Mountain Biking - Full Carbon Mt Bikes

Anyone riding a full carbon Mt Bike? How is it holding up any fears?
The sudden failure issue is scarey for me....Curious?

Does a pole vaulter worry about catastrophic failure every time he comes down the runway? Have poles failed completely in the past? Yes. Is it likely to happen to you on any given day? Probably not.

In this era, I would be much more concerned about the niggling, like separation at points of bonding of dissimilar materials, like at suspension pivots and such, than about complete frame failure.

Just a few examples of carbon MTBs: This guy (http://www.mwbikes.com/), and this guy (http://www.carbonmike.sk/), and this other guy (http://www.lahrcycles.com/). Also this crazy dude (http://bcdracing.com/frames/frameindex.html).

This guy rides a recumbent (http://mark.rehorst.com/CF_Bike/index.html), but still. And as long as I mentioned recumbents, here's a roadie. (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/howibuil.htm)

This is just from the DIY scene (which I have take to with sudden fascination). They're all riding around, having a good time, and making the occasional patch when something looks like it might be coming unglued. No catastrophic failures here.

Does a pole vaulter worry about catastrophic failure every time he comes down the runway? Have poles failed completely in the past? Yes. Is it likely to happen to you on any given day? Probably not.

In this era, I would be much more concerned about the niggling, like separation at points of bonding of dissimilar materials, like at suspension pivots and such, than about complete frame failure.


I have my doubts on Carbon Fiber now, Our school track and field team had catastrophic event, our star pole vaulter went down the runway, went to vault, and it snapped when he was up. he came down and hit with head trama.

Anyone riding a full carbon Mt Bike? How is it holding up any fears?
The sudden failure issue is scarey for me....Curious?


i have a specialized full carbon s works epic. no problems yet.

I have my doubts on Carbon Fiber now, Our school track and field team had catastrophic event, our star pole vaulter went down the runway, went to vault, and it snapped when he was up. he came down and hit with head trama.

How many times did he vault and have his pole work without snapping? **** happens, it's part of life. Take the necessary precautions, sure, but don't live in fear because of a rare occurrence or single isolated incident. Carbon bikes can potentially fail, but so can any material. Sure, it's harder to notice damage to a carbon frame than it is to an aluminum frame, but then you take into consideration how many riders downhill on carbon and don't have their bikes explode...

Like dminor says, I'd worry more about the glue than a tube or other structural member. My Trek OCLV had a glue failure on the rear dropout/seatstay junction on landing a small bit of air popping off a rock in the trail. Fortunately I didn't get hurt, although I came to an unexpected and sudden stop as the tire slammed into the frame. My buddy with me was a talented mechanic and was able to fit the stay/dropout back together for a tentative ride home, and also to confirm to Trek that it indeed happened (their opinion was that it didn't happen until he got on the phone with them and instructed their guy just where to whack the frame to make it pop apart again). Trek had already replaced the frame due to glue failure in the bb shell interface before that (which was simply annoying). I'm not too fond of carbon bikes any more, nor Trek as they told me I no longer had a lifetime warranty after the last issue...

The biggest problem in the sporting goods industry is there are no standards for CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) like in other industries.

The absolute best CFRP, manufactured to the highest standards, is marketed as "Carbon Fiber".

The worst CFRP is also marketed as "Carbon Fiber".

The a**holes in marketing left off the "reinforced plastic" part because it didn't sound sexy enough.

Buyer beware.

Carbon fiber is a fine material, if you get a carbon fiber mountain bike they are going to make it as strong as possible, the technology has evolved a hell of a lot since the first carbon fiber bike was made. You should not have any trouble with the frame. That being said I prefer titanium as a high end frame material and Steel as a lower end material to Aluminum, which also has the if you damage it, it is ruined thing that CF has.

Carbon fiber is a fine material, if you get a carbon fiber mountain bike they are going to make it as strong as possible, the technology has evolved a hell of a lot since the first carbon fiber bike was made. You should not have any trouble with the frame. That being said I prefer titanium as a high end frame material and Steel as a lower end material to Aluminum, which also has the if you damage it, it is ruined thing that CF has.


You offer an opinion and one I read daily in the mags. However, I really wanted someone who rides one offer up some insights. The stuff while great I have a full carbon roady, I feel may explode on the trail. Rock dings, falls on rocks, droppig it and crashing. I know in theory it is as strong and stronger than metal.....but it tends to have sudden failure issues..I was curious who had one ....

While my problems were with my own carbon frame, I do recall someone who came in our shop trying to diagnose a problem that turned out to be a crack in his carbon swingarm (on a Trek xc sort of bike, don't remember the model); he said he had heard a sharp sound when crossing a rocky creek. I have also seen a carbon bar break in a crash (instantly on hitting the ground). I have seen three carbon seat posts that broke during rides but wasn't present. Can't think of any other examples at the moment, although I think I'm missing at least one other...

Lahar mtb (yeah, some of you have seen it before)

http://www.laharbikes.com/

http://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/DazzLahar.JPG

not to mention Trimble MTB

http://www.trimblemtb.com/Main.html

http://www.trimblemtb.com/29Frame_files/29r%20bike%202-3.jpg

bet you they are mega light.

You offer an opinion and one I read daily in the mags. However, I really wanted someone who rides one offer up some insights. The stuff while great I have a full carbon roady, I feel may explode on the trail. Rock dings, falls on rocks, droppig it and crashing. I know in theory it is as strong and stronger than metal.....but it tends to have sudden failure issues..I was curious who had one ....

Well I can tell you specialized and Cannondale offer lifetime warranties on their frames, I know a fair amount of people that ride them and have never had any trouble. The sudden failure issues are with a carbon that is an old technology, the carbon today is not of the same grade it was even 5 years ago, it is stronger and lighter.

Where's MX_599 when you need him? He has himself a sweet CF rig that is built to see some pretty agressive use. I'm pretty sure he's not worried it's going to explode under him.

Here's a little vid on the Mojo SL that shows just how versatile one li'l ol' CF platform can be (watch particularly for the AM/FR segment):

YouTube - Ibis Mojo

im still a little hesitant on CF mountain bikes as well, however if i was given an ibis mojo i would ride the crap out of it without doubt

You offer an opinion and one I read daily in the mags. However, I really wanted someone who rides one offer up some insights. The stuff while great I have a full carbon roady, I feel may explode on the trail. Rock dings, falls on rocks, droppig it and crashing. I know in theory it is as strong and stronger than metal.....but it tends to have sudden failure issues..I was curious who had one ....
Ive been riding this carbon hardtail since 05'
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r212/2hick2b4real/IMG_0127.jpg
No Problems at all.
Next bike has carbon lowers on the fork.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r212/2hick2b4real/Picture089.jpg
What can I say? I live on the edge:roflmao2:

I have my doubts on Carbon Fiber now, Our school track and field team had catastrophic event, our star pole vaulter went down the runway, went to vault, and it snapped when he was up. he came down and hit with head trama.

Most vaulting pole breaks (fiberglass or CF) are caused by one of two things:

1. It has a BIG scratch or someone spiked it by accident. This is why its a HUGE faux pas to step on, kick, trip over etc a pole with spikes, or even with shoes. This is also why at most meets they have someone catching the pole before it hits the ground.

2. It's not the right pole/you're pulling on it. If you vault on a pole that is too soft for you, its very obvious, and you don't jump well. If you pull, you over-bend it and are basically trying to break it. And you won't jump well.

IMHO a CF frame wouldn't be worth it. Sure it would be really light, but there are so many ways a frame can get a gouge or scratch. For recumbent or road bikes, it would be great, but is it worth all the trouble of searching the entire frame before each ride or fall when you can find metal frames that are also extremely light?