Selecting the most appropriate Material For a Custom Built Motorbike Frame

From Yogi Central
Jump to: navigation, search

It is usually hard to get your own personal head close to and very likely to give you brainfreeze. The potential to create a higher performing bike shape away from a range associated with materials from the modern carbon fibre (carbon dietary fiber in case you are in the US), through titanium, steel together with right around in order to by natural means growing, green bamboo appears hard to believe, nevertheless the idea is a truth today containing made the particular selection of hand-made motorbike frames both complex whilst opening up the opportunity to have exactly the right material for the rider's needs.
Although each material needs to be treated in a different way during frame building , they can all be fabricated into a true, bespoke custom frame made to the exact requirements for the terrain and user. A well made bespoke frame will make the rider more responsive, feeling as if they can soar up hills, decent like a stone and sprint like Mark Cavendish.
There are a number of expert custom steel bike frame builders in the UK but only a handful of artisans skilled in hand-built carbon fibre, titanium and bamboo construction. The technology used is intricate and sophisticated, with many fabricators of custom bike frames closely guarding their techniques. The result is that the rider can obtain a bespoke bike frame, made to measure exactly to their requirements getting a custom fit using the materials best for the job whether it be bamboo, carbon fibre or titanium.
So what's different in the materials? Looking specifically at suitability for a bike frame, Carbon Fibre is very strong (about twice as strong as steel) extremely stiff (approximately five times as stiff as steel) and by far the lightest but some say it is actually too stiff for a comfortable ride. Titanium although heavier than carbon fibre is half the weight of steel but not as stiff (and can be made to give a more comfortable ride) nor does it corrode. Titanium is thought of as relatively exotic but in fact it is the fourth most common element on this earth. Bamboo has strength comparable to light steel and weight-wise (at the same stiffness) it is also similar to steel, though considerably heavier than carbon, but has a wonderful ability to absorb road shocks. Bamboo has been used for countless years as a construction and building material in the far east. bicicletas artesanales worry about it ability to withstand the damp British weather but it is indigenous to Asia where rainfall can be of monsoon proportions.
This is currently the most common material used for bikes. You can get an aluminum framed bike starting under $300 and going up to many thousands. Just as with steel there are different qualities of tubing. Aluminum is inexpensive for the weight. This attracts a lot of people who want a light bike. The downside to aluminum is that it has a limited fatigue life and has a harsher ride than the other materials. Over time aluminum will fatigue and developer stress cracks. For most people they don't keep a bike long enough or ride hard enough to exceed the fatigue life of an aluminum frame, but I have had a case where I personally went through three aluminum frames in three seasons. Aluminum is a soft metal so the tubes need to be oversized for strength which tends to lead to a harsher ride than steel or carbon fiber. Over a long ride this can lead to discomfort and more fatigue in your body. Because it is weldable and machinable, aluminum well for light weight hard tails, road bikes and full suspension bikes.
Steel is a material that you see in really cheap bikes or mid to high end ones, depending on the quality of the tubing used. For the sake of this article I'm going to focus on the better quality cromoly steel you will get on a bike from a bike shop. A steel frame is the heaviest of the material options but still light enough to build up light bike. A steel frame will be about a 1/2 lb heavier than a comparable aluminum frame so the overall weight penalty isn't too high. What makes steel attractive is it's durability and ride quality. A well made steel frame has an infinite fatigue life which is why you see 30 year old bikes still kicking around in good shape. bicicletas a medida takes the dings and is harder to dent than aluminum. This durability makes for a good option for commuting, touring and bikes for jumping. Steel can rust if left untreated but will minimal up keep it is easy to keep the tubes from rusting. Touch up any scratches in the paint and periodically spray the inside of the frame with a oil or wax spray.
While durability is a great practical reason to ride a steel bike, the thing that draws many people is the ride quality. There is a reason that springs are made from steel. It has a natural elasticity that translates into a smooth but lively ride. While geometry plays a role as well in how a bike handles, a nice steel bike hugs the road or trail through corners. Over a long ride, you don't get beaten up quite as much. Steel is best suited for rigid or front suspension bikes but is overly heavy when built into a full suspension bike.