Independent Fabrication Ti Factory Lightweight

• Wednesday, 9 February 2011
• Cycling Weekly
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Independent Fabrications Ti Factory Lightweight

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Factory lightweights (FLW) were the original off-the-shelf muscle cars that came out of the Detroit factories in the Sixties: all power and focused on speed. It's no coincidence that Indy Fab has chosen the moniker for its racing thoroughbred.

Previously, there has been a steel FLW, but this all-new titanium variant makes the most of modern frame technology to improve stiffness in all departments.

More usually seen on carbon-fibre frames, the press-fit BB30 bottom bracket assembly not only allows the IF owner to spec the lighter and theoretically stiffer chainset, but it also means the frame can be made with a massively oversize, 44.5mm butted down tube and still have room for the welds.

Obviously the top end of the tube also needs to be fixed to something large too. Up front, IF spent a long time sourcing the head tube and finally decided on a tube to fit the new inset 44mm headset that is becoming a recognised standard.

While titanium is used for the majority of the frame, you cannot fail to notice the integrated carbon-fibre seat tube. Atop this sits one of the neatest clamps we have seen. The IFTop allows some adjustment and even has a highly visible graphic that appears at full extension.

With engraved and drilled dropouts, no area has been neglected, and the approximate £7,000 price for the full bike will reflect that. We can't wait to throw a leg over this beast to see if the Motor City nomenclature is justified.

Contact: www.mosquito-bikes.co.uk