Sage Titanium, the Portland-based framebuilder known for its titanium hardtails and gravel bikes, has spent three years engineering a full suspension design that combines US-sourced Grade 9 titanium tubing with 3D-printed Grade 5 titanium components. The result is a 29-inch XC-oriented bike that is fully American-made, from the raw tubing to the finished dropout.
We got to ride it, and the FAF prototype makes clear it was worth the wait.
3D-Printed Titanium Meets Full Suspension
Sage built the FAF around Grade 9 3/2.5 titanium tubing, but where the FAF breaks new ground is in how Sage handled the frame’s most structurally complex areas. Rather than weld tube to tube at the high-load junctions, Sage 3D-printed those components from titanium using an enhanced additive manufacturing process that the company says outperforms standard DMLS in strength.
The upper and lower shock mounts, BB cluster, chainstay yoke, seatstay bridge, rear brake mount, and dropouts are all printed parts, allowing for highly optimised geometries and load paths. Frame and printed components are both produced entirely in the United States.
The bottom bracket runs a T47 threaded standard, keeping bearing service accessible without special tools. Rear dropouts are UDH-compatible and built for SRAM T-Type. Geometry on the prototype features a 66-degree head tube angle, 470mm reach, and 435mm chainstays. Tire clearance accommodates a 29×2.4-inch tire.
XC Intentions
Rear suspension is a single-pivot flex stay design with a linkage-driven shock, creating 115mm of travel. Like many XC designs on the market these days, the flex stay approach routes suspension movement through the seatstays themselves rather than through a conventional pivot bearing, trimming mechanical complexity, weight, and the maintenance that comes with it.
Up front, the FAF uses a RockShox SID Ultimate fork with 120mm of travel.
First Ride Impressions
We rode it briefly and were instantly impressed with the lateral stiffness of the rear end. It felt just like other XC bikes on the market, made from carbon or aluminum. Geometry also felt spot on and in line with modern trends.
Suspension action is good, but Sage was open about being early in testing and still working on the tuning. Even though it felt on the progressive side (they have since removed volume spacers in the shock), action is still what we’d consider quite good, and it pedals well even when the shock is in its open mode.
We will be spending more time on this bike in the near future, so look for more in the pages of Mountain Bike Action.
Still in Prototype Form
Project FAF is still a prototype, and Sage is careful to say so. Final pricing has not been confirmed, geometry is still being validated across the size run, and the official name will not be revealed until the MADE Show in Portland this August.
Pre-orders are open now at sagetitanium.com with a $1,000 deposit. That deposit is non-refundable but transferable to any other Sage model if the FAF ends up not being the right fit.
Frameset pricing is expected to land somewhere between $10,000 and $15,000, with final numbers confirmed and shared with deposit holders before any public announcement. Two complete build specifications will be offered as well, with component details to follow.
Pre-order customers also get a free Cerakote logo finish upgrade and first access to pricing and the official name reveal.
What Comes Next
First deliveries are anticipated in Q1 2027, pending the completion of ongoing ride testing and final production validation.
A fully American-made titanium full suspension bike with 3D-printed titanium components is unique, and Sage is not rushing it out the door. More details will come at MADE in August. Until then, the deposit page is open.