Melbourne, Australia’s Curve Cycling just launched a crowdfunding project for their new 36″ wheeled gravel bike, the Titanosaur. Far from the first company to build a bike with 36″ wheels, Curve has a unique approach in creating a titanium gravel bike with the monster wheels.
They are just looking for 20 people to commit to the project and it’s a go. The funds paid will serve as the deposit for your very own Titanosaur. If the crowdfunding project is successful, the final payment will be due upon delivery in 9-12 months.
Curve’s Jesse Carlsson Tells Us Why
“Why are we crowdfunding this? Time and time again we’ve asked ourselves, should we hit go? Should we launch the Titanosaur into the wild? It’s a risky and costly move. We have no idea whether any of you out there in the real world are truly interested in buying a Titanosaur – it’s a super niche product within a niche within a niche. We need your help.
Getting financial commitments from 20 riders will confirm there is sufficient interest to push forward with this awesome project and bring stunning titanium bikes to the tall people of the world. The early financial commitments will fund the costly final stages of development which includes producing a custom fork mold as well as lab testing the final rounds of prototype forks and frames.
If we don’t secure commitments from 20 people by the FPOI (fist pump of interest) date, we will refund the money to those who made commitments, cancel the project, and quietly sob to ourselves for a few weeks or years.
The final product will look a little different – the frame silhouette will not change materially but the fork will be carbon, not titanium as pictured here. The artwork on the final frame, wheels, and fork will align with Curve’s branding at the time of delivery. You’re going to have to trust us on this, but the final product will look sharp. We will keep you updated along the way as we tick off the key project milestones.”
Read more here.
The Details
Commitment Required: AUD 5000 ($3255 USD) initial deposit, the balance based on the build selected is due on Delivery
FPOI Date: March 21, 2024 (funds to be received by this date)
Number of Commitments Needed to Proceed: 20
Latest Delivery Date: March 21, 2025
Full Price: Force AXS build AUD 13,999 ($9113 USD) (AUD price includes 10% Australian GST) or the Rival AXS build for AUD 12,999 ($8462 USD). All prices include global delivery.
**Note that all images in this post show prototype Titanasaurs in size Large. There are some prototype components as well, the bikes shown are NOT the final product.**
Some Notable Titanosaur Features
- Titanium frame with 3D printed elements to improve strength
- The frame will be built around the Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) standard allowing the use of SRAM Transmission derailleurs
- Boost spacing
- New Curve Ride 500 carbon fork with VGM mounts, capable of supporting 7 kg of load on each fork leg. Flat mount with 200mm rotors
- SRAM AXS 1 x 12 groupset. Two options: Force / X0 Eagle or Rival / GX Eagle. These “mullet” groupsets mix drop-bar shifting and levers with an MTB crankset, rear derailleur, and cassette
- Brake upgrade to four-piston flat-mount calipers
- Carbon rims – Curve Coop Hoops
- 60 cm Aluminium Walmer Bar
- Vee Rubber 36 x 2.25” T-Monster tires set up tubeless
- SRAM / Zipp finishing kit
- Approved for gravel riding with a total system weight of 150kg
- Curve’s standard warranty for titanium frames, carbon forks and rims
- The final build specification is subject to change if availability and testing make it necessary
Geometry
The Titanosaur works best for riders 6′ tall and taller, but with sizes M to 4XL available, the Titanosaur can accommodate riders that range from 5’7″ to 7’3″ tall.
So while the Titanosaur will be ideal for really, really tall riders, shorter riders can still get in on the action – as long as you’re an extrovert. According to Curve, riding a Titanosaur is akin to walking a puppy on the beach – “It’s a great way to meet people and will work faster than any dating app.”
Get in touch with Curve Cycling below if you’re interested!
