Alloy Vs Aluminum Bike Frames

It s still lightweight compared to other metals and stiff.

Alloy vs aluminum bike frames.

Alloy is generally used to denote an aluminium alloy. However in bike marketing terms a steel alloy frame would be billed as steel or chromoly. Read on for the how and why and we ll help you navigate the materials market. So if alan farroll is in the market for a new bike he can be reassured that an alloy frame is going to be an alu alloy.

In its raw state aluminum weighs one third as much as steel of the same volume. Mid to high end steel frame bikes can weigh less than 25 lbs while a low end alloy frame bike might weigh 35 lbs. Aluminum frames are generally stiffer than steel resulting in a harsher ride. A well made alloy frame may weigh less than a steel frame but this is not always the case.

The goal of using an alloy is to increase the strength or decrease the weight of the frame. Good quality road bikes use butted aluminum frames single double and triple butted to achieve a better strength to weight ratio. Very few entry level mtbs are made of steel alloy and if they are the. Most bike frame manufacturers use an alloy of either steel or aluminum to craft the frame.

Ride quality is more noticeable on road frames than mountain frames with vibrations being damped by carbon more so than aluminum. 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.