Carbon Aluminum Bike Frame

In many cases bike brands will offer both aluminum and carbon frame options to fit a range of riders budgets.

Carbon aluminum bike frame.

Carbon frames are usually a bit lighter than aluminum up to a pound for mountain frames and up to a half pound on road frames. A carbon frame will almost always be lighter than an aluminum equivalent. Cannondale caad12 is a famously good aluminium frame aluminium was the leader when it came to frame material before carbon become more accessible. Some manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on their aluminum frames but most offer five to 10 years.

Carbon however rules supreme in this area. Usually aluminum is mixed with silicon magnesium or zinc to make it stronger and more durable. Ride quality is more noticeable on road frames than mountain frames with vibrations being damped by carbon more so than aluminum. Types of aluminum bike frames.

6061 and 7005 are the most common types of aluminum used for bike frames. Conversely carbon possesses the longest fatigue life. Of the two 6061 is slightly better due to its lower weight. It s possible to build very light and capable bikes out of either aluminum or carbon.

The typical aluminum frame possesses a life expectancy of five to 10 years. The density of modern carbon fiber is about 1 9 g cm 3 compared to aluminum which has a density of about 2 3 g cm 3. A carbon fibre frame will almost always be lighter than an aluminium equivalent and you ll only find carbon fibre bikes in the pro peloton in part because of the weight benefits. Aluminum is extremely popular for full suspension mountain bikes where its ability.

Most manufacturers provide a lifetime warranty on carbon frames. Aluminum mountain bike frames weigh around 1 pound more than comparable carbon frames. It s worth noting that not all carbon fibre is equal and it s possible that a low grade carbon frame could weigh more than a high end aluminum frame. Carbon fiber frames are lighter than aluminum frames because the material is less dense.

It s a relatively light and stiff material and. That begs the obvious question is a 1 5 pound weight saving worth the extra cash. The transition smuggler aluminum frame sells for 1999 while the carbon version sells for 2999 a 1000 difference. That s a 1300 difference.

When it comes to the strength to weight ratio few materials can come close to carbon fiber. The aluminum santa cruz bronson frame sells for 1999 while the carbon cc version sells for 3299.