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Submitted by
bikernoj
a Recreational Rider
from morrison, CODate Reviewed: March 21, 2003
Strengths: Stiffer than steel, much more forgiving than aluminum, and very decent weight for HUNDREDS less than stock-geometry-only Litespeeds!
Exceptional welds and overall workmanship shows the pride Dean has in their work, and they give you a lifetime warranty to help prove it. They use a shim inside the seatpost to prevent cold welding just in case you get a Ti seatpost with the frame.
Definitely a great value for the quality of a truly handmade frame, and you can shake the hands of the folks that built it!Weaknesses: Maybe not your first bike, but Dean also does VERY affordable aluminum frames as well. BB went in a little tight and could have been cleaned up a bit. Seven week wait was a bit long, but patience pays off if you want a custom frame; every one gets the same attention and it takes time.
I'm really scraping here, and I can't think of any real downsides!Bottom Line: Talked to John at Dean about helping me get better fit on a bike, and he was willing to work with me on a custom El Diente. Small place, busy folks and taking care of TWO teams for '03 meant I got my frame in 7 weeks. Totally worth it, as they do a fantastic job and the welds are comparable to older Merlin (pre-Litespeed) quality.
Frame weight came to 1599g for a custom 57cm frame- not bad. After putting it together, I found that I could in fact run a 111mm BB triple with a 1 1/4" seat tube, which helped my chainline a lot. The Ti definitely absorbs a lot of road vibration, but feels harsher on actual bumps than my old steel Bianchi. I can see why Ti gets mixed reviews with road feel!
The loss of over a pound-and-a-half over the old bike has transformed my riding! It feels almost whippy when standing, and the extra stiffness in the steering & BB area lets me transmit more power to the wheels instead of into frame flex.
I happen to LIKE the grey Ti color, but they will do just about any freakin' color or color combo you like, and they will make sure you are happy with your Dean!
Favorite Ride: All over
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At: Dean
Similar Products Used: Bianchi Veloce (steel), Trek 1200 (aluminum), Trek 5200 (OCLV carbon), Merlin Extralight (friend's Ti frame)
Bike Setup: Dean El Diente, 57cm custom; Chorus 9sp shifters, brakes, 11-23 cogset; Racing T BB, crankset, r der; Centaur triple f der; Deda Magic bar/stem; Spinergy SR-3 wheels, Conti Ultra 2k tires; Max Flite saddle & Thompson seatpost.
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