Carbon Frames Worth The Extra $$?
#26
Moar cowbell
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: The 509
Posts: 12,481
Bikes: Bike list is not a resume. Nobody cares.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
__________________
RST Suspension | Canfield Bikes | 7iDP Protection | Maxxis | Renthal | Hayes | VonZipper Optics | GoPro
Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
#27
Senior Member
Ibis does a test where they take a vertical pole and thread it through the Mojo BB so the frame is horizontal. Then, a 200+ pound man can stand on the head tube and bounce up and down. (They do more actual testing, and the weights the Mojo XC-style frame can handle surpass most pure DH bikes.)
To give you an idea... Brian Lopes races Ibis frames. He does 8-foot drops. Races pure downhill. Beats the crap out of things that are prototypes. He's only cracked one frame in all of his time being sponsored by Ibis. Just watch his racing, you'll see why he's far more brutal on frames than you'll probably ever be.
People keep thinking carbon is fragile... it's not really, it's the fact that weight weenie companies aim for some marketing term at the expense of strength. Once you factor that in, then the only thing that carbon suffers from RE strength vs. other materials is clamping force, and more susceptibility to chain suck, but that's handled with a few metal bits here and there. You just have to buy the right bike.
#28
Time for a change.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Posts: 19,913
Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
Do not get me wrong but I used to be a fibre glass laminator. C.F.- Kevlar and other such materials do have strength behind them but they also have a fault. A sharp knock and although it may not appear on the outside- It can be severely damaged internally. That damage can make it fail at any time-even months later.
Now it is possible to make C.F. stronger- even strong enough to take knocks- and that is by making it thicker or incorporating other materials in the construction. Defeats the main object of having C.F. for lightness though.
And I do have a C.F. bike- a road bike. Even have a lightweight version of one. I don't think it handles any better than a good quality aluminium frame but that is probably down to preference.
Now it is possible to make C.F. stronger- even strong enough to take knocks- and that is by making it thicker or incorporating other materials in the construction. Defeats the main object of having C.F. for lightness though.
And I do have a C.F. bike- a road bike. Even have a lightweight version of one. I don't think it handles any better than a good quality aluminium frame but that is probably down to preference.
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
#29
Pint-Sized Gnar Shredder
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Somewhere between heaven and hell
Posts: 3,549
Bikes: '09 Jamis Komodo, '09 Mirraco Blend One, '08 Cervelo P2C, '08 Specialized Ruby Elite, '07 Yeti AS-R SL, '07 DMR Drone
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#30
Time for a change.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Posts: 19,913
Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
Aluminium frames are a lot better than they used to be- they handle and are light weight. And the best bit about them- in comparison to CF or Titanium- they are cheap.
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
#31
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: T.O.
Posts: 174
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Well, I ended up with a cf bike, after all. Not the SJ expert I was looking at, though. I got a brand new 2006 S-Works Stumpy for an amazing price at a bike show in Toronto.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...=06Stumpjumper
They made me an offer I couldn't refuse.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...=06Stumpjumper
They made me an offer I couldn't refuse.
#32
Official Website Waterboy
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,271
Bikes: a lot
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
WOW U Saw through the 90 + percent that never rode a carbon mountain bike? Awesome... you won't regret it.
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 622
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Well, I ended up with a cf bike, after all. Not the SJ expert I was looking at, though. I got a brand new 2006 S-Works Stumpy for an amazing price at a bike show in Toronto.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...=06Stumpjumper
They made me an offer I couldn't refuse.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...=06Stumpjumper
They made me an offer I couldn't refuse.
Last edited by mystolenbikes; 03-08-10 at 11:54 PM.
#35
Single-serving poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 5,098
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Don't buy old elastomer forks that is for sure!
#36
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: T.O.
Posts: 174
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
I have no experience with hydraulic brakes. But from what I've read, I was expecting these brakes to be more "grabby" than they are. I think I will change the fluid.
Now I just have to do some reasearch on how to do it. I guess I could take it to a bike shop, but i prefer to be self sufficient as much as possible.
The bike only cost me $2999.00 CDA , so I'm not going to quibble about any minor initial maintenence I need to do.
Now I just have to do some reasearch on how to do it. I guess I could take it to a bike shop, but i prefer to be self sufficient as much as possible.
The bike only cost me $2999.00 CDA , so I'm not going to quibble about any minor initial maintenence I need to do.
#37
Single-serving poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 5,098
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I have no experience with hydraulic brakes. But from what I've read, I was expecting these brakes to be more "grabby" than they are. I think I will change the fluid.
Now I just have to do some reasearch on how to do it. I guess I could take it to a bike shop, but i prefer to be self sufficient as much as possible.
The bike only cost me $2999.00 CDA , so I'm not going to quibble about any minor initial maintenence I need to do.
Now I just have to do some reasearch on how to do it. I guess I could take it to a bike shop, but i prefer to be self sufficient as much as possible.
The bike only cost me $2999.00 CDA , so I'm not going to quibble about any minor initial maintenence I need to do.
#38
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: T.O.
Posts: 174
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Thanks for the tip, electric.
The guy who sold me the bike told me to bring the bike into their store in about two weeks to see if anything needs tweaking. So I'll get them to check out the brakes and fork while I'm there.
The guy who sold me the bike told me to bring the bike into their store in about two weeks to see if anything needs tweaking. So I'll get them to check out the brakes and fork while I'm there.
#39
Commuter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hoddesdon, UK
Posts: 256
Bikes: Handsome Dog Titanium (Work) Santa Cruz Superlight (Play) Kona Stinky (Real Play)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you like the carbon frame over the AL then get it for the weight saving alone, if you want durability then get a Ti hardtail. If money is the main factor then the AL will be a very similar ride but a bit heavier, certainly no more durable in a big crash.
Choccy...
Last edited by Choccy; 07-17-11 at 04:58 AM. Reason: typo
#40
.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: The Summit of Lee
Posts: 10,939
Bikes: Hecklah
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
It's been a year and a half, Choccy. I think a decision has long been made.
Oh, & I bought a dented frame off ebay that I still ride. Nothing wrong with dents as long as it's a quality frame and there's no creasing.
Oh, & I bought a dented frame off ebay that I still ride. Nothing wrong with dents as long as it's a quality frame and there's no creasing.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rbloem
Road Cycling
163
10-17-11 06:47 PM