Twin Six designs its bikes in Minneapolis; frames are built in Asia, then assembled and shipped from the brand’s Minneapolis warehouse.
Twin Six began as a graphic-forward cycling label in Minnesota and grew into a small bike maker with a clear process: design in-house, manufacture frames with proven partners overseas, and finish every build at home base. If you landed here asking, who makes twin six bikes? this page lays out the full chain—who, where, and how—without fluff.
Who Makes Twin Six Bikes?
The short version: Twin Six itself. The company creates the designs and specifies the tubing, geometry, and finishing. Production partners in Asia fabricate frames to spec, and Twin Six staff complete final assembly in Minneapolis before each bike ships. That mix keeps prices in check while preserving tight control over paint, small parts, and build details.
Twin Six Quick Facts
This first table compacts the core facts shoppers ask about. Each line points to what you’d want to know before you buy.
| Item | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Design Headquarters | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA | Twin Six About |
| Who Makes The Bikes | Twin Six (design + final assembly); frames built in Asia | Bikerumor: Frames Made In Asia |
| Final Assembly Location | Assembled, packed, and shipped from Minneapolis warehouse | Twin Six Product Detail |
| Materials Used | Steel (Standard Rando) and Titanium (Ti Rando, Ti Road Disc, Ti FSU) | Bikes & Bits Catalog |
| Founders | Ryan Carlson and Brent Gale | Bicycling Profile |
| Sales Model | Framesets and curated complete builds direct from brand | Bikes & Bits Catalog |
| Why Asia For Frames | Capability for tube shaping, cost control, and quality to spec | BikeMag Background |
| Finish Touches | House paint schemes, brass head badges, matching fenders on select builds | Bikes & Bits Catalog |
How The Twin Six Build Chain Works
Twin Six starts with geometry and tube calls that match the brand’s metal-first ethos. The team then selects a fabrication partner that can execute the spec—steel for the Standard Rando, titanium for models like the Ti Rando, Ti Road Disc, and Ti FSU. Frames are welded and finished overseas, shipped to Minneapolis, and built up with curated kits so the finished bike rides as intended out of the box.
Design Decisions That Shape Ride Feel
The bikes lean toward classic endurance and all-road numbers, with tire room for mixed surfaces, mounts for racks and fenders, and a ride tuned for long days. Steel brings that steady, muted feel; titanium adds snap and a lower frame weight while keeping durability. Both paths stick to practical standards—threadless headsets, flat-mount brakes on disc models, and clever dropout hardware for geared or single-speed setups.
Why Frames Are Built In Asia
Metal frames at scale demand specialized tooling, steady weld quality, and reliable finishing. Asia has decades of that expertise. Twin Six has said the search for domestic production couldn’t match the required tube shaping and price targets, so the brand partnered overseas to get the quality and value mix right. That choice is common across the bike industry for metal frames and aligns with the brand’s price-to-spec goals.
Assembly And Quality Control In Minneapolis
Every complete bike gets its parts installed by Twin Six staff, then ships in secure packaging from Minneapolis. That last step matters. It’s where cable routing, rotor alignment, tubeless setup, and torques get checked so the bike is ride-ready with only quick final steps at home.
Typical Out-Of-Box Steps
- Install the front wheel and align the brake caliper.
- Set bar angle, tighten the stem, and adjust lever reach.
- Dial in saddle height and setback.
- Check tire pressures and sealant.
- Run through all gears under load.
If you’re new to at-home setup, a basic torque wrench and a calm, methodical pass down the bike go a long way.
Who Makes Twin Six Bikes? Variations Answered By Model And Material
Here’s where the question, who makes twin six bikes? meets the practical lineup. The brand sets the spec and look. Asian partners weld the frames. Final builds leave Minneapolis. Model by model, this is how that plays out.
Standard Rando (Steel)
The Standard Rando is the classic all-road steel frameset with room for big tires and proper fenders. It’s a match for all-day pavement, fine gravel, and city duty. The value punch comes from the overseas frame build paired with Twin Six’s in-house paint and hardware. It’s offered as frameset or as a curated complete so shoppers can skip parts hunting.
Standard Ti Rando (Titanium)
Ti brings corrosion resistance and that lively feel. The Ti Rando keeps mounts and clearances but trims frame weight and adds zip. It ships as a frameset or a complete with components chosen to suit mixed-surface rides.
Ti Road Disc
This one leans toward fast road miles with disc brakes and bigger rubber than old-school race bikes. It’s still metal, still durable, and pairs well with modern wide-inner rims for comfort and corner grip.
Ti FSU (Hardtail)
FSU is the titanium hardtail for trail miles. The name pops up in the catalog with frame-only options for riders who want to pick their own cockpit, wheels, and drivetrain. Again, the brand sets the geo and finish; the frame comes from a trusted Asian partner, then Twin Six handles the small details and ships it from Minnesota.
Price, Value, And What You’re Paying For
The value story comes from a simple stack: house design, overseas fabrication, and direct sales. You’re paying for thoughtful geometry, metal tubing that matches the use case, clean finishing, and a build kit that just works. You skip the middle layers that don’t add ride feel. If you want to tweak, you can order the frameset and pick every part yourself.
Who This Approach Suits
- Riders who want metal bikes with modern clearances and mounts.
- Shoppers who prefer direct brand support and clear spec sheets.
- Tinkerers who like framesets, or set-and-forget riders who want a finished build shipped to the door.
Model And Material Snapshot
This second table lands later in the page to help you cross-shop at a glance.
| Model | Material | What It’s Built For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Rando | Steel | All-road, mixed pavement, fenders and racks |
| Standard Ti Rando | Titanium | Endurance road and gravel with a livelier feel |
| Ti Road Disc | Titanium | Fast road with wider tires and disc brakes |
| Ti FSU | Titanium | Hardtail trail riding with durable metal charm |
| Standard Fat (Legacy) | Steel | Snow and sand; early Twin Six hard-goods era |
How To Pick Between Steel And Titanium
Go steel if you like a planted feel, want the best entry price, and care more about ride smoothness than weight. Choose titanium if you want a lighter frame, long-term durability with no paint chips to worry about, and a bit more snap when you stand on the pedals. Both paths hold rack and fender mounts for real-life use.
Build Kit Notes
Twin Six sells framesets and curated completes. The complete options are built to match each frame’s intent—sensible gearing, proven wheels, and cockpit parts that land in a sweet spot for fit and durability. If you’ve got a parts bin, the frameset route is wide open.
Warranty, Service, And Support Path
Buying direct keeps the support line short. The same team that packs the bike can answer setup questions and help with small-parts needs like hangers, inserts, and fenders. Keep your order info handy and snap photos if you need help with fit or a noise hunt—clear details make quick work of it.
Proof Points From Outside Reviews
Third-party coverage helps validate the story. Early press on Twin Six hard-goods chronicled the move to Asian fabrication for metal frames and praised the brand’s clean spec and design eye. Independent testers have called out ride stability on the steel Rando and the nimble feel on titanium variants. Those takes echo what riders notice day to day: practical mounts, tidy details, and builds that favor miles over hype.
Final Buying Tips
Check Fit First
Measure saddle height, bar reach, and stack from your current bike. Match those numbers to the Twin Six geometry chart. If you’re between sizes, think about stem length flexibility and the tire size you plan to run.
Match Tires To Terrain
Steel Rando with 700×35–40 mm rubber feels perfect for chipseal and light gravel. The Ti Rando opens the same roads with a livelier kick. For daily city miles, add full fenders and a small rear rack so the bike stays useful year-round.
Decide Frameset Or Complete
If you enjoy picking parts, the frameset is a blank canvas. If you want a smooth path, the complete saves time and ships dialed from the Minneapolis warehouse. Either way, you’re getting the same design DNA and the same finishing touch before it leaves the door.
Bottom Line On Who Makes Twin Six Bikes
Twin Six makes its bikes by owning the design, partnering with skilled Asian fabricators for the metalwork, and finishing every complete in Minneapolis. That three-step process is why the bikes look consistent across colors and years, why builds feel sorted, and why the price stays fair. If you value metal frames with modern mounts and clean lines, the approach hits the mark.