Integration in Titanium Comes With a Cost
The Passoni OT-01’s 1.5” titanium head tube changes steering feel — and limits adjustability. That’s the real decision.
Titanium frames don’t usually chase integration. The Passoni OT-01 does — and the spec that matters is the 1.5” head tube machined from Grade 5 titanium to allow fully integrated routing.
That bigger front-end interface isn’t just about hiding hoses. A larger diameter head tube and bearings increase torsional stiffness at the fork junction. For a data-driven rider, that means fewer micro-corrections at speed and more direct steering input. Stability under load isn’t marketing; it’s structure.
Here’s the catch: integration narrows your adjustment window. Internal routing plus a 1.5” front end can mean proprietary spacers, specific stems, and fewer quick swaps when your fit evolves. If you’re a busy dad who tweaks stack height between race season and base miles, that matters. It’s clean — but it’s commitment.
I haven’t seen independent torsional stiffness numbers, and without back-to-back data I can’t quantify how much stiffer it is versus its predecessor. But if you’re spending €8,560 on a frame kit, the front-end architecture should drive the decision — not the finish. Titanium still rides like titanium. The steering platform is what’s changed.
