What type of material is best for building bicycle frames?

Question

Steel, Aluminum, Titanium, or Carbon fiber

First I would like to thank everyone for their answers, But for me nothing can beat a lugged steel bicycle frame. I guess I'm just old school, and for me steel is real

Answer 1

All the answers you will get will reflect one's personal preferences. There are always a few exceptions to the blanket answers you will get. There are superlight steels that don't even get mentioned because of their limited availability (S3 is one). Steel is still the number one choice of custom frame builders and has a ride feel that is sought after by cycling aficionados. Titanium is flexy if you are a sprinter (unless you have a Litespeed Ultimate or a Moots or an Omega) or buy a lightweight Litepseed Ghisallo but solid enough if you are a mere mortal. Titanium will last virtually forever, it seems. Carbon Fiber is capable of building the ultimate bike as long as you don't crash it or are looking for the ride feel of a steel bike. Aluminum was the material of choice just a couple of years ago for racers because they were solid, stiff for the ultimate in power transfer, cheap and could be made comfortable by using Scandium or mating it with carbon fiber in sections of the frame. I won't cover every angle of this debate but read up on it in the internet. you'll get a million different answers.

Answer 2

They are all different, and will make a different frame with each material.

Steel is old-school and has been almost forgotten. But Reynolds has a new stainless tubeset that has a very good strength-to-weight ratio and is gaining popularity. It would make a very nice ride, and rust would not be an issue.

Aluminum is the material for sprinters and people that like abuse. Sure, it's light, but it does have a fatigue life due to its stiffness. Conversely, every fraction of a watt you put into the pedals goes into forward momentum.

Carbon fiber is becoming the wonder-material lately, as more manufacturers are learning how to exploit its properties to the fullest. Carbon absorbs vibrations, making it comfortable, and the tubes/joints can be laid up to give the exact qualities desired. It is lightweight, but has become a buzzword for the industry. Unlike other materials, not all carbon is the same. Since each tube is created from different materials, weaves, resins, designs and curing techniques, there are many more opportunities to have vastly different carbon fiber pieces. Conversely, 3/2.5 titanium is all about the same, 6000 series aluminum is all about the same, etc.

Titanium is my favorite. Compliant ride, corrosion-proof, easy to buff out scratches, light weight, superior fatigue life, and easy to repair. Difficult to work with, but far from rare; titanium is the eighth most abundant element on the planet, and most is used for paint. Buy titanium if you want a custom frame and never plan on buying another one.

Answer 3

This question opens a can of worms. Mostly made up of opinion and conjecture. And that is OK since it is a personal fit kind of thing.

I personally like a steel carbon combo.

-Titanium is comfortable but being a sprinter it feels like it flexes a little too much for me, real or imagined, who knows.
-Aluminum is stiff light and responsive and after 60 miles i just want off as the ride is a little harsh for me.
-Carbon fiber is stiff, light, and absorbs vibration, but even the treks, calfee's etc handle a little funny to me.
-Steel is all of these in some form or another depending on the type, tube size and quality of build. It can also be very light, though not quite as light as carbon or aluminum.

So of all materials and combos of most, the steel/carbon combo (steel front triangle/carbon rear triangle with a carbon fork gives the best: feel, weight, responsiveness, vibration dampening, geometry flexibility, handling, etc of all. Once again to me.

Answer 4

Exogrid... ;)

It depends on what you want to build, and what you're expecting on a frame. Aluminium is a great material overall, but CF and Ti are probably better for XC.

While I don't like CF for bikes personally, I think it's getting better and better, and we're seeing more variety in bikes build from carbon fiber.

Titanium will last a long time, and, in my personal opinion, nothing beats the look of it on a bike, it is flexier than CF, Al or steel. so it depends on what you want it for. If you want it for a XC hardtail, then it's probably a good option because the material will flex a little.

There are some very good steel alloys that are lightweight and make for a great hardtail.

Exogrid is something from Titus (well, Vyatec, but as far as I know, only Titus offers it). You take a Ti tube, laser cut it to make it thiner, and put a carbon fiber mesh inside. Maybe overkill? But people that have them swear by them.

Answer 5

Aluminum is the lightest steel utilized in bicycle frames. Carbon fiber isn't even a steel. that's plastic. Plastic fibers whose real power is set by making use of the glue (resin) that retains it mutually. Carbon is physically powerful regardless of the undeniable fact that that's no longer a steel. that's the main primary fabric because of the fact there's an more desirable earnings margin with carbon fiber frames. There for that's a significant money maker for the bicycle industry. by making use of the way, the lightest motorcycles accessible are somewhat made up of titanium- meaning that there are some titanium motorcycle frames that are insanely easy. regardless of the undeniable fact that, aluminum frames often, are the ligthest.

Answer 6

I usually go with an aluminum/carbon frame. I love how stiff aluminum is but, gotta have the carbon in there for those long rides.

Answer 7

Chromoly