Hey, welcome back. I know it’s been a while since you’ve heard from us, and I appreciate your patience more than you know. The silence wasn’t for nothing. For the past three years I’ve been working on something that has completely consumed me — and today I finally get to show it to you.
Introducing Project FAF
For the first time in Sage’s history, we’re building a full suspension mountain bike.
I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. The question was always what form it would take. Short travel? Soft tail? Trail bike? It took years to narrow it down, and even longer to go from concept to something I could actually ride down a flight of stairs and into technical terrain without it falling apart.
What we landed on is an XC/Downcountry bike. It’s the bike I wanted for long all-day adventure rides where you want to go fast uphill and still get aggressive on the downhill. Think of it as sitting in the Sage lineup between the Optimator and the Powerline — with the Powerline’s playful handling character, but genuinely fast when you point it downhill or put the power down on a climb. It’s capable in both directions, which is exactly the point.
Why FAF?
The official name is still pending — I need to ride it more before I can name it properly. But the project needed a code name, and FAF stuck pretty quickly.
It stands for Fun As…
Fast As…
You can probably fill in the rest.
What makes it different
The frame is built from premium US-sourced titanium tubing blended with 3D printed titanium components — and not just a couple of small parts. The upper and lower shock mounts, chainstay yoke, bottom bracket cluster, dropouts, rear brake mount, and seat stay bridge are all 3D printed using an enhanced method that yields a stronger result than standard printing. Every part of this bike, from the welded titanium frame to the 3D printed and CNC components, is made right here in the USA.
The suspension runs a single pivot flex stay design. Instead of a traditional pivoting rear end, the chainstays are engineered to flex — managing compliance through the material and geometry itself. The shock is linkage driven to dial in the kinematics. In practice it feels firm at the top, plush in the middle, and firm at the end for that bottomless feeling.
Prototype numbers (subject to change)
These are current prototype figures. Testing continues throughout the year and things will evolve before launch, but here’s where things stand right now:
- 120mm front travel
- 115-120mm rear travel (still finalizing)
- 29×2.4″ tire clearance
- 66 degree head angle
- 470mm reach
- 435mm chainstays
- 28.6lbs as shown
Weight is comparable to other alloy downcountry bikes on the market — but with titanium’s durability and ride quality. There’s room to trim weight through the 3D printed parts and alloy linkage components, both of which are intentionally overbuilt right now with durability and testing as the priority. That said, I’m not willing to sacrifice strength for a few grams at this stage.
Pre-orders and pricing
Project FAF will be built to order, not mass produced. If you want one, the best move is to get in early.
We’ve already heard from riders who want to get in line before we’ve said a word about availability — and we appreciate that enthusiasm more than you know. Pre-orders will open before the official launch, and those who commit early will get first position in the build queue as well as first access to preferred pricing when it’s announced.
Getting in early on a handbuilt, made-in-USA titanium bike before the rest of the world knows it exists has its own kind of value — and we intend to honor that.
Pricing details are still being finalized and will be shared with newsletter subscribers first when pre-orders open. The public launch happens at MADE Show in Portland this August, where the bike will be shown in near-final form as development and testing continues.
See it at Sea Otter
We’re revealing Project FAF at Sea Otter Classic this week. If you’re at the show, keep an eye out for us — we’d love to show it to you in person.
If you can’t make it to Monterey, follow along on Instagram at @sagetitanium where the full public reveal happens on Friday April 17th.
Stay in the loop
The official name and full launch details are coming at MADE Show in Portland this August. If you want to be first in line for pre-order information and pricing, make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter at sagetitanium.com.
Talk soon,
Dave