Does Carbon last?

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Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Re frame materials - steel and titanium have a fatigue limit, that is there is a level of stress where the material will not fail, regardless of of how many cycles the material is put through. Aluminium does not have that - eventually it will fail, even with small level flexure.

    But as has been said, is laregly a moot point with the expected life span of frames anyway, and there is other failure modes to consider.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

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  • carbonkid
    carbonkid Posts: 52
    Carbon lasts forever and ever its the resin that will eventually degrade due uv.it is structurally stronger than steel but at about a tenth of the weight. It does not have a high impact strength and will shatter if hit hard enough just like an F1 car in a crash. Kevlar can be added to keep the structural integrity of the item we add Kevlar to our motorbike wheels and have had wheels that are involved in 150mph+ crashes but thanks to the kevlar the tyre is still up. Carbon flexes more than aluminium but this flexing does not cause fatigue as in metal frames. Cheaper carbon frames are sections glued together so the glue will allways be a weak spot. In 10years we will all be saying how we remember those crap metal frames, and how I will laugh at you all. Hahaha
  • chrisrobs
    chrisrobs Posts: 135
    ScareyJ wrote:
    Probably wouldn't have a CF mountain bike frame, But looking at a planet X bike at the moment, How does the stuff Fair when you crash?

    The 456 carbon from planet x, is a great fast bike but I had a huge crash and split the seat tube. Frame is worthless now. Never again for me, always steel or aluminium.
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  • BillyMansell
    BillyMansell Posts: 817
    chrisrobs wrote:
    ScareyJ wrote:
    Probably wouldn't have a CF mountain bike frame, But looking at a planet X bike at the moment, How does the stuff Fair when you crash?

    The 456 carbon from planet x, is a great fast bike but I had a huge crash and split the seat tube. Frame is worthless now. Never again for me, always steel or aluminium.
    Have you investigated whether it can be repaired? Depending on the severity of the split it may be possible to have it repaired.

    I imagine if the crash was so huge it split a carbon frame then a steel or aluminium frame would also have been damaged.
  • stubs
    stubs Posts: 5,001
    chrisrobs wrote:
    ScareyJ wrote:
    Probably wouldn't have a CF mountain bike frame, But looking at a planet X bike at the moment, How does the stuff Fair when you crash?

    The 456 carbon from planet x, is a great fast bike but I had a huge crash and split the seat tube. Frame is worthless now. Never again for me, always steel or aluminium.

    If it was a huge crash how can you say a steel or alu frame wouldnt have ended up broken as well.
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Indeed, metal frames usually will have failed at a lower impact than CF.
    As SS says, steel and Ti have a fatigue limit, keep below that and the material will never fatigue, I dare say some riding will take you over that limit very very occasionally, but metal frames usually suffer a non fatigue related failure (even alluminium - not being German I don't use Alu) before they fatigue.

    Both my alloy frames are 2006.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Carbon can nearly always be repaired to near perfection. Not so with any other materials.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

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  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,594
    true fact..

    carbon goes soggy in the rain like a tissue....
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    halffattony wrote:
    Will a carbon frame last as long as an aluminium frame or does it go brittle like plastic,does it deteriate in any other way?

    To go back to the original question. Sounds like you have a choice between Alu and Carbon for a bike you intend to keep for a good while? Don't worry, get the carbon :)
  • FishFish
    FishFish Posts: 2,152
    Coal has been around for 300m years if that helps.
    ...take your pickelf on your holibobs.... :D

    jeez :roll:
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    I remember seeing a post on singletrack about a chap who'd just broken his 17 year old carbon lotus mtb. Out of warranty sadly :lol: Personally I think carbon's a great material for you povs that can't afford titanium.
    chrisrobs wrote:
    The 456 carbon from planet x, is a great fast bike but I had a huge crash and split the seat tube. Frame is worthless now. Never again for me, always steel or aluminium.

    And an alu or steel frame would definitely have been fine in this huge crash?
    Uncompromising extremist

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