How Long do Bikes Last?
#76
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I can't think of a good reason to trash a bike other than a collision or a cracked frame. Everything that wears on the bike normally is replaceable. Wheels are going to need replacing, especially if they have rim brakes. Bearings in the axle wear out, but they're trivial to fix. Spokes break, again, trivial to fix. Bottom bracket and drivetrain, again, easy to fix, not expensive.
My first real bike for commuting was a $300 aluminum framed hybrid. I put 32,000 miles on it in about 10 years, I gave it away and it's still getting used.
Frames should last many decades, really.
My first real bike for commuting was a $300 aluminum framed hybrid. I put 32,000 miles on it in about 10 years, I gave it away and it's still getting used.
Frames should last many decades, really.
#77
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When you say major mfg conduct tests, it is really questionable.
Im reminded about the new LED light bulbs. The mfg make claims they will last 10 years or more. How can they say that when there is no high output LED bulbs that old!!!
What it amounts to is mfg can claim most anything, and few if any will call them on their claims.
Im reminded about the new LED light bulbs. The mfg make claims they will last 10 years or more. How can they say that when there is no high output LED bulbs that old!!!
What it amounts to is mfg can claim most anything, and few if any will call them on their claims.
#78
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Hi, I'm writing a paper about how 'green' bikes are. I'm having trouble find solid information on how many years an average bike will last before being re-cycled and how much of a bicycle can be re-cycled.
It seems logical to me that a well made bike, properly maintained should easily last 20-30 years, but there doesn't seem to be any figures to support this. Also a metal framed bike must be almost completely re-cyclable for scap except for the tyres.
I'm not asking anyone to write my paper, just point me off in the right direction.
It seems logical to me that a well made bike, properly maintained should easily last 20-30 years, but there doesn't seem to be any figures to support this. Also a metal framed bike must be almost completely re-cyclable for scap except for the tyres.
I'm not asking anyone to write my paper, just point me off in the right direction.
Last edited by baron von trail; 09-28-15 at 11:15 AM.
#79
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Almost anything can be fixed. It's just how much money or effort to want to put into it looking for spare and replacement parts. As an example, how old is the oldest car you've ever seen on road? Some of those are vintage, restored and taken care of by hobby car collectors and enthusiasts.
Even though, in general, if you need to replace every component on a bike it might be cheaper to just buy a new bike, if you're keeping up on maintenance you never reach that point since parts wear out at different times. You might have to replace a bottom bracket one year, the next year a cassette and an axle, the year after that a headset, but it's never much as a percentage of the cost of the bike.
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#80
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As long as the frame is not damaged, bike can last decades. Though the ship of Theseus comes to mind.
I have an abused 1996 MTB. Frame, rack, bars, stem, shifters and FD are still the original ones.
One change of: BB, crankset, wheels, brakes, brake levers (swapped cantis to - v brakes, original levers were fine, as well as the front brake, rear one got broken), RD, mudguards (went for full metal ones, instead of sporty plastic ones), tire tubes, rim tape.
Several changes of tyres, chains, cassettes, brake and shifter cables and housings.
Oh, two rear wheels - got run over by a car.
I have an abused 1996 MTB. Frame, rack, bars, stem, shifters and FD are still the original ones.
One change of: BB, crankset, wheels, brakes, brake levers (swapped cantis to - v brakes, original levers were fine, as well as the front brake, rear one got broken), RD, mudguards (went for full metal ones, instead of sporty plastic ones), tire tubes, rim tape.
Several changes of tyres, chains, cassettes, brake and shifter cables and housings.
Oh, two rear wheels - got run over by a car.
#82
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I studied Rene Descartes in Philosophy 102 or something like that. He asks if he puts back the melted candle wax would it be the same candle that burned? (He would never foresee teleportation as described in Star Trek). Then he goes on to discuss that if the devil is the master of deception, how would he or anyone know what really is the truth? And he ends with “I think therefore, I am.”
#83
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Bikes last until they asplode. Mostly, bikes outlast the people who buy them as they get used for awhile and then collect dust in the garage.
#84
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Had to replace frames because they were not compatible with the Vee-Brakes™ , or everyone stopped using six-speed hubs...
Had a cracked Bottom Bracket Shell on one of my favorite bikes, had to chuck it over the fence in the backyard. Someone eventually took it.
Wheels wear out, Spokes break. Handlebars snap off at the Stem sometimes. Brake pads wear out. The Vee-Brakes Pads have a piece of metal inside, so when it wears down , the steel starts to cut a grove into the aluminum rim.
Ball bearing turn black and crumble, cables snap, and steel rusts.
my 2¢
Had a cracked Bottom Bracket Shell on one of my favorite bikes, had to chuck it over the fence in the backyard. Someone eventually took it.
Wheels wear out, Spokes break. Handlebars snap off at the Stem sometimes. Brake pads wear out. The Vee-Brakes Pads have a piece of metal inside, so when it wears down , the steel starts to cut a grove into the aluminum rim.
Ball bearing turn black and crumble, cables snap, and steel rusts.
my 2¢
#85
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This is only true of steel bikes. Aluminum and carbon fiber don't easily last 50 years. But aluminum makes up the bulk of present-day bicycle sales. And even in the world of steel it's not a guarantee. You get some fancy super-thin steel tubing on your club bike and it's not gonna last 50 years. My warhorse, built before Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister, got dinged by some idiot while it was locked to a bike rack a while back. Now that ding is propagating into a crack and it's gonna be unrideable pretty soon. Note that that bicycle although nearly 40 years old, spent a solid chunk of its life in a dusty old shop.
#86
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Not to mention that bikes are the real "volkswagon" in that they are very "people repairable."
Your comment about the Ti Frames and finding components is what has actually kept me from plunking down money on a nice new Ti bike... parts are simply too non-interchangeable these days. Look at the 9 speed/10 speed/11 speed Campy shifters and the differences between them and Shimano... Everything is too specialized, and in 10 years, likely to be outdated and no longer available.
Your comment about the Ti Frames and finding components is what has actually kept me from plunking down money on a nice new Ti bike... parts are simply too non-interchangeable these days. Look at the 9 speed/10 speed/11 speed Campy shifters and the differences between them and Shimano... Everything is too specialized, and in 10 years, likely to be outdated and no longer available.
Parts availability is generally fine (finding 10 cog parts is not a problem 15 years after that was introduced), and incremental changes are far less expensive than a whole new bike - I have about $600 in my Record Titanium derailleurs and Centaur Carbon Ultrashift levers (same as Record with a 10 speed index cam) although at the time new Chorus bikes were selling for over $4000. Less attractive components imported from the UK would have made that a $250-$300 conversion.
I wonder also what the life span is of "plastic bikes;" all the CF frames that are coming out these days. While they are corrosion resistant... they are not UV resistant, and a few dings can be the beginning of a delamination failure.
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 10-06-15 at 08:23 PM.
#87
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The actual bike, call it the frame and forks, can last 50 years, easily, but all of the components would have been replaced many times. My guess is all components except perhaps the derailleurs, seat post, handle bars and a few low wear items like the crank set, brake calipers, and hand levers would have been replaced within 10 years. Chains, bearings, cassettes, tires all need replaced every 2000-5000 miles. Rims tend to go to crap pretty quick too if you ride hard--say within 10,000 miles.
Rims appropriate for rider weight last for a very long time (the "40" in Mavic's MA-40 came from the 40,000 kilometer expected life) if you don't bend them or wear out the brake tracks with wet road grit. I was riding a 12 year old 400 gram Reflex clincher front rim until I grew past 200 pounds which didn't match, and the Open Pro rear was older when I switched to training with power.
As of Monday I had 9344 miles on the 32 hole Velocity Fusion, DT 2.0/1.5mm Revolution, PowerTap SL wheelset I built in April 2014. I had to true the front wheel after my light battery fell off and stretched a spoke although otherwise they're like new.
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 10-06-15 at 08:21 PM.
#88
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I've been riding the same titanium frame since 1997 starting with 8 cogs Campagnolo, adding an index cam and freehubs for 9 in 2000 when they discontinued my favorite cassette, and moving on to 10 cogs in 2012 with new shifters and derailleurs when I finally wore out a discontinued spring in my right shift lever.
Parts availability is generally fine (finding 10 cog parts is not a problem 15 years after that was introduced), and incremental changes are far less expensive than a whole new bike - I have about $600 in my Record Titanium derailleurs and Centaur Carbon Ultrashift levers (same as Record with a 10 speed index cam) although at the time new Chorus bikes were selling for over $4000. Less attractive components imported from the UK would have made that a $250-$300 conversion.
Likely indefinite unless crashed or crunched.
Parts availability is generally fine (finding 10 cog parts is not a problem 15 years after that was introduced), and incremental changes are far less expensive than a whole new bike - I have about $600 in my Record Titanium derailleurs and Centaur Carbon Ultrashift levers (same as Record with a 10 speed index cam) although at the time new Chorus bikes were selling for over $4000. Less attractive components imported from the UK would have made that a $250-$300 conversion.
I wonder also what the life span is of "plastic bikes;" all the CF frames that are coming out these days. While they are corrosion resistant... they are not UV resistant, and a few dings can be the beginning of a delamination failure.
#89
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I disagree... as minor dings, such as scratching the frame against a brick wall or dropping the bike accidentally can damage the gel coat finish that protects the inner fiber/resin compound... and lead to delamination. By the same token, a steel bike dinged in a similar manner will end up with rust pits that weaken the frame... Ti on the other hand will suffer from neither of these flaws.
2 years with no delamination:
6 years (I ran it into a speed bump):
18 years:
While it has different failure modes (heat my favorite epoxy to 180 degrees and shear strength drops from 2000 psi to 1000), carbon fiber reinforced plastic is tough stuff.
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 10-07-15 at 12:13 PM.
#90
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Gel coat is not just cosmetic when it comes to composites with an epoxy matrix. Those composite materials that have an epoxy matrix (typical for a bicycle) are hygroscopic. If not protected by a top coat they will absorb water and weaken.
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