A well-made frame can be made repairable. By allowing a builder to use low-temp silver brazing, investment-cast lugs like this bottom bracket shell make future repair possible.

Lugs do however cost more and restrict some of the design parameters like tubing shapes and diameters, and the angles that the tubes can meet. Also, due to the high cost of manufacturing new casts, lugged frames are very slow to keep up with some of the more technologically advanced steels and frame shapes coming out these days.

Having said that, lugged steel frames have seen many refinements over the years. New trends and fancy gadgets can steal the industry spotlight for a month or two-- maybe a season tops. Lugged steel has lasted lifetimes.

Silver-brazed, lugged frames start at $1400.