Cars @BH Skoda Klub

You’ll quickly discover the cost of a bike frame is connected to the material it’s made from, and the treatment that substance has received. Today, there are five forms of substance used for bikes - high tensile steel, chromoly steel, aluminum, titanium, and finally carbon fiber. Over sized diameters, heat treating, as well as butting are tubing substance methods which will raise the cost of a frame too.

High tensile steel

This is a very durable metal which is used in lower priced bikes. This offers a raised carbon count that makes it more pliable than chromoly steel, so more compounds are needed to make it sturdy enough for bike frames, which will of course make it that much heavier. Relatively cheap to make, you’ll find this material within trail bicycles, city bikes, and even basic mountain bikes. There are a few bicycles that come with a seat tube made from chromoly, while the rest is high tensile steel.

Chromoly steel

Shortened for steel alloy, chromoly is better described by its major ingredients, chromium and molybdenum, which is probably the highest refined framing substance, providing over 100 years of good use. Depending on the type of treatment and butting, you’ll be able to find this substance in bicycles as low as 400 dollars all the way up to a thousand and farther. The chromoly steel material provides great stability and a good ride characteristic.

Aluminum

For the past fifteen years, aluminum has always been treated in pretty much the same way as chromoly. There have been various admixtures created, in addition to heat treatment, oversizing, and butting. With dual suspension bicylcles, aluminum is the desired substance as it’s the stiffest as well as best priced. Aluminum is tougher than the material chromoly, and as such it will crack before chromoly, but of course, that hinges upon the amount you bike and how you treat the frame. The advantage of using aluminum is the fact that the overall frame is extremely lightweight and very stiff throughout.

Titanium

Even though it’s somewhat outlandish, costs for the metal have decreased during the past couple years but frames composed of titanium remain expensive because it takes longer to weld the tubes to their frame. Titanium is considered an alloy, ordinarily mixed with small amounts of vanadium and aluminum to give it better weldability and ride characteristics. More conformable than chromoly, it offers better fatigue and corrosion properties.

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