Here’s a collection of links to sites I’ve browsed and learnt stuff from, I’ll try and keep it alphabetical; let’s see how it goes…
Altira Cycles micro French brand selling frames probably made by XACD, only a small range but neatly designed (like their website) with some interesting finishing options.
BikeCAD by Bicycle Forest a very handy online CAD package that lets you sketch out designs and check things like the effect that fork length has on head angle.
BikeChecker home of the Linkage software that helps you map out and tinker with your own full suspension designs. Not strictly titanium or hardtail related but rather interesting to have a look at – XACD do offer a four-bar suspension frame that you could customise!
Carver Bikes have, err, carved a niche for themselves making bikes with strangely sized wheels, their titanium frames are XACD made.
Charge UK small seller, again having frames made in the Far-East good reputation for kit, not sure who makes their ti frames, the Duster Ti looks like it uses fairly standard XC geometry.
Cotic another man in shed getting frames made in the Far-East - but the new Soda is now made by Lynskey! Famed for excellent hardtail geometry – although it’s difficult to work out what the Colonel’s secret ingredients are.
DengFu Bikes are another friendly Chinese carbon frame and parts wholesaler who are happy to deal direct. You can email Mina for more info at dengfusale@yahoo.cn
Enigma bikes actually make things in the UK! Although their stock size titanium frames are made in the Far East for a fairly reasonable (but not sparkling price).
Geometry Calc want to know how changing the length of a fork will affect the head angle etc? You’ll be needing this handy on-line geometry calculator.
GoToBike friendly Chinese wholesaler of carbon frames and parts, both road and mountain bike. Email loice@gotobike.com.cn who’s a very nice lady and will be able to give you more details (her English is fine like Porters, although she’s not prone to be as grumpy!).
Hbicycles a French company offering a very wide range of XACD made frames including some rather interesting options that I’d not heard of before. Keep an eye out for the blog post featuring a discussion on Cold Worked Stress Releaved tubing and their funky on tube graphics – thanks to Olivier for the tip off!
Habanero are worth mentioning if only for the fact they have a seriously pikey website – and they appear to still be able to sell stuff! They resell XACD frames.
Hi-Light the other approachable Chi-Ti manufacturer, although for folks in the UK I believe they work through their European agent Van Nicholas not approached them so I can’t say how they compare to XACD.
Kingdom Bike Project UK based company with batch built frames by XACD and a rather interesting ‘crowd source’ design philosophy…
Lynskey US titanium frame manufacturer who’s able to produce surprisingly cheap batch frames sold in the UK by Ragley, On-One, Cotic, Salsa, Cove and probably some others I’ve missed!
MaxWay are an approachable Taiwanese company who are happy to make steel frames – but sadly only in minimum batches of 100 off!
On-One the iconic ‘man in shed’ brand, it’ll be interesting to see if they keep up their following now Brant’s moved on. More tricky to read their ‘real’ geometry due to the way it’s quoted, but tending towards the slack! They have used Lynskey for their titanium frames but are looking at Hi-Light for the next batch to make ‘em super cheap – probably as Brant’s using Lynskey to make the new Ragley’s.
Pipedream Cycles famous for their steel Sirius are now doing a titanium version for a very reasonable £699. Not made by XACD but very good value anyway if you don’t fancy taking the plunge and designing your own.
Qoroz side project from chap that runs another company which look very much like they are made by XACD. The MTB has pretty stock XC geometry and looks tidy enough (apart from the weird looking tapered down tube!) but I don’t think they’re going to shift many even though they’ve dropped the price to £1050.
Ragley Brant’s first range of bikes he’s designed after leaving On-One, trademark superslack head angle with supersteep seat tubes, interesting detailing keeps them unique. The titanium model is made by Lynskey.
Sabbath Bicycles mainly do road bikes which look XACD built (they have the trademark curvy seat stays), they also have a rather beefy looking mountain bike but I’m not sure who makes that one. They do need to update their geometry list for it though (or it’s a very strange shape!).
Shedfire Bant’s new design co. having moved on from On-One.
Skyde Bicycles another French company that had snuck under my radar. Also selling frames and other accessories made by XACD – thanks to Olivier for letting me know about them!
SlikGraphics look like an excellent answer to the question ‘Where can I get some custom bike decals done?’.
Sobre-Bikes it’s another micro French brand, normally known for their XC steel frames they now have a new titanium option that looks very familiar…
Titan Product finally, some competition for XACD; another Chinese Titanium frame manufacturer happy to deal in one-off’s! We’ve fewer examples of what they can do but the results look on a par with XACD and the price is keener too.
Titanium Sports Technologies formally Sandvik, a very experienced US titanium framebuilder that also supplies tubing. Not sure if they deal direct but it’s worth an ask!
Van Nicholas Dutch based company with bikes made by Hi-Light in China, they might have been Airbourne who also used Hi-Light. Currently offering some great deals on stock frames like the MamTor from around £770 (custom option is around £980).
Vilvy Cycles One of the smallest French brands that use XACD to make frames for them. Not a huge range or much excitement on offer but worth a quick peek to see what they’re up to.
Whyte Bikes tidily designed bikes including a titanium hardtail with nice design touches but not £1900 nice! Litespeed (USA) made which is going to bump the price up.
XACD the people to contact to get a custom frame made! Inside! four! weeks!