Ribble has revealed the Allroad Ti, a new titanium endurance bike made with 3D-printed parts said to be “the future of titanium bikes”.
The Allroad Ti’s design resulted from three years of development, aiming to blend the wind-cheating performance of its aero road bike, the Ultra SL R, with an endurance-optimised ride.
According to Ribble, the frame combines aerodynamically optimised, 3D-printed head tube and seat tube clusters with traditional titanium tubing for “a modern sleek form”.
This is paired with a carbon fibre fork and D-shaped carbon seatpost, and the airflow-disrupting Ultra Bar 2 handlebar from its recently launched carbon Allroad SL R.
Like the Allroad SL R, the Allroad Ti features fully internal cable routing for reduced drag and improved aesthetics. It also has clearance for up to 35mm-wide tyres.
3D printing meets traditional construction
Ribble’s head of product, Jamie Burrow, says: "Ribble is the UK’s largest titanium bike manufacturer, so it was always in our plan to have a titanium Allroad.”
“That wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago, but the advancement in 3D additive printing has allowed us to replicate the Allroad design while retaining the qualities of titanium.”
As such, the Allroad Ti frame mirrors the geometry of the carbon Allroad SL R but with design changes due to the 3AL-2.5V titanium (an alloy of titanium with 3 per cent aluminium and 2.5 per cent vadium, designed for easy welding and greater strength) used to build it.
The 3D-printed head tube, for example, is subtly hourglass-shaped and uses a truncated aerofoil design, but forgoes integration with the fork crown.
Likewise, the down tube is slimmer and doesn’t flare out to shield a bottle cage from the wind, while the seat tube and dropped seatstays are also less aerodynamically optimised than on its carbon sibling.
The use of a non-integrated fork means the Allroad Ti doesn’t require steering stops to protect the head tube in the event of a crash, though.
3D printing also enabled Ribble to shape the internal structure for optimal internal hose and cable routing – something it says wouldn’t have been possible with standard titanium manufacturing.
The Allroad Ti is matched with Ribble’s UB-2 (Ultra Bar second generation) handlebar. This takes inspiration from the bulbous shape of Ribble’s original Ultra handlebar and its patented wake-generator tops and sculpted drops, along with direct-mounting brake levers.
As well as being smaller in form, the UB-2 handlebar is separate from the stem, giving riders a much wider choice of fit options.
Due to a grippy finish on the drops, the Ultra and UB-2 handlebars can be used without bar tape, although Ribble will provide Allroad Ti bikes with bar tape as standard.
The frame uses the threaded T47 bottom bracket standard, which Ribble claims increases stiffness compared to a standard BSA bottom bracket due to its oversized design.
As on the Allroad SL R, the junction of seat tube and top tube houses a hidden seatpost clamp, accessible from beneath the top tube.
To improve aerodynamic performance and comfort, the Allroad Ti is specced with the same D-shaped carbon seatpost as the Allroad SL R.
Ribble says each of the 3D-printed pieces is hand polished, with the head tube having a debossed Ribble logo.
The frame tube shapes integrate smoothly with the 3D-printed junctions and the frame comes with a full complement of mudguard/fender bosses.
Aggressive pricing
3D-printed titanium has been seen on bike frames before, but only at the very high end, with designs from the likes of Bastion, Pilot, Laverack and No. 22.
What those all have in common, though, is price tags well into five figures for complete builds, with framesets alone typically costing upwards of £7,000 / $7,500.
In contrast, Ribble’s Allroad Ti starts at only £3,499 for a complete bike with a Shimano 105 R7100 mechanical groupset and Mavic Aksium wheels, rising to £7,999 for the Allroad Ti Hero with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 and Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels.
The All Road Ti Hero shown here, however, has Ribble custom upgrades including Zipp’s 353 NSW wheels, which raises the price to £9,799
Ribble tells us international pricing is linked to daily exchange rates rather than a set RRP, which means the prices for US, European and Australian customers, at the time of writing, are from $4,603 / €4,140 / AU$6,817 and $12,892 / €11,597 / AU$19,094.
It’s worth noting, though, that only the Hero and Pro builds are specced with Ribble’s UB-2 handlebar as stock, although it will be a selectable upgrade for other builds in Ribble’s Bike Builder custom programme.
Ribble Allroad Ti range and specifications
Ribble Allroad Ti Sport
- Price: £3,499 / $4,603 / €4,140 / AU$6,817
- Frame: 3AL-2.5V brushed titanium, with 3D-printed head tube and seat cluster
- Fork: Allroad Ti Carbon, gloss black
- Seatpost: Allroad Carbon, D-shaped, gloss black
- Groupset: Shimano 105 R7100
- Wheelset: Mavic Aksium 1 with Pirelli P7 Sport 32mm tyres
- Handlebar: Level Alloy bar
- Stem: RS-2 stem
- Saddle: Selle Italia Model X Superflow
- Claimed weight: 9.91kg (medium)
Ribble Allroad Ti Enthusiast
- Price: £4,099 / $5,393 / €4,851 / AU$7,987
- Frame: 3AL-2.5V brushed titanium, with 3D-printed head tube and seat cluster
- Fork: Allroad Ti Carbon, gloss black
- Seatpost: Allroad Carbon, D-shaped, gloss black
- Groupset: Shimano 105 Di2 R7100
- Wheelset: Mavic Aksium 1 with Pirelli P7 Sport 32mm tyres
- Handlebar: Level Alloy bar
- Stem: RS-2 stem
- Saddle: Selle Italia Model X Superflow
- Claimed weight: 9.85kg (medium)
Ribble Allroad Ti Pro
- Price: £5,499 / $7,235 / €6,508 / AU$10,715
- Frame: 3AL-2.5V brushed titanium, with 3D-printed head tube and seat cluster
- Fork: Allroad Ti Carbon, gloss black
- Seatpost: Allroad Carbon, D-shaped, gloss black
- Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100
- Wheelset: Mavic Cosmic S with Pirelli P Zero Road 32mm tyres
- Handlebar: Ribble UB-2 carbon bar, gloss black
- Stem: RS-2 stem
- Saddle: Selle Italia SL R Boost Saddle
- Claimed weight: 9.35kg (medium)
Ribble Allroad Ti Hero
- Price: £7,999 / $12,892 / €11,597 / AU$19,094
- Frame: 3AL-2.5V brushed titanium, with 3D-printed head tube and seat cluster
- Fork: Allroad Ti Carbon, gloss black
- Seatpost: Allroad Carbon, D-shaped, gloss black
- Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200
- Wheelset: Zipp 303 Firecrest with Pirelli P Zero Race 32mm tyres
- Handlebar: Ribble UB-2 carbon bar, gloss black
- Stem: RS-2 stem
- Saddle: Selle Italia SL R Boost 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow
- Claimed weight: 8.7kg (medium)
