Production Privee Unveils Prototype Titanium Dirt Jump Hardtail
Andorra's Production Privee is best known for its steel hardtails and full-suspension bikes that come complete with colourways inspired by famous racecar liveries. Now, Damein Nosella's brand is expanding its pits and adding in a new titanium hardtail.
This is currently a one-off prototype designed specifically for Pavel Alekhin, the 31-year-old freerider from Russia. Production Privee literally translates to Private Production so they challenged themselves to create something unique to welcome the new team member. Working with the Forestal Technology Centre, this is fabricated from 3AL-2.5V titanium with custom tubing and park geometry. This bike hasn't been styled with a particular car in mind but its raw finish would see it sit in Production Privee's MacLaren F1-inspired, raw 'Classic' range.
Details
Frame Material: Titanium, 3AL-2.5V
Wheelsize: 26"
Intended Use: Dirt Jumping
Weight: 8.8kg (19.4lb)
Price: N/A
More info: production-privee.com
Frame Material: Titanium, 3AL-2.5V
Wheelsize: 26"
Intended Use: Dirt Jumping
Weight: 8.8kg (19.4lb)
Price: N/A
More info: production-privee.com
Titanium allows Production Privee to reduce the weight of the frame and also increases the strength and stiffness to weight ratio compared to the steel it usually uses. This means it can provide an extremely strong, efficient and light frame that provides a smooth ride that it claims will allow Pavel to push the envelope of his riding. The frame tips the scales at 1.9kg (4.2lbs) with a full build coming in at 8.8kg (19.4lb) in Pavel's minimalist brakeless, single speed set up.
A closer look at the welding work of Production Privee and the FTC
The bike's raw finish is offset with wild, multi-coloured wheels from Industry 9 set up singlespeed.
Production Privee has said it will consider making a production version of this frame although it is unlikely to be a brakeless version as Pavel uses. The cost of that frame would be roughly €2,000.
More exciting than that, it sounds like this won't be the last titanium brand we see from the brand; when we asked Damian if he had any more plans to work with the material, he said: "Yes, and sooner than expected! And other exotic and exciting stuff during 2021. We are working very hard on R&D processes which likely will put us in a position to open a new door for manufacturing in Europe. Having our CNC and welding in house allowed us to already achieve successful proofs of concept. I hope we can unveil part of this new stuff during the 2nd trimester of 2021."
More exciting than that, it sounds like this won't be the last titanium brand we see from the brand; when we asked Damian if he had any more plans to work with the material, he said: "Yes, and sooner than expected! And other exotic and exciting stuff during 2021. We are working very hard on R&D processes which likely will put us in a position to open a new door for manufacturing in Europe. Having our CNC and welding in house allowed us to already achieve successful proofs of concept. I hope we can unveil part of this new stuff during the 2nd trimester of 2021."
Pavel gets to grips with his new, one-off ride.
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My Tonic Fab was the same weight without paint. I have a hard time believing this ti frame is as strong or stiff.
"Titanium allows Production Privee to reduce the weight of the frame and also increases the strength and stiffness to weight ratio compared to the steel it usually uses"
from another site - "The same part made from titanium will weigh half as much as the equivalent from steel. But titanium has only half the stiffness, so the part will be half as stiff. To make the parts of the same stiffness, you need to use twice as much material with titanium, and the weight will be equal."
Aluminum is 1/3 the weight and 1/3 the stiffness of steel.
I wonder why so many bike frames are made from such a shitty, flexy material?
Ever seen a lightweight steel full suspension frame?
It almost like weight and stiffness don’t tell the entire story.
That frame would feel like a noodle in a concrete bowl corner. Ti is sexy, but steel is real!
Oh sorry, seems like I derailed again...
TL;DR: If you want to optimize for one parameter, other parameters may be overdimensioned or underdimensioned. How much this is depends on material choice and product shape (which may be confined when space is limited, like in the bb area or around linkages). A titanium DJ frame like this may end up stronger and as heavy as an equally stiff steel version, just for more money. If the strength is desired or if there is another parameter that's being appreciated then the use of titanium here makes perfect sense.
As far as I've seen, everyone trying that unique thing fell immediately in love with it (and not heavy as people pretend) :
www.vitalmtb.com/community/qblambda,44173/setup,39851?ptab
Forget about numbers and try titanium when you have the chance.
It's a niche market cost-wise for sure but if it was the same price tag you would ride mostly that.
Also, DJ bike is nice but hard to get excited over a DJ bike. seems they have been dialed in for 20 years now.
What I want DESPERATELY is an affordable, lightweight rigid mtb that has 26/26+ clearances, slacker head angle, a bit more reach and the more upright seat tube geo from modern enduro bikes, but not ridiculous. I am so tired of constantly dorking around with suspension. Sure a super bikes is fun as hell but every stable needs a bike that is ALWAYS ready to grab and go. I want something that can climb, rail turns, use my old wheelsets, use through axles, run V brakes (gasp!) or disc, jib, jump, streetride, just a do it all basher. I've seen some OnOnes that might fit the bill, but those still arent it. That guy with that retro built rigid enduo bike was the closest thing ive seen.
That’s high-chair engineering.
Get back to us when you graduate to armchair.
Have you ridden a ti dirt jump frame?
Have you ridden a ti bmx frame?
They exist, and you should’ve definitely tried before you commented. Because you all look really silly. Internet silly you goofs!
They rule. And some are flexy. It’s true. Some are also dope af and ride really well. Just like steel frames, aluminum frames and carbon frames.
Think a little bit. Just a smidge bigger than you’r small bubble. Think big picture. There is room for all kinds of bikes and people here. And ti dirt jumpers are rad.
Unless you really know how well they've been built, or how they will feel, and hold up, it's not worth it IMO.
Totally worth it
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNgL0E2BFEM
$2,200 and like 8 months later the frame was done.
The geo was nowhere close to what he asked for!
But -- wow -- that bike had an incredible ride.
It’s not a noodle at all: it’s smoother than steel
and (obviously) aluminum and featherweight and makes me really happy.
It’s the best dj bike I’ve ever ridden.