|   Talk to me about frame materials | jakeene
Apr 25, 2003 5:56 AM | | As I was surfing a number of bike sites and message boards I got to wondering about advantages and disadvantages of different frame materials, specifically carbon (like the Trek 9.8) vs titanium (Litespeed) vs. alumimun (which seems to be the frame material of choice for recreational level bikes).
I'll look forward to any and all replies.
JK |
| re: Talk to me about frame materials | kleinrider
Apr 25, 2003 6:39 AM | | In a nutshell (I'm sure plenty of people will speak on this subject)
Carpet fiber-
Pros: Lightweight, rustproof
Cons: Expensive (usually), if it fails its catastrophic failure
Titanium-
Pros: Lightweight, rustproof, pretty, best ride quality of these three materials IMO (like steel)
Cons: Expensive (always), can be flexy
Aluminum-
Pros: Lightweight, rustproof (but can oxidize), inexpensive,
Cons: Ride can be more "harsh" (not always)
These are off the top of my head. |
| re: Talk to me about frame materials | TruckeeLocal
Apr 25, 2003 7:29 AM | | Generally you don't find CF, Ti, or Steel on FS. These materials have flex that is designed into the frame, while Aluminum can be designed very stiff (too stiff for hardtails/rigids ?) and the suspension components become the flex element. So it becomes pointless to use expensive frame materials on a full suspension - evidence Moots offering an Aluminum Smoothie while their normal frame material is Ti. |
| re: Talk to me about frame materials | DCS
Apr 25, 2003 8:11 AM | | The introduction of an aluminum Moots Smoothie does not mean using Ti on a FS is "pointless." An Al Moots main advantage is greater affordability. While the advantages of making a FS out of Ti are not as obvious as making a hardtail out of Ti, you still get the greater dent resistance, scratch resistance, virtually no maintenance and easily restorable good as new appearance advantages that Ti has over aluminum and other materials. Not exactly "pointless." |
| re: Talk to me about frame materials | TruckeeLocal
Apr 25, 2003 8:25 AM | | I think we're in general agreement 'cause I overstated the 'pointless' nature of using Ti on a full-suspension. Clearly some of the features of Ti are not diminished simply because of the type of bike frame they make up. I was focussed on the flex patterns of Ti and not some of the other advantages. On a personal note I have a Ti hardtail and you simply forget about how rugged and maintenance free it can be (I also have a steel rigid and an Aluminum Full-suspension). |
| more than you might care about... | laffeaux
Apr 25, 2003 9:34 AM | | Here's a great article on frame material. It's a few years old, but still valid. The author, Scot Nicol, is of Ibis fame.
http://www.sjsu.edu/orgs/asmtms/artcle/articl.htm |
| re: Talk to me about frame materials | Tortuga Tonta
Apr 25, 2003 1:55 PM | | To say one material frame material will be more flexable than another is not really accurate.
The flex of a frame is more a result of tube diameter and wall thickness. Build a aluminum frame with a 1.25 down tube and it will be a noodle. Build a steel frame with a 2" down tube and it will be stiffer than most typical aluminum bikes.
The reason most steel bikes ride soft is a result of this. For example the largest OX Platinum down tube is 1.375 O.D. with a .7/.4/.7 butt. Even though it has something like 175,000 ksi shear strength it will still be soft because of the diameter and dent very easily because of the wall thickness. But it is also about as lite as a typical aluminum down tube.
Where aluminum actually builds a lighter frame is in the dropouts, BB and heat tube.
Ti is actually close to the weight of steel when you look at it as a material but like steel people tend to use small tubes to make a lite frame.
The great thing about steel is the almost limitless choice of tubes. You can really tune a ride to a persons body weight and style. Trying to tune a ride with aluminum is dificult because of a relativly limited choice of diameters, butts and materials. Unless of coourse you are ordering a couple thousand units, but then its not custom is it? |
| It's not just the materials, but how the materials are use.. | Locoman
Apr 26, 2003 8:45 AM | | While material is important, how it's used is just as important. The design and implementation go a long way in deciding the characteristics of a frame.
Bottom line: Don't judge a bike strictly on material, but how the material was used. |
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