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Updated with Video: Charge Bikes Releases Ti CX Frame, Tech Heavy Dropouts & More

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Charge Bikes Titanium CX Frame

We just got word of some new bikes from Charge for 2013. Above is their limited edition titanium CX frame. They’re using a process similar to 3d printing to create the dropouts. A laser carves the dropouts step-by-step from titanium powder and there’s no wasted materials with all excess dust collected and melted into different products. Constructing the dropouts in this way is not only ultramodern, but also cuts unnecessary weight. The frame itself will be made in traditional ways – for now – and though pictured above with a straight headtube, final products will have tapered headtubes.

Charge is only making 50 0f these frames, and they’ll run £2,000 in the 2013-14 season. On top of this, Charge has a new commuter bike titled the Grater and an addition to the Plug line. Click ‘more’ for info and a video of the titanium dropouts…


Updated: Charge just released a video documenting how they create the dropouts on the new CX frame.

2013 Charge Bikes Grater

The Grater is a new aluminum around-towner that’ll sell for an affordable £399.99. It gets a single ring chainring, flat bars, and mini v-brakes. Not pictured above, Charge also modified their Plug SS build with a Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub and will release it in 2013 as the Plug 3.

Check out the full coverage of the 2013 Charge Collection including Charge’s “Surface” clothing line over at Road.cc.

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pmurf
pmurf
11 years ago

those dropouts are trick! I like the built-in 3D logo in the interior of the curve. I wonder though, if this assembly method actually saves weight over a one-piece curved seat/chain stay tube with a welded on dropout, a la Yeti’s ARC frame. That aside, it does looks friggin sweet.

Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget
11 years ago

Is there a link to detailed photos of the dropouts?

Marc Basiliere
11 years ago

pmurf,
There are a number of advantages to this process. If I’m right, the curve shown here would be awfully tight as a bend, for one. The real beauty is the hollow nature of the dropouts: additive manufacturing allows for geometry that just wouldn’t be manufacturable through any other method. Unlike machining, there is essentially no scrap- the remaining Ti powder goes back into the machine. There is also the advantage (especially for short runs) that tooling isn’t required. Also, Arcam (who make similar machines) have some interesting claims about the grain structure of the resulting parts. This is really exciting stuff- once you pull away from thinking about how things have been built in the past, some truly interesting geometry becomes possible. I’ve seen landing gear knuckles and replacement human skull parts made this way. Really, really exciting stuff.
marc

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