The GF has a custom drawn double-butted tubeset, built up with a bi-ovalised down tube and a machined bottom bracket. Combined with the deep, flattened chainstays this creates a very stable underpinning to the frame, which translates into a bike that transfers power without any undue flex or drama.
The geometry is based on the standard scandium framed GF, with a longer wheelbase and a little more height in the head tube. This gives a slightly more upright riding position, more relaxed steering and stability through corners. The frame finish oozes quality and attention to detail.
From the engraved Kinesis head badge to the bullet-finished stays, the GF Ti looks expensive. All the bolt bosses are welded as opposed to riveted, which means they’ll never work loose, a small but important touch. The frame allows for fitting of up to 25mm tyres or, as specced here, 23s and a set of full mudguards.
Up front the head tube is machined to take an internal headset, making it bang up to date despite the use of a more traditional frame material. One more neat traditional touch is a chain-keeping pin welded onto the seatstay. It’s one of those little details you never knew you’d miss until you have it.
The ride of the GF is helped massively by the sheer quality of the build, with impeccable shifting from Campagnolo’s Chorus 11 and a Reynolds wheelset, which is both super-light (1,351g) and stiff. It makes for a bike that climbs effortlessly and the zing of the titanium frame makes it butter smooth over the worst surfaces.
The relaxed handling is perfect for a bike of this type. We only found it wanting on fast descents with challenging corners. Here the supple nature of the frame led to an occasional need for correction mid corner as the front end had some tendency to understeer, but for a bike designed to go big distances whatever the weather we’d definitely recommend the GF Ti.
(Posted on 19/01/2012)
At £1399 for the frameset the Gran Fondo represents good value for money, there are cheaper (and many more expensive) titanium frames out there but the overall finish and ride are worth paying for. It is comfortable, fast and fun to ride and the ability to build it up to your own specification ticks pretty much every box. Toe overlap was the only real negative and that was without mudguards, not a major issue out on the open road but hit some traffic and it could soon become a concern. While we're on the subject of mudguards, if you want to go full length you're limited to a tyre width of 23mm, 28mm is possible though if you're willing to go commando. The review of the Ragley Cragg Vale back at the beginning of the year highlighted that this is an issue for some with a lot of riders wanting to run at least 25mm in the winter months. If you're happy with 23mm tyres, as an all rounder the Gran Fondo Ti is a cracking bike taking the sharp handling and performance of the scandium version but with added comfort. At just under 1.5kg for the frameset it is pretty light while being built to take a knock or two, trust me I tested it (the bike shrugged off a couple of scratches while 4 weeks on I've still got whiplash and a broken bone in my foot) and the beauty of titanium is a quick hand polish and it is as good as new. All in all the titanium frame delivers the best of all worlds, speed, lightness, comfort and longevity with only the toe overlap spoiling the party. It is one of the most sorted frames I've ever ridden and for everything except for out and out racing it will provide everything you need.
(Posted on 06/10/2011)