Titus FTM Carbon - Ride Impressions
Titus FTM Carbon
Titus FTM Carbon
I had read a lot about the new Titus FTM (Full Tilt Moto) product line, but I was surprised to see this full carbon version. The current aluminum, Ti and Exogrid versions are now joined by this carbon compatriot. The Titus FTM series has 135mm of travel in the rear and 140mm in the front. This carbon frame is decidedly on the stiff side of things, which means that any sort of pedaling has a prominent side effect of getting the power to the trail. Unfortunately, it also made the ride stiff and somewhat deadened. This frameset might appeal to a racer, but I wish it had a more lively carbon feel to it. The FTM Carbon was a nicely done and light bike, that just misses the mark by not having the attributes that I like from carbon fiber. The internal cable routing really was a nice touch, and added to the nice swooping lines of the frame.
Titus Carbon
Titus - Internal cable routing
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:02 pm
What is the point of doing a review of a bike if you don’t take the time to properly setup the bike, which means properly setting up the air pressure in the fork and shock and then getting them properly dialed in. By the way the whole point of a carbon frame is lighter weight at greater or equivilant stiffness in comparison to an aluminum frame. Titus seems to have met that goal!
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:42 pm
This is not a review, it is a ride impression. Due to time constraints on demo rides, it is not always possible to get a bike totally dialed in. I did not have any issues with the suspension on the bike, it had to do with carbon fiber frame, and how it felt on the trail. I have ridden carbon mountain bike frames for 17 years, and the FTM Carbon just didn’t have the characteristics I like from that material.
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
\it also made the ride stiff and somewhat deadened\ Why do you think that’s the carbon’s fault? If it \rides stiff\ then doesn’t that imply a problem with the shocks, the setup, or the suspension design? Poor small bump compliance, stiction, over-damping, too much preload… something. This isn’t a hardtail.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I think you’re missing his point. Whatever it is about this bike (geometry, components, material, etc.) he didn’t enjoy the feel of it and wasn’t what he expected from a CF level bike. Pretty straight forward really. No need to dis the guy for his opinion. Take it as input and read more. He mentions it’s a racer’s style bike. Not everyone needs to be Ricky Racer to enjoy the sport.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I believe it would not be fare to compare the current run of CF bikes to the past as there is new thinking around how to use CF . If Titus wanted to build a wippy CF bike they would have, but considering that this is a purpose built TRAIL bike, they built it sturdy. FTM Full Tilt Moto !
September 26th, 2009 at 12:33 am
I rode the new Yeti ASR 5 Carbon, the Ibis Mojo (2-3 years old now) and the new Santa Cruz Blur LTC at the show, each of them was different, and none of them were whippy. Each of the bikes had a lively feel, and the manufacturers used the material properties around their own designs and engineering conclusions. The FTM Carbon was extremely stiff (niether good nor bad) and had a deaden feel (bad to me).
I have been riding carbon bikes for 16 years, so I think I have a distinct feel and understanding of its properties, but in the long run, it is my impression, nothing more and nothing less.