Home > Other Fun Stuff > Advocacy & Industry News > News

The Sage Skyline Could Be the Last Road Bike You Ever Buy

Sage Titanium Skyline Full
32 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

We tend to joke in my little corner of the cycling world: “Sounds like you’re ready to get your titanium bike.” The joke was reserved for our aging friends, riders who bonked on a hammer ride, and anyone complaining about getting older. The depth of the joke hinges on a line I heard many years ago when chatting about bikes with a titanium frame builder: “This is the last bike you’ll ever need, the one they’ll bury you with,” basically your final ride. 

Sage Titanium Skyline Full sl logo
(All Photos: Jordan Villella/Bikerumor.com)

However, the sea of carbon bikes and the dullness of their ride quality (compared to metal) have some road riders looking back to steel and titanium bikes. Sage Bikes from Beaverton, Oregon, recently updated their Skyline road machine, making it more attractive than ever to an all-road and not-so-carbon-crazy audience. 

Sage Titanium Skyline Full nds
Sage Titanium Skyline Full side

Re-Imaged Sage Skyline

Sage recently updated the Skyline, giving it the endurance and all-road treatment. However, this doesn’t mean they’ve slowed the handling or turned it into a laidback machine. They managed to keep the Skyline’s precise feel and punchiness but with larger tire clearance (now up to 32mm) and a more comfortable ride.

Why Skyline? 

Sage took the Skyline name from the serpentine Skyline Boulevard that winds along the spine of the West Hills in Portland, Oregon. To understand the evolution of the bike, you have to know where it came from. The Skyline was Sage’s road race machine. The section of the road encompasses the Skyline vibe: Speed, stability, and stiffness when you want to put the pedal to the metal. 

Skyline Frame Details 

Every Sage bike is handmade and available in a custom spec. The Skyline is no different. It’s crafted from 3/2.5 titanium alloy and evokes the essence of a race bike from the sport’s golden era. 

Sage Titanium Skyline Full black

The frame is slightly compact and modern, with a sloping top tube. Everything is built modern, using flat-mount brake disc brakes, an oversized head tube, fender mounts, and 3D-printed titanium dropouts. The newest feature is entirely internal cable routing with help from the Chris King internal routing headset and a complete internally routed ENVE cockpit. 

Sage Titanium Skyline Full front off

The Sage team stiffens the frame with a 1.75″ down tube and a T47 threaded bottom bracket.  

Sage Skyline Geometry

The newest iteration of the Skyline leans more into the all-road crowd and away from a complete road race machine. This design change isn’t a bad thing at all.

Sage Skyline Geometery

The updated geometry and tire clearance give the Skyline a new lease on life with a broader net of pave’ riders and the light-gravel curious. Our review bike is 54cm and fits me perfectly at 5’10” with a 31.50″ inseam. 

Sage Titanium Skyline Full crankset

Sage Skyline Build 

Like many custom bikes, the Sky(line) is the limit for build options. My review ride came decked out in the best all-road gear from ENVE. Each part accentuated the frame’s ride qualities. The ENVE wheels are an excellent piece of kit that gives the Skyline a spring to its step.

Sage Titanium Skyline Full stays

Wheels draw out performance in a bike frame, and I feel the ENVE wheels accentuate the raw power of the Skyline frame. The same can be said for the fully internally routed ENVE aero bar and stem combo. Looking down and seeing a clean frame and lines feels good, modern, and fast. I personally love the feel of the ENVE aero handlebar and the way it mates with the new Shimano 12-spd shifter design.

Our review ride came equipped with a full Shimano Dura-Ace groupset, ENVE wheels, ENVE aero cockpit, seatpost, and tires. The build didn’t overshadow the frame; it helped express its intent—speed, power, and good times. 

Sage Titanium Skyline Full front on

Sage Skyline Build Breakdown 

  • Frame: Sage Skyline 54cm
  • Fork: Enve In-Route Road Fork
  • Bars: Enve Aero 42
  • Stem: Enve Aero 110mm
  • Seatpost: Enve 27.2
  • Seat: Sage / Velo
  • Headset: Chris King Aeroset 3
  • Seatpost Binder: Sage Titanium 
  • Shifters/Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace 12-speed R9270 Di2
  • Front Derailleur: Dura-Ace R9270 Di2
  • Rear Derailleur: Dura-Ace R9270 Di2
  • Crankset: Dura-Ace 50×34 172.5 – Stages power meter
  • Cassette: Dura-Ace 11-34T
  • Wheels: Enve SES 4.5
  • Tires: Enve SES 29mm
  • Axels: Robert Axel Project
  • Price: $5,500.00* Frameset only
  • Weight: 18lbs 
Sage Titanium Skyline Full rider eye

Ride Review – Sage Skyline

My time with the Sage Skyline was short, but I got lots of ride time on this stunning machine. First, let me preface this: I don’t get to ride or review many titanium bikes. I see them rarely; when I do, they intrigue me but don’t blow me away. I usually ride carbon road bikes, road race-focused, with comfort taking a back seat to efficiency. 

Sage Titanium Skyline Full owl logo

When I saw the Skyline, however, I was very into it. It looked like a classically styled road bike with oversized tires like you’d see in the old days of Paris Roubaix. Plus, I reviewed the Sage Powerline mountain bike a few years back as a shreddable art piece and that impression stuck with me. 

Sage Titanium Skyline Full seat post binder

A Jack of All Drop Bar

My rides on the Skyline varied from full-on tarmac to light gravel and Pittsburgh pave’. After my first outing, one thing was sure: it was a fun bike to ride. The Skyline’s semi-laid-back nature required a less finicky dial-in, so I had more time to enjoy riding. 

Sage Titanium Skyline Full 29 ENVE tires

I’m a big fan of the Sage saddles. I know—they don’t even make them, apart from adding the cool Sage logo to them—but man, it’s something I remember from the Powerline review. Not having to swap saddles is a nice perk; it makes the total package feel better. It feels like my Specialized Power (my go-to) but with a little extra cushion – perfect for the Skyline.

Sage Titanium Skyline Full bars

Welcome Home

The Skyline is a versatile bike; the specs greatly help that—especially the 29mm tires spec’d on my review bike. The frame has to accommodate all manner of rides, and that’s precisely what it does. The bike can climb, descend, and roll with the best. The fundamental feature of the Skyline is its ability to adapt to different terrain and remain powerful yet comfortable. I rarely thought, “This is too much for this bike, or I’m uncomfortable.” Remember, this is an all-road bike and not a full-blown gravel rig so we didn’t get too crazy

Sage Titanium Skyline Full rear clearance

When KOM is hunting or on a fast weekend ride, the Skyline can move and react to attacks like a carbon bike. The frame is responsive but not harshly stiff like a carbon frame. The ride and the way the frame rolls on the road are satisfying. The frame gives off a hum that reminds me of my old steel road bike, but more elegant. There is no other way to describe it, but it’s nice, almost like a warm “welcome home” feeling. 

Sage Titanium Skyline Full

Would you Race the Skyline? 

I would 100% race the Skyline, but that said, this is a titanium frame that costs $5,500 alone just for the frame. I would save your alloy bike for the crit races and the Skyline for the pleasurable cruises on the farm roads and reenacting your favorite classics. 

That said, if you’re ready to take this machine to the front lines of your local race, it will perform with the best of the carbon crowd. It has a slim profile with updated internal cable routing thanks to the Chris King Aeroset 3. The steering is reasonably point-and-shoot, and if you get a build like our review bike, the wheels spin up and hold speed like a demon. 

Sage Titanium Skyline Full made in

Final Thoughts 

Am I ready for my titanium bike? After my time on the Sage Skyline, I’m considering it. The bike is a functional piece of art; the logo, the build, the welds, and the story – all speak to me and inspire a love of riding. 

The Sage Skyline’s price reflects its quality, and for most, that puts it slightly out of reach. But I can now see the draw and purpose of a bike like the Skyline more than ever. 

So, if you’re looking for a road bike that can hold its own on your favorite terrain, and just the look of it inspires you to ride – the Sage Skyline should be at the top of your list. 

www.Sagetitanium.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

32 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict
4 months ago

Those tires look like they just barely fit between the seat stays, and they are 29s. Nice looking frame. But I doubt it will be your last, the industry won’t allow for that.

Dinger
Dinger
4 months ago
Reply to  Eggs Benedict

I bought my “last bike” (titanium..) 26 years ago. I’ve had a slew of alloy and carbon bikes across that time span, too. They come and go, the Ti bike remains.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
4 months ago
Reply to  Dinger

I knew it wasn’t my last bike but I figured it was the last bike I’d buy that’s not for racing. 200k miles later, my Seven is on lifetime trainer duty and replaced with a gen 4 Domane. Loved that bike for a long time, but there aren’t many new carbon bikes I wouldn’t take over that old Seven.

Dinger
Dinger
4 months ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

Egads, man! Put something else in that trainer. You can’t enjoy what makes that Seven special in your basement.

Robin
Robin
4 months ago
Reply to  Eggs Benedict

What say does the industry have in whether a bike is the last a cyclist buys or not?

Matthew
Matthew
4 months ago
Reply to  Robin

It’s not the frame, it’s the constantly changing “standards” that can make it hard to buy replacement parts. I imagine there are a lot of roadies like me who bought Ti bikes circa 2010-2015 who are getting frustrated by the lack of high end mechanical shifting groups, rim brakes, and 1 1/8″ straight steerer forks. My frame probably has another 20K miles in it no problem. My groupset and carbon wheelset, not so much.

Robin
Robin
4 months ago
Reply to  Matthew

Yet, there are still mech groups out there, groups that likely perform every bit as well as a high-end group from 2010 to 2015. The same goes for 1 1/8″ forks and wheels. Sure there might not be as many, but that’s pretty much the norm for older things.

Dinger
Dinger
4 months ago
Reply to  Matthew

I got my Ti bike in 1998. It has a 1″ steerer but the Chris King headset on it is eternal. I have an extra fork on a shelf should I ever need to replace the one on the bike. Mech groups are still available. I put a Ultegra R8000 group on the bike a couple of years ago and since this bike is one of a few I keep around I expect that groupset can easily last 10+ years (the !0s D/A group I had on it for that long still ran perfectly) at the end of which, 11 speed chains and cassettes will still be widely available.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
4 months ago
Reply to  Matthew

I’ve been happy with my Ratio Technology 12sp ratchet for my Red22 shifters. They claim they can get 14 clicks on a ratchet. And there will be barely used Red22 available on the market for a while if you don’t have any now. That should take care of us for a while.
That said, I want those shifters on a modern bike because I don’t like new hoods as much. My Seven has 200k miles and I have no doubt it could take another 200k miles but I’d rather ride mostly any mid-range carbon frameset instead

MagnanimousWaffle
MagnanimousWaffle
4 months ago
Reply to  Eggs Benedict

29s on an Enve 4.5 rim measures just shy of 32mm(I have the same setup on my bike) so yea, max is 32mm — as the article states.

David Rosen
4 months ago
Reply to  Eggs Benedict

We can give you more tire clearance when we build a bike for a customer, so it is easy to add in as needed. Don’t let the tire clearance you see here be the lasting impression you get. We can easily add more as needed. This particular bike was built “tight” for the racer who is getting the bike next.

DaveJ
DaveJ
4 months ago

… but you’ll replace the fork every few years as the cables chew through the steerer.

David
David
4 months ago

Sorry but these massive headsets look considerably more rubbish than cleanly routed cables or hoses, it makes the whole thing look cumbersome. The Columbus system looks marginally better but their stem and the spacers are still weirdly out of proportion.

Anyway, those clearances look fine on a race bike but if this was the last bike I was ever buying I’d want fender mounts, but that’s a very small gripe!

Matthew
Matthew
4 months ago
Reply to  David

According to their site, you can get this frame with fender mounts, but I didn’t see the option on the builder part of the site.

David Rosen
4 months ago
Reply to  Matthew

We can add rack and fender mounts when we build the bike for you. It’s something we communicate with you prior to the build. No upcharge for adding on those mounts. Some people want them, and others don’t, so this particular bike did not get them.

Velo Kitty
Velo Kitty
4 months ago

The over-sized headtube is just plain fugly. I’ll take exposed cables.

Dean
Dean
4 months ago

Well what is price of this bike and where you can you buy it please

SteveT
SteveT
4 months ago

$5,500 for a stock non custom frame alone??? LOL

I can get a complete 2024 BMC Roadmachine Two for the exact same price with fork, a full Ultegra Di2 drivetrain and headset, bottom bracket, bar, stem, seatpost, saddle, wheels and tires. In addition, with the BMC I get a lighter bike and integrated downtube storage. Heck, I can get a full custom ti frame from Brad Bingham for less than what these guys want for a stock cookie cutter non-custom frame. Thanks and no thanks, the price on this for a stock frame is utterly silly. 🙂

nooner
nooner
4 months ago
Reply to  SteveT

That is some sage advice right there.

Marcel
Marcel
4 months ago
Reply to  SteveT

Yes, I can confirm. I bought s Bingham road frame a few months ago and it looks much better than this.

And yes, it’s probably my last frame too 🙂

Tom Wenzel
4 months ago
Reply to  SteveT

Can you help me decide between a Toyota Camry and Porsche 911 GT3? You seem like a discerning consumer…

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
4 months ago
Reply to  Tom Wenzel

It’s more like comparing a Lexus to an Aston Martin loaded with Dodge parts. There’s really nothing terribly special about this bike

MagnanimousWaffle
MagnanimousWaffle
4 months ago
Reply to  SteveT

Ahh yes, comparing apples to oranges I see. How accurate…

PinkPuffinBicycles
4 months ago
Reply to  SteveT

All Sage bikes, stock and custom, are the same price as all are made to order. So it’s $6000 for a custom ti frame which is on par with most QUALITY American made Ti frames or cheaper than some.

David Rosen
4 months ago
Reply to  SteveT

We are charging the same amount for a custom frame or a stock frame. There is no upcharge for a custom frame. Thus, if you want custom geometry or extra mounts, it’s still $5500 for the frame. If you want stock geometry and extra mounts, it’s still $5500.

Steven
Steven
4 months ago

I don’t want my forever bike, I want my next bike.

Tom
Tom
4 months ago

correction, the last bike you’ll ever buy will be an E bike.

tertius_decimus
tertius_decimus
4 months ago

The last bike you’ll ever buy will be the tricycle for your grandkids. And then you die.

WA State Rider
WA State Rider
1 day ago

I’ve good thousands of long ride miles on my Sage Skyline and wouldn’t exchange it for a carbon framed road bike.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.