TitusFTM.com - my Titus FTM Project Bike

My Titus FTM is finished

I finished up my Titus FTM build over the weekend and finally got some photos this morning. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. The weight is just under 29 lbs, which I'm pretty happy with. The handlebars and brakes I have on the bike right now are pretty heavy and will be replaced soon, so it should shed a few more grams. Not too worried about the weight on this bike, but getting it around 28 lbs would be nice. Over the next few days I hope to get a few rides in so I can get the front fork and rear shock setup, as well as get my saddle position adjusted. Current specs are as follows...

FRAME/FORK...
Frame: 2009 Titus FTM (size Medium)
Fork: Fox Float 150 (150mm RLC Fit, 15QR)
Headset: Cane Creek S3 1-1/8"

DRIVETRAIN...
Crankset: Shimano SLX M665 Double (175mm)
Shifters: Shimano SLX SL-M660 Shift Lever Set
Front Derailleur: Shimano SLX M667 (Down Swing, Dual Pull)
Rear Derailleur: Shimano SLX RD-M662 (SGS, 9 Speed)
Cassette: Shimano SLX
Chain: Shimano HG-93 9SP

WHEELS/TIRES...
Wheelset: Easton Havoc AM
Front Tire: Kenda Nevegal 26 x 2.1 Folding Bead
Rear Tire: Kenda Nevegal 26 x 1.95 Folding Bead
Tubes: Continental Lightweight Presta

BRAKES...
Front and Rear: Hayes Nine (will be replaced soon)

COCKPIT...
Stem: Easton Vice AM
Seatpost: Easton Havoc
Saddle: WTB Laser V
Handlebar: Diety Twenty14 31.8
Grips: Oury Lock-On
Pedals: Crankbrothers Candy SL

Stay tuned for more photos and a ride report...

Weight of my Titus FTM

My FTM (size Medium frame) weighed in at just under 29 lbs... 28.94 lbs to be exact. This should drop a bit shortly when I replace the heavy dirt jump handlebars (Diety's) with something lighter and also the heavy (and crappy) Hayes Nine disc brakes. Hopefully the bike will be right at 28 lbs when all is said and done.

More photos of my 2009 Titus FTM

(click photos to enlarge)

Titus FTM project - making progress...

I'm finally making some progress on my FTM build. Today I got the following installed on my 2009 Titus FTM Frame...

- Fox Float 150 Fork (White, 150mm RLC Fit, 15QR)
- Cane Creek S3 1-1/8" Headset
- Easton Havoc AM Wheelset
- Kenda Nevegal Tires
- Easton Vice AM Stem
- Easton Havoc Seatpost
- WTB Laser V Saddle
- Diety Twenty14 31.8 handlebars
- Oury Lock-On Grips

More to come over the next week or so...

Shimano SLX drivetrain for my Titus FTM

I decided to go with a Shimano SLX drivetrain for my FTM, specifically the SLX double crankset that has 2 wide-range chainrings plus a bashguard instead of the standard triple chainring. Here's what arrived yesterday...

- Shimano SLX M665 Double Crankset (175mm)
- Shimano SLX SL-M660 Shift Lever Set
- Shimano SLX M667 Front Derailleur (Down Swing, Dual Pull)
- Shimano SLX RD-M662 Rear Derailleur (SGS, 9 Speed)
- Shimano HG-93 9SP Chain
- Crankbrothers Candy SL Pedals

More to come...

Fox 32 Float Fork

.

I wanted a top-of-the-line lightweight fork for my FTM, and my choice was a 2010 Fox 32 Float with 150mm of travel, FIT RLC damper, and their 15QR System. Some details...

FIT RLC Damper:
The FIT damper, originally designed for the demanding rigors of World Cup downhill racing, is now redesigned to meet the needs of all mountain/cross country. The FIT RLC damper design reduces oil volume and lightens the fork by 71g. The damper design minimizes un-sprung weight providing faster tire response while maximizing traction. FIT damper eliminates fluid aeration to provide consistent damping and lockout firmness in the roughest of terrain. New super wide low-speed compression range allows rider to choose from plush to platform-firm ride and is easily manipulated for on-the-fly tuning while the shim controlled mid and high-speed compression damping is tuned to provide superior travel control.

Fox’s patented lockout threshold force adjuster provides a wide blow-off force range and is relocated to the center of the lockout lever for ease and improved accessability. New shim-controlled rebound circuit and rebound adjuster provide speed sensitive damping which maximizes traction and control throughout the stroke.

New bladder design provides the lowest friction for sealed dampers.

15QR Thru Axle:
Say goodby to road parts on your mountain bike! Fox and Shimano developed the 15QR system to improve the lives of cross country and all mountain riders. The tool free 15QR Thru Axle makes for fast wheel changes and increased stiffness-to-weight ratio. The 15QR offers a lighter system weight than a 20mm Thru Axles and greater stiffness than a standard 9mm open dropout.

More info at JensonUSA.com.

Weight of my Fox 32 Float Fork

My Fox 32 Float fork (150mm RLC FIT, 15QR) showed up today and I threw it on the scale. It weighed in at 3.86 lbs, which is not much heavier than the Fox F100 RLC I have on my Yeti ARC. That fork was around 3.4 lbs.

Weight is not super important to me on this Titus FTM build, but I was still pleasantly surprised the fork is that light.

Headset and Fork for my 2009 Titus FTM Frame

My Titus FTM frame is a 2009 model and has a standard NON-tapered headtube, so I just went with the following pretty much standard items...
- Fox 32 Float Fork (White, 150mm RLC Fit, 15QR)
- Cane Creek S-3 1-1/8" headset

If you get a 2010 FTM frame, which has a tapered headtube (flares from 1 1/8" to 1.5"), you'll need a headset and fork that will work with that beefier headtube. Here are a few suggestions...

The following front forks are both available with a 1.5" taper for use on frames with a 1.5" lower bearing and a standard 1 1/8" upper bearing like the 2010 FTM....
- Fox Talas fork
- Fox Float fork

Headsets for use with a tapered headtube...
- Cane Creek XX ZS-3 1.5" / 1 1/8" Headset
- FSA Gravity SX Pro Tapered Headset

Easton 15mm Thru Axle Adapter Kit for Havoc AM wheels

My Easton Havoc AM wheels are ready to go, and the Fox 32 Float Fork (White, 150mm RLC Fit, 15QR) I ordered is on the way from JensonUSA... should have it early next week.

I ran into a little snag though... I went with the 15QR version of the Fox Float fork, which will not work with the Easton Havoc AM front wheel, since its front hub converts from standard QR to 20mm throughaxle using an adapter included with the wheels. There is another adapter kit (see photo above) available direct from Easton though that will allow the Havoc AM front wheel/hub to work with a Fox 15QR fork. I called Easton today and ordered it... hopefully it shows up soon!

Weight of my Titus FTM frame

Got a chance to weigh my 2009 Titus FTM frame (size Medium) this morning. It came in at 5.9 lbs.