Carbon Vs Ti

[ColinJ]

After killing a carbon seatpost with nothing more than an allen key, I'd go Ti if I could afford it.

The penny jar is growing...

9 stone-odd OldnSlow's CF seatpost after a very slow ride over a traffic calming bump ...

 

[Norm]

Titanium.

I just love the material, the look, the feel, I have a small piece of a Suzuki GSX-R750 engine which is made from titanium, not because I'll ever use it, not because I have any affinity to Suzuki bikes, I just love having this small piece of titanium.

For me, carbon fibre (in all its guises) feels a man-made product, whereas titanium is natural. The difference is like the difference between nylon and cotton or between plastic and wood. Carbon (and nylon and plastic) all have their uses but (with reference to the generalisation requested in the OP) I inherently prefer titanium, cotton and wood.

 

[HLaB]

I ride a Carbon bike and love it, its great handling and its easy to clean but there is always that stupid niggling doubt about the material. I also ride a Scandium bike and its similar in handling, although not as fast, but thats got more to do with the wheels/ tyres than the frame material and crucially to me I don't have the same niggles, even though it has carbon seatpost, stays and forks I think if I was in the market to buy another bike it would ideally be ti for peace of mind.

 

[Globalti]

Colin, you're welcome to take my Roubaix out for a spin if you want.

Norm, I love titanium too; I even wear a titanium watch:

 

[Jezston]

Was ist 'scandium'?

 

[Norm]

Norm, I love titanium too; I even wear a titanium watch:

Nice. I looked at those a short time back, but bought another (aluminium) bike instead.

 

[ColinJ]

Colin, you're welcome to take my Roubaix out for a spin if you want.

Ooh, that's kind of you! From what I remember, you are pretty much the same height as me so it should be about the same size as my 58 cm bikes.

It's all a bit academic at the moment though because I can't afford to buy a new bike and I wouldn't want to try yours until I could. (The last thing I want is to ride a bike which might be so obviously superior to mine that I become discontented with my own!)

When the day for that test ride does finally arrive, I think it would be interesting if I rode over on my Cannondale which would feel much more similar to your bike than the flexible steel Basso that I normally ride. I expect that your bike would feel similar in terms of stiffness, but I'd be interested to see if I could notice any extra comfort. I regain a lot of the lost comfort caused by the Cannondale's stiff Al frame by simply lowering my tyre pressures. That probably causes an increase in rolling resistance so if you can use higher pressures but still get the same (or more) comfort, then that would be a distinct advantage.

Once I am ready to think about upgrading my bike, I'll organise another forum ride out your way and I'll take you up on your kind offer - cheers!

 

[ColinJ]

Was ist 'scandium'?

It's a metal element but in this context it is an alloy of aluminium with a tiny percentage of scandium added to improve its properties. The Russians used it for some of their MIG fighters - wiki article.

 

[zigzag]

both materials are good if they come from good builders/molders, carbon offers more flexibility in creating aero shapes and it's easier to add stiffness where needed while keeping weight down. race bikes are carbon fibre these days (even litespeed's top bikes are carbon), but for non competitive riding all materials have their merits. whatever you fancy really.

 

[gb155]

953 ta. Steel is real !

Isn't 953 more expensive than Ti & carbon ?