The word titanium makes friends of timeless, hard-wearing mountain bikes jump for joy. The material is synonymous with functionality and durability. Although it is not as light as carbon, it is light enough for sporty marathon bikes and is also corrosion-resistant, tensile and extremely scratch-resistant. A material that neither stone bombardment nor the worst bumps can harm. Paint is not necessary. But that's exactly why pictures of titanium bikes usually look like black and white photographs. Some call this look "classy", others find the uniform grey rather "drab". Anyone who values a colourful look has had to spice up their titanium frame with colourful parts.
Firmly "burnt" into the titanium frames
It was a minor sensation about four years ago when the then newly founded US company Firefly presented a new type of colour option: lettering and decors that are applied directly to the material using an electro-chemical process. Matt shimmering or brightly shining. In green, blue, purple, brown, gold. Or colourfully mixed in a rainbow look. Not sprayed on, but firmly "burnt" into the titanium. Similar to the anodised layer on aluminium parts. The process is called anodising (anodising is the special term for the treatment of aluminium). The anodised lettering was something of a Firefly trademark. Now other titanium forges also offer this option. Moots, for example. And recently also the Dutch company Pilot Cycles. They charge 150 euros for anodising the lettering. Special requests are also possible. But how does it actually work? How does the colour get into the titanium? Pilot gave us an exclusive insight into the finishing department.
