Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike Frame Vs Aluminum

The primary difference between carbon and aluminum comes down to weight and ride quality.

Carbon fiber mountain bike frame vs aluminum.

Carbon fiber doesn t exhibit this type of crack propagation. Low end bikes made using cheap carbon frames are not necessarily better than aluminum frame bikes. In fact low end carbon frames have some undesirable characteristics associated with them such as a wooden and dead feeling. Carbon fiber doesn t dampen bumps or vibrations like steel or titanium can.

While both aluminum and carbon bikes will offer a little bit of flex in this way carbon bikes will offer a far greater amount of power. Aluminum frames possess the shortest fatigue life of any material used to manufacture bicycle frames. Yes as carbon is obviously a softer material than aluminum so damage can occur due to direct contact with rocks or the ground more easily. Ride quality is more noticeable on road frames than mountain frames with vibrations being damped by carbon more so than aluminum.

That s a 1300 difference. Conversely carbon possesses the longest fatigue life. You can pay anywhere from 1500 6000 for a carbon fiber bike frame. Most manufacturers provide a lifetime warranty on carbon frames.

The typical aluminum frame possesses a life expectancy of five to 10 years. Less comfortable ride because the material is so rigid the ride may feel harsher. Carbon frames are usually a bit lighter than aluminum up to a pound for mountain frames and up to a half pound on road frames. Carbon however rules supreme in this area.

Carbon fiber frames are more expensive than steel or aluminum. Just because a bike uses a carbon frame does not mean it s as good as bikes that are optimized and use quality carbon. A carbon frame will almost always be lighter than an aluminum equivalent. No as aluminum has a grain structure that can propagate cracks if surface damage occurs.

When it comes to the strength to weight ratio few materials can come close to carbon fiber. The aluminum santa cruz bronson frame sells for 1999 while the carbon cc version sells for 3299. Quality carbon fibre offers 2 to 5 times more rigidity than aluminium and steel of the same weight. It has a significant meaning especially for cross country racers where the weight and stiffness will result in razor sharp ultra responsive ride.

But the stiffer doesn t always mean better even for competitive riders. The transition smuggler aluminum frame sells for 1999 while the carbon version sells for 2999 a 1000 difference.