The treatment the material received and the cost of the mountain bike frame is proportionate to its material. Currently, there are five types of material used in mountain bikes – high tensile steel, chromoly steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. Increasing the cost of the frame are tubing material treatments oversized diameters, butting, and heat treating.
High tensile steel facts 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.
Trail bikes, city bikes, and entry level mountain bikes is where this relatively inexpensive material is used. There are some bikes that come with a chromoly seat tube, while the rest is high tensile steel.
Chromoly steel facts Short for steel alloy, chromoly is best described by its major additives – chromium and molybdenum. This framing material is the most refined and can give over 100 years of dependable service.
This material can be found in bikes as low as $400 up to $1500 and beyond, depending on the type of heat treating and butting. The chromoly steel material offers very good durability and a compliant ride characteristic.
Aluminum Aluminum has been refined the same way as chromoly for the past 15 years. Various alloys, heat treatment, oversizing, and butting have been developed. Aluminum is the stiffest and most cost effective material which is why it’s the preferred material for dual suspension bikes.
Aluminum will crack before chromoly because it’s not as stiff. Of course, this depends on how you ride and how much abuse you give the frame. Aluminum has certain advantages such as the frame being very light and stiff because of butting and oversizing.
More on titanium The prices for this material has come down over the last few years even though it’s somewhat exotic. It takes longer to weld the tubes to the frames that are made of titanium which is why they remain expensive.
Titanium is considered an alloy, normally mixed with small amounts of vanadium and aluminum to give it better weldability and ride characteristics. Unlike chromoly, it’s more compliant and offers better corrosion and fatigue 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.
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