Titanium frame pros and cons

[geopat]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a titanium frame over carbon. I want to upgrade from by Alu frame and at 16st I need something strong and light but that will last. Maybe I should just stick with Aluminium.

Thanks

 

[gaz]

con - expensive

 

[aberal]

Pros: Titanium is lighter, stronger, more durable and more (theoretically) comfortable than either carbon or aluminium. Cons: More expensive. Aluminium is the cheapest. Aluminium and carbon have limited lifespans and can't be fixed if they get bent/broke. Titanium can. Actually- it's probably a lot more complicated than that, but that's it in a nutshell. If you want a bike to last years and can afford to splash out on it now, a titanium frame is also likely to be the least expensive in the long term as it could literally, if looked after, last you decades.

 

[craigwend]

Pro - titanium is a nice colour

 

[PK99]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a titanium frame over carbon. I want to upgrade from by Alu frame and at 16st I need something strong and light but that will last. Maybe I should just stick with Aluminium.

Thanks

I think the significant number of posts here and on other forums along the lines "does this mark on my carbon frame mean it is going to fail" or "I crashed my carbon bike last night how can i check it?........." etc etc answers your question for you.

I'm 16 stone too and I've just bought a Van nicholas Yukon, it rides very well indeed and soaks up all the road buzz. Climbs like a dream and if i drop it i don't need to worry. I'm confident that i will still be riding it in 5/10/15/20 years time - how many current carbon frames will still be around??

 

[tyred]

Consider a quality steel frame. I own steel bikes built in the 1930s so it certainly lasts, will be cheaper than titanium and you can use the saving to buy better wheels, etc. Can also be repaired if you prang it.

 

[Pottsy]

I think the major 'con' of titanium is cost. You might want to add weight in comparison to carbon if you're going super lightweight, carbon can ultimately be made lighter, which will be the main reason pros use it.

 

[fossyant]

Reynolds 953 or Columbus XCR

 

[MacB]

Reynolds 953 or Columbus XCR

Depends a bit on the ride you want, I know frame design build matters, but 953 certainly has a reputation for being a bit bone jarring. Interesting thread here on YACF where Dave Yates aka Bicycle Repair Man has been answering all sorts of questions. I get the impression that he wouldn't be recommending 853 or 953 for general riders and general riding duties.

Carbon or Ti are repairable but at a price, for that sort of thing steel is much better...I settled on Ti but I think that's at least in part a fear of carbon. I'm even thinking of selling my Carbon Muddy Cross Disc Forks and replacing with Salsa La Cruz steel disc forks. Considering the carbon ones have only done about 180 miles and have been no problem that may seem insane. But I seem to be suffering from some sort of carbon anxiety maybe I'll snap out of it, please excuse the pun that's almost Teef territory it's that bad

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

But I seem to be suffering from some sort of carbon anxiety maybe I'll snap out of it, please excuse the pun that's almost Teef territory it's that bad

I have got this perfect cure for that MacB!


























Hope it helps snapping you out of "some sort of carbon anxiety" into a "full blown" carbon anxiety!

 

[MacB]

I have got this perfect cure for that MacB!
Hope it helps snapping you out of "some sort of carbon anxiety" into a "full blown" carbon anxiety!

Ta buddy, how did I know that was going to be a link to busted carbon

 

[tyred]

Carbon? Isn't that what is used to make pencil leads?

 

[MacB]

It's been a while so I just had a flick through the busted carbon site again, funnily enough what stands out is:-

people crash at speed a lot
an alarming number of people forget they have a bike on a roof rack

There are some genuine, out of the blue, catastrophic failures or stress fractures appearing. But a heck of a lot are user error or crashes in bunched riding. I don't use a roof rack for bikes and I don't ride in close packed groups or sprint etc. I wonder what the carbon failure stats would look like of you removed these sorts of things?

 

[MacB]

Carbon? Isn't that what is used to make pencil leads?

Nope it's another word for plastic

 

[PK99]

I think the major 'con' of titanium is cost. You might want to add weight in comparison to carbon if you're going super lightweight, carbon can ultimately be made lighter, which will be the main reason pros use it.

a few grams here and there saved on frame weight is not an issue fora a 16stone rider!