Are Carbon Frame Bikes Worth it?

[fossyant]

I've crash tested my alloy and carbon commuter a few times, real stuff with cars.

I can safely say, even cheaper carbon forks are tougher than bones ! So no need to worry.

I can verify that bones aren't as hard as you think, so worry about them more than your bike.

 

[fossyant]

What is 'military grade'..? I get that it is CF made for the military, but how is it different?

It's not. It's all about the layup, fibres used, resins, kevlar content blah blah, just like steels and alloys actually - all use different bits of'metals' in them to get lighter/stronger.

 

[RoubaixCube]

What is 'military grade'..? I get that it is CF made for the military, but how is it different?

More layers/weaves of carbon fiber to with stand pulling a few G's probably

 

[S-Express]

So calling it 'military grade' is a bit of a misnomer then?

 

[Racing roadkill]

Carbon frames dissolve in the rain, they shatter like a pane of glass, if you ride over pot holes as well. I'd avoid a Carbon frame at all costs if I were you. They are fragile, and rubbish.

 

[fossyant]

So calling it 'military grade' is a bit of a misnomer then?

Marketing in bike terms !

 

[MistaDee]

This aluminum vs carbon testing video is pretty interesting imho

 

[TheDoctor]

Any material is "worth it" insofar as you can make a good frame from steel, carbon, aluminium alloy, titanium or whatever is the unobtainium du jour. Equally, you can make a crap frame from anything. Whatever frame you get, if it's a reputable make, and you're not way outside the performance envelope, it'll be fine. Just don't go off road touring on a time trial frame, and all will be good.
I've got frames made of steel, aluminium, Ti, carbon and magnesium. They all ride well. If you want carbon, by all means get it and you'll love it. The same would apply for anything else.

 

[marzjennings]

So calling it 'military grade' is a bit of a misnomer then?

It's more to do with the amount of testing. Everything 1000th carbon bike frame may get examined by a manufacturer, whereas ever carbon wing is xrayed and tested before being bolted to a plane.

My latest mtb is full carbon and I'm sold, 10lb lighter than my old aluminium mtb, stiffer and so far noticeably quicker.

 

[Levo-Lon]

11.8 kg ...so yes i do..

 

[steveindenmark]

Carbon is like everything else. If you look after it, it will last. My carbon Koga Solacio is excellent. I ride it every day and there is not a mark on it.

 

[Drago]

This aluminum vs carbon testing video is pretty interesting imho

Very relevent to riders who lose control and crash into a machine press. No so to anyone else really.

11.8 kg ...so yes i do..

View attachment 142862

I've always been a bit lukewarm about Cubes, but that's looks very tasty indeed, Sir!

Any material is "worth it" insofar as you can make a good frame from steel, carbon, aluminium alloy, titanium or whatever is the unobtainium du jour. Equally, you can make a crap frame from anything. Whatever frame you get, if it's a reputable make, and you're not way outside the performance envelope, it'll be fine. Just don't go off road touring on a time trial frame, and all will be good.
I've got frames made of steel, aluminium, Ti, carbon and magnesium. They all ride well. If you want carbon, by all means get it and you'll love it. The same would apply for anything else.

Very well put - you can make a crap frame out of any material, including carbon. Bestowing a bike with the mystical 'C' word doesn't automatically make it brilliant, any more than making one from 531 or double butted 6061 does. Lots of crap out there with supposedly sexy little labels on, yet also some brilliant performers made of quite modest materials. And vice-versa. The correlation either way is largely non-existent.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Best leg over ever @Drago..tho im lusting at a Intense atm bungee underpants or what...