[Trek_5200]

Reaching out to someone knowledgable on this topic. Has the frame been improved over the years in terms of ride quality and if so how? Wondering if the frame is basically unchanged from when it first came out, ignoring support for electronic shifting or the newer bottom brackets.

 

[Duane Gran]

This may not answer your question exactly, but my wife got a Seven Axiom SL about 13 years ago and I bought an Axiom SLX last year. While I was debating the SL and SLX option the person I spoke with implied that today's SL frame would be the same as the one my wife has, setting aside differences based on size and ride preferences. The Axiom and Axiom SL are pretty solid designs they have run with for years. Rather than changing it they seem to introduce new models (like the SLX) when they have a new technology for frame building.

 

[Trek_5200]

This may not answer your question exactly, but my wife got a Seven Axiom SL about 13 years ago and I bought an Axiom SLX last year. While I was debating the SL and SLX option the person I spoke with implied that today's SL frame would be the same as the one my wife has, setting aside differences based on size and ride preferences. The Axiom and Axiom SL are pretty solid designs they have run with for years. Rather than changing it they seem to introduce new models (like the SLX) when they have a new technology for frame building.

Thank you for the response. I'm not sure that's true however. My own understanding is that the Axiom is derived from the old Alaris, the Sl from the old sg. the slx is new. I believe the base is straight tubing, the Sl double butted, and the SLX ultra-butted, meaning the more expensive models are lighter and more flexy, while the base would be stiffer. Seven allows you to customize the tubes some-what but that's the basics.

I was kind of curious to see if they swagged the tubes differently over the years or changed the drop-out design, etc. Serotta was known for doing this.

 

[Dajianshan]

Aside from the additional HT option and BB option, it is the same cocktail of metrics provided by the customer and fit tech. What they do have, is an expanding database of analogs to draw from. I think I have read somewhere that pro-rider feedback greatly informed the design from the earlier bikes.

Customer: I want my bike to have the drivetrain stiffness of a CAAD10, the responsiveness of my Tarmac, and the road feel of my old C40. But do it in Titanium.

 

[Dajianshan]

Although it is a bit dated, this article answers your question:
http://cyclefit.co.uk/uploads/Seven_Titanium.pdf