Carbon Vs Aluminum Bike Frame Weight

It is hard to pin down a hard and fast rule about how much lighter a carbon frame is compared to an aluminum one.

Carbon vs aluminum bike frame weight.

For example a santa cruz bronson carbon frame may boast a 1 5 pound weight saving over the aluminum version while the carbon pivot switchblade might be 1 9 pounds lighter than the aluminum switchblade. The perception is that if an aluminum product is bent in a crash it s the fault of the crash. The quality of the frame will ultimately determine weight. A carbon frame will almost always be lighter than an aluminum equivalent.

When looking to purchase a new bike the question of choosing between carbon and aluminum alloy frame pops up frequently. When it comes to bike frames aluminium is alloyed with another metal. Great road bikes for under 1 000. The more butting the.

Different factors like frame size manufacturer components and wheels have a big effect on weight but most aluminum bikes come in at around 18 pounds or lighter while still costing far less than a carbon fiber bike. 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. Some say it s even better to buy a cheap carbon frame bike than an aluminum frame bike while others insist that cheap carbon frame bikes aren t worth your money and you should stick with metal in a tight budget. In comparison an aluminum bike can get very close to that weight limit.

Ride quality is more noticeable on road frames than mountain frames with vibrations being damped by carbon more so than aluminum. Carbon however rules supreme in this area. A well built lightweight aluminum frame could weigh less than an inexpensive carbon frame. It s possible to build very light and capable bikes out of either aluminum or carbon.

Carbon fibre can be relatively easily manipulated by designers to create frames with the particular balance of properties they want whether that s low weight comfort stiffness. In order to create lightweight frames tube thickness is varied throughout the length of the tube. In general carbon fiber frames are lighter than aluminum frames. In order to achieve a greater strength to weight ratio quality aluminium bike frames are butted.

Buy carbon if you want the lightest and stiffest road bike money can buy or because you want to go aero. If the same accident results in a carbon fiber product snapping the product is often blamed. But an aluminum frame wouldn t have come out of that crash in usable condition.