Compare Carbon Aluminum Bike Frame

Both carbon and aluminum come in different grades.

Compare carbon aluminum bike frame.

When considering bikes at an equal price point an aluminum bike will generally have a nicer component spec than a carbon bike. That begs the obvious question is a 1 5 pound weight saving worth the extra cash. The primary difference between carbon and aluminum comes down to weight and ride quality. Carbon fiber frames are lighter than aluminum frames because the material is less dense.

The density of modern carbon fiber is about 1 9 g cm 3 compared to aluminum which has a density of about 2 3 g cm 3. There are four common materials used to build road bikes. Conversely carbon possesses the longest fatigue life. Aluminum frames possess the shortest fatigue life of any material used to manufacture bicycle frames.

The transition smuggler aluminum frame sells for 1999 while the carbon version sells for 2999 a 1000 difference. Most manufacturers provide a lifetime warranty on carbon frames. It s a relatively light and stiff material and. Latest articles the benefits of cycling for your mental health.

A carbon fibre frame will almost always be lighter than an aluminium equivalent and you ll only find carbon fibre bikes in the pro peloton in part because of the weight benefits. A carbon bike is generally lighter than an aluminum equivalent. However you should mark the word equivalent. 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.

The components factor greatly into how well a bike performs. A lower grade carbon for instance comes with plenty of fillers. September 9 2020 by. That s a 1300 difference.

It s possible for aluminum frames to be built by machine but carbon fiber layup is still done by hand. Bicycling bike frames biking carbon bike frame carbon fibre vs aluminum carbon fibre vs aluminum vs steel vs titanium cycling i love cycling. Steel aluminium titanium and carbon fibre and the material can influence the ride and purpose of the bike so it s good to know the key differences before you make a decision. Aluminum mountain bike frames weigh around 1 pound more than comparable carbon frames.

Sometimes the choice can come down to the material the bicycle frame is made from. The aluminum santa cruz bronson frame sells for 1999 while the carbon cc version sells for 3299.