dexmax

Today we can get steel frames(butted CrMo) with weights in the region of 1.2kg to 1.8kg. That is just about a pound heavier than their Al counterparts, right(correct me if i'm wrong)?

My question is, how much do frames from the 70's weigh, since steel was the primary material used for frames?

Did it get lighter in the 80's? How much? I think it was in the 80's when the Aluminum frames came out(please correct me if I'm wrong).:confused:

I'm asking this question because I am planning to use the tubes of old frames to make new ones...

I have a few specimen frames but I really am not familiar on what was high-end and what was not in the 70's and 80's... I guess I'm too young to witness(i wasn't even born yet, until 1979 ...). So I would need at least an idea on how much a high-end frame weigh..

I know some of you have ridden for a long time and are familiar with these "classic" frames...


Thanks

Malvern star

Malvern star frames from the 80s were incredibly light.
I think they just used thin 531 tubing.
The last two Australian built custom bikes I had were 531 tube , they were light , not the lightest bikes but light for steel.

RiPHRaPH

many things contributed to the heavier feel for steel from long ago. it seems as though even entry level bikes used to come with lugged frames. and the tubes were not tapered (unless you had an italian bike) i'm not sure if this contributed to weight as much as to the ride character, but i'm sure the welding process has evolved to be able to shave weight.
they still make oversized 501 chro-mo tubing with brazed lugs for touring bikes with thicker walls to handle heavier loads.

i have many old bicycling mag's from the 80's and see the 7-Eleven team in full Huffy gear.
go to the Reynolds site for more.

MichaelW

Bikes have been made with lightweight butted steel for many decades. In the UK there is a long tradition of building ultra-light road bikes every bit as good as Italian ones.
Reynolds 531 tubing was introduced in the 1930s, and some builders, such as Thanet used it to build incredibly light frames
https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bri...hanet_home.htm
531 was produced in a wide variety of guages, but later 2 ranges were produces, competition (531c) and super-tourist (531st).
The first heat-treated steel tubing, Reynolds 753, released in 1977, was available in ultra-light guages that were really too crushable for everyday use. Later releases were beefed up. I dont think you could build a lighter steel bike today, but 853 is pretty close and much stronger.

501 is a plain-guage tube for low-mid range utiltiy bike, not for serious racing or tourng.

If you do cut up a frame to re-use the tubing, make sure it isnt a fine collectable model.

TimB

most Al bike frames are in the same weight region as you specify, 1.2kgs and the cheaper ones around 1.5kg. The real super light, Scandium alloy bikes are in the 1.00kg range but they cost an arm and leg and then you can't ride :-).

1.2kg to 1.8kg will cover the top end of the stell range to the bottom.
Bikes form aroun the 80's weighed around 1.5 in steel. But this additonal weight was mainly die to overly decorative paint jobs, chroming of the frame and other traditional decorations

You can get a lightweight 753 frame down to about 1.3 kg in a size 53cm, but it won't last very long under a pro rider.

dexmax

thanks a lot for your input...

shokhead

Lemonds,jamis,fuji,cervelo,all steel under 20 pounds.

Xavier

Do not use the old tubes.

Just buy a new tubeset. You can get good deals on some brands.

Also make sure the frame you are thinking of tearing apart is not pinned.

dexmax

New tubesets? how much would a reynolds tubeset cost? a columbus?

Really, I have no idea.. Because these are not available here...

MichaelW

Whats wrong with using old tubesets? A garage sale lugged sports bike can donate a whole set of tubes for £20.
Was pinned construction used for mass market bikes? I thought it was too labour intensive, and only used on bikes worth keeping such as
https://www.torelli.com/mondonico/mndnico.html

ComPH

I had a very pleasant experience getting a columbus tubeset inexpensively and fast from Peter at ceeway (www.ceeway.com). Peter was extremely helpful, inexpensive and I received the tubest from UK literally in couple of days.