Fact—nothing rivals the freeing feeling of flying down a perfect stretch of single track on a buttery smooth titanium hardtail. That said, not all ti mountain bikes are created equal, and very few rival not only the performance but the beauty of a Prova Ripido. Today we share an exceptionally stunning example. Built for aggressive all-mountain riding with a sensible yet completely dialed build kit, this is beauty of a machine sure to last a lifetime. Let's dive into the build.
Fact—nothing rivals the freeing feeling of flying down a perfect stretch of single track on a buttery smooth titanium hardtail. That said, not all ti mountain bikes are created equal, and very few rival not only the performance but the beauty of a Prova Ripido. Today we share an exceptionally stunning example. Built for aggressive all-mountain riding with a sensible yet completely dialed build kit, this is beauty of a machine sure to last a lifetime. Let's dive into the build.
The Ripido Ti
When Prova launched the Ti version of the Ripido last summer, it really helped put the builder on the map. With its beautiful lines and bends, thoughtful 3D printed and machined parts, immaculate welds, and incredible finish work, it's easy to see why. Especially in this rich golden-green finish by Prova's studio mate VeloCraft, these bikes are absolutely stunning.
While its a marvel of metal craftsmanship, it's still undeniably a mountain biker's mountain bike. Contemporary geometry for making easy work of the most technical trails, ample clearance for up to 29x2.6" tires, and an incredible balance of rigidity and smoothness that truly shows off titanium's strengths.
The Suspension
The fork is easily an integral part of any mountain bike's design, and for this build the choice was a Rock Shox Pike Ultimate. This one is set up at 140mm of travel and with a 42mm offset. The Charger damper provides excellent support and control and the silver finish really just pops on the front end of the build.
The Cockpit
Steering is handled by an Enve and Industry 9 combo. To keep our riders desired amount of drop, we opted for the zero rise M6 handlebar. Plenty strong and has just the right amount of compliance. A 30mm I9 A318 stem keep the bars in place and help keep the steering nice and tight.
In the theme of keeping the build quality but sensible, we went with the 170mm PNW Components Ranier IR dropper post. While there are lighter and blingier options out there, these have been some of the most reliable and low maintenance posts we've used. A Ti railed WTB Silverado saddle is mounted up top, while a titanium Prova seat collar keeps it secured to the bike.
The Drivetrain
It's unlikely you'd come across any mountain biker who wouldn't be thoroughly satisfied with a Shimano XT kit. The legendary workhorse drivetrain is virtually indistinguishable from XTR in a blind ride test and has a reputation for outlasting nearly anything else on the trail.
For this rider, 175mm cranks turn a 34t chainring, which pulls the 12s chain from the 10-51t cassette. While the quad piston trail calipers have incredible stopping power, the lighter weight dual piston XC brakes are plenty powerful for most riders and were the choice here.
The Wheels
Industry Nine's Hydra Trail-S wheels really aught to get more praise. Based around their flagship Hydra hubs and complete with a 28mm internal width carbon rim, they weight in at a respectable 1,600g and offer some serious performance and value.
For this build traction and style were necessities, so we wrapped the wheels in tan walled Maxxis Minion DHR 2.4WT tires. When it comes to grip under all circumstances, it's hard to think of a more fitting choice.
California Precision
For a final touch of class, this bombproof build is finished off with some beautiful White Industries pieces. A polished silver headset and a T47 bottom bracket. Beautifully crafted here California and proven to last a lifetime.
A truly trial worthy MTB that's as much a joy on the eyes as it is on the mountain. We're sending this one off to Hawaii where we know it's going to get put to good use. If you're bike stable has got a hole in the shape of a hand built titanium hardtail, give as a call and we'd be thrilled to help you fill the void!
For more photos of this build, head to the gallery here.
Back to Journal