Project TiLander
- James
- Nov 17, 2025
- 3 min read
A meeting of minds
In the heart of Scotland, a mountain-bike guide / engineer launched what would become a game-changing bike brand. Deviate Cycles was founded in 2016 by Chris Deverson who brought years of guiding experience and a vision to build bikes not for the catalogue, but for riders.
Chris and I met in 2013 while working as mountain bike guides in the Maritime Alps. At that time the first Deviate prototype was being ridden and tested and although not immediately apparent our different strengths would create an alignment of the stars down the trail ...
When Deviate decided to explore a new frontier — titanium high-pivot full-suspension frames — the collaboration with Craft Bikes naturally emerged. Chris with his expertise in engineering and design and me on the flip side with high end fabrication knowledge and craft skills alongside another critical eye. The end result: the prototype in 2023 known as the TiLander and the Lowlander project.
Why Titanium?
Titanium has long been revered in cycling for its strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and ride “feel” that many describe as springy and alive. For Deviate, who are already masters of carbon and high-pivot design, titanium represented both a challenge and a promise: a material that could elevate the ride experience while aligning with increasing sustainability ambitions.
However, titanium is notoriously difficult to work with — high material cost, complex welding and finishing, and long lead times. Therefore, Deviate needed to collaborate with someone who had the knowledge and experience of working with such a challenging material.
The TiLander II Prototype
The first TiLander prototype was made in 2023 and laid the groundwortk for the evolution of ideas and thinking to create the TiLander II. Though not a full production bike, the TiLander II prototype is already turning heads with some of its standout elements:
It employs the same reliable hardware and a very similar geometry to the Highlander II (160mm fork / 145mm - 150mm rear travel) but with titanium construction and subtle adjustments to make the most of the material’s properties.
The high pivot axis, idler pulley system and refined suspension kinematics remain true to Deviate’s philosophy, so the ride traits—stability under braking, smooth descent, composure on rough terrain—are carried over.
The titanium lugs printed using SLM addtive printing which allows for complex internal junctions, better strength, less waste and a more bespoke frame geometry potential.
Craft Bikes’ involvement ensured the finishing, welding, alignment and ride-quality were up to the level expected of a hand-built titanium frame.
For riders, the promise is a bike that feels lively, durable, premium — all fused with high-pivot performance and titanium character.
Significance: Why It Matters
For Deviate
This project represents a possible bridge to the future: moving more manufacturing to the UK, leveraging sustainable materials, and creating premium bikes with uniqueness.
It elevates the brand’s narrative: not just high-pivot carbon bikes, but innovation, material exploration and craftsmanship.
For Craft Bikes
Collaboration with Deviate gives us a platform to showcase our titanium 3D-printed part expertise and hand crafted standard beyond their bespoke niche.
It positions us in a high-visibility segment of mountain-bikes, not only road/gravel.
For the Bike Community
The TiLander signals that titanium full-suspension high-pivot bikes may no longer be fantasy but moving toward feasibility.
It illustrates how additive manufacturing (3D printing of titanium lugs) is creeping into high-end cycling frames.
It highlights the appeal of British craft/manufacture in a market saturated by mass-produced frames overseas.
The Bike That Dreams Built
In many ways, the TiLander is the confluence of two philosophies: Deviate’s bold, rider-centric engineering of high-pivot bikes, and Craft Bikes’ artisan titanium fabrication driven by customisation and attention to detail.
It’s a story of materials (titanium), manufacturing (3D printed lugs, UK fabrication), design (high-pivot suspension), and ambition (bringing production closer to home, raising the bar on what a trail bike can feel like).
For mountain-bike fans, it’s a reminder that even in a crowded market, innovation lives — and craft skill counts. While the TiLander may not yet be a purchase option for many, it sets a marker: a bike where each junction, tube and weld has been considered; where the ride quality is as much about feel as geometry; and where the collaboration itself is part of the narrative.
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