Alloy Vs Aluminum Bike Frames

However in bike marketing terms a steel alloy frame would be billed as steel or chromoly.

Alloy vs aluminum bike frames.

A well made alloy frame may weigh less than a steel frame but this is not always the case. It s still lightweight compared to other metals and stiff. An alloy is a metal that is mixed with other elements to improve the metal s characteristics. Good quality road bikes use butted aluminum frames single double and triple butted to achieve a better strength to weight ratio.

So if alan farroll is in the market for a new bike he can be reassured that an alloy frame is going to be an alu alloy. Aluminum frames are generally stiffer than steel resulting in a harsher ride. In its raw state aluminum weighs one third as much as steel of the same volume. Most bike frame manufacturers use an alloy of either steel or aluminum to craft the frame.

Carbon frames are usually a bit lighter than aluminum up to a pound for mountain frames and up to a half pound on road frames. Aluminum is cheaper to produce than carbon and is usually alloyed with other metals. The goal of using an alloy is to increase the strength or decrease the weight of the frame. Mid to high end steel frame bikes can weigh less than 25 lbs while a low end alloy frame bike might weigh 35 lbs.

Very few entry level mtbs are made of steel alloy and if they are the. Alloy is generally used to denote an aluminium alloy.