If you could build any type of bike in titanium, what would you build? Sonder Product Manager Neil designed himself this titanium dirt jump bike. Because, well, why not?
At Sonder, we're always trying to cream as much enjoyment from our riding as we possibly can – obsessive doesn't even cover it. Sometimes that's about designing bikes that can be ridden further. Sometimes it's all about bikes that can be ridden faster. This time, it was about one thing: fun. Pure playing-out-on-your-bike kinda fun.
"I've always loved jump bikes," says Neil, Sonder Product Manager. "When I first started riding as a kid, I was always on BMX bikes. Eventually I progressed to what was then called a 'Dual Slalom hardtail' before owning a dedicated dirt jump bike. I moved onto downhill and free-ride bikes as soon as I passed my driving test as I was suddenly able to drive to the places I could use those sorts of bikes. But I carried on riding the dirt jump bike until I was in my mid 20's. By then, my riding had become a bit more grown up and I started riding trail bikes!"
"I've always wanted another dirt jump bike but knew I'd never have chance to use one — I did actually buy one about 6 years ago but had it 6 months and used it twice. But my son is 6 now and I'm keen for his riding to start to progress so plan to take him to pump and BMX tracks — the perfect excuse for a new bike! I've wanted to do a Ti Dirt Jump Bike for as long as we've been working with our Ti frame factory – we've made a lot of special one-off titanium frames over the years. I knew, as the frame was so special, it needed to be a top spec build too!"
"The frame has a custom geometry, combining aspects from various bikes I've had in the past, mashing them together into a more modern jump bike set-up. I chose to use an eccentric bottom bracket instead of the standard horizontal dropouts to maintain chain tension and provide a much cleaner look. And, as with most Sonder Bikes, it has full internal brake cable routing — no external cable guides or bosses — so it's super clean all over. Not forgetting a one-off 150mm long titanium seat post."
Neil's Ti Dirt Jump Bike
Frame Geometry
- Reach – 410mm
- Head angle – 69-deg
- Head tube length – 110mm
- Seat Angle – 71-deg
- Seat tube length – 320mm
- Chainstay length – 386mm (to the centre of EBB)
- BB drop – 10mm (measured at the centre of EBB)
Build Specifications⠀
- Custom Ti frame using aeronautical grade tubing with a slightly thicker gauge for the top and downtube⠀
- Rockshox Pike DJ fork, 100mm travel⠀
- Hope Fortus 26 wheels, single speed rear hub⠀
- Shimano XT M8000 Brake and RT86 rotor⠀
- Renthal Apex 40mm stem
- Renthal Fatbar lite 40mm rise bars⠀
- ODI Elite Pro grips⠀
- Cane Creek Hellbender 70 headset⠀
- SRAM GX Eagle Carbon Cranks⠀
- WTB Deva Ti railed saddle⠀
- Sonder Ingot Seatpost – one off 150mm long⠀
- Schwalbe Bily Bonkers tyres setup tubeless
Sonder Custom Titanium Frames
Thanks to our partnership with a small factory of titanium specialists, we can build any type of bike you like with our Custom Titanium Frames Service. That could be tweaking an existing Sonder design or working with you to sketch a completely new bike design from the ground up. Head to our Custom Titanium Frames page to get in touch.