A-Frame Bikes & Framesets
Available for a Limited Time
We only offer A-frames when we have production capacity, a rare occurrence that can change at any time. Some years, that's once or twice during the season. Some years it's not at all. If you see A-Frames on our site, order right away.
A-Frame FAQ
"What is an A-Frame?"
A-Frames are Seven's best value designs. Dollar for dollar, there is no better-performing frameset and bike from any company than A-Frame designs.
"What's the difference between an A-Frame and an S-Type frame?"
A-Frames have no head tube badge, different chainstay designs, and some of our less popular options have upcharges. A-Frames are only available for a limited time annually.
"How do I order an A-Frame?"
Go to any bike category page (gravel, road, allroads, or mountain). Under the "Design Your Seven" section, at the "Tubeset Type" dropdown list, choose the A-Frame option. If the model does not have A-Frame as an option, it is not available for this model or at this time.
"How can Seven price the A-Frame so low while still building them in-house?"
Three reasons:
- All performance, no ornamental elements. We cut no corners on ride performance and durability. Instead, we strip out most of the purely aesthetic aspects of the design. No head tube badge, no symmetric chainstays, and some less popular options have upcharges rather than being included.
- We offer Rider-Ready designs only; no full custom builds available. This simplifies the design process.
- Available only when we have capacity: We offer A-Frames at limited times during the season, if at all. We only offer A-Frames when we have production capacity, a rare occurrence and a situation that can change at any time.
"How does an A-Frame compare to performance carbon bikes?"
Carbon cannot be compared in any meaningful way. Details below.
"When is the A-Frame design available?"
Limited availability. We make A-Frames available when possible. Some seasons, that's once or twice. Some seasons it's not at all. If you see A-Frames on our site, order right away.
Rider-Ready A-Frames Vs. Stock Bikes
Step Up From Stock.
All A-Frame bikes are Rider-Ready designs.
Seven's Rider-Ready bikes are handbuilt one at a time. We call it Simple-Custom because Rider-Ready strips away the complexities of full custom and provides a straightforward pick list of our most popular custom features and options.
Stock bikes don't compare on any meaningful long-term measure.
| The Questions | Seven Rider-Ready Bikes | Performance Carbon STOCK Bikes |
|---|---|---|
| "What's the price?" | Framesets (frame and fork) start at $4,120. That is unheard of for a U.S.-made titanium frameset. Complete bikes start at about $6,700. Starting at $369/mo or 0% APR with PayPal. You are worth it. | Nearly all performance carbon framesets are in the $5,000+ range. Depending on what you value in a bike's performance, the total cost of ownership is significantly higher. |
| "What's the lead time?" | Currently, Rider-Ready bikes are shipping within about 5 weeks. Framesets are shipping within about 3 weeks. More lead time details. | Sometimes in stock; sometimes 4 weeks; sometimes not available. Looking online, many sizes consistently seem out of stock. Hit or miss — seasonal availability. Take what you can get. |
| "Is the frame going to be stiff enough? I hear that titanium is flexy."
"My old titanium bike was flexy." |
Seven's innovative Rider-Ready designs mean you can choose from three distinct frame stiffness levels: Seven's Benchmark, RocketShip Stiff, and SuppleState Resilient. No carbon frame's drivetrain is stiffer than our RocketShip tubeset. No carbon frame is smoother than our SuppleState tubeset. Choices, choices. | |
| "Does the bike have the features and options I want?" | We offer all the popular options and upgrades. Customize your Rider-Ready Seven to your needs. | Stock bikes usually don't have options. Cable routing is what it is. It either comes with fender mounts or it doesn't. It's either a UDH or it isn't. |
| "What kind of riding was the bike designed for?" | Within our Rider-Ready bike line, we offer designs for most riding categories, so riders find precisely the right Seven. | Typically, trying to be all things in one bike. Therefore, the bike does not excel at anything. Most production brands have one or two frame models that are bolstered with a few parts kits and paint colors. Those parts don't really define the bike's usage. In short, if a brand has only one gravel frame model, there's only one primary riding function. Sometimes they're kitchen sink bikes, trying to be all things to all people. Sounds good; doesn't work. |
| "Titanium or carbon?" | Frames are full titanium and three stiffness levels.
"Which material should I choose?"
|
Text from multiple prestigious carbon bike suppliers' owner's manuals describes carbon's problems well:
"These types of bicycles are intended to [...] give a performance advantage over a relatively short product life [...] you are choosing light weight [with] shorter frame life over more frame weight and a longer frame life [...] These frames are likely to be damaged or broken in a crash. They are not designed to [...] be a rugged workhorse." This quote refers to the common "Condition 1" (performance road bike) ASTM standards. |
| "Will the bike fit properly?" | 24 or 36 sizes of stack & reach. No stock bike comes close to the fit benefits of our Rider-Ready bikes. | 4 to 7 sizes of stack & reach. To get a reasonable fit, you have to change parts — stem, bars, saddle, etc. This compromises handling control and your center of gravity. A $5,000 frameset that doesn't fit perfectly? |
| "Who built my bike?" | Built by Seven Cycles craftspeople in Massachusetts. The typical Seven build team of three craftspeople has over 50 years of framebuilding experience. Most of us are lifelong riders. | Framebuilding is almost always outsourced to Asia. The term "outsourced" is used because no U.S. bike company has a majority ownership in any Chinese bike frame manufacturer. Built on an assembly line in large quantities as a commodity. Read more about where frames are built. |