On Sat, 18 Mar 2017 12:45:12 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

On Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 2:18:28 PM UTC-5, wrote:

At the age of that bike you probably won't have any worries but many ti bikes are built with improper welds that will crack. I said this to people several times and they have told me I'm FOS.

But two years ago one of our fast riders showed up with a Linskey and I told him about that and the whole group made a joke of me on the entire ride.

The following week I pointed out a crack on his downtube. Luckily with a new bike he could get a replacement frame.


So you are saying Lynskey, and Litespeed back when Lynskey started the company, don't know how to weld titanium? I have a Litespeed Tuscany, made before Lynskey sold the company, and I have not noticed any cracks or defects. But then I don't inspect the frame with a magnifying glass before and after every ride. I just ride the bike, and it rides fine every time. Many, many thousands of miles on the frame. Can't say whether your story is true or not. But I suspect every manufacturer has a defect every once in awhile. Even Rolls Royces and Rolexes need warranty work once in awhile. Its not like an anvil, where essentially nothing can break.

I don't know about Lynskey and Litespeed but welding titanium isn't
some sort of esoteric skill. It is just another welding skill that
probably thousands of people have. Perhaps unfortunately few qualified
aircraft welders are going to quit their top dollar job to build
bicycle frames :-)

(and yes, I do know what I am talking about as I certified as a USAF
Titanium welder in 1972, along with aluminum and stainless.)

In fact, all of the stories you hear about the problems in welding, or
brazing, bike frames are really only stories told by, what are
essentially, unqualified people.
--
Cheers,

John B.