, the carbon is $1200 and Alum is $600.
Frames

The cheapest TI complete bike I saw at the website I saw was the Corpus $1750 frame only! no fork!!

The cheapest aluminum frame was $460 for frame, fork, headset and seatpost, but no components, by the time you add components you could have bought a Cannondale at your LBS!!

Have all I need to built a frame set. I also don't like to ride what everyone else does.

Dave67 said:

Have all I need to built a frame set. I also don't like to ride what everyone else does.

I guess I'm confused because a Lynskey frame is only 1,595, vs the Soul at $1750, neither frames are what anyone else has or does and the Lynskey got higher reviews. But I'm just pointing out the obvious, what you do is your thing.

Dave67 said:

Have all I need to built a frame set. I also don't like to ride what everyone else does.

If the Soul is what you want, get that. I doubt you'll be dissatisfied. There really isn't a "bad" Ti frame out there right now.

Froze, have you ridden a Lynskey? If so can you give a first hand ride review? I have ridden carbon and steel for over 25 years, but never tied a Ti frame. I need something that has a stiff BB as I'm a gear masher and on the larger size, 175lb.

I haven't rode a Lynskey, but I did ride a Litespeed Classic a few years back, then later a Merlin Cielo and the Merlin Cyrene, of the three I liked the Cyrene ride better, but liked the looks of Cielo but not the price. I heard that Litespeed customer service and warranty service sucked big time, and some folks on other forums I spoke to had frame problems and their warranty was failing them. Since Merlin was owned by Litespeed I decided against the Merlin too.

I heard about Lynskey about 3 months ago, and a person on a different forum owned one and loved it, even more then he liked his 15 year old Litespeed. So after doing some research on the web and coming to find out they have award winning designs and high reviews along with high customer service marks, I am considering buying one late next summer...but the sale on the Cooper right now has my pocket book burning but it's not the CX, and I need a little customization done so I have to wait.

I'm a wee bit crazy, I made a trip to England, and while I was there I took a short jaunt to Derby and had my Mercian Vincitore custom built for me and my needs, then they shipped it my home about 3 months later when it was done. So I will probably to a trip down to Music City TN to have a Cooper CX made for touring and not use the Mercian, because that thing with the long point lugs is just a beautiful bike that I've decided not to tour with it and get it chipped and beat up and rusty from riding in the rain...crazy huh? So a ti bike wouldn't have any of those problems.

Dave67 said:

Froze, have you ridden a Lynskey? If so can you give a first hand ride review? I have ridden carbon and steel for over 25 years, but never tied a Ti frame. I need something that has a stiff BB as I'm a gear masher and on the larger size, 175lb.

There is no characteristic Ti "ride." It's all dependent on frame geometry, construction, QC.....
I've got a friend with two Lynskeys. One he loves, and the other he doesn't and is considering selling. He says the difference in ride is big and is the reason for wanting to get rid of one. As for stiffness, any modern road bike will be stiff enough. "Stiff" is loved by marketing guys, but "stiff" has never been shown to improve bike performance.

alienator said:

There is no characteristic Ti "ride." It's all dependent on frame geometry, construction, QC.....
I've got a friend with two Lynskeys. One he loves, and the other he doesn't and is considering selling. He says the difference in ride is big and is the reason for wanting to get rid of one. As for stiffness, any modern road bike will be stiff enough. "Stiff" is loved by marketing guys, but "stiff" has never been shown to improve bike performance.

Dave67 wasn't talking about the feel of the ride, he was talking about the bottom bracket flexing too much for him under hard acceleration which probably made the chain up front rub between the front derailleur housing. So he needs a stronger...IE stiffer bottom bracket shell.

Which Lanskey did your friend like and which one did he not? And why? Knowing which one and why can help determine what level of frame mods one should order.