The cost of a mountain bike frame is equally proportionate to its material, as well as the type of treatment that the material has received. Currently, there are 4 inputs 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 very dependable alloy that is found in the bottom end mountain bikes. It has a high carbon composition which makes it not as rigid than chromoly steel, as a consequence more materials are needed to make it rigid enough for
bicycle frames, which will in turn make it that muchheavier.

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

Chromoly steel: Also known as steel alloy, chromoly is best described by its major additives - chromium and molybdenum. This is generallythe most refined framing material, giving over 100 years of reliable service.

Depending on the type of heat treating and butting, you can find this material in bikes as low as $400 and all the way up to $1,500 and above. The chromoly steel material offers extraordinarily good strength and a accommodating ride characteristic.

Aluminum: For the past 2 decades, aluminum has been refined in just about the same way as chromoly. There have been diverse alloys created, in addition to heat treatment, oversizing, and butting. In conjunction with dual suspension bikes, aluminum is the best material as it is the stiffest and most cost efficient.

Aluminum is stiffer than chromoly, because of that it will crack before chromoly. Definitely, this depends on how you ride and how much abuse you give the bike. The advantages of aluminum is that the bike frame is exceptionally light weight and exceptionally stiff through oversizing or butting.

Titanium: Even thought it's considered exotic, the prices for titanium have been reduced over the last few years. Mountain bike frames made of titanium are still expensive because of the fact that it takes longer to weld the tubes to the frame. Titanium is considered an alloy, usually mixed with small amounts of vanadium and aluminum to give it more improved weldability and ride attributes.

More compliant than chromoly, it affords more favorable fatigue and corrosion characteristics.
The material you decide on for your bike, all revolves on where you ride and what type of style you use. Nearly all materials will last you for many years, as long as you take care of your bike and treat the frame with great respect.

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