Originally Posted by TejanoTrackie

Strength and rigidity are not the same thing. Strength is the ability to support a load without failing, and is a function of yield and tensile strength of the material. In this case, chromoly steel is the winner over hiten steel. Rigidity is the capacity of a material to support a load without deformation, and it is a function of the modulus of elasticity of the material (Young's modulus). In this case, all steels have pretty much the same modulus of elasticity (about 29,000,000 psi), so there is no appreciable difference between chromo and hiten steel. Since hiten steel tubing is usually thicker than chromo, its geometrical stiffness properties (cross-sectional area and moment of inertia) will be greater, resulting in a stiffer frame. I don't think that [MENTION=509727]guy153[/MENTION] was suggesting that hiten steel is stronger, but rather that it was more rigid (stiffer) due to the thicker tubing.