THIS IS THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR SAGE
Mountain biking is my first love — I’ve been racing mountain bikes for over 35 years, going back to the days when fully rigid was the only option. Building a Sage full suspension bike has been on my mind since the company started. It turns out a lot of customers had been asking for the same thing. The question was never whether to build it. It was what kind, and when the technology would actually let me build it the way I wanted to.
That answer arrived a few years ago, when 3D printed titanium components matured to the point where I could design what I needed instead of compromising around what was available. The result is the bike you’re looking at — a titanium full suspension XC/Downcountry mountain bike, hand-built in the USA, designed to climb fast and descend hard.
It’s been three years of design, prototyping, and testing. We’ve finally arrived at something I’m proud to put my name on. And now it’s your turn to be part of it.
— Dave
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT
Most full suspension titanium attempts of the past have ended up flexy, heavy, or both. We didn’t accept that as the answer.
The frame uses Grade 9 (3/2.5) US-sourced titanium tubing — the standard for high-end frame construction — blended with Grade 5 (6/4) 3D printed titanium components at every load-critical junction: upper and lower shock mounts, bottom bracket cluster, chainstay yoke, seat stay bridge, rear brake mount, and dropouts. Grade 5 is the gold standard for additive titanium manufacturing. We use an enhanced 3D printing process that yields significantly stronger components than the standard DMLS method most other 3D-printed titanium bike parts use today.
The suspension is a single pivot flex stay design with 115mm of rear travel, paired with a 120mm fork. We deliberately chose flex stay over linkage. There are plenty of multi-link bikes in the market — building another one wasn’t going to add anything new. A single pivot flex stay in full titanium is unique. It’s simpler, it’s lighter, it’s easier to maintain, and it lets the natural ride feel of titanium come through in a way a more complex linkage system can’t.
The shock is linkage-driven to dial in the kinematics. In practice the rear end feels firm at the top of the stroke, plush in the middle, and ramps up at the end for a bottomless feeling under hard hits.
The most consistent feedback we got at Sea Otter — from riders and industry pros who put the bike through its paces — was that it felt laterally as stiff as the high-end carbon XC bikes they’d been on. That’s exactly what we set out to build, and it’s not something I take for granted on a first-generation titanium full suspension prototype.
The bike is aggressive XC/Downcountry. Fast uphill. Fast downhill. Fun, poppy, playful. The kind of bike that puts a smile on your face after every ride and makes you want to push a little harder the next time out.
I’m still finding the limits of this bike, and I’ve been riding it as hard as I can on technical terrain. So far it keeps coming back for more.
PATH TO PRODUCTION
Project FAF is real, and it’s getting closer to production every week. Here’s where things stand and what’s still ahead.
Done:
- Three years of design and engineering
- First rideable prototype built and validated
- 3D printed components specified, sourced, and produced
- Prototype debut at Sea Otter Classic, April 2026
- First public coverage from Bikepacking.com, The Radavist, and Mountain Bike Action
In progress now:
- Refining the rear triangle to confirm 29×2.4″ tire clearance
- Continued ride testing on technical terrain
- Final geometry validation across sizing
- Component package finalization (drivetrain, wheels, cockpit)
- Coordinating with our 3D printing and CNC partners on production-ready parts
Coming up:
- Public launch and official name reveal at MADE Show, Portland — August 2026
- Pre-order pricing finalized and shared with deposit holders first
- Production tooling and component sourcing for the first build batch
- First customer deliveries: anticipated Q1 2027, pending successful completion of testing and production validation
A note on transparency: this is a prototype that is becoming a production bike. Specifications, geometry, weight, and component packages are subject to change as testing continues. We’ll update this page and notify deposit holders directly as decisions get locked in. If anything changes meaningfully between your deposit and your delivery, you’ll hear it from us first.
WHY PRE-ORDER NOW
Project FAF will be built to order, not mass produced. There won’t be inventory sitting on a shelf, and the first batch will be shaped by who commits early.
Getting in early on a handbuilt, made-in-USA titanium full suspension bike — before the rest of the world has seen it in its final form — comes with real advantages. You get first position in the production queue. You get preferred pricing on components if you build complete. You get a free Cerakote finish on your frame logos. And you get the official name, the final pricing, and production updates before they go public.
This isn’t a bike for everyone — and that’s intentional. Project FAF is a limited first production run of a handbuilt, made-in-USA, full suspension titanium mountain bike unlike anything else on the market. The customers who deposit first will be part of a small, original group of riders who define what this bike is and what it stands for.
HOW PRE-ORDERS WORK
Pre-orders for Project FAF open Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 9 AM Pacific.
Here’s how it works.
The deposit is $1,000. It secures your place in the production queue and locks in your pre-order benefits. Pre-orders are first-come, first-served — earlier deposits get earlier delivery slots and earlier access to information.
Pre-order benefits include:
- A guaranteed place in the first production run. Deposits are filled in order received. The earlier your deposit, the earlier your delivery — and the closer you are to being among the first FAF riders in the world.
- Preferred pricing on components for complete builds. Sage works directly with manufacturers to source quality components at favorable bulk pricing. Pre-order customers building complete bikes get access to these savings, structured across our build tier options.
- Free Cerakote logo finish (optional). If you’d like to add Cerakote color to your bike’s logos (Owl, SAGE wordmark, Brewed In Oregon, etc.), we’ll include it at no additional cost — normally a paid upgrade. Prefer the look of raw or blasted titanium with no Cerakote? That’s a great choice too, and there’s no penalty for skipping the upgrade. Full custom Cerakote artwork is available as a separate paid upgrade for those who want it.
- First access to the official name reveal, ahead of the public unveiling at MADE Show.
- First access to final pricing, before it’s publicly announced.
Estimated frameset price: $10,000–$15,000. Final pricing will be confirmed once production component costs are locked in, and will be shared with deposit holders first.
Refunds and transfers. Deposits are non-refundable. They are, however, fully transferable to any other Sage bike — so if you change your mind about Project FAF, your $1,000 stays with you and applies to a Skyline, Storm King, Optimator, or any other current Sage model.
What the deposit secures. Your $1,000 holds your place in line. It does not lock in final geometry, components, or specifications — those will be confirmed with each customer prior to your build. We’ll keep deposit holders informed of any meaningful changes as they happen. Since deposits are transferable to any Sage bike at any time, you always have the flexibility to make a different choice if Project FAF stops being the right bike for you.
FAQ
When will I receive my bike?
First customer deliveries are anticipated for Q1 2027, pending successful completion of testing and production validation. Earlier deposits get earlier delivery slots. We’ll communicate your estimated delivery window once the production schedule is locked in.
What sizes will be offered?
Project FAF will launch with a range of stock sizes designed to fit most riders. Sizing details will be finalized and shared with deposit holders before final pricing. Custom geometry is not offered as a standard option for this bike, but is available case-by-case for an additional charge.
What does the frameset include?
The frameset includes the titanium frame, rear shock, Sage titanium seatpost collar, and rear thru-axle.
What components will be available for complete builds?
Sage will offer two carefully curated build specifications, each built around a select component spec. Build specs and pricing will be confirmed and shared with deposit holders before pre-order pricing is finalized.
What if specifications change between now and production?
We’ll tell you. Major changes — geometry, suspension travel, intended use — will be communicated to deposit holders directly before they go public. Because deposits are transferable to any Sage bike at any time, you always have flexibility if a change affects your decision.
Is the deposit refundable?
No, deposits are non-refundable. They are fully transferable to any other Sage bike, so your money stays with you if you change your mind.
Do I have to commit to a complete bike?
No. Pre-order customers can choose frameset only or a complete bike when their build slot comes up. Preferred component pricing applies to complete builds.
How many pre-orders are you accepting?
Project FAF is a limited first production run as production capacity for a handbuilt, 3D-printed titanium full suspension bike is genuinely finite. We’ll communicate through our channels when the first production run is complete.
Will the price actually stay within $10,000–$15,000?
That is our current expectation based on supplier conversations to date. Final pricing depends on production component costs, which are still being locked in. If pricing comes in above that range, we’ll communicate transparently with deposit holders before final commitments are due, and your deposit transfer right will continue to apply.
STAY IN THE LOOP
Not ready to deposit but want to stay close to the project? Join the Project FAF list and you’ll be the first to know when the official name is revealed at MADE, when final pricing is announced, and when production updates roll out.
