how to determine frame quality
 

I recently bought a 2013 windsor knight, with aluminum frame, carbon forks, and some ultegra components. All the important specs look very solid. The one thing that I don't know about is the frame. All I know is that it's "double butted aluminum." I don't know how long it will last, how much it weighs and the quality of its construction.

Can someone help me understand frame quality?

windsor knight: http://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/knight_x.htm

Quality is an odd word. Hard to discribe or explain but we all know it when we see it. Pertaining to a bike frame it might be how the frame was made. Is the joining process done in a manor that is to an industry standard, or is the push for low cost/high volume being done at the expense of a joining method which stands up to inustry practices. Are the tubes of a high strength, high elasticity, are consistant in their wall thickness, have minimual (none) surface blems, are round and straight within accepted tolerances. Have the tubes been handled, mitered (not just the tightness of the miter but the placement WRT the butting, if any) well. Are the dimensions of the frame, it's geometry, a good collection for the frame's claimed purposes. Are the "braze ons" in locations and placed as to do their jobs with out mechanical compromises and the right ones to do the job that the frame's claimed purposes require. Are the frame's after joining finishing steps done well (chasing, facing, reaming, painting, plating, decaling). And there more aspects to many peoples' considerations of 'quality".

All of these aspects are held in compairison to other frames that came before the one you have. And the next one will be placed against yours in this continum.

The current brand, Windsor, is not thought of as a high quality one. High value (another over used word) perhaps. As a LBS guy all my life i always wonder at the motivations to distribute one's product in a mannor that eliminates person to person contact, in person. Not saying that all internet (or mail order, BITD) stuff is poorly made but choosing a distribution method that makes the feedback loop incomplete does make me wonder if the sellers really want a good name, happy customers and return business. The willingness to give up the LBS's mainstay of repair/maintainance/service and make warranty work not in the hands of the seller is another concern. But these "qualities" are not what many would call quality.

Your mileage may vary, Andy.

I have no idea about the quality of BD's "Windsor" bikes, but I always laugh a little that when they were out appropriating well known brands of yesteryear that they took the name of a brand that definitely was lower quality. Granted, you got a lot of bike for the money, but all the ones I ever saw were not well made.

a crude measure is how long will they warrantee it, for replacement.
against manufacturing defects of materials and workmanship,
to the original owner

"a crude measure is how long will they warrantee it, for replacement.
against manufacturing defects of materials and workmanship,
to the original owner" Fietsbob

The warranty length, these days, has more to do with marketing, economics and customer retention then the grade of materials or build quality. Andy.

One can only depend on the reputation of the builder or the company... a history of quality and consistency is the best measure of how good a frame is.

Have seen some pretty high end customs with less than stellar construction pass through our shop but of course, they come to us because they need work.

Sixty Fiver- This comes under my comment about marketing. With a pretty paint job and the right sponsorship deal any fly by night brand will be wanted by the masses.
Many feel that if a product is sought after by "the cool riders" it must be well made... Andy.