Two days ago I rode my favourite forest trail on my aluminium muni. The route is a mixture of easy-to-medium in gradient, obstacle and drop. Today, I rode the same route on the same uni, but the frame was swapped for a Triton Titan. The components on both rides were the same – a mix of good and bad, dictated by what was available, but basically a 24” setup and Magura brake. I expected there to be some difference, but I underestimated just what the difference would be…
The closest analogy I can come up with is that it was like going from a poorly tuned AM radio to a well tuned FM one. Titanium has a ‘trail-deadening’ property which can so easily sound like the kind of thing you can ‘live without’. However, it is something which, once experienced and appreciated, can quickly become a something of a ‘must have’:
Unwanted trail buzz (or AM interference, to labour the analogy) is filtered out, meaning only the relevant information (obstacles above an inch or two) are transmitted. This ‘clearer’ trail feedback allows the rider to relax more, saving energy and allowing faster progress. I have appreciated all this on my ti xc hardtail mtb’s for the last decade, but I would say that, on an unsuspended single wheel, this effect is more than doubled. That was the degree of difference which I had not anticipated. I am trying so hard not to stray into hyperbole, but I have to say I absolutely loved this frame.
In slower, more technical sections, where my ride started, any differences were hard to detect; stumbling, slipping and falling over wet, small to medium rocks. However, about halfway through the ride, the gradient increased enough to allow reasonable velocity and my brain was therefore allowed the time to assess properly. I was definitely finding this easier than before. Much easier. I could ride faster, and with less concentration, with the resultant bigger, more stupid grin at the end. A minor point, but despite the tall frame, one-footed riding was possible, even on fire-roads, although with a rather sharply tucked foot!
Any balanced review must also focus on the negatives. The price is obviously the main one. At around five times the price of its nearest aluminum competitor, gaining the perfomance advantage outlined above is something many may feel is not a cost-effective decision. It is a personal choice down to how much you ride and how much you want to spend,. However, I would say that if you have a standard spec muni and ride medium level terrain, or ride any distance greater than an average one or two hour blast, I think this frame will make a very effective upgrade. Also offsetting the cost is the fact that with 3 different wheels, you can have 3 different, hydraulically braked, titanium unis out of one frame. And you can also ride snow/sand etc on a braked, Large Marge rim.
A final, minor niggle at present is that even with grinding down a pair of tensile offset magura mounts, my brakes only just fitted. However, Jogi assures me a fix for this is on its way, so that should be no problem.
Glad you are loving it.
