Since its founding in 2012, Beaverton Oregon based Sage Titanium Bicycles has set itself apart by creating bikes that are lusted after, held onto, and cherished. Sage chose titanium because it represents the “Future”, while maintaining and invoking the heritage of cycling past. It exudes toughness and elegance as it inspired their creativity to push the boundaries of design, form and function. It is the foundation of every SAGE bicycle.
What is the history of Sage Titanium?
"I wanted to make a better bike than what I saw out there. I got the idea for Sage Titanium in 2011. At that time, I was getting burned out on the carbon craze that had taken over the bike industry. All the bikes looked the same, and I was selling my carbon bikes every year just to make sure I had the latest bike on the market. Bikes became disposable with no souls of their own. I wanted to bring back the soul of the bicycle with my take on things. Thus, I started Sage in 2012. It took a few years of tinkering with frame design and construction to arrive at our refined line of today."
Why are Sage Titanium bikes made in the United States?
"Quality is number one, and I take pride in being able to say our bikes are made in the USA. Each seat tube sticker on every frame boasts that. Having bikes made in the USA ensures the highest level of quality control over the finished product. Our customers expect the best from our products, and domestic manufacturing allows us to deliver the best."
What is the history of Sage Titanium?
"I wanted to make a better bike than what I saw out there. I got the idea for Sage Titanium in 2011. At that time, I was getting burned out on the carbon craze that had taken over the bike industry. All the bikes looked the same, and I was selling my carbon bikes every year just to make sure I had the latest bike on the market. Bikes became disposable with no souls of their own. I wanted to bring back the soul of the bicycle with my take on things. Thus, I started Sage in 2012. It took a few years of tinkering with frame design and construction to arrive at our refined line of today."
Why Titanium?
"Titanium, for me, always represented the future. Steel has been around for decades, while aluminum just never inspired me. Carbon seems very impersonal. It can be molded anyway you want, but it does not have a life of its own. Titanium has a life to it. It changes the characteristics of the ride for the rider. There is a beautiful appearance and feel to titanium that distinguishes it from other frame materials. At the same time, it looks tough and elegant. It is hard to break, yet it can easily be repaired. It inspired me to further explore my love of the bicycle because of what it could do and what it could be."
What are some of your design influences?
"From an artistic standpoint, I appreciate Japanese Manga/Anime artists such as: Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), Yoshiyuki Tomino (Gundam), and Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell). I also appreciate American artists such as Jim Lee and Todd McFarlane. As far as inspiring physical objects, I have always loved aircraft, specifically jet fighters. Additionally, I admire Formula 1 and Indy Cars as well as motorcycles. The combination of clean designs, the attention to detail and the beautiful aesthetics captures my imagination."
How does Sage's hometown region influence your final designs and frames?
" Portland is a fantastic place to be a cyclist. The commuting, general bike culture and industry here get the most attention, but the quality and quantity of riding options here are excellent. We’re a short drive from the Cascade Mountains, and an equal distance from the stunning Oregon coast. The routes through the landscape are some of the most stunning and diverse in the world. You can link up endless stretches of gravel, climb high mountain passes and rip sinuous roads all in the same ride".
"The wide variety of terrain inspires our bikes. The local roads are undulating, steep, fast, and have unbelievable scenery. Our frames are built to handle the diverse range of conditions, both on and off the road, that we encounter every single day. "
-David Rosen, owner and founder of Sage Titanium
