XAVIER'S PASSONI TITANIO CLASSICA DISCO

This week we’re featuring a gorgeous and refined Passoni Titanio Classica Disco, made for Xavier, a new client for us at Signature.

Xavier is one of those clients who reached out knowing exactly which bike he wanted. After having the opportunity to visit the Passoni atelier in Italy at the beginning of this year, his heart was set on the Italian titanium artisans. There, he was welcomed with open arms by Matteo Visentini, friend of Signature and Passoni’s Product Manager, who took time to tour him around the factory, explaining the production process, and aims and values that are at the core of Passoni. A New Yorker himself, he consulted with Passoni on where would be the best place locally to have a fitting, and make his dreams of owning one of their bikes a reality. Thankfully we were recommended to him, and could set the project in motion.

We started, as we always do with custom projects, with the bike fit. We took plenty of time with Xavier to get the geometries just right for him, and had a long discussion about what the purpose of the bike would be.

He was looking for a climb-ready bike that was comfortable enough for long miles in the saddle, but quick enough to keep up on fast-paced group rides. He’s planning on moving to Mexico soon, so was also looking for a bike that would last, and not be too complex to get serviced by local mechanics. That said, he also wanted to keep the soul of the bike Italian, and use Italian made manufacturers wherever possible. Campagnolo was a clear choice, and we opted for their Super Record hydraulic and mechanical components. The performance of Camapgnolo’s disc brakes was something that we couldn’t pass up, and their mechanical shifter has some of the very best analog shifting on the market.

We then added the finishing touches to the project, thinking more about the aesthetics of this piece of moving art. Xavier selected Passoni’s sublime Sage Green colour for the fork and (as is generally recommended by Passoni) retained the raw titanium finish of the frame-set, doing nothing to hide Passoni’s industry-leading hand finishing. Being a one-off, custom features can be tailored to the client's wishes, like engraving the customer's name on the top tube — see if you can spot Xavi's!

The titanium of the frame is complimented by colour-matched handlebar tape and saddle, both also from leading Italian manufacturers, and in a Passoni exclusive brown suede finish that takes cues from classic Italian tailoring.

All together, this bike is a true testament to Italian craftsmanship, heritage and technology. We could not be happier for Xavier, and look forward to many years of ownership and adventures he will have with this bike.

If you’re interested in having the same experience as Xavier, to see where these bikes are crafted first hand, you can join our 2024 Switzerland trip, where as well as touring some of the finest roads and passes in the Swiss Alps, we’ll be visiting the Passoni Atelier. Click here to learn more!