"B. Sanders" <
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> "Chris" <
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>
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> >
> > "Ken" <
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> > >
[email protected] (*****) wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> > > > But I have noticed that carbon fiber bikes seem to have taken a downturn in the last few
> > > > years? Does anyone Know why?
> > >
> > > Everyone is buying dual suspension mountain bikes these days. Compared to aluminum, carbon is
> > > expensive and that cost doesn't have any benefit on a dual suspension bike.
>
> Right. It's harder to make all of the fiddly small parts out of carbon, or bond them to carbon, so
> they just weld the whole thing up out of aluminum, which is dirt cheap.
>
> > What about the alleged "infinite fatigue life" (RaceFace's words, not
> mine)
> > of carbon fiber?
>
> Wow. Infinity is a very long time....
>
> > Since aluminum frames - especially very lightweight XC-racing types in the same vein as the Fuel
> > 100 being discussed in this thread - are weak and easily cracked, isn't a carbon frame of the
> > same weight stronger and longer lasting?
>
> Hmm. That's funny. I have a 3lb Klein Attitude hardtail. When was the last time you heard of a
> Klein failing? It's pretty rare. Engineering, my friend, not materials.
>
> > And, is it not true that damaged carbon can be reapired, whereas damaged aluminum is trash?
>
> Both can be repaired. Neither of them is likely to be pretty when repaired. Want easy repairs? Go
> with lugged steel. Replacing bent or dented tubes is quite easy, and looks like new after it is
> repainted.
>
> > Don't think I'm taking any particular stance here, i.e. arguing for carbon...just wondering what
> > any frame builders/carbon experts could add
> to
> > the discussion.
>
> Carbon could be (or perhaps, is) the ultimate frame material. It can be engineered to provide very
> finely adjusted ride characteristics more than any other material. It is, however, fairly labor
> intensive. TiG welded aluminum is easy to tool-up, and produces "good enough" results that seem to
> satisfy demand.
>
> I'm sure we'll go through the aluminum phase, and you'll start to see carbon frames make a
> comeback again. Already we're seeing more carbon parts added to aluminum frames.
>
> -Barry
So basically manufacturing is going the cheap way out, yet again! Both my full sus. bikes are carbon
fiber with alluminum swing arm and I have beat the crud out of them and no problems yet!