Magnesium?

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

I have been convinced that titanium components of a fixed dimension
like pedal spindles are to be avoided due to the strain these parts
must endure to support my high-ish weight.

But what about magnesium? In particular I am interested in it's
suitablity for frames and stems.

Joseph

Frames have been made - Paketa, others... Stems as well. Don't know
if still in production.

D'ohBoy

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

I have been convinced that titanium components of a fixed dimension
like pedal spindles are to be avoided due to the strain these parts
must endure to support my high-ish weight.

But what about magnesium? In particular I am interested in it's
suitablity for frames and stems.

Joseph

There were magnesium framed bicycles produced in the 80s (if I recall
correctly) by a UK company called `Kirk Precision Engineering` - They didn't
seem to `catch on` though one pops up on e-bay from time to time.
--
Colin N.

Lincolnshire is mostly flat ... But the wind is mostly in your face

D'ohBoy said:

Frames have been made - Paketa, others... Stems as well. Don't know
if still in production.

Fork sliders are typically magnesium.
Off the top of my head, other examples of magnesium bike parts have
included brake parts (levers, v-brake arms) and even wheel rims.
http://www.amclassic.com/magnesium_clincher.html

DR

DirtRoadie said:

D'ohBoy said:

Frames have been made - Paketa, others... Stems as well. Don't know
if still in production.

Fork sliders are typically magnesium.
Off the top of my head, other examples of magnesium bike parts have
included brake parts (levers, v-brake arms) and even wheel rims.http://www.amclassic.com/magnesium_clincher.html

DR

I am in particular considering a welded magnesium frame, and a cnc-'d
magnesium stem. I wonder what the pitfalls of using magnesium for
these components is, and if there is any particular reason I should
avoid them. I am interested in them for the light weight and strength,
but if they are susceptible to breakage particularly from my weight
I'll give them a pass.

Joseph

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

DirtRoadie said:

D'ohBoy said:

Frames have been made - Paketa, others... Stems as well. Don't know
if still in production.

Fork sliders are typically magnesium.
Off the top of my head, other examples of magnesium bike parts have
included brake parts (levers, v-brake arms) and even wheel
rims.http://www.amclassic.com/magnesium_clincher.html

DR

I am in particular considering a welded magnesium frame, and a cnc-'d
magnesium stem. I wonder what the pitfalls of using magnesium for
these components is, and if there is any particular reason I should
avoid them. I am interested in them for the light weight and strength,
but if they are susceptible to breakage particularly from my weight
I'll give them a pass.

Joseph

You had better pass, magnesium doesn't bend well. Look at this way, it's
so light if it would work, there would be bikes out there made from it,
because it not a new material.

DI said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

DirtRoadie said:

On Jun 30, 7:49 am, D'ohBoy <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Frames have been made - Paketa, others... Stems as well. Don't know
> if still in production.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Fork sliders are typically magnesium.
Off the top of my head, other examples of magnesium bike parts have
included brake parts (levers, v-brake arms) and even wheel
rims.http://www.amclassic.com/magnesium_clincher.html

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

DR

Quoted message said:

I am in particular considering a welded magnesium frame, and a cnc-'d
magnesium stem. I wonder what the pitfalls of using magnesium for
these components is, and if there is any particular reason I should
avoid them. I am interested in them for the light weight and strength,
but if they are susceptible to breakage particularly from my weight
I'll give them a pass.

Quoted message said:

Joseph

You had better pass, magnesium doesn't bend well. Look at this way, it's
so light if it would work, there would be bikes out there made from it,
because it not a new material.

I was under the impression that it wasn't used in frames more because
it is difficult (expensive) to work with and this means a very limited
market that is more or less dominated by carbon fiber for the
lightweight segment. I'm looking at a used Pinarello Dogma. I like the
sound of it because I want lightweight but I am concerned about the
lack of stiffness in lightweight carbon frames in large sizes with
lots of weight and (hopefully) lots of power. Do you think a magnesium
frame would have a high likelihood of cracking? Which would be worse
for a 200lb+ guy: a lightweight carbon frame or a lightweight
magnesium frame?

Joseph

Colin Nelson said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

Quoted message said:

I have been convinced that titanium components of a fixed dimension
like pedal spindles are to be avoided due to the strain these parts
must endure to support my high-ish weight.

Quoted message said:

But what about magnesium? In particular I am interested in it's
suitablity for frames and stems.

Quoted message said:

Joseph

There were magnesium framed bicycles produced in the 80s (if I recall
correctly) by a UK company called `Kirk Precision Engineering` - They didn't
seem to `catch on` though one pops up on e-bay from time to time.
--
Colin N.

Lincolnshire is mostly flat ... But the wind is mostly in your face

Weren't those the ones with ads in Bicycling showing the guy crouching
on the rear triangle of a frame on its side to show how strong it was?

Quoted message said:

DirtRoadie said:

D'ohBoy said:

Frames have been made - Paketa, others... Stems as well. Don't know
if still in production.

Fork sliders are typically magnesium.
Off the top of my head, other examples of magnesium bike parts have
included brake parts (levers, v-brake arms) and even wheel rims.http://www.amclassic.com/magnesium_clincher.html

DR

Quoted message said:

I am in particular considering a welded magnesium frame, and a cnc-'d
magnesium stem. I wonder what the pitfalls of using magnesium for
these components is, and if there is any particular reason I should
avoid them.

fire...

--
Morten Reippuert Knudsen :-) <http://blog.reippuert.dk>

Merlin Works CR-3/2.5 & Campagnolo Chorus 2007.

Colin Nelson said:

There were magnesium framed bicycles produced in the 80s (if I recall
correctly) by a UK company called `Kirk Precision Engineering` - They didn't
seem to `catch on` though one pops up on e-bay from time to time.

See:
http://www.kirk-bicycles.co.uk/Kirk.htm

DR

email hidden said:

I was under the impression that it wasn't used in frames more because
it is difficult (expensive) to work with and this means a very limited
market that is more or less dominated by carbon fiber for the
lightweight segment. I'm looking at a used Pinarello Dogma. I like the
sound of it because I want lightweight but I am concerned about the
lack of stiffness in lightweight carbon frames in large sizes with
lots of weight and (hopefully) lots of power. Do you think a magnesium
frame would have a high likelihood of cracking? Which would be worse
for a 200lb+ guy: a lightweight carbon frame or a lightweight
magnesium frame?

More discussion here:
http://www.magnesium.com/w3/forum/read.php?thread=2044

Bicycle related manufacturers here:
http://www.magnesium.com/w3/uses/index.php?cat=10&product=1026

DR

Hank Wirtz said:

Quoted message said:

There were magnesium framed bicycles produced in the 80s (if I recall
correctly) by a UK company called `Kirk Precision Engineering` - They
didn't
seem to `catch on` though one pops up on e-bay from time to time.
--
Colin N.

Lincolnshire is mostly flat ... But the wind is mostly in your face

Weren't those the ones with ads in Bicycling showing the guy crouching
on the rear triangle of a frame on its side to show how strong it was?

That was a Cannondale ad.

The Kirk Precision bike was cast magnesium.

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

I have been convinced that titanium components of a fixed dimension
like pedal spindles are to be avoided due to the strain these parts
must endure to support my high-ish weight.

But what about magnesium? In particular I am interested in it's
suitablity for frames and stems.

Joseph

it's good for castings, but not worked materials because of low
ductility. i'd therefore avoid it for bike componentry, even if
availability weren't an issue. you're much better off with carbon or
even modern aluminum.

DirtRoadie said:

D'ohBoy said:

Frames have been made - Paketa, others... Stems as well. Don't know
if still in production.

Fork sliders are typically magnesium.

And they are typically the first structural parts to break.

--
Phil

Quoted message said:

I was under the impression that it wasn't used in frames more because
it is difficult (expensive) to work with and this means a very limited
market that is more or less dominated by carbon fiber for the
lightweight segment.

It has been tried. I have seen magnesium frames, but the few that made
it into production were prone to cracking, so the idea died. They
certainly would be inappropriate for a big rider.

--

David L. Johnson

Enron's slogan: Respect, Communication, Integrity, and Excellence.

email hidden said:

Hi All,

I have been convinced that titanium components of a fixed dimension
like pedal spindles are to be avoided due to the strain these parts
must endure to support my high-ish weight.

But what about magnesium? In particular I am interested in it's
suitablity for frames and stems.

Structurally, magnesium is like aluminum, only more so.

Don't use pushing-the-envelope light stems. The stem
is the Jesus-nut of a bicycle.

The whole point of magnesium in stems is to push
the envelope, so it is unlikely that you will find an
overbuilt magnesium stem. If you feel the need to
use a lightweight stem, use something of more or less
conventional manufacture with a good track record.
I haven't been paying attention to bike parts lately,
but the Ritchey WCS had the reputation of being a
good and cost-effective choice. I doubt you could
replace it safely and shave more than about 20 grams.

Don't forget the dollar-a-gram rule for weight savings
in high end parts.

Ben

DI said:

You had better pass, magnesium doesn't bend well. Look at this way, it's
so light if it would work, there would be bikes out there made from it,
because it not a new material.

Pinarello Dogma has been on the marked for several years. Merida has a
magnesium frame as well.

--
Morten Reippuert Knudsen :-) <http://blog.reippuert.dk>

Merlin Works CR-3/2.5 & Campagnolo Chorus 2007.

Kirk Manufacturing toyed with the stuff building a one piece magnesium
frame in the '70's, I think. but it never panned out.

I don't think anyone has come up with a mag alloy that can offer the
specs needed for a bicycle frame; Stiffness, strength, fatigue
resistance, etc. but I could be mistaken. Remember also, if the pro
racers don't like it, it doesn't really matter what suits the rest of
us.

Besides, carbon fiber is lighter, does meet the requirements and is much
easier to manufacture. I don't think we will be seeing to many new
exotic alloys anytime soon, the current direction is composites. I'm
suprised they haven't started with boron fiber yet.

- -
Compliments of:
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

If you want to E-mail me use:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

Quoted message said:

http://www.kirk-bicycles.co.uk/Kirk.htm

OMG! They still make the Kirk? Is it still Magnsium?

- -
Compliments of:
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

If you want to E-mail me use:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

email hidden said:

Hi All,

I have been convinced that titanium components of a fixed dimension
like pedal spindles are to be avoided due to the strain these parts
must endure to support my high-ish weight.

But what about magnesium? In particular I am interested in it's
suitablity for frames and stems.

Joseph

See

http://www.zinncycles.com/Frame.aspx