Titanium and a Long Friendship
Although Stelio Belletti never put a titanium frame into regular production, he was close to the material from early on. His friendship with Amelio Riva — the Bergamo-based pioneer who first brought titanium into Italian cycling — gave him a direct view of the material’s possibilities. They often met at races, exchanged ideas, and Stelio prototyped a small number of titanium frames alongside his friend. He chose not to compete with Amelio’s work, nor to invest in the specialised equipment that titanium requires, and continued to build in the materials he knew best — steel and stainless steel. The Ti9 is a new project, not a revival, but it carries the memory of that early curiosity. Taking titanium into the range feels like completing a conversation Stelio began decades ago.
Custom Grade 9 Titanium, Developed with Columbus
The T9.2 is built from a dedicated tubing set in Grade 9 titanium, developed for us by Columbus on the basis of their Hyperion family. Grade 9 — the Ti-3Al-2.5V alloy — offers one of the most favourable balances of strength, workability and weight available in titanium framebuilding. Working with Columbus allowed us to specify tube dimensions and wall profiles that fit the character we wanted for the frame: light, reactive, composed. Columbus has been our long-standing partner on steel and stainless steel; extending the collaboration to titanium was a natural step.
What’s New in the T9.2
The T9.2 brings several meaningful updates over the previous Ti9. The rear dropouts are now 3D-printed using SLM technology, improving alignment accuracy, stiffness, weight and visual coherence. The frame introduces UDH compatibility for the first time. It is equipped with the latest version of our titanium T47 bottom bracket shell, a new head tube, and the new integrated seat clamp with titanium hardware. As with every Stelbel model, these details are drawn and developed in-house.
Paired with the Evoluzione Fork
For a workshop of our size, developing a proprietary carbon fork is not a routine step — very few independent framebuilders in the world take this path. We chose to design our own because we did not want to compromise on the component that defines so much of a bicycle’s character. The Evoluzione, now shared across the entire Stelbel road range, is the result of that choice: a D-shaped reinforced steerer that allows full Hidden Cables compatibility, tyre clearance up to 35c, and a visual continuity with the frame that only a dedicated design can achieve. The complete story of its development is told in a dedicated article.
The Ride
Titanium has a feel of its own, and the T9.2 makes the most of it. The frame transmits rider input with clarity, yet filters the small intrusions of the road in a way steel and stainless steel cannot. On a long climb, when the legs begin to ask the bicycle for help, it stays composed and keeps the pedalling action efficient. On a fast descent, it tracks the chosen line with the kind of predictability that lets you commit earlier through each corner. On rough tarmac, the ride remains quiet, letting you focus on pace rather than on the surface beneath you. These qualities become something more when the frame is built around a specific rider: a made-to-measure geometry, calibrated millimetre by millimetre to your body and your riding position, allows the T9.2 to respond with the kind of immediacy that only a bicycle designed for you can deliver. It is a frame that gives back more than it asks for — the kind of bicycle that encourages you to add one more loop before heading home.
Finish and Aesthetics
The published colour options reflect the standard Stelbel palette, and they can be chosen for the full frame or applied selectively — on the logos, on specific tubes, or combined with the natural titanium surface. In practice, most Ti9 frames leave the workshop in a brushed finish with painted logos, or with other finishing techniques developed on request. Some riders choose to have the entire frame painted while leaving the logos raw, letting the titanium show through where the name of the model is written. By default, the Ti9 is delivered with a matte transparent protective coating. On request, the frame can be supplied fully raw, often paired with sandblasted logos for a quieter, more essential look. Each configuration is discussed and defined together, as part of the conversation that shapes every Stelbel frame.
Rim Brake Option
The T9.2 is primarily offered as a disc-brake frame designed around electronic groupsets. For riders who prefer the simplicity and aesthetic clarity of calliper brakes, a rim-brake interpretation of the Ti9 remains available. Both versions reflect the same approach to titanium craftsmanship.
Built to Endure
Each Ti9 is made by hand in our workshop near Bergamo, TIG-welded by processes refined over decades of practice. Titanium is a noble material: it does not rust, it ages without losing its qualities, and it is naturally aligned with a more thoughtful approach to longevity and sustainability. Our intention is to create an object of lasting value, capable of accompanying many years of riding — and, in time, far more than one generation.
The T9.2 is available in a range of standard sizes with a racing-oriented geometry. A fully made-to-measure version is also available, developed from the rider’s most recent bike-fit report. For the most precise result, we recommend consulting a trusted professional fitter.
