Frame Life

chronyx

How long does a typical MTB frame last? My Hardrock is A1 premium aluminium whatever that is

I guess it depends on the type of use but maybe some experienced members (Or metallurgists ) can go into more detail!

I'm not sure if it would be measured in miles or years (Well riding hours to be picky)

supersonic

A1 premium aluminium - bog standard 6061 aluminium as used by many manufacturers! All aluminium has a finite life - flex cycles, amplitude of flex - so it is very hard to say how long an individual frame will last as we all ride them differently. 5 years would be a good life.

chronyx

Thanks supersonic I have heard that gears misbehaving with no amount of normal adjusting solving the problem is a sign the frame is worn out - are there any others?

I mean, it's not going to just snap on the way home from work I hope!

I'm such a noob!

supersonic

Nah, the only way the frame can feck shfiting up is if it has bent (ie mech hanger, dropouts) and that generally happens from a crash. Do check the mech hanger if that is the problem. Many others though for shifting.

chronyx

Forgot to check back - thanks SS everything is OK with the gears (touch wood ) it was just out of curiosity - strange to think an inanimate part of the bike can wear out!

dunker

looking on the retro bike forums it looks like some of those frames are 20 odd years old? does steel have a longer life than alu? what about Ti frame life?

Megatron-UK

All things being equal a steel frame will definitely last longer than aluminium. With enough shock and forces exerted on it, aluminium will eventually become brittle - steel has a much better ability to flex so will usually last longer.

I think titanium also has a fatigue lifetime.

toasty

The Stumpjumper in my sig is 5 years old now, no signs of giving in what so ever I'd be sad if it did though, not a lot of frames use 80mm forks now, grr.

M4 lasts a bit longer or is it due to collapse underneath me one day?

Anonymous

Mine's 10 years old this year. And it's hopefully going on a trip to the alps in a few weeks!

There are aircraft made from the same (more or less) aluminium as our MTBs, which were built in the 70s, which are still flying. I know they get regular maintenance, but an airframe is an airframe.
I wouldn;t worry too much about your bike giving up the ghost.

xtreem

Here what my frame look like after 2 years. It's bent at those places, and it's a steel one. Same on the other side.
Most steel frames, the cheepest, tend to bend at those points. Seen probably 10-20 frames bent there. For the more expensive I don't know. You probably have different steel with diferent strenght.

Anonymous

Nah, your frame is bent because it's pink, and therefore girly.
You should have got a manly blue bike

xtreem

[b]yeehaamcgee[/b] wrote:

Nah, your frame is bent because it's pink, and therefore girly.
You should have got a manly blue bike

No it's not pink, it's red. The picture is taken from mobile,
that's why it seems pink to you.
And it's not the colour, it's the 80£ bike.
Next week going to another city to buy new one.

supersonic

Mild steel ot 1000 series hiten - just doesnt have the tensile strength of chromo.

Re life: titanium and steel can be flexed an infinite amount of times below yield and it will not weaken. Aluminium does have a fatigue life, so a lot of small flex repeated will eventually cause it to fail.

grumsta

Don't Specialized give a lifetime warranty on their frames?

I have a 2005 hardrock as well and it has taken some abuse and still seems fine.

supersonic

On some frames I think they do - full sussers may have a limited warranty.

Anonymous

Sonic, Marin still give a lifetime guarantee on their 6061 frames.

supersonic

That is vey generous! Given the generally shorter lifespan of alu.

My 6061 Zaskar still going strong at 12 years old, no cracks.

will3

Yeah but what does 'lifetime' mean?
Lifetime of the frame? I mean, once it's broken it's reached end of life and is therefore out of guarantee, no?

Anonymous

No, for the life of the owner. It's rather morbid, but that's how it was clarified to me by the marin dealerships.

supersonic

I suppose would have to look in the samll print, and obviously crashes arent covered. But on the face of it I think it means general fatigue failure.

1340jas

I still ride my Kona Munimula which is now 10 years old at least. The frame is perfect.
I have ridden it for countless 1000's of mile on road and mostly off road.
I have ridden the down hill at Cwmcarn on it. daft I know but I hadn't bought my Orange 5 then.
I don't think this frame will die, It is made from 7005 Aluminium (aluminum for the yanks) which is why it was called the munimula. (reverse spelling)

1340jas

I still ride my Kona Munimula which is now 10 years old at least. The frame is perfect.
I have ridden it for countless 1000's of mile on road and mostly off road.
I have ridden the down hill at Cwmcarn on it. daft I know but I hadn't bought my Orange 5 then.
I don't think this frame will die, It is made from 7005 Aluminium (aluminum for the yanks) which is why it was called the munimula. (reverse spelling)