The price of a mountain bike frame is proportionate to the materialo it is constructed from, in addition to the type of treatment that the material has received. Currently, there are 4 classes of materials used in mountain bikes - aluminum, titanium, high tensile steel, chromoly steel, and carbon fiber. Adding to the price of the fame are other treatments such as oversized diameters, heat treating and butting.

High tensile steel: This is a highly durable alloy that is found in lower priced mountain bikes. It has a high carbon composition which makes it significantly less rigid than chromoly steel, as a consequence more materials are needed to make it rigid enough for
bicycle frames, which will logical make it that muchmore burdensome.

Measurably inexpensive to manufacture, you will find this material in trail bikes, city bicycles, and even entry level mountain bikes. There are some bicycles that come with a chromoly seat tube, while the rest of the bike is high tensile steel.

Chromoly steel: Short for steel alloy, chromoly is adequately explained by its important additives - chromium and molybdenum. This is most likelythe most refined framing material, giving over a hundred years of reliable service.

Depending on the type of heat treating and butting, you can find this material in bicycles as low as four hundred dollars all the way up to fifteen hundred dollars and much more. The chromoly steel material offers extraordinarily good longevity and a compliant ride features.

Aluminum: For over the past fifteen years, aluminum has been refined in almost the same method as chromoly. There have been various alloys created, as well as heat treatment, oversizing, and butting. With dual suspension bikes, aluminum is the preferable material as it's the stiffest and most cost effective.

Aluminum is stiffer than chromoly, therefore it will crack before chromoly. Undoubtedly, this depends on your riding style and how much abuse you give the bicycle. The advantages of aluminum is that the bike frame is fairly light weight and fairly stiff through oversizing or butting.

Titanium: Even thought it's somewhat exotic, the prices for titanium have been reduced over the last few years. Frames made of titanium continue to be expensive as it takes longer to weld the tubes to the frame. Titanium is regarded as an alloy, usually mixed with small amounts of vanadium and aluminum which give it more desirable weldability and ride characteristics.

More compliant than chromoly, it offers much better fatigue and corrosion properties.
The material you choose for your bike, all will depend on where you ride and what style you use. Nearly all materials will last you for years, as long as you take care of your bike and treat the frame with great respect.

The material you choose for your bike, all will depend on where you ride and what style you use. Nearly all materials will last you for years, as long as you take care of your bike and treat the frame with great respect.