Future of Titanium

Although new alloys of titanium are under development, the 3-2.5 alloy retains excellent potential. Double-butted steel was patented in 1897, but butting was never applied to seamless 3-2.5 titanium until 1990. The potential for advancement is further illustrated by the Merlin Suspension frame, which uses the chainstays as integral springs, eliminating the weight of a separate pivot and greatly simplifying assembly and maintenance. Similar advancements can be expected at least through the end of the decade.

As Chuck Teixeira, product engineer for Easton Aluminum, said in an interview in Mountain Bike Action, -"If someone did [with titanium] what [Easton] is doing to aluminum [meaning butting], the game would be over insofar as finding the absolute top of the line material."

We are now at that point with 3-2.5 titanium.