On 20 Apr 2001, Bill Canilang wrote:
> Usually just lurk here, but felt I had to add some humble opinions:
>
> "Moos, Jerry" <jmoos@urc.com> wrote:
> <snip>
> > Frames: New frames are lighter, but much uglier, lack eyelets or clearance
> > for racks or mudguards, the typical TIGed ones can't be repaired, and the
> > aluminum ones don't last nearly as long as the old steel ones. Old is
> > better.
>
> I don't like TIG either, but there are some nice fillet brazers out there,
> i.e. Bilenky and others. Good Ti welds (Moots, Ibis) can also be a thing of
> beauty. I hear TIG Al and Ti _can_ be repaired, though I don't know anyone
> who has had it done and wouldn't think its worth it for Al. Old is better,
> but there is nice new. Just wish everything still had eyelets and enough
> clearance as standard... I think that's a decision forced on us by Marketing
> and Manufacturing and not by Product Developers and real users.
TIG welded frames can be repaired quite easily. If you'd like more information on this please check out the the framebuilders listserve archives. Anyone that thinks any monkey can TIG weld has never done it. Believe me the learning curve for TIG welding is much steeper than that of brass brazing. When I listen to the views of people about building methods I don't think people are as bothered by the joints so much as the size and shape of the tubes. What do 99% of "classic" bikes have in common? Tube size and shape. When we look at "modern classics" it's the same thing. Many people complain about the early Kleins which were serious lightweights and are well within the "classic" timeline. But many of the same people don't have a problem with Alan's or Vitus' because they look similar to "normal" bikes.
I like well made bikes no matter how they're joined or what they're made from, but that's just me. We find out every time this subject gets beat to death, approx. every 4 months, that we all have different tastes and reasons for what we like and that's OK. Don't get harsh on the "next generation" because you all bought into the hype years ago. Old hype and new hype is all the same hype, just different times.
enjoy,
Brandon"monkeyman"Ives