What Kind Of Framing Materials?

The cost of a mountain bike under frame is proportionate to its material, as well as the treatment that material has received. Currently, there are five types of material used in mountain bikes - high tensile steel, chromo steel, aluminium, titanium, and carbon fibre. Oversized diameters, heat treating, and butting are tubing material treatments that will increase the cost of a frame as well.

High tensile steel

This is a very durable alloy that's found in lower priced mountain bikes. It offers a high carbon content which makes it less stiff than chromo steel, so more materials are necessitated to make it stiff enough for bicycle frames, which will in turn make it that much heavier.

Relatively inexpensive to produce, you'll acknowledge this material in trail bikes, city bikes, and even entry level mountain bikes. There are some bikes that come with a chromo seat tube, while the rest is high tensile steel.

Chromo steel

Short for steel alloy, chromo is best described by its major additives - chromium and molybdenum. This is likely the most refined framing material, giving over 100 years of dependable service.

Depending on the type of heat treating and butting, you can acknowledge this material in bikes as low as 400 dollars all the way up to 1,500 and beyond. The chromo steel material offers very adept enduringness and a compliant ride characteristic.

Aluminium

For the past 15 years, aluminium has been refined in pretty much the same way as chromo. There have been various alloys developed, as well as heat treatment, over sizing, and butting. With dual suspension bikes, aluminium is the preferred material as it is the stiffest and most tolls effective.

Aluminium is stiffer than chromo, and therefore it will crack before chromo. Of course, this depends on how you ride and how much abuse you give the frame. The advantages of aluminium are that the frame is very light and very stiff through over sizing or butting.

Titanium

Even thought it's somewhat exotic, the prices for this material have come down over the last few years. Frames made of titanium remain expensive since it takes longer to weld the tubes to the frame.

Titanium is considered an alloy, normally mixed with small amounts of vanadium and aluminium to give it more beneficial weld ability and ride characteristics. More compliant than chromo, it offers better fatigue and corrosion attributes.

The material you choose for your bike, all depends on where you ride and what fashion you use. Almost all materials will last you for years, as long as you take care of your bike and treat the frame with some respect.