Mountain Bike Frame Carbon Vs Aluminum

Modern day trends often err on the side of either carbon or aluminum.

Mountain bike frame carbon vs aluminum. Global cycling network 1 201 681 views. Just as one impact of this nature could break an aluminum frame and not a carbon frame repeated stresses in this manner would cause an aluminum frame to break sooner as well. Carbon mountain bike vs aluminium mountain bike. The perception is that if an aluminum product is bent in a crash it s the fault of the crash.

Steel and aluminum can bend and or dent. Wheels in particular will make a huge difference in bike weight and how heavy it actually feels when riding. There are two main frame materials you will encounter when deciding to buy a mountain bike carbon and aluminium. Go look at the singletrack sampler on youtube.

The process of manufacturing a carbon frame allows the builders to place the carbon weaves in a manner that provides stiffness yet dampens road vibrations. The frame defines the identity of a bike and without it a bike is nothing. It s a relatively light and stiff material and generally cheaper to produce than carbon. A carbon frame with low end components can end up weighing the same or more than a nice aluminum frame with high end components.

Adding a carbon seat post carbon fork or carbon handlebar can help dampen road vibrations and increase comfort when riding an aluminum frame. Mix play all mix global mountain bike network youtube carbon fiber vs aluminium 5 things you didn t know about aluminium duration. On a carbon bike the catastrophic failure point is much higher than an aluminum bike due to the flex qualities of the carbon material. As far as reputible brands making good frames.

Most of the bikes ridden at world cup enduro world series level will be carbon although it isn t ubiquitous but it would be simplistic and maybe even wrong to say that carbon is objectively better. So it s not a surprise that a lot of what goes into choosing a bike comes down to choosing the correct frame and with the frame it comes down to material construction. But an aluminum frame wouldn t have come out of that crash in usable condition. Mountain bike action is a monthly magazine devoted to all things mountain biking.

It s not a secret that it s a lot easier to fashion a lighter frame from carbon than it is from aluminium. Carbon frames are just as stiff as aluminum. Aluminium was the leader when it came to frame material before carbon become more accessible. Let s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each material.