Steel vs. Ti

In article <[email hidden]>,

CC said:

What is the (approx) weight difference between steel and ti on the same
sized frame. This is assuming both are from the same manufacturer
(Seven, Serotta). Does the frame price offset what you gain in frame
weight ?

Depends on what you're using the bike for. Unless you're a pro racer,
the difference in frame weight is not going to affect your performance much.

One thought:

http://www.rivbike.com/html/bikes_frameweight.html

Key - fit is waaaay more important to weight....

CC said:

What is the (approx) weight difference between steel and ti on the same
sized frame. This is assuming both are from the same manufacturer
(Seven, Serotta). Does the frame price offset what you gain in frame
weight ?

Well, I guess you could compare the published frame weights, that is if
they're published. For the kind of money some of these framebuilders
charge, they ought to be able to tell you anything you want to know.

Only you can decide whether the weight savings is worth it.

There are cheap Ti frames and expensive steel ones, and expensive steel
ones may weigh less than cheap Ti.

For me, the main advantage of Ti, and it's not trivial, is the bulletproof
finish. You hardly have to worry about your frame being scratched, and
most scratches can be rubbed out with Scotchbrite. So over many years,
your frame will stay looking good. This can be important if
you travel with your bike a lot, leave it locked in bike racks, etc.

Also, cheaper Ti frames are made with straight guage tubing, which may
be more dent resistant than the very thin-walled tubes used in steel
frames of the same weight.

Matt O.

Coming soon, Reynolds 953, stainless heat treated steel.
Check out IF bikes, to see a proto.
Should cost about what a nice butted Ti bike would.

Me, I really don't care much what Picasso used to paint,
I want a Picasso, or Alex Singer or Mariposa or Doug Fattic.

Scott G.

CC said:

What is the (approx) weight difference between steel and ti on the same
sized frame. This is assuming both are from the same manufacturer
(Seven, Serotta). Does the frame price offset what you gain in frame
weight ?

It's really impossible to say for sure. But in general...

A ti frame can be lighter at the same "strength" or...
a ti frame can be stronger at the same weight or...
some combination of the above.

A 3 point something pound ti frame can actually be very, very tough,
while you'll have to be at least a little careful with a thin-wall
steel frame (they dent pretty easy). There's not always much
correlation between weight and price though - there are plenty of
heavier steel frames that cost more than some ti frames (even from the
same builder in some cases).

The good news is, there are no bad choices.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame

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

Quoted message said:

What is the (approx) weight difference between steel and ti on the same
sized frame. This is assuming both are from the same manufacturer
(Seven, Serotta). Does the frame price offset what you gain in frame
weight ?

Not much. Pound or two. Since most people could stand to lose 5-10-20
pounds, frame weight really doesn't matter. Fit and comfort are more
important than weight.

Quoted message said:

Coming soon, Reynolds 953, stainless heat treated steel.
Check out IF bikes, to see a proto.

Is 953 the model, or the alloy?

unpainted aluminum works too for finish toughness/fixability

wle.

wle said:

unpainted aluminum works too for finish toughness/fixability

Not really. Aluminum will require regular polishing. Ti will not.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored
_`\(,_ | by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." --Ralph Waldo
(_)/ (_) | Emerson

tbl said:

Quoted message said:

Coming soon, Reynolds 953, stainless heat treated steel.
Check out IF bikes, to see a proto.

Is 953 the model, or the alloy?

I'm pretty sure it's the alloy

David L. Johnson said:

Not really. Aluminum will require regular polishing. Ti will not.

Nonsense. I rode a bare aluminum bike for years and only polished it
once, immediately after stripping the paint. It didn't stay very
shiny, but it didn't corrode or suffer any other ill effects.

Polishing, waxing, or otherwise anointing a bike frame is for folks who
have too much time on their hands.

Chalo Colina

Chalo said:

Nonsense. I rode a bare aluminum bike for years and only polished
it once, immediately after stripping the paint. It didn't stay
very shiny, but it didn't corrode or suffer any other ill effects.

You're not riding through salty winters neither do you sweat a lot
I assume? I know how my polished hubs and rims look...

--
MfG/Best regards
helmut springer