Just landed in the UK is the titanium version of Pastey’s Howler hardtail. We tested the 853 model a while back and liked it very much, so it’s reassuring to see that the Howler Ti shares the same classic geometry – 71/73 angles, corrected for 80-105mm travel forks.

It’s made from seamless cold-drawn 3Al-2.5V titanium and features double-curved rear stays, a forward-facing seat clamp slot, two bottle cage mounts and Crud Catcher bosses. The 18in frame weighs a claimed 1.5kg (3.4lb) – 16 and 20in models are also available.

Pastey has reinforced the top of the seat tube in a similar way to the 853 frame, which means that the Ti needs a slightly out of the ordinary 28.6mm seat post. But they supply a Thomson Elite post with the frame, so you don’t really need to worry about that. You get a seat clamp too.

The best bit, though, is the price. A Howler Ti can be yours for just £650 including the post and clamp. Which is a bargain whichever way you look at it. More details at www.pastey.com.