For those who’re into titanium frames, then it’s attainable you’ve heard the title Ari Emmett earlier than. For those who haven’t, you’ve nearly positively seen his work. Previously 15 years or so, Ari has been concerned with a few of the largest names in titanium, like DEAN, Merlin, and, most lately, Mosaic. Now, he’s beginning his personal enterprise, AE MFG (Ari Emmett Manufacturing), leveraging his expertise, craftsmanship, and keenness to supply 100% customized titanium frames on a small scale with purposefully restricted manufacturing.
Ari began as an intern at DEAN Titanium, sweeping flooring and doing end/high quality management work. In the end, he bought employed full-time, however after a few years, the model was shutting down. Ari bought DEAN and turned it into DEAN Cycleworks, and began making an attempt new issues, together with full-suspension designs and extra complicated swoopy frames that have been common on the time. Finally, Ari and his then enterprise associate bought Merlin Metallic Works as nicely, and he turned the bulk proprietor of the Janus Cycle Group.
In each cases, Ari helped resurrect and breathe new life into these manufacturers whereas persevering with to hone his craft as a welder, fabricator, and body designer. In the end, Ari handed the torch and bought the Janus Cycle group — together with DEAN and Merlin — in 2021. At that time, he moved on to Mosaic Bespoke Bicycles, the place, alongside the corporate proprietor, Aaron Barcheck, he was the lead welder of a few of the most lustworthy frames on the market. At Mosaic, Ari says he was welding slightly over 5 frames a day and over 500 in his 12 months and a half tenure.
After Mosaic, Ari took slightly break day, a sabbatical, if you’ll, and did another issues. Finally, he realized one thing was lacking, and that factor was making bikes. So, he began his newest enterprise, AE MFG, which formally opened earlier this 12 months. This new enterprise represents a radical new method for Ari, with absolutely customized bikes and manufacturing restricted to twenty frames within the first fiscal 12 months. By maintaining issues small, Ari says, “the entire thought is to keep up a stage of consistency and high quality management that isn’t attainable at greater volumes.”
At current, AE MFG is beginning with two platforms, Road38 and Gravel50, and handcrafting 100% customized frames for every rider. Like several good customized bike, the method begins with a motorcycle match, both in particular person or by way of one among Ari’s community of fitters throughout the nation. However past customized geometry, Ari tells me that he makes use of his in depth frame-building expertise to decide on the tubing diameters and thicknesses based mostly on the particular person. Ultimately, “Every construct is a bespoke masterpiece — tuned to your driving type, geometry preferences, and visible aptitude. No two are alike as a result of no two riders are.”
The Road38 is a real street bike with all-road functionality and clearance for tires as much as 38c. The Gravel50 is a contemporary gravel bike with clearance for tires as much as 50c. Each are made with premium, licensed titanium tubing, famend for its journey really feel, consolation, and sturdiness. Whether or not you go R38 or G50, the frames include carbon ENVE forks, disc brake mounts, and riders can select between inner and exterior cable routing and a variety of finishes.
Ari is a welder and body designer, so he lets different folks work on these finishes. He makes use of famend titanium finishers, Agave Finishworks and TiO2 Designs, to place the ultimate touches on the frames. In complete, Ari says your complete course of takes 1 to three months, relying on the client and the way shortly they make selections. The frames promote for $6,150, together with the fork and headset, however last costs can fluctuate relying on chosen choices. Whereas that’s under no circumstances low-cost, it’s actually aggressive within the boutique, absolutely customized titanium body market, the place opponents’ frames typically price fairly a bit extra.
AE MFG has solely simply opened its doorways, and the web site is even nonetheless underneath development, however Ari tells us that he has a few frames already within the queue. One of many first goes to one among his longest supporters, who has been with him for the reason that DEAN days, and this would be the seventh body he’s made for him.
Ari additionally tells us that he’s planning to attend and show his bikes on the Philly Bike Expo in March 2026. Till then, in the event you’re concerned with your personal customized titanium dream machine, AE MFG is taking orders now. You’ll find out extra about Ari and the bikes or make inquiries by way of the AE MFG web site, or examine him on Instagram @ae_mfg_usa.