02 Aug 2008

Here’s a couple of sneak-peek photos of a new model we’re doing for 2009, the Thylacine Tephra XCR. Although it does to the untrained eye look like Titanium, it is in fact Columbus’ new XCR stainless steel.

We’re pretty excited about this for a couple of reasons. The first is the quality of the material and finish which is fantastic. XCR is actually a grade of stainless called APX4S which is a relatively well known material outside the bike industry, and welding wire is readily available. It also welds well to 17-4 stainless which things like dropouts are commonly made from. Another bonus is that the tubeset welds up into a 1400-1600g frame (depending on size) despite being ’somewhat’ oversize.

Actually now that I read this back I’m sounding a bit convoluted. What I’m trying to say is that this stuff is a potential Ti killer!

It’s as light as Ti, stronger than Ti, with the same corrosion resistance and as an added bonus it’s ‘not just another Ti frame’. (In fact, as far as I know it’s us and Pegoretti using the stuff, so we’re punching well above our weight again there). The tube diameters are super-oversize so it should be stiffer than an average Ti frame too, with ø24 ROR chainstays and a ø38 downtube.

Okay, so what’s the second reason we like this stuff? (Although there already looks like there’s about seven reasons). Because come October you’ll be able to see what those boffins over at RIDE magazine think about reviewing something that doesn’t cost 10 grand and isn’t carbon.

Thats right - 6 years on and this is our first ever magazine test.

Wish us luck!

-W

Posted by brett @ 11:10 am

Tags: columbus xcr, custom, light weight steel, xcr