News - carbon mountain bike pros and cons

With a seemingly endless number of bike styles and choices on the market, selecting which type of frame to buy can add significant confusion in the selection process. Each type of material on the market has pros and cons, and the purpose of this article is to highlight the different characteristics of those materials. Strength, stiffness, weight and price are the main features explored here, but riding style and rider weight are also important factors to consider when making a selection.

Here are the top 2 reason why you should buy a carbon mountain bike

1.Carbon fiber makes the lightest bike frames.

Traditionally used in the aerospace industry, carbon fiber is the lightest of all materials used to build bike frames and forks.In fact, carbon fiber is the lightest bike frame material in use today. A lighter bike allows you to climb and accelerate faster and maneuver more easily because there is less weight to move around. Carbon fiber is basically a plastic that is reinforced with super strong fibers. It offers an incredibly high strength to weight ratio. It is also extremely rigid. Carbon fiber bike frames are lighter than equivalent aluminum frame bike. In fact, carbon fiber is the lightest folding bike frame material in use today. A lighter bike allows you to climb and accelerate faster and maneuver more easily because there is less weight to move around. Carbon frames offer a more comfortable ride than aluminum frames. The reason is that the material does a better job of absorbing shocks and dampening vibrations from the road.

2. Carbon fiber frames are strong, durable and have been known to out perform alloy frame in the lab tests.

Just like other materials, carbon will deteriorate with usage albeit, only after a long time. Carbon has the longest frame fatigue which enables many bike manufacturers to offer a lifetime warranty on frames made with this material. As for the different environmental conditions like your bike sitting under a hot, sunny weather, there is nothing that you should worry about. With bikes that are typically coated with UVA-resistant paint, they stand up against the scorching heat pretty well.Ultimately, you can be assured that when you consider a carbon mountain bike, it will be a durable piece of equipment.

carbon fiber mountain bike for sale

Carbon mountain bike’s cons

1. Carbon fiber mountain bike is more easy to wear and tear

Historically, carbon was criticized because of its failure rate, which is high when compared to steel and aluminum. However, advances in today’s engineering have all but eliminated the reliability issues. Still, this is something to be aware of as frames will wear over time. Carbon fiber can sometimes have a harsh feel on rough roads when compared to steel models. Also, carbon is not nearly as durable as steel. Like aluminum, it’s prone to dings and damage if ridden hard or not cared for properly.

2. Carbon mountain bike will be more expensive

Carbon frames are more expensive because building them is a labor-intensive process. It takes more man-hours and much of the work must be done by hand instead of a machine. For example, carbon fiber layup must be done by hand. This increases labor costs. Carbon fiber is a difficult material to work with. It takes some skill. Building a carbon frame also requires specialized molds and equipment that add to the cost. The raw material is expensive as well。

Final Thoughts about Carbon Fiber material with others

When choosing between a carbon fiber or aluminum frame bike, the main differences come down to weight, durability, comfort, and price. There are trade offs between these four.

When you chose a carbon frame, you’re prioritizing weight and comfort over durability and price. When you buy an aluminum frame, you’re prioritizing durability and price. You’ll have to compromise somewhere.

Consider how often you crash, whether you’re an elite rider or more casual, how much weight matters, and your budget. Hopefully, this guide helps you decide on the best frame material for your next bike.