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IB15: Dean Titanium Crafts Slick Cafe Racer, Revised Misfit Enduro & New Stock Road, Cross and Mountain frames

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Dean Ti-4

Dean Titanium brought a lot of new goods to the show and it’s apparent that growing the brand is the focus…. and they are not being shy about it. They brought everything from beauty to brawn as well as nicely priced bikes for the masses.

Roll past the break and check out what all Dean Titanium has been up to!

Dean Ti-1

Dean, one of the earlier builders of Titanium frames, has had its up and downs, but in a sea of carbon bikes, titanium is holding strong *literally. The premium material for building bikes has had its place taken over with carbon’s nearly unlimited flexibility and light weight, but where titanium continues to reign superior is its longevity through fatigue, impact resistance, and let’s not forget its raw beauty.

Dean Ti-2Dean Ti-3

Speaking of beauty, Dean’s new custom built Cafe Racer is as functional is it is attractive. Within its curved frame are standard fender & rack mounts and sliding dropouts to accommodate any of the internal geared hub options on the market. From there you can add any of their custom options. The Cafe Racer is a custom  fit frame and starts at $3,000.

Dean Ti-8

Dean-Titanium-enduro-bike-flex-stay-6
Previous version of Dean’s Misfit from the 2015 NAHBS show. Notice the open space in front of the tire.
Dean Ti-9
The new version increases the chainstay’s structure where it meets the frame improving lateral stiffness.
We saw Dean’s Misfit at the 2015 NAHBS and they’re continuing to tweak it. This prototype is more laterally stiff due to the use of larger diameter tubes in the main frame and a revised chainstay made of titanium plate. The Misfit has a 66.5 head angle and will retail between $3,500 & $4,000.

Dean Ti-5

Dean Ti-6Dean Ti-7

Some big news coming from Dean is they are now offering stock sizing with frames imported from overseas. They want to offer their customers an off-the-shelf option at a great value that falls under their specs and quality control. All frames are made of  3/2.5 Vr seamless titanium that is cold worked and stress relieved for increased rigidity and durability. The El Vado road frame, ​Antero Cross, and Scout HT mountain frame (available in both 27.5 or 29er), all retail for $1,195.00.

DeanBikes.com

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Ryan
Ryan
9 years ago

Dig the “cafe racer”

DK
DK
9 years ago

I’ve been incredibly pleased with the quality of my Dean bikes & parts. Overall, a great group of folks to deal with, excellent workmanship and they continue to get better and more innovative.

stueethedog
stueethedog
9 years ago

I wish I never sold my Dean aluminium FS from the 90s. Love their bikes

Gazhopper
Gazhopper
9 years ago

Starts at 3 grand for a single speed?.. What’s the market for that?..

Hipsters
Hipsters
9 years ago

@Grazhopper

They are trying to tap into the Former Urban Youth turned Bay Area/LA DINK market. But Speedvagen beat them to the punch.

http://www.thevanillaworkshop.com/speedvagen-urban-racer

http://theradavist.com/2015/06/introducing-the-speedvagen-urban-racer/#1

Shredder
Shredder
9 years ago

I hope they’ve improved their QC and customer service. I ordered a custom length handlebar from them a few years ago. They told me it would be here in a week. After 2 it hadn’t shown up and I contacted them to see what was up. They assured me just a few more days. 2 more weeks, no bar. I called them again, and the guy said he would go and make it right away. A week later it shows up with one side longer than the other, the logos etched on uneven, and it was actually crimped at the bend, rather than a smooth transition, and this was a 5 degree bend I’m talking about. Needless to say it went back. It was like they had the high school intern or the blind guy doing it it was so bad. Embarrassing work really. Been leery ever since.

Sully
Sully
9 years ago

Imported frames from overseas….oh great, here we go….

Frippolini
Frippolini
9 years ago

Imported frames to match a lower price point… for me that gives shilling sounds of the death rattle. Pursuing the lower price point is usually a race to the bottom (how to get there as slow as possible, nevertheless bottom will be reached sooner or later).
I wonder what keeps Dean believing that this is the right way (or perhaps only way to go)? Superb distribution? Superb marketing to convince new potential buyers into first titanium and second titanium from Dean? What more?
Seriously, either compete for the few remaining titanium customers out there (including myself) and realigning (transform) the business for smaller operations and sales volumes; and in the long run hope to gain market share in a shrinking ti-frame market; OR sell the business to someone who values the brand name and “unexplored” potential.
I could consider buying a Dean, but not a foreign-made-by-contract-Dean. Dean’s reputation is for high quality titanium frames and framework, not for high quality purchasing and QC in overseas / foreign markets. Lastly, and out of curiosity, which sea is being referred to in the term “overseas”?

DK
DK
9 years ago

@Frippolino @Sully, they are only having some stock frames made overseas. The custom bikes (and both of mine are) are made in Boulder, CO. as they’ve always been and will continue to be.

MarkL.
MarkL.
9 years ago

I’ve got a Dean road frame (El Diente?) that I bought second hand about 6 or so years ago. Since then, a Cervelo RS, R3, and Specialized Roubaix have come and gone, but only the Dean is constant. The parts have changed from Dura Ace to Chorus 10, to Record 11, but the core remains. I even had James from Black Sheep weld some disc tabs last winter in anticipation of the next upgrade, but that hasn’t happened yet. Perhaps the throw away society of today doesn’t want to consider something that will outlast them? It’s too bad that the Ti market isn’t what it once was, because in my personal experience, there is no substitute. To each his own, of course, but if you haven’t spent a long day on a Ti bike, you’re missing out.

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