Mountain Bike Frames - What Are The Materials Currently Used?
The cost of a mountain bike frame is proportionate to its material, as well as the treatment that material has received. When it comes to mountain bikes, there are 5 types of materials used namely high tensile steel, chromoly steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. Tubing material treatments that will increase the frame's cost are oversized diameters, heat treating, and butting.
High tensile steel facts This is a very durable alloy that's found in lower priced mountain bikes. It offers a high carbon content which makes it less stiff than chromoly steel, so more materials are needed to make it stiff enough for bicycle frames, which will in turn make it that much heavier.
This material is relatively inexpensive to produce and is used in city bikes, entry level mountain bikes, and trail bikes. There are bikes that have chromoly seat tube and others have high tensile steel.
Chromoly steel facts Short for steel alloy, chromoly is best described by its major additives - chromium and molybdenum. This framing material is the most refined and can give over 100 years of dependable service.
This material can be found in bikes as low as $400 up to $1500 and beyond, depending on the type of heat treating and butting. The chromoly steel material offers very good durability and a compliant ride characteristic.
Aluminum Aluminum has been refined the same way as chromoly for the past 15 years. Various alloys, heat treatment, oversizing, and butting have been developed. Aluminum is the stiffest and most cost effective material which is why it's the preferred material for dual suspension bikes.
Because aluminum is not as stiff as chromoly, it will crack first. How you ride and how much abuse you give the frame is what this will depend on. The frame is very light and stiff through oversizing and butting and this is an advantage of aluminum.
Titanium Even thought it's somewhat exotic, the prices for this material have come down over the last few years. Remaining expensive are the frames made of titanium because welding the tubes to the frame takes longer.
Titanium is an alloy that can have better welding ability and ride characteristics when mixed with small amounts of vanadium and aluminum. It offers better fatigue and corrosion properties and is more compliant than chromoly.
Your chosen material for your bike would depend on the style you use and where you ride. As long as you take care of your bike and treat the frame with respect, then almost all materials will last you for years.
High tensile steel facts This is a very durable alloy that's found in lower priced mountain bikes. It offers a high carbon content which makes it less stiff than chromoly steel, so more materials are needed to make it stiff enough for bicycle frames, which will in turn make it that much heavier.
This material is relatively inexpensive to produce and is used in city bikes, entry level mountain bikes, and trail bikes. There are bikes that have chromoly seat tube and others have high tensile steel.
Chromoly steel facts Short for steel alloy, chromoly is best described by its major additives - chromium and molybdenum. This framing material is the most refined and can give over 100 years of dependable service.
This material can be found in bikes as low as $400 up to $1500 and beyond, depending on the type of heat treating and butting. The chromoly steel material offers very good durability and a compliant ride characteristic.
Aluminum Aluminum has been refined the same way as chromoly for the past 15 years. Various alloys, heat treatment, oversizing, and butting have been developed. Aluminum is the stiffest and most cost effective material which is why it's the preferred material for dual suspension bikes.
Because aluminum is not as stiff as chromoly, it will crack first. How you ride and how much abuse you give the frame is what this will depend on. The frame is very light and stiff through oversizing and butting and this is an advantage of aluminum.
Titanium Even thought it's somewhat exotic, the prices for this material have come down over the last few years. Remaining expensive are the frames made of titanium because welding the tubes to the frame takes longer.
Titanium is an alloy that can have better welding ability and ride characteristics when mixed with small amounts of vanadium and aluminum. It offers better fatigue and corrosion properties and is more compliant than chromoly.
Your chosen material for your bike would depend on the style you use and where you ride. As long as you take care of your bike and treat the frame with respect, then almost all materials will last you for years.
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