The J.Laverack J.ACK and it’s been my faithful companion for the last three months but my time with it has sadly come to an end so here’s my end of term report. Have I found the perfect UK road bike?
J.Laverack video #1 https://youtu.be/_-Y6w9s08mE
J.Laverack video #2 https://youtu.be/dFNi4gZ5cbs
J.Laverack website https://bit.ly/3I67qLA
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Hi, what you seem to be recommending is my Strael 3. Which I have with mechanical Ultergra and 32 mm tyres. Love it for spring riding, and it has delayed me riding my Colnago C50 (23mm tyres) until after Easter 😀
A lifetime frame!!
Am actually in contact with David at Sage to order myself a Storm King GP. I am very excited to get my all-road forever bike. Glad to hear that you like it!
Being a cyclist who is “of a certain age,” I can’t help but chuckle, yet frown at the same time. Some would call us “old”, or “past our prime”. Bah! I prefer to say “finally old enough to afford something worthy of our desires.”
And I am ordering my Sage Storm King frameset this week.
I love matt titanium bike. Is this bike is made in UK?
"Much less spendy" I like the term because too often reviews and reviewers get blase about bike costs so to hear your build choices was refreshing. I wish these brands would not lend out ridiculously expensive versions of their bikes.
which would you prefer the enigma etape or this one
David – what make are your sunglasses?
Lovely bike but most people don’t spend that sort of money on a winter bike.
I am wondering how many miles you really did on that bike before your conclusion? 😉
My enigma étape frame snapped from regular commuting. Not great service from Enigma I'm afraid to address it, and ended up getting it welded by someone who could do titanium welding. Took him 5 mins. Bought him a bottle. Much cheaper than shipping down to enigma and pursuing argument with them. That was 5 years ago and been fine since.
9k lol come on. The bike looks ok but 9k??!?!?!
I'm curious, can any bike be a bike for life with unique-to-manufacturer derailleur hangers? I have a titanium bike and currently have 3 spare hangers but not all bike brands can be expected to keep all their past bike models supported, right?
Recently picked up a Reilly Cycleworks Spectre and love my first Ti bike, I'd say much better value than this
I have the Enigma Excel and adore it. Only slight problem on our awful roads is that there isn't enough room between the chain stays to get anything wider than 28mm on it – and that's sometimes a push. The issue with internal cable routing goes away if you use Sram ETAP AXS, though you still need the rear brakes cable. Also a cyclist of a certain age…but I didn't buy it for racing or aero. Just love riding it
The bicycle industry needs a new manufacture to pump out and produce decent quality Ti bikes with mid level spec components to absolutely rinse these brands charging outrageous prices for their bikes. The industry has gone mad and it's not only Ti bikes, it's e-bikes and other setups costing north of $8,000.
Thats a nice bike! I am waiting to receive My new Vamoots RSL ( Non Disc ) 🙂
In my wishlist !!
I have a titanium lynskey made in USA for 4000$ best bike
Carbon bikes only beat titanium or steel bikes on glass smooth pavement. Once the road becomes real (meaning imperfect), nothing rides like metal and carbon becomes a bone rattler.
The beauty of having a 'good' winter bike is that you have something set up for the inevitable rain in summer – at least in the UK!
Nowhere near the level of this, but I have a lovely steel winter bike which will keep it's mudguards on all year round.
Thanks for sharing your video Dave. We're pleased you've enjoyed your time with the J.ACK!
Nice but expensive as you said. I got myself 'Planet X Tempest SRAM HRD Force 1' titanium bike on January.
At the time of buying there was £200 discount (£1799 with discount). Had some upgrades worth of £143 (carbon seatpost etc.) = £1942. Bought it via cyclescheme so the total net cost for me was £1321. Good deal!
I did hear all the bike for life quotes!
Rarely there is a bike for life as fashions change and you want different bikes.
My titanium frame snapped after 9 years which made me pursue other options.
I ended up with a carbon bike with hydraulic discs and electric gears.
Admittedly it was 'spendy' but it is my only road bike and I can fit full guards and 35mm tyres on it.
It has been a relevation.
Comfortable,easy to clean and no mechanical cables to seize in the winter.
So don't dismiss other options if you have the chance!
I have full carbon TT and Road and TI Gravel and MTB. My TI Gravel fitted with 32mm Continental Gatorskins is my daily driver. I could see it being a forever bike. Actually contemplated selling the Carbon Road and getting a TI road from Litespeed or Lynskey or maybe Moots.
I think a good Ti frame could certainly last a lifetime. I've been riding my Litespeed Vortex heavily since 1999, and although I've worn off many frame decals, the frame itself (unpainted brushed finish) is still flawless – Ti is amazingly durable.
The one longevity concern is finding component replacements as "standards" change over the years. For example, 1 inch thread-less was the most common headset for frames in 1999 — if I need to replace a headset or fork, options today are quite limited…
Isn’t titanium prone to cracks over time?
i only use my bikes for easy commute. i prefer a high gloss stainless…im guessing its cheaper and its a bling bling….LOL
Love it
Too be fair Enigma now offer full internal routing. I’ve nothing but good things to say about my bikes and the company.
I had wanted to buy a Specialized Roubaix and waited and waited and waited for a bike to become available. I finally gave up after a friend showed me his LiteSpeed T5 titanium bike. LiteSpeed is an American titanium manufacturer that makes, IMO, beautiful bikes. For half the price of the bike in this video and for about the same price as the Roubaix, I now have a lovely titanium bike, Ultegra Di2, DT Swiss alloy wheels, T47 threaded bottom bracket, etc. And, best part of all, it only took a little over a month from ordering the bike to its delivery at my doorstep. As the price of carbon bikes soars higher and higher I think that expensive, niche label assigned to titanium bikes needs to be rethought.
Are the frames made in the UK or Taiwan?
Beautiful bike!!!!!!
I bought a light speed ti mountain bike in 1994 at a time when I could barely afford it. It is still going strong today
Titanium is lovely but bomb proof? Plenty of stories of titanium frames cracking.
Just curious about one thing!!!
What bike is more comfortable the Bianchi Specialissima you tested or the Jack???
Frame material I mean…
Hi David, I really enjoy watching your video, very well made and informative. What about an episode completely dedicated to UK bikes (not necessarily made in UK)? I’d like to see your review about Reilly Titanium frames
I have a Ti winter/summer bike (a Lynskey) and I run it with Campagnolo Veloce, which simply works and is not too expensive to replace the parts of the drive chain that inevitable get chewed up in the winter. I would not want to run a groupset higher than Veloce/105 level through the worst weather. I have SKS mudguards and run Zonda wheels in the winter and Hunt 50mm wheels in summer.
I thought my Enigma would be the last frame I'd buy being one of "them old guys" alas it snapped right through the top tube and and further investigation showed another crack starting in the seat tube , I have two aluminium frames that have lasted much longer!
Having dura ace di2 on a titanium winter bike with lights, mudguards, big tyres etc is simply stupid
the 3D saddles ….are they really different from the normal saddles we have nowadays on most road bikes?
Hi David I love your channel and bike reviews. I am planning to purchase a J.Laverack Titanium bike, I am planning to buy the frame and work myself up on the other components as you suggested which a great option for customization. I was wondering if J.Laverack have a Ti seat post?
David was so desperate for them to let him keep this bike. Good review tho, cheers.
Looks like the bar ends are used by the di2 which would put me off as wouldn't be able to fit bar end mirrors. Ordered a Ti Endurance from Ribble, having a £2000 frame, reviews good. The bike tested here is far too expensive. Have selected alloy handlebars and light alloy wheels as dont trust carbon incase it gets knocked and don't want to spend the extra money which is not necessary as couldn't care less about shaving a few seconds of a trip. But spending the money on Shimano 105 di2 for quality of life.
A 5000GBP bicycle would be "for life" cause it would take half of my life to save up that much for a single bike…
No. 22 makes amazing titanium mud guards – the new OSPW but actually works