As a means of delivering products of the highest quality, Titus recently improved its quality control and production processes. These changes follow a bottom bracket height discrepancy on the El Guapo Version 3. As a result, Titus has delayed the delivery of its El Guapo 29er to ensure:

1) Our suppliers can effectively utilize a revised jigging method designed to improve production consistency;

2) We can properly monitor these improved production efforts, while ensuring that frames are constructed to proper specification.

While Titus has not experienced production flaws with its El Guapo 29er prototypes, to ensure the smoothest initial production-run, we have implemented new and improved quality control measures.

As a result, Titus forecasts a 45-60 day delay to the production run of the initial El Guapo 29ers. Under this revised timeline, production completion is slotted for the beginning of March. The earliest our customers can expect to ride an El Guapo 29er is the end of March.

Considering the buzz surrounding 650B, Titus is keen to finalize its unique take on the 29er with the El Guapo. We believe that our newest addition to the fleet is testament to the fact that Titus supports products just as contemporary as the rest of the industry. As thanks for your understanding, Titus will offer its customers an attractive pre-order coupled with speedy delivery via air freight.

Thank you for your interest and patience,

-Titus Cycles Development Team

 In other news, Titus is currently testing DSP Racing’s Dueler shocks for possible OE fitment to our frames. The initial feedback is very promising.

UPDATE :: Rockstar Carbon frames and complete bikes now available to buy HERE in the USA, and HERE from our UK/European distributors On-One

Just landed, the first of the first production of the much anticipated Rockstar Carbon 29er. Having been in gestation for a considerable period, the production run of three sizes are now on their way through final finishing, with only a small change from these drawings (there’s a tiny gap between the word Titus and the white masked area on the down tube).

Frame weight of the medium sized model (18.7in) is just 6lb with a Monarch rear shock.

We’ll be opening preorders, offering geometry information, and assembling kit to offer complete builds very soon. We expect these to land with us before the end of the year.

Coming in around 5 weeks…The Titus Ti Fireline Evo29 is a progressive trail hardtail designed for tough fun trail riding, optimised around an 120mm travel suspension fork (526mm a-c, 15mm lower external headset cup).
Fitted with ISCG05 tabs, a post mount rear brake fitting, replaceable rear mech hanger, the Ti Fireline Evo29 is a competent and contemporary model, designed to give a great ride for many years.
Custom swaged tubing, cold worked by our craftsmen, hand welded, hand finished and checked by eye. No robots here.
Geometry and frame fittings complement each other. Short, true, 17.1in centre-to-centre chainstays balance the fore-aft weight perfectly whether up or downhill. Huge tyre clearance is assured thanks to the tapered bespoke chainstay c section, bracing the chainstays, increasing tyre clearance, guarding against chain abrasion, and yet using tubular Ti where necessary to keep weight down and stiffness up.
With a static 67.7deg head angle at rest with an 120mm fork and external headset, the Fireline Evo uses our Mixer Taper standard and is compatible with all styles of fork, and even angle adjust headsets to fine tune the handling more.
Seat angle sits around a pedal perfect 73degs when at “ride height” balancing perfectly with the short rear stays for maximum seated traction without looping out on climbs or “tri bike” like seating positions. It just flat hammers, flatters and eats up the terrain like nothing else.
One set of bottle bosses allows seat dropping with ease. 30.9mm seat tube means dropper post compatibility. A triple chainset fits, as does 2×9, 2×10, 1×11.
Frame material: Cold worked 3/2.5 Ti

Brant gave some interesting facts about the El Guapo design on shedfire.com, have a read:

Whichever hole you’d prefer. It’s up to you.

That’s right. The El Guapo design has a “rocker fix pivot” as Linkage calls it, that allows for you to select to have either a more linear or more progressive suspension action – but without affecting the overall travel of the bike.

The forward progressive position does raise the BB a few mm when it’s at rest, but the bike sags a bit further into its travel when you’re sat on it.
We’re all running around with our shocks in the progressive position and love the squish. If I was doing faster more “saddle up” XC work, then I could imagine the linear position would be better.

You can also tune the progression by shimming the aircan with rubber shims. But that’s harder than just swapping a rocker position.
Take care with the allen bolts as they are alloy. And of course, use a bit of loctite, or keep an eye on them, or they may drop out. Ed had that happen in France and we have to rob a bolt from a street electricity box thing.

So – ramp up, or linear. Choose your hole. Maybe we should colour code them. Pink and Brown?

Due to overwhelming demand we added a ‘Buy USA’ button to our On-One and Planet X stores.  The button will automatically transfer you to our USA web store where our products will ship directly from our warehouse in Portland, Oregon to your door. This saves you time and money!

Taken in 2003, Dave Watson gap-jumped the Tour de France peloton during the Alp d’Huez stage. The jump took place just before the summit of the col de Galibier. Read more here. (via Bikeradar.com)

He took 3rd in this race and 3rd overall in the series on his Titus El Guapo.  Looking forward to what he will do with the Rockstar 29er.

Read more about the race on MTBR here.

Latest Video from Ed

“Man! I am in love with this bike! It handles like a dream! I have never descended and cornered with such speed and confidence.”