News
02 Aug 2008Shiny happy people on shiny happy XCr frames.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 11 Responses to “Shiny happy people on shiny happy XCr frames.”Leave a Reply |
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Good luck!
Actually, I’d love to see a bike built up with that fram and a 10 grand budget…killer.
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:27 am
The name ‘XCR’ makes it sound like a CX model. I take it that 1400-1600g doesn’t include the fork? - which wouldn’t make it a particularly light road frame, but I’m going to guess it’s stiff as hell (unlike a bike I did a power test on today - “I feel like I’m going to break this thing”).
Where does a frame based on this tubing sit in the pricing hierarchy?
Look forward to seeing this one out in our Saturday morning bunch.
August 3rd, 2008 at 7:41 am
Yeah it would be good eye candy, but I don’t want to portray Thylacine as something only the ultra-rich can benefit from.
It’s easy to make a 10k or even a 20k bike - just get the most expensive everything and bolt it all together. Takes no taste or brains, just money.
The build this bike is going to have would run about 6k, which is nothing to frown at, but it still for me represents good value compared to other off-the-shelf bikes at the same price, with the added benefit of that great steel ride and a custom fit.
Of course we’ll ever be as cheap as a Giant or whatever, but we’re certainly more unique and individualist.
August 3rd, 2008 at 7:47 am
Hey Tim,
The XCR now sits at the top of our steel road range. It will never be an ultralight bike, even an ultralight steel bike, so if that is the main goal we could pretty easily do a Tephra SL lighter by using a combination of Columbus Life, True Temper S3 and some hand tuned bits. Add the Ceraphim ceramic coating and it would be the lightest thing out there.
I see the Stainless as being a viable alternative to Ti and marginally cheaper, so it’s a great alternative to someone who likes Ti but maybe is thinking its a bit overexposed.
It would also make for a great traditional looking bike with the ‘chrome’ look stays and a painted front. With a nickel plated fork that would make a killer bike.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Love this stuff!
In fact, if you are talking around the 1400-1600 mark, you are ahead of Signor Pegoretti whose Responsorium in the recent issue of Ride came in at 1689 gms! What would a half coat of painted front add to the weight?
I have taken one of the Pegoretti’s for a spin and they are a revelation. If your machine handles as good as the Pegoretti, then no one will want to look at Carbon again!
Look forward to the review, and perhaps I should get an order in before Thylacine is inundated!
August 5th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Well looking at Darios paint work, I’d say it weighs quite a bit!
Not to mention those chainstays that would make a mountain bike blush. They just don’t need to be that big, the stock XCR ones are MASSIVE.
I’m very curious to see what the RIDE deflection tests say. Not that they mean anything, but the curiosity is there none-the-less.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Nice!
An off-road version possible/likely?
August 5th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Not in XCR, but we can do a Reynolds 953 version in either 26″ or 29″ no problems.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Hey Thy,
How much in $aud will this frame be?
In comparison to your butted ti?
Thanks.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:53 am
Just to let you know, she rides twice as good as she looks too.
Death to aluminum, steel is real.
Complete build photos coming soon!
March 23rd, 2010 at 9:03 am
cool picsxx