How Is A Titanium Bike Made? | Inside The Moots Factory
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- For a time in the 1990s titanium was thought to be the next big thing in cycling frame material, but since the widespread adoption of carbon fibre, titanium has taken somewhat of a backseat. But there are still those who swear by it's properties as a bike frame material, not least Moots Cycles. Manon visited their factory in Colorado to find out how titanium frames are made, and what makes their bikes special.
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Bid kudos to @Mootscycles for opening up their facility in the way they did in this video. Manon is just a fabulous presenter and helps make you feel like you are right their along side her. Great to see such awesome employees building these beautiful frames. Rossi just looks like a happy, enthusiastic Moots team member and definitely puts the company’s future in great hands.
Thanks Manon & GCN Tech for the great tour, watching how the titanium bike was made is like watching an art presentation, is totally awesome!! Especially the welding part, man, how they handle the detail is freakin cool
The young man helping Manon do the chainstays was great! Rossi, great job, you didn't seem nervous on camera, and you have great presentation and comedic delivery.
For those who haven't dealt with or know about fixture making for bicycle tube cutting jigs, especially for curved tubes, they are difficult to make and make useable for precise curve indexing. That is, so that the curves end up on the plane they need to be in for accurate cutting and length. Those jigs were elegant, hats off to their setup people. I've worked in two different bicycle production lines in the US and this was glorious. Also, Mannon was just a great presenter, great video. She did well with the serial number die stamping, it's an acquired skill for most people, and not an easy one.
This was awesome! It is so cool to see a company like Moots, creating almost everything right there in house. I'm glad we got a chance to see this insight. Thanks Manon!
Uupí uo i
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Moots is now selling a Chinese/Taiwan sourced bike. Some bean counters sold out their soul.
Love the dog beginning at 4:15. He crosses back and forth no less than 8 times for no apparent reason other than to be sure he is in the film. I also have some concern for the dogs getting their eyes burned in the welding shop. I just got my Moots Routt YBB about 2 months ago and love it. It is by far the finest bike I have ever owned. It was great to see how my bike was made!
Dogs have no place in the workshop.
Can you feel a difference in the material compared to a chromoly, aluminum or carbon frame? I hear there's a springyness to a titanium frame.
Companies that allow pets are the best places to work. I worked in a bike shop that have a few dogs everyone there was so awesome. The only reason i left is i got a better offer on another job and ofcourse i get good bucks but everyone is just pure Ahole.
I'm sure they are not allowed to welding shop (due to clean preparation before welding).
@@lynchs2441 there was a dog in the welding shop
I used to work for Nuke Proof making Ti Mt. bikes in Michigan in 94-95. I am the guy who got the hubs to stop breaking, and designed the "Atom Bomb" hub for suspension forks.
But that is a Moot point today.
I rode my first Merlin in 1989 when I worked at Metropolis Bikes in Arlington, VA. I fell in love with Titanium on that day. Since then I've owned a 90's Litespeed Ultimate, a Merlin Extra Lite, a Litespeed Blade and finally a 2000 Litespeed Ultimate which I still have today. I did the thing where you drive into the garage with 2 bikes on the rack. One was my ultimate and the other was a very small carbon guru from a friend of mine. The ultimate took the brunt of it with the top of the garage hitting the seat and it literally ripped off my Thule rack and my bike was completely fine. Man. If that had been carbon it would been carbon, it would have been new bike time lol. Yes, I think my Argon 18 is faster than my Litespeed, but there are days when I pull out the Litespeed and smile like I did in 1989. Titanium is still a fabulous material for a bicycle, and in 100 years my Ultimate will still be rideable while my carbon bikes are in the landfill. Great Video 🙏🏽❤️
that brown dawg at 04:15 trying to look busy when the boss is around !😁
What a timely episode! I just got my Vamoots RCS recently and am absolutely over the moon about it. It took 8 months from fit to finish (literally) and I can’t stop staring at it each time I pass by it in the garage. This is my second MOOTS and will certainly not be my last. I definitely need to visit Steamboat to see Brent and his team work their magic on these wonderful pieces of rideable artwork. Cheers, Manon! I loved this video!! Look for my Bike Vault submission of my new RCS soon!!
the doggo @4:39 is like "dang it! no cuddles for me, they are filming"
love it
I loved watching the video. I own a 2013 Vamoots CR, that we had built up with a few minor adjustments. I love the bike. I wanted a bike that rode a little "softer" than a lot of the stiff racing bikes that were being built. With the components we used on the bikes and the great titanium frame, it has a ride I that is great for me. Titanium bikes are great since you don't have to worry about it rusting, and you automatically become a member of the titanium frame club. Thanks for the video and Thanks @MOOTCYCLES.
Manon is the best! Authoritative, curious, and fun 👍
"This is the fin(n)ish department" 🇫🇮 I see what you did there.
Aah yes, thanks. I was a bit slow there. 🤣🤣
I saw that up on the wall and thought, “that’s important for something!” Now it all makes sense!
I got a literal LOL from that one. Awesome video!
Torille💪
I'd buy one of their frames based on that alone!
Love the surprise ending. Manon is absolutely charming and she always makes me smile. Thank you.
Indeed 🥰
I do LOVE seeing a beautiful bike hand-made in the US 🥰
Thanks Manon !
I’ve been riding a Moots road bike for 10 years and just put Campy 12 speed mech. with Bora wto tl wheelset. I get nice comments on my “new” bike .
I ride a 2007 extralight with C12 and Boras - pics please!
@@ulifluhme sorry not sure how to send pictures here. I will upload the latest to GCN+Bike Vault. Cheers !
@@davidide1525 links work but no worries
So great to watch skilled artists working with such a great material. Thanks. It takes a while to get the 'feel' of cold-stamping Manon, but it is crazy addicting for some reason.
I don't mind these kind of ads from Moots on GCN, this is art in the making
That was a proper engineering workshop and them guys will be pretty talented for sure. A very interesting production GCN, thankyou ....
Such a fabulous episode. Thank you GCN & Moots crew.
The host of the show makes it fun to tag along and learn new things!!
the amazing progress in making the Titanium frame!! love this Material! 3bikessss is a must!! Thanks MOOTS for showing the Process
Awesome video! We need more like this one. It's great to see the whole process, makes you appreciate what you are riding that much more.
Watching titanium frame parts survive the "torture" of being bent and squashed into shape helps me understand one excellent reason why there is a devoted following of titanium bike riders. These bikes will survive conditions and crashes that would destroy a carbon bike. As an American, it's also nice to see this level of craftspersonship alive and well at Moots. Thanks for the awesome video.
Nice to see a US made bike. I had a Ti bike made by another Colorado builder. I didn't see how it was built, but this gives me a good idea
a friend told me a story about Titanium Bike, One day an Old man, a cyclist was got into traffic accident with a City Bus, The Bus squash those Bike, all component are destroyed, but the Frame Unscathed. it even lifted the Bus several cm. People in the Old days have the name for Titanium, Mithril. now I know why
@@kojoydesu4107 ❤️
@@kojoydesu4107 Thats a good/comforting story
@@WowRixter the man survive thankfully, he said its all his fault, he did not see the bus and ensure the Driver that its okay..
What a great factory. Crazy weld beads-like microscopic. Nice tour. So techy!
Very interesting film. Great to know how a Titanium bike is made for me personally as i' m thinking about one as my next bike. Moots look like a great place to work 🙂
Great vid - Moots is such an amazing shop - maker of magic rides !
What an interesting video. Thanks Manon and Moots. Loved the dog friendly workplace too.
This is great to see. Dogs everywhere, bikes everywhere, titanium and a happy looking workforce. So love to get a titanium bike
Almost ordered a Moots after my last gravel bike died in a crash with a Jeep in January. The 7 month lead times and $10k price tag pushed me a different direction, and I built my own up with a Ti Kinesis frame and was back riding in about a month.
I feel like Moots is an amazing brand making amazing bikes, but it's so eye wateringly expensive I'm not sure I should ever really buy one. The fear of scratching, dropping, or damaging the frame would make it hard to ride it without that constantly in the back of my mind.
Good luck scratching or otherwise damaging one of those frames without the help of an automobile.
@@prestachuck2867 titanium isn't magical. It gets abraided about as easy as steel, and concrete is capable of scratching it just fine if it hits the deck.
My first Ti frame I bought at a bike swap. It had a repaired chainstay that had been abraided through when riding in mud. The rewelded chainstay survived everything I threw at it, including the Jeep that hit me. The top tube and down tube were torn off the head tube, but the weld in the chainstay was fine.
My titanium frame gets scratched in the gentle crashes I have had but a quick rub with a scotch pad brings back the shine.....try that with a painted bike!
@@SuperNeilB I agree, most small stuff can be polished out, and the lack of rust potential is one of my favorite parts about Ti bikes.
@@prestachuck2867 Who informed you that titanium cannot be scratched or hard to damage? It is EASILY scratched.
Routt County was named after John Long Routt in 1877. While often confused with the pronunciation of the word Route as either 'root' or 'rout', it's actually not related. That said, their are amazing routes that wind all over Routt County that are pure fun to ride! 🚲
Thank you for explaining that one because after this video I thought 'Route' was spelt that way in America and was very surprised!
I have owned 7 moots and currently have 3 in the stable. Amazing build quality, customer service second to none and the ride, oh the ride. For me, the time an effort that goes into building these bikes, justifies the price tag.
23:29 Diabolical 😆 I love Manon's vocab!
as a person invovled in transformers manufacturing, its quite pretty interesting to see the different checks and process they got here. love how they still use paper.
As a proud Moots owner it was great to see inside the plant. My Moots frame is work of art. I will own another!
Moots will be my dream bike one day
Ace to see these artists in action!! A Ti bike is but a dream at the moment, but it’s a goal to be achieved
I have 2 ti bikes. Paid less than $400 each.
Thanks for a great video! I have a Routt 45 coming soon and it was very nice to see how they're built.
So awesome seeing the Moots factory. Such amazing bikes.
2:01 Love the "Rosie the Riveter" welding mask
I liked this one Mannon! You are a great sport and handled that bike building like a champ! I'm going to look into one of those Routt 45 gravel bikes made by Mannon!
i hope your wallet is very deep. beautiful bikes though
Used to teach up in Steamboat Springs. Loved cycling up there.
I recently ordered an Alchemy Ronin Titanium Gravel Bike from another Colorado bike company out of Golden, Co. I am very excited to get it.
The Moots guy Rosi seemed a good dude ! 👊
Nice to see how my bike was made. 2009 Moots YBB. Still going strong.
this video just put a smile on my face a moots frame is defintly in my future
Aaaaawwww……. Those grins and smiles. They make a cute couple!
I tell ya, it NEVER gets old watching people learn to punch lol. Camera operator was brave getting in the line of fire lol
I wish that they would have talk about the history of Moots. The founder of Moots and his master welder, both no longer part of Moots, made/make great bikes there in Steamboat Springs as well. I'm not saying anything bad about Moots, but its always good to know the history. Moots are great bikes.
Fascinating video. Thanks GCN and Manon for this look into the Moots build. Nice to see how things go from a tube to bike. Well done.
Mannon back in the USA 🇺🇸 so cool 😎 reviewing a USA bicycle company. CGN needs to give Mannon more minutes for shows. Last weekend JULY 2023 trek 100 charity ride for childhood cancer Waterloo Wisconsin then tour trek headquarters suggestion for a future Mannon segment 😀
Great video. Show more about Moots bikes. What features they have and weight, cost. Cheers!
Love the dogs just casually walking around the shop floor!!
Manon is engaged! Diamonds and titanium, a match made in heaven
Thanks - very interesting. I was reminded of the phrase "blind as a welder's dog" though when we looked in the welding area... : )
I love this dude... he's my people. A roadie that drinks a coupe of beers..... it's all about balance folks. He's my hero.
Titanium is quite expensive and out of my budget. But if you treat your titanium bike right, it will practically last beyond a lifetime.
Decathlon is selling a Titanium Gravel Bike for 2700€
@RealSweetKid Rim brake?
@@cyrilmonkewitz bought 2. Used. Paid $360 for the Lynskey and $380 for the Serotta.
My Colnago titanium is still ticking after 25 years.
Quality is everything 👍👍
Loved seeing all the dogs in the factory! Also, a little sad they didn't show more of the finish welding process, but maybe they want to keep that under wraps a bit. Good stuff, now we need a video on how to figure out what geometry is best for "you" if you're ordering a custom bike..
Awesome video!!! The ending was mint!
Titaniun matreal very good. Hard matreal very cold temperatue Artica. Good heavy upload. Weld Tig or Mig +3000 temperature
But real Titaniun matreal cheap.
Good video 😎👍Light material
4:13 dunno what the dog's job is, but it looks busy getting some serious work done! Couldn't take my eyes off it
I always love the GCN factory tours - looks like a fun job - especially if you can bring your dog to work !
4:38 the dog realises there's a recording and quickly hides away 🤣
The tube bender guy was having way too much fun. "Oh yeah" he days while watching her handle those tubes. Probably the high point of his day. Haha!
I love the dogs in the shop. I have lots of bikes but my two Moots are my favorites
Great job Manon, always nice to have a back up plan :))
Great factory tour!
im so in love with MaNON! SHES just so lovely and her accent makes my knees week
As a proud owner of an OG Moots YBB
I approve of this video... 👍😀
23:32 we can hear someone laugh in the background - i guess that's the camera person... I guess i would have the same reaction ^^
Any shop that lets their workers bring dogs and bottles of hot sauce is doing it right.
2:24 you realise this dog will go blind being exposed to a tig welder all day right? Even if you can see the flash bouncing off a wall you're being hit with UV.
Workshops are meant to have plastic screens around all welding bays. These workers are Welding sleeveless too. This is a horrible promotional video (unless this is a 3rd world factory)
@@janeblogs324 I realize these folks probably know more about welding than you do.
@@BixbyConsequence you can know how to weld without knowing anything about safety or consequences. They aren't mutually exclusive
That's what I thought too watching them weld sleeveless and then the dog shows up. I've never worked in a factory that lets you weld all day sleeveless it's like gaurenteed skin cancer for no reason. Plus it's destroying their tattoos. The dogs don't know not to look at an arc either. Wonder how many times the dogs have been flash burned from looking.
I love titanium as a material, I make rings out of it as a jeweler. Titanium bike frames sound like such a great idea and they are so beautiful! Sadly I will never in my life be able to afford one (from Moot at least). I can't even afford to pay that for a car (life of a starving artist). At least I can see them on RUclips, and imagine riding one.
Seems like an office dog is obligatory at MOOTS!
Checking if anyone carries the infamous C or M in the workplace
Colorado state law.
I can't put my finger on it but there's just someone special about the look of Titanium. 💙💙💙
Raw Aluminium has a similar look - and the 7xxx Zinc or 6xxx Silicon/Magnesium alloys used for bikes technically don't need coatings (contrary to copper based 2xxx aircraft alloys).
If you like the look but Titanium is too expensive raw Aluminium may be an alternative
The finish dept had the Finnish flag🇫🇮👍😁
Very Nice video of Manon.
Makes me very much want to buy a Moots just to support this worthy crew.
Manon has had a busy trip in the USA. Loving all the content!
Moots and Manon. Brilliant.
The dog going back and forth 😂
has anyone else fallen a little bit in love with manon after watching this?
22:41 These cheeps throughout the video made me think I needed a new battery in my smoke detector. But now I think Moots needs some new batteries in _their_ smoke detectors, haha
Good reminder for us to check our own.
Nice post and Manon's a great presenter, and NO not because she's a girl. Its the enthusiasm and how Manon comes across, keep up the good work. 😊
I love titanium -- have 3 classic 90s hardtail frames built up as MTBs and monster gravel. My Moots is my 2nd favorite ... Bontrager TiLite is a step above.
A clean factory is a fast factory Manon! Great video 👍
Manon!! you are engaged!! Congrats girl🎉 👏
Is she pregnant 🤰?
@@miguelstella2 cant tell, we may have another cyclist soon!
The finish department and the Finnish flag wasn't lost on me 🤣
You guys should (or probably should have) send that bike to the customer with "Route" on it instead of "Routt". A true one of a kind.
Craaviiing to have that Titanium Bike here in the Philippines, Beautiful Bike
Next do a vist to Litespeed titanium bike factory.
twist ending, hahhaaa.. thanks for the video, Titanium bike frame is really2 interesting
Nice video. Could have been even better if they'd gone into the special measures they have to take to weld titanium. Tricky to weld without oxidizing it, as far as I know
I believe you have to backpurge the inside of the tubes with argon gas or something like that. John at LHT Performance in Florida (Honda tuner) does a ton of Ti stuff for cars. Custom intakes, turbo charge pipes, exhaust and the like.
Absolutely awesome :)
so well done!
Great video! Have been riding Moots for a long time. Legendary bikes, no doubt. First time I can add something of substance to the dialogue. "Routt" rhymes with "out", as in "Go on! Take your Routt and get out and about!" Named after the road, and the county and the nearby National Forest, all of which is named after Colorado's first Governor, John Long Routt (4/25/1826 - 8/13/1907)
Seems like a very cool experience!
Great video love the hands on building just cool 😎
4:14 - it is like Scary Movie 3 Alien Sightings scene - with doggo.
Routt isn’t a odd American spelling of route.
John Long Routt was the first governor of Colorado