Mountain Bike Frames – Different Materials For Different Applications
The cost of a mountain bike frame is directly related the material used in its construction, as well as the treatment that the material has received.
Currently, there are five types of material used in mountain bike frames - high tensile steel, chromoly steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber.
High tensile steel is a very durable and inexpensive alloy that's found in entry level mountain bikes. It features a high carbon content which makes it less stiff than chromoly steel, so more material is needed to make it stiff enough for a frame, which will in turn make it that much heavier.
Chromoly steel or more commonly know simply as chromoly, is best described by its major additives - chromium and molybdenum. This is probably the most refined framing material, giving many years of dependable service. Depending on the type of heat treating and butting, you can find this material in bikes of all price ranges. The chromoly steel material offers very good durability and a compliant ride characteristic.
Aluminum has been refined pretty much in the same way as chromoly. There have been various alloys developed, as well as heat treatment and butting. Aluminum is a light material, so some frames are available in an oversized in diameter to increase stiffness without adding much to the overall weight. A dual suspension mountain bike frame is often made with aluminum, since it's generally the stiffest and most cost effective.
Titanium frames remain expensive because it takes longer to weld the tubes to the frame. Titanium is considered an alloy, usually mixed with small amounts of vanadium and aluminum to give it better weldability and ride characteristics.
More compliant than chromoly, it offers better fatigue and corrosion properties.
Carbon fiber is a man made composite material, and is extremely light, strong and stiff. The frame can be custom designed to increase strength in specific areas, and reduce weight in others. A carbon fiber frame was used initially for the professional level sport rider, due to their initial high cost, but they are now available on more everyday bikes.
The material you choose for your bike, all depends on where you ride, what style you use and how much you are willing to pay.
Almost all materials will last you for years, as long as you take care of your bike and treat the frame with some respect.
Framing Materials Of Your Mountain Bike
The cost of a mountain bike frame is proportionate to its material, as well as the treatment that material has received. Currently, there are five types of material used in mountain bikes - high tensile steel, chromoly steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. Oversized diameters, heat treating, and butting are tubing material treatments that will increase the cost of a frame as well.
High tensile steel This is a very durable alloy that's found in lower priced mountain bikes. It offers a high carbon content which makes it less stiff than chromoly steel, so more materials are needed to make it stiff enough for bicycle frames, which will in turn make it that much heavier.
Relatively inexpensive to produce, you'll find this material in trail bikes, city bikes, and even entry level mountain bikes. There are some bikes that come with a chromoly seat tube, while the rest is high tensile steel.
Chromoly steel Short for steel alloy, chromoly is best described by its major additives - chromium and molybdenum. This is probably the most refined framing material, giving over 100 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 all the way up to 1,500 and beyond. The chromoly steel material offers very good durability and a compliant ride characteristic.
Aluminum For the past 15 years, aluminum has been refined in pretty much the same way as chromoly. There have been various alloys developed, as well as heat treatment, oversizing, and butting. With dual suspension bikes, aluminum is the preferred material as it's the stiffest and most cost effective.
Aluminum is stiffer than chromoly, and therefore it will crack before chromoly. Of course, this depends on how you ride and how much abuse you give the frame. The advantages of aluminum is that the frame is very light and very stiff through oversizing or butting.
Titanium Even thought it's somewhat exotic, the prices for this material have come down over the last few years. Frames made of titanium remain expensive because it takes longer to weld the tubes to the frame.
Titanium is considered an alloy, normally mixed with small amounts of vanadium and aluminum to give it better weldability and ride characteristics. More compliant than chromoly, it offers better fatigue and corrosion properties.
The material you choose for your bike, all depends on where you ride and what style you use. Almost all materials will last you for years, as long as you take care of your bike and treat the frame with some respect.