The price of a mountain bike frame is proportionate to the materialo it is constructed from, as well as the treatment that the material has been given. at present, there are four examples of materials used for mountain bike construction – aluminum, titanium, high tensile steel, chromoly steel, and carbon fiber. Adding to the cost of the fame are other treatments such as oversized diameters, heat treating and butting.
High tensile steel: This is an immensely durable alloy that is found in lower priced mountain bikes. It has a greater carbon content which makes it less rigid than chromoly steel, for this reason more materials are needed to make it rigid enough for
bicycle frames, which will logical make it that muchheavier.
Measurably inexpensive to produce, you can find this material in trail bikes, city bikes, and even entry level mountain bikes. There will be some bikes that come with a chromoly seat tube, while the rest is high tensile steel.
Chromoly steel: Short for steel alloy, chromoly is adequately described by its major additives – chromium and molybdenum. This is definitelythe most refined framing material, giving over one hunderd years of dependable service.
Depending on the type of heat treating and butting, you can find this material in bikes as low as 400 dollars and all the way up to fifteen hundred dollars and above. The chromoly steel material affords very good durability and a accommodating ride characteristic.
Aluminum: For over the past fifteen years, aluminum has been refined in more or less the same way as chromoly. There have been different alloys constructed, as well as heat treatment, oversizing, and butting. With dual suspension bikes, aluminum is the best material as it is the stiffest and most cost effective.
Aluminum is even stiffer than chromoly, because of that it will crack before chromoly. Definitely, this depends on how you ride and how much abuse you give the bicycle frame. The advantages of aluminum is that the frame is exceptionally light and exceptionally stiff through oversizing or butting.
Titanium: Even thought it’s considered exotic, the prices for titanium have been reduced over the last few years. Frames made of titanium are still expensive because it takes longer to weld the tubes into a frame. Titanium is considered an alloy, normally mixed with low amounts of vanadium and aluminum which give it better weldability and ride characteristics.
More compliant than chromoly, it offers more beneficial fatigue and corrosion attributes.
The material you choose for your bicyle, all will be dependent on where you ride and what type of style you use. Nearly all materials will last you for many years, as long as you take care of your bicycle and treat the frame with a bit of respect.
The material you choose for your bicyle, all will be dependent on where you ride and what type of style you use. Nearly all materials will last you for many years, as long as you take care of your bicycle and treat the frame with a bit of respect.