Carbon frames longevity
over-the-hill
Posts: 144
This has been triggered by another thread on how long things last. Do carbon frames have a much more limited life than the other options? If so this would mean lower 2nd hand value. What is the usual manufacturers' guarantee on a carbon frame?
I know that carbon doesn't like heavy impact but I thought apart from that it was very durable. Specialized are saying replace the CF seat pin after 2 years probably because they don't want to be sued if one breaks and injures the rider. I have seen carbon windsurfing masts snap when left in the sun under the strain of a rigged sail.
I know that carbon doesn't like heavy impact but I thought apart from that it was very durable. Specialized are saying replace the CF seat pin after 2 years probably because they don't want to be sued if one breaks and injures the rider. I have seen carbon windsurfing masts snap when left in the sun under the strain of a rigged sail.
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My Trek 5200 frame from 2000 is still good. It has done about 24000 miles including one season with an elite rider. I have used it on Belgium parve and English off road at times. Three Etape du Tour and 2 Raid Pyrenean. It looks a bit knocked about but it still rides fine.0
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CF fails in all sorts of different ways to steel and aluminium, and there are questions over it's reliability and longevity. It's a probability game - get a good one and it might last forever, get something else and it might fail -spectacularly- in week 1. It doesn't fatigue in the generally accepted definition.
There's a lot of crap talked about it - it really depends on which marketing blurb you believe. Where reliability of carbon fibre really matters - aerospace - it's put through rigorous checks regularly. The cost implict in its use is worth it for the performance gains. For bikes, there is very little objective analysis of the likely life of CF frames and components. It used to be said that the manufacturers weren't dumb, that they'd only sell good, durable kit and could be trusted. Tosh. They're in business to make money, and if they could sell you old rope they would. Much has been sacrificed in the prusuit of lightness, which is all some people think about. Just check the offerings of the many manufacturers offering a range of frame materials - many offer lifetime guarantees on steel and aluminium, but invariably go with 3 years or less for cf. Makes you think, doesn't it?
In Paris Roubaix most riders use aluminium box-section rims - reliability is paramount. George Hincapie used carbon rims, and he broke one. QED.0 -
Pretty sure Look offer a 5 year guarantee on carbon frames - seems reasonable to me - I'd like to know which manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on an aluminium frame. Aluminium can snap suddenly too - if fact the only sudden failure of a part I've seen was a mavic aluminium tt bar (the base bar bit) and it hadn't got many miles on it at all. I know others who have had alu bars snap one ending up with a broken collar bone, and one guy who had a carbon seatpost go but it didn't snap suddenly.
Ultimately if lasting forever is important probably best get titanium.
it's a hard life if you don't weaken.0 -
Carbon frames are vulnerable to any impact damage. Also, the resin within the carbon composite material is vulnerable to UV rays, so inspect the laquer regularly. Fully painted may be a safer option although not that many manufactures offer this.
If you want good durability and resistance to sudden failure it would be better to choose titanium or steel.0 -
pliptrot wrote:In Paris Roubaix most riders use aluminium box-section rims - reliability is paramount. George Hincapie used carbon rims, and he broke one. QED.
I would bet that a numer of alloy rims were broken in P-R too, but its not as noteworthy.
By the same token, Martijn Maaskant finished 4th this year on carbon rims and Hincapie famously snapped an alloy steerer a couple of years ago while the race has been won on bikes with carbon steerers.'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'0 -
tenor wrote:Carbon frames are vulnerable to any impact damage. Also, the resin within the carbon composite material is vulnerable to UV rays, so inspect the laquer regularly. Fully painted may be a safer option although not that many manufactures offer this.
If you want good durability and resistance to sudden failure it would be better to choose titanium or steel.
And avoid carbon forks, aluminium bars, stems etc etc. Realistically a carbon frame is as durable as you need it to be unless you damage it through impact damage - and the same goes for aluminium.
it's a hard life if you don't weaken.0 -
one should avoid using rubber tyres as well-rubber has been known to perish-with possible catastrophic consequences'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'0
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one should avoid using rubber tyres as well-rubber has been known to perish-with possible catastrophic consequences'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'0
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one should avoid using rubber tyres as well-rubber has been known to perish-with possible catastrophic consequences'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'0
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one should avoid using rubber tyres as well-rubber has been known to perish-with possible catastrophic consequences'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'0
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one should avoid using rubber tyres as well-rubber has been known to perish-with possible catastrophic consequences'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'0
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one should avoid using rubber tyres as well-rubber has been known to perish-with possible catastrophic consequences'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'0
