Originally Posted by jitenshajin

Try bending aluminium back into shape without it fracturing. You can't. Try finding someone who can weld aluminium in a far flung place. You won't. The same applies to new-fangled materials like carbon fibre. Try repairing that if it fails.

The only answer is good old-fashioned, but tried and tested steel. Steel alloys have continuously evolved with the times, ever since good old Reynolds 531. With lighter, but stonger tubing, but still retaining the advantage of steel.

You can't beat the "feel of steel." Remember only "steel is real", especially in a touring bike. Where reliability and durability, are more important than anything else.