Moots County Line Frameset Info

The Moots County Line Frameset is a titanium all-road frame from a company that has been welding titanium bikes by hand in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, for decades. Moots describes the County Line as its answer to "rides that don't stay paved." It sits between the Vamoots road bikes and the big-tire Routt gravel line, and it suits riders who want one bike for fast pavement, broken asphalt, and the dirt road that cuts the loop short.

Built Around a 38mm Tire

Moots designed the County Line around a 38mm tire and lists clearance up to 700x42. That is a deliberate choice. It is wide enough to soften washboard and loose gravel, and narrow enough that the bike still feels like a road bike when you put it back on a smooth climb. If you want 50mm tires and a dedicated gravel setup, the Routt is the better fit. If most of your riding is pavement with regular detours, this frame is closer to what you need.

Moots pairs that tire range with geometry it describes as more stable than a typical road bike, which helps on loose descents and rough surfaces. The frame comes in eight sizes from 48 to 62cm, with chainstays held at 42.5cm across the range and two fork offsets to keep handling consistent from the smallest frame to the largest.

Titanium, Welded in Colorado

The frame uses straight-gauge 3/2.5 titanium tubing. Titanium is a favorite for riders who keep a bike for ten years or more. It does not rust, it shrugs off the scratches that would worry you on a painted frame, and it has a springy, damped ride that many riders prefer on long days. Moots says every frame is welded and finished at its Steamboat Springs facility by builders who also ride.

Finish is part of the appeal. The County Line is available in a range of Moots finishes, from the classic brushed titanium look to anodized colors, so the frame can be understated or loud depending on how you order it.

Modern Standards, Practical Details

The County Line uses in-house titanium dropouts built to the UDH standard, which gives broad drivetrain compatibility and lets you swap in a replaceable derailleur hanger. Rear spacing is 12x142 with flat mount disc brakes, and the bottom bracket is a threaded BSA 68mm, which is easy to service and quiet. Chainline is 45mm for 2x and 47.5mm for 1x, so the frame handles either drivetrain layout.

The new Moots carbon all-road fork has a D-shaped steerer and routes the brake hose internally through a titanium stem for a clean front end. Fender mounts come standard, with optional upper rack mounts. That makes the County Line a reasonable choice for commuting, wet-weather training, and light touring as well as weekend rides.

Who It Is For

This is a frameset, so the build is up to you. It suits riders who already know what they want from a group, wheels, and cockpit and who want a frame that will outlast several rounds of component upgrades. A 1x gravel group with 40mm tires turns it into a quick mixed-surface bike. A 2x road group with 32mm tires makes it a durable endurance bike that can take a rough road without complaint. RA Cycles offers bike fitting in Walnut Creek, California, and Brooklyn, New York, if you want help choosing a size before you order.

Moots County Line Frameset - Specifications

Frame Material:

Straight Gauge 3/2.5 Ti / UDH derailleur hanger

Fork:

Moots carbon all-road fork / 382 axle to crown / D-shaped steerer for internal routing

Headset:

Chris King Inset 7

Seatpost:

27.2mm required

Front Derailleur Type:

34.9mm clamp required

Bottom Bracket:

Chris King BSA 68mm

Brake Type:

Flat mount disc required

Max Tire Width:

42mm

*Specifications are subject to change.

Moots County Line Frameset Geometry

Size:

48

50

52

54

56

58

60

62

B. Seat Tube (c-t)

460

500

520

540

560

570

580

600

C. Top Tube Length

510

520

535

545

565

580

600

615

D. Head Tube Length

100

110

120

140

160

180

200

220

E. Chain Stay Length

425

F. BB Drop

78

75

G. Seat Tube Angle

74.75

74.5

74.25

74

73.75

73.5

H. Head Tube Angle

70

71

71.5

72

72.5

72.75

I. Stand Over Height

29.2"

30.2"

30.8"

31.7"

32.5"

33.0"

33.6"

34.4"

J. Wheel Size

700c

K. Stack

534

547

559

579

600

619

639

658

L. Reach

360

365

375

378

389

396

410

420

The RA Perspective

The County Line is the Moots we point people toward when they say they want one bike that does everything but don't want to buy a gravel bike. The 42mm clearance is enough for most dirt roads and the sort of rough chip-seal you find on back roads, and the frame still feels like a road bike when the surface is smooth.

Titanium suits this bike. You can lean it against a fence, strap a bag to it, and ride it through a salty winter without worrying about the finish. The ride is lively and a little damped, which is what you want after five hours on mixed surfaces.

There are tradeoffs. This is a frameset, so you are buying components, wheels, and a build on top of a frame that already costs more than many complete bikes. Clearance tops out at 42mm, so riders who want 45mm or wider tires for rough gravel should look at the Routt instead. And titanium frames at this level are a considered purchase, not an impulse one.

It is best for riders who want a frame to keep for years, who ride a mix of pavement and dirt, and who plan to set it up with fenders for the wet months. When the plan for the weekend is not fully decided, this is the bike we would pick.

Moots County Line Frameset

Questions about this product?

What size do I need?

Moots County Line Frameset