You’re all geared up to buy a new bike. However, what confuses you is seeing there are various frame material available in the market, and what to go for ideally. Do you want to invest in a long-lasting one? Is weight a preference? Do you want a big brand bike or one from your local bike shop? Are you looking out for something unique? Each bike frame material has its positive and negative side.
You can clear out all these doubts and a lot more by understanding the bike frame material to buy according to your set budget and proposed use.
Aluminum Bike Frame Material
Bicycle frames made of aluminum material are existing from about 30 years ago. In fact, today, it is the most common bike frame material. It is less dense; as a result, the frames are not heavy. Further, due to its decreased density, aluminum needs larger tube diameters to produce sufficient strength for the frame. This material doesn’t oxidize as well. So, its stiffness and lightness both make it the leading choice for bikes with any suspension.
Steel
Steels mostly have similar inherent weight as well as stiffness. These days many quality bike frames are using a combination of a little chromium and molybdenum, known as Chromoly, with steel. This blend of alloys makes the bike frame strong enough. Further, the strength of steel enables developers to design some amount of flex by applying thinner tubes. Thus, it leads to a springiness or active feel while riding. Aluminum can’t do this justice because when it flexes, it exhausts the metal, and it fails. Steel frames are further cheap and quite easy to repair.
Carbon Fiber
When some identical parallel fibers bind together, it generates a ply. So, a lot of plies are formed up to create a laminate. This material, when designed rightly, can be very tough yet light as well. The carbon fiber material can bend and recover its shape; eventually, this makes it long-lasting too. Thus, carbon fiber for bikes is remarkably stronger. If you are wondering why still all bike frame materials are not of carbon fiber, it is because of brittleness, and it is very costly too.
Titanium Bike Frame Material
This material possesses an outstanding balance of qualities for frame building and blending stability with a lower weight. Titanium frames are partially as strong as steel and also partly as compact. The most durable titanium compounds are relative to the hardest steels. Moreover, stiff titanium frames for bikes need a bigger diameter of tubes than the steel frames, though not as large as aluminum material.
Also, titanium frames are extremely corrosion resistant and really light. It can be stiff as well as strong enough for heavier riders. However, bike frames made of titanium are costly not barely due to the material costs, but also because of meticulously done welding to avoid decay and precision machining.
We’re pleased to refine the frame materials for you, hope now you can buy the right one for you and enjoy the ride.
