TITAN

History of Titan

This history is lifted from History of Titan - BMXmuseum.com Forums

We just wanted to clear a few things up about the posted history of Titan.  Burt Foreman approached Bob Furry and Scott Furry at the 1984 ABA Grand Nationals, Burt wanted Scott to race a Titan frame.  Bob would spend the entire night stripping the Patterson Scott was riding to build his new Titan.  Scott didn't have much luck with his new bike, he didn't like how it rode.  Bob and Scott returned home to Colorado.  Couple months past, and Burt contacted Bob again, he had made some suggested changes to the Titan and asked Bob and Scott to meet him in Las Vegas for a preseason race.  Scott loved the new Titan, and liked the mini cruiser even better.

In early 1985 Bob and Scott started the the national season in Reno, NV at the Silver Dollar nationals.  Scott took 2nd in the 12 Crusier class, and Burt Foreman offered Scott a full factory sponsorship.  Scott joined Jason Allison, Ricky Pozzey, Burt Foreman's son and others to make up the first Titan Factory team.  Bob and Scott hit every ABA national that year, Scott doubled at 7 national events, won the Gold Cup and in November was crowned National #1 in 12 Cruise and National #6 overall, on his 20" he was National #2 in 12 Expert second only to Brent Romero, who was the National #1 Amatuer that year. 

In 1986 Bob Furry bought Titan and as the owner of Titan Inc., moved his family and the company to Eugene, OR.  Titan continued to make titanium frames, Bob experimented new titanium tubing he would get from Sandvik, and welded one of the first 3/2.5 seamless titanium BMX frames.  Titan also started full production of their Cro-Mo frames for the older riders.  Using the same ideas that made the mini frames so hot, the loop rear end that was shorter for quick starts and acceleration out of corners, the struts from the BB past the seat tube to the top tube for added stabilty and to minimize frame flex.

In 1987 Titan built their first mountain bike, the 1/2 Trac, a dual elevated chain stay frame made from True Temper tubing.  With the success of the 1/2 Trac, Titan turned it's efforts to making what they new best, titanium.  In 1989 Titan built it first titanium mountain bike frame.

In 1991 when Titan merged with the S.L. Liu's bicycle company the end of an era was drawing to a close.  In 1992, due to undisclosed differences about how the company should be ran and the direction it should pursue, Bob Furry resigned as President of Titan's Racing Division.  Scott would take over as President for a short time, until S.L moved the entire company to Yorba Linda, CA.  Scott would resign from Titan at the end of 1992.

Titan crafted many, many customized bikes for kids all over the world.  In 1986 Michelle Gibson's 2 year old brother had one of the smallest, while Jared Krisiloff had one of the lightest, it weighed less than 6lb. for a complete, race ready bike, it was also one of the most valuable due to all the handcrafted titanium parts.  It's estimated value was over $15,000.

We are not sure who posted the original history, but we felt that if the story was going to be told it should be told correctly.  Many years have past since Titan, and we apologize if we have left out the rider's names that made up the original team, but you all know who you are!! Unfortunately, we have never heard or met Jason Kraig, the photo of him taken in 1985 was not taken in 1985, it had to be taken much later, because in 1985 the team wore Monarch helmets, not Ecko.  Furthermore, the leathers he is wearing in many pictures are co-factory leathers, that is why they are colored differently. 

If you are going to tell a story be sure to tell it correctly.

Titan Bicycles continued to be sold and marketed in Australia by The Bicycle Authority Pty Ltd, this since 2006 and in various forms. Right now, there has been a relaunch, the Titan Challenge One has been reborn.