Ti Firefly vs Carbon Corvid by Independent Fabrication

Before you spend ANY money on a Custom Frame watch this video. I'm 40 and have been riding bikes for my whole life and in the past 2 years have built up 5 custom frames using all different types of materials from Ti, Carbon and mixed. I spent way too much money in this experience finding that perfect material and wanted to let you know the results of my findings so you don't have to bleed cash when you build up your dream bike.

THE RESULTS - Buy a custom Ti or Stainless Steel bike from Firefly Bicycles!
WHY? (1) You will be able to feel the corners making you a safer rider and faster racer (2) They custom size the tubing for your weight for that perfect balance between performance and comfort (3) You will feel less fatigued after your ride or race which translate into faster recovery for your next ride, race or training day (4) Firefly bikes are better priced then Independent Fabrication's XS and Corvid and they ride better then both of those bikes - hands down (5) Ti and Stainless Steel are the perfect material for custom frame builders, so if you want that perfect all carbon bike, just buy from the big companies that have the millions to spend in research and testing - this is where an all carbon frame shines, with frame weights so light and comfy, it is next to imposable for any all custom carbon builders to match.

I say all of this because over all my years of riding I have owned the following bikes: Plastic Big Wheel, Big Store Heavy Kids Bike, Fuji 2 butted chome-moly, Centurion with Tange's high-end Chapion #1 and #2 tubing, Specialized: Roubaix with more vibration-damping F.A.C.T. carbon monocoque frame; Tarmac S-Works FACT 11r carbon frame, Independent Fabrications : XS - Aerospace grade 3/2.5 titanium luges and enve carbon tubing; Corvid - all 100% Enve products; Ti Planet Cross - Aerospace grade 3/2.5 titanium with carbon fork; Ti Deluxe MTB -Aerospace grade 3/2.5 titanium, Gary Fisher Paragon MTB with Platinum Series 6066 butted & hydroformed aluminum, Specialized Stumpjumper M4 Manipulated Alloy frame; Rockhopper Comp - chromoly frame and fork, and always saving the best for last - My Custom Ti Firefly Race bike, that is until they build up the next bike for me. :)

I really hope this helps give you some more information toward finding your perfect bike!

Train Hard - Race Happy

Flyin' Ryan

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Firefly
• Bicycles
• Custom
• Bike
• Frames
• Indepedent
• Fabrications
• Corvid
• XS
• Ti
• Carbon
• ti
• vs
• carbon

[cyp450]

Thanks for the video. What made you choose the Ti over SS? I'm a large rider too (6'4 and 195lbs). Love the anodized Ti look, but just curious if there was a difference in feel.

[YoFlyinRyan]

@cyp450 - One reason was making a bit lighter, But what really did it was that I couldn't get a tapered head-tube in the SS and I really needed the tapered fork and extra stiff front for my racing and being bigger. My MTB and Cross bikes are also Ti and have learned to really appreciate this material. Having the guys at FIREFLY also dial in your fit and frame makes any custom (Ti or SS) ride even better then standard Ti off the shelf bikes.

[658spruce]

bought a 2010 Giant tcr advanced 2 and rode it for a season and now the frame is up for sale on usedottawa for $600. bought a litespeed Xicon and love it and enjoy the ride more. my ti is a bit softer than the carbon but it kicks back. the fame has springy feeling. haven't got a paint chip on it yet since it has not paint and it seems like it's going to last me for a long time.

[KLincolnTexas]

Hey Flyin Ryan. I live in austin, and would like to chat with you. I can be reached at KL1AB@yahoo.com. CHEERS!

[ghostzapper2006]

How many degrees of toptube slope, seatube length, toptube lengthand headtube length are on the firefly?

[Shadowboost]

@samwee3 it is possible for a mass produced frame to offer better quality in design due to significant resource expenditure using finite element testing and testing jigs. But yeah, they cannot offer a tuned ride that a custom builder can

[Shadowboost]

Feel the corners? Can't for the life of me know what you're talking about. Going for custom carbon, I'd go Parlee or Crumpton every time (in the US)

[MoWranglin]

Nice review! Thanks for comparing these. I had an IF Corvid and ended up selling it and keeping my Ti bike too. Right now, I'm thinking of a Ti Firefly with tapered headtube, so your review was right on the money.

[radumate]

what size are the bikes?

[baralah]

Agree!!!! I got rid off my BMC Race Machine to get my Van Nicholas. I didn't regret selling my Carbon Bike to get my Ti. I know you would say it's not like comparing apple to an apple. But I can assure that my experience with my Ti has been nothing but very positive.

[samwee3]

No offence but the criteria you use, the materials you prefer, and the conclusions you draw are highly subjective. Another rider of different dimensions and with a different style will likely desire a different combination of elements for their machine. Also, to suggest that mass produced carbon frames offer the same or better quality and attention to subtlety as a dedicated custom builder is just wrong. Calfee comes to mind for a start.

[Alwyn1000]

what rims are they?