The Titus Racer X, while always popular with cross-country racers, has been a top pick for trail riders who expected lightweight performance but didn’t need more than four inches of travel for the trails they rode or the way they rode trails. This created a problem for Titus. Keeping the Racer X competitive with its cross-country racing competition was tough to do when Titus knew that a large percentage of the Racer X riders would never head down a banner-lined race course. Rather than push the trail-riding Racer X faithful towards the longer travel Titus Moto Lite, Titus came up with a better solution: the Titus X.
Make no mistake about it: the Titus X is not a trail bike. This bike was redesigned specifically for cross-country racing. That includes a mechanically formed, butted 6069 aluminum frame mated to asymmetrical, hydro-formed aluminum chainstays and a totally new, one-piece, carbon fiber seatstay (that is responsible for the largest weight savings on the X over the Racer X). Forged and machined dropouts hold the rear wheel. A one-piece, compression-molded fiber swing link is another weight-saving item. These changes have reduced the X’s frame weight a little over half a pound compared to an identical-sized Racer X. The X frame and shock are also available in titanium ($3495), carbon ($2795) or Titus’ own Exogrid ($3895) versions.
LIGHT IT UP
This Titus X cockpit is all business, with a 23-inch-wide Syntace Duraflite flat bar, Fizik Gobi saddle, fat Titus lock-on grips, and a flat-backed rider position. Cables routed under the top tube give the X a clean look while keeping the cables and stops out of the rider’s way.
Hammering: Titus shod the X with a Kenda Small Block Eight tire in the rear and a Nevegal up front. This is a sweet performance trick that, on most racing surfaces, helps acceleration without hurting cornering performance. The X didn’t need this trick. It would feel light and fast with Nevegals front and rear. The fork and shock are easy to get in unison, and that keeps the X level while its pilot powers down the course. The chassis works with the Fox ProPedal RP23 shock to keep pedaling efforts insulated from the rear suspension. The X responds well to out-of-the-saddle tempo changes. Transitioning from seated to out-of-the-saddle-attack mode is natural and seamless.
Hit the rough: The X delivers the rigid feel of a short-travel pro racing chassis. It gives a firm ride at speed but will respond to a substantial hit without spiking. The suspension feels firm while still rolling smoothly over racecourse clutter. The four-inch-stroke Fox fork is its greatest asset over rough terrain. Like the Racer X, the X responds best in the rough when the rider remains centered.
Climbing: The X will hang with the best of them on the climb. A centered riding position is perfect for keeping the rear wheel hooked up while not allowing the front end to come off the ground. Again, standing to clear a momentum-killing rise is simple, and delivers fast-forward results.
Descending: One amazing attribute of the X is its stickiness while braking on the downhills. Chalk it up to the always-inspiring Magura Marta brakes, custom-tuned Fox shock or the X’s chassis, but even with the Small Block Eight tire, you have to be a total klutz to lock the rear wheel. The X soaks up rough descents with the rider centered (there wasn’t much need to move behind the saddle). Wrecking crewers did note slight lateral movement in the rear triangle during braking while entering high-speed, fire road corners.
Sprinting to the line: When the finish line comes into sight and that racer pulls up next to you, it is up to you. The X will not be the reason you don’t win the mad dash to the line.
SEE YOU AT THE RACES
Look to other Titus models if you want one bike that does a little bit of everything. The X is a racer through and through, and makes no excuses about it. This is a bike as use-specific as any downhill race bike. It is made for cross-country racing and needs to be treated like the specialized breed that it is.
TITUS X
Price $2295 (Frame and shock)
Country of origin U.S.A.
Weight 24.5 pounds (23.8 pounds)
Hotline (800) 858-4887
Frame tested 18.25"
Bottom bracket height 12.75"
Chainstay length 16.75"
Top tube length 23.5"
Head tube angle 71°
Seat tube angle 73°
Standover height 30"
Wheelbase 42.5"
Suspension travel (front) 3.9"
Suspension travel (rear) 4.1"
Frame material Aluminum
Fork Fox F100 RLC
Shock Fox Float RP23
Rims DT Swiss XR 4.20
Tires Kenda Nevegal (ft)/Small Block Eight (2.1")
Hub DT Swiss 240S
Brakes Magura Marta SL
Brake levers Magura Marta SL (carbon)
Crankset FSA Team Issue
Shifters SRAM X.O triggers
Front derailleur Shimano XTR
Rear derailleur SRAM X.O
Chainrings FSA (44/32/22)
Cassette SRAM PG-950 (11-34)
Pedals Shimano XTR