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-   -   Magnesium as a frame material (https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/663783-magnesium-frame-material.html)

echappist 07-19-10 12:04 PM


Originally Posted by knobster (Post 11138598)
I think you seriously need to lighten up. Anyone can tell that I was kidding around. Why would I think his bike would burst into flames?

b/c some in the 41 are actually dumb enough to say ridiculous things like that.

you know what, it's 5pm somewhere, i'll sip some wine. cheers:thumb:

Phantoj 07-19-10 12:08 PM


Originally Posted by knobster (Post 11138598)
I think you seriously need to lighten up. Anyone can tell that I was kidding around. Why would I think his bike would burst into flames?

It's all fun until you're the brunt.

Tulex 07-19-10 12:09 PM


Originally Posted by Fat Boy (Post 11138611)
Of course mag will burn, but not under normal bicycle usage. In fact, often race car suspension pieces (uprights) are made of mag and the brake calipers are bolted to them. Naturally, brakes get pretty damned hot. There are never mag fires due to brake heat. If it can life through that, then it can live through anything we're likely to put it through. The discussion is about whether it's mechanical properties lend it to being a good bike frame material. Frankly, it seems like a little more trouble than it's worth. Between Carbon, Steel, AL and Ti, I think we're pretty well covered.

Did you note the part where I said so will steel?

The only consideration would be how hot you could get how thin of material. I have no idea. But, say you have a very thin tube that is sliding down the road in an accident. Will it flash?

chado445510 07-19-10 12:10 PM

American Classic makes a magnesium wheelset, as many of you know, and they want you to wipe them down after each use etc. Very very high maintenance.

knobster 07-19-10 12:11 PM


Originally Posted by mcjimbosandwich (Post 11138620)
b/c some in the 41 are actually dumb enough to say ridiculous things like that.

you know what, it's 5pm somewhere, i'll sip some wine. cheers:thumb:

Agreed. I think I'll join you.

knobster 07-19-10 12:12 PM


Originally Posted by Phantoj (Post 11138651)
It's all fun until you're the brunt.

Oh I take my share... Nobody is immune here.

ahsposo 07-19-10 12:14 PM


Originally Posted by Tulex (Post 11138559)
I've turned magnesium. It absolutely will go up in flames. But then, so will titanium and steel. I've seen the results of a lathe that had a chip pan full of fine titanium chips that caught fire. Talk about a flash fire.

I had a lot of fun one afternoon playing with a mix of aluminum powder and rust ignited by strips of magnesium. Man that stuff BURNS!

wens 07-19-10 12:19 PM


Originally Posted by ahsposo (Post 11138702)
I had a lot of fun one afternoon playing with a mix of aluminum powder and rust ignited by strips of magnesium. Man that stuff BURNS!

Thermite is cool stuff.

ahsposo 07-19-10 12:21 PM


Originally Posted by wens (Post 11138744)
Thermite is extremely hot stuff.

fify

sbxx1985 07-19-10 12:22 PM

Interesting link on the corrosion issues.

http://www.paketabikes.com/index.cfm?page=corrosion

dmp 07-19-10 12:28 PM

http://www.segalbikes.us

wens 07-19-10 12:49 PM


Originally Posted by ahsposo (Post 11138772)
fify

I see what you did there.

calamarichris 07-19-10 12:56 PM

I recall these interesting I-beam magnesium frames being sold in the 80's:
http://bikehugger.com/images/blog/kirk_precision.jpg

The magazine article described the maker (Kirk?) driving his car over the frame, then reinstalling the wheels and riding it away, completely true & unbent, allegedly.

Phantoj 07-19-10 01:02 PM


Originally Posted by knobster (Post 11138689)
Oh I take my share... Nobody is immune here.

Actually, I was making fun of his misuse of the word "brunt".

Fat Boy 07-19-10 01:11 PM


Originally Posted by Tulex (Post 11138661)
Did you note the part where I said so will steel?

The only consideration would be how hot you could get how thin of material. I have no idea. But, say you have a very thin tube that is sliding down the road in an accident. Will it flash?

I think we all agree that this scenario should be the overriding criteria for bicycle frame material selection.

Tulex 07-19-10 01:16 PM


Originally Posted by Fat Boy (Post 11139148)
I think we all agree that this scenario should be the overriding criteria for bicycle frame material selection.

Oy, my reply was to if it could burn, not if you should make frames out of it.

SalsaPodio 07-19-10 02:52 PM

Just to add some more stupidity to this thread.

Here is what I imagine a Mg cyclist would look like:
http://www.maniacworld.com/flaming-bicycle-rider.jpg

:lol:

zatopek 07-19-10 03:09 PM

I've said it before hereabouts, my Litech Mg frame possesses the best combination of ride characteristics of any of my bikes. It is as stiff and light as my CF bikes; Colnago C40, Velo Vie Vitesse 100 and Look 386. It rides as smoothly and forgivingly as my Steel Torelli Express and Ciocc COM 12.5 and tops the ride quality of my Tommaso Super Legerra Ti. It's also nearly as stiff as my stiffest frame, BMC Race Master (mix of CF and Al). I only wish more builders offered more Mg frames. Other than Segal, I am unaware of other builders currently offering Mg frames. When it's going to be a long ride at a fast pace with ample climbing, I'll take Mg.

sbxx1985 07-19-10 03:28 PM


Originally Posted by zatopek (Post 11140057)
I've said it before hereabouts, my Litech Mg frame possesses the best combination of ride characteristics of any of my bikes. It is as stiff and light as my CF bikes; Colnago C40, Velo Vie Vitesse 100 and Look 386. It rides as smoothly and forgivingly as my Steel Torelli Express and Ciocc COM 12.5 and tops the ride quality of my Tommaso Super Legerra Ti. It's also nearly as stiff as my stiffest frame, BMC Race Master (mix of CF and Al). I only wish more builders offered more Mg frames. Other than Segal, I am unaware of other builders currently offering Mg frames. When it's going to be a long ride at a fast pace with ample climbing, I'll take Mg.

Interesting. If you had to decide between your favorite carbon bike and the Litech to do 95% of your riding, which one would you choose? Why?

Was your Litech made in Russia?

Fat Boy 07-19-10 04:08 PM


Originally Posted by Tulex (Post 11139188)
Oy, my reply was to if it could burn, not if you should make frames out of it.

At what point was this up for debate?

Fat Boy 07-19-10 04:22 PM

I had a look at the Segal website. They look like reasonably nice bikes, but for making such a big deal about weight, they're nothing special. They claim 1175g for a frame (what size?). That's maybe 150g heavier than a top-notch AL frame and 150g lighter than a top-notch steel frame. It's about 300 grams heavier than a very good carbon frame.

There are many different ways to measure a bike's value, and weight is relatively low down on the list for me. If it rides nice, then that is much, much more important. I've never ridden a mag frame, so I can't comment on that. However, for all of you that comment on how light a mag frame is, I think you might need a little reality check. Like I said initially, the specific stiffness and specific strength of most bike materials are frustratingly similar. Carbon being the outlier. There just aren't big gains to be found on the scales when it comes to bike construction.

JohnDThompson 07-19-10 04:23 PM


Originally Posted by calamarichris (Post 11139047)
I recall these interesting I-beam magnesium frames being sold in the 80's:
http://bikehugger.com/images/blog/kirk_precision.jpg

The magazine article described the maker (Kirk?) driving his car over the frame, then reinstalling the wheels and riding it away, completely true & unbent, allegedly.

Yes, the Kirk frame -- die cast as a single unit. IIRC, it tended to fail because of voids in the casting.
http://www.kirk-bicycles.co.uk/Kirk.htm

zatopek 07-19-10 04:47 PM


Originally Posted by sbxx1985 (Post 11140179)
Interesting. If you had to decide between your favorite carbon bike and the Litech to do 95% of your riding, which one would you choose? Why?

Was your Litech made in Russia?

If I HAD to choose (which I don't have to do), I'd go with the Litech because of its better comfort over the long haul. Also, on a metal frame, I worry less about the consequences of crashing. A metal fame may bend but it's not going to shatter like CF. Yes, it's a Russian Litech. I bought the frame well-used from a cat in Salt Lake City. The frame was branded by a local SLC shop as "Salt Cycles".

BillyD 07-19-10 05:03 PM


Originally Posted by mcjimbosandwich (Post 11138620)
b/c some in the 41 are actually dumb enough to say ridiculous things like that.

you know what, it's 5pm somewhere, i'll sip some wine. cheers:thumb:

You getting extra brownie points amongst your pals for making that statement, jimbo?

Is the 41 the only place you find dumb people, jimbo?

You ever come across dumb people personally, in real life, jimbo?

Tulex 07-19-10 05:35 PM


Originally Posted by Fat Boy (Post 11140375)
At what point was this up for debate?

Was I debating? You and halfspeed should have a discussion. It could go more pages than a pCad thread.


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