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Are carbon mountain bike frames really ok (not going to crack or explode),do I just need to stop worrying whether to buy carbon and just "go for it" ?
It's 2016. Yes. They're fine. Stop worrying.
I've done nearly 4500 miles on my carbon Tallboy...
If you're going to worry about it, don't buy one.
I'd rather ride a carbon frame than alu, given the choice. It doesn't fatigue.
Just an irrational distrust then, to be honest though I still don't totally trust microwave ovens, ABS or satellite tv.I am going to have to find myself some "help" like a positive thinking book or such.
How are you with WiFi and artificial sweeteners?
Watch this and worry not!
scotroutes - Member
How are you with WiFi and artificial sweeteners
Hmm makes you think/worry a bit, where do these thoughts come from. Normally I would say I'm very rational would laugh at the wacky conspiracist on here like jivehoneyjive........ actually maybe it's me that's deluded!!
THe results speak for themselves
2003 called and they want their thread back......... 🙂
The results speak for themselves
[quote=davidtaylforth ]THe results speak for themselves
> https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=snapped+carbon+frame&safe=off&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiYrbjT_t7KAhWIcRQKHTjMDAoQ_AUIBygB&biw=1366&bih=643#imgrc=_
br />
Some of those are brilliant 😉
I especially like this one
[img] 
[/img]
😀
maxtorque - Member
2003 called and they want their thread back......... ?
And still there is no agreement ...oh hang on where am I posting this
I've had 2 frames break over the years, both alloy. Not had any issues with carbon, even when using my XC hardtail inappropriately. I even managed to bend an Xfusion dropper post on a bad landing (slipped pedal), I was expecting to find cracked carbon but it was fine.
Only issue with carbon is deep scratches or direct impact from crashes, In terms of taking load forces it's very good (like in the video^).
Just don't buy crap carbon.... crap things are crap 😛
Just make sure you protect the BB end (Rockguardz etc)
Over 10k miles on my 2007 S-Works Enduro. No cracks, no chips, no creaks.
fibre - Membercrap things are crap
This was a little concerning for a slow speed crash.
[img] 
[/img]
It was replaced under warranty even though I crashed and admitted I'd crashed.
Was that an impact directly onto the frame?
Front wheel dropped into a hole going down a 15%'ish gradient at about 10mph. I knew the crash was coming so was already preparing to go over the bars. About half way through the crash I heard a strange tearing noise which turned out to be the frame falling apart.
To be fair I've also cracked a lot of aluminium frames, but never 'catastrophically'
To be fair that could have done the same to a metal frame. What was the bike?
Broken
Whyte 146.
I have crashed harder on other bikes in a similar fashion and not managed this. Maybe it was just the 'perfect' crash 😀
Could be, take a look at the video above its the sort of crash they are testing for. The carbon was stronger than the alu.
i wouldn't worry about it. by being a fat talentless knacker who's ambition frequently overtakes his skills, i'v broken a couple of aluminium frames in my time. since having my carbon nomad i've had bigger crashes / cased things harder / generally had an undeserved air of confidence which has led to the bike having a very hard time and it's survived with no more than a few surface scratches.
what seems to happen with carbon is you get a catastrophic failure or snap (rather than the frame creasing on alu), but the forces needed to achieve that failure means you are probably dead form the crash already so don't worry about it!
If you're going to have a significant crash then you're probably just as likely to break a metal frame as you are a carbon one. The problem with carbon is that if you have a crash and there is no visible damage, will you fully trust the frame? I know people with carbon bars that have just failed out of the blue probably because the stem bolts were slightly overtightened, but there was no warning before they simply completely snapped in two. The failure mechanism of carbon is different to metal and you are more likely to suffer a catastrophic failure than with metal that will most likely yield and more likely to show signs that there has been some plastic deformation.
I love that SC video, but it's not really particularly representative of real world crashes. I suspect if you were actually on a bike and took a direct strike halfway up the downtube at speed against the edge of a rock the it would snap in two, just as it would with a metal bike. It's like F1 suspension struts - they're strong in the direction they're designed to withstand forces, but not particularly strong if the force comes in from a different direction.
I personally would buy a carbon frame if I had the cash, but I would be more concerned about abrasion damage from things like bike racks and rubbing up against things. I think i'd feel like I'd have to treat it with more kids gloves than a metal bike, not just because it is twice the price.
I think i'd feel like I'd have to treat it with more kids gloves than a metal bike, not just because it is twice the price.
I did a standard helitape cover of the contact points - do that on all the bikes since I nearly killed an old Heckler with cable rub. It's fine, some scuffs and stuff but all in for the riding I'm doing it's better than most alu fre#ames I've ridden.
I suspect if you were actually on a bike and took a direct strike halfway up the downtube at speed against the edge of a rock the it would snap in two, just as it would with a metal bike.
That would be a very special crash...
The problem with carbon is that if you have a crash and there is no visible damage, will you fully trust the frame?
My road frame's got cable-rub gouges and a fairly decent chunk taken out of the chainstay from tyre rub sustained on its very first ride, in 2007...
I spent all of last summer crashing my carbon bike in Whistler. The bike ended the summer in much better condition that I did...
Flaky new age response is do you connect to a carbon frame emotionally in the same way as say a steel one? I had a carbon road bike and felt nothing for it despite it being more efficient, better? I relate and put value in a lump of metal that I don't into carbon. Flame away. Cheers 1 shed.
Flaky new age response is do you connect to a carbon frame emotionally in the same way as say a steel one?
It's a bike, I like them but not in that way....
I've a set of long travel carbon forks (RC41F) that I have crashed so hard I pulled the wheel mount bit off the carbon, bit of glue and they are fine.
I've a 2004 carbon frame I've drilled on the downtube to fit a reverb stealth and that's still working perfect.
I've a set of RC40acam forks that I've crashed a bazillon times and they are still fine and I have a now virtually retired set RC36 forks on the wifes bike that are ancient and still fine.
I weigh 100kg and I love carbon.
hairyscary - MemberWhyte 146.
I have crashed harder on other bikes in a similar fashion and not managed this. Maybe it was just the 'perfect' crash
Nothing to do with carbon and everything to do with that particular bike, tbh- I think they all broke. (mate of mine got through 3 frames before they got the fixed version out)
This is the fixed version......it was a warranty replacement for another 'fixed' one 🙂
I've cracked 3 aluminium frames at welds in 2 years and my two carbon bikes are still going strong.
Alternatively I know a Lockheed engineer who thinks Carbon on MTB's is a bit silly.
There is also the environmental and health impact to workers to consider - Commencal don't make carbon frames due to both of these issues.
There is also the environmental and health impact to workers to consider
Compared to the impact manufacturing and proceeding of alloys?
Think that would be '6 of one compared to half a dozen of the other' so to speak
Yes, they're fine.
YT's have the tendancy to snap though :lol:. Broke my tues as did a friend of mine.
My nomad gets all sorts of abuse, check my instagram out and see...
https://www.instagram.com/jacksprogis/
Compared to the impact manufacturing and proceeding of alloys?Think that would be '6 of one compared to half a dozen of the other' so to speak
Alloy can be recycled more easily and breaks down more easily.
Alloy hasn't been implicated in lung disease.
Alloy can be recycled more easily and breaks down more easily.
Alloy hasn't been implicated in lung disease.
Carbon doesn't involve stripped mining, doesn't use a hideous amount of energy to turn into a useable product (or to recycle) and I think you will find that welding of alloys and the fumes which that entails is linked to lung disease including cancer
So 6 of one or half a dozen of the other?
Gases are a hell of a lot easier to deal with, dust...not so much...it gets everywhere. The word is, is that in general in China, carbon factories offer worse conditions for the workers.
So you can save maybe 200-300g off your frame weight and have a somewhat imperceptable increase in frame stiffness
I'm not saying Carbon manufacturing is safe, environmental or health wise but from some who's worked in alloy manufacturing I'm just pointing out its just as bad for workers and the environment.
Tom_W1987 - Member
Alternatively I know a Lockheed engineer who thinks Carbon on MTB's is a bit silly.
Well then it must be true...
Tom_W1987 - Member
Alternatively I know a Lockheed engineer who thinks Carbon on MTB's is a bit silly.
Did he say why? I think a lot of things are silly but I wouldn't expect anyone to base any of their decisions on my opinion.
[i]Alternatively I know a Lockheed engineer who thinks Carbon on MTB's is a bit silly.[/i]
today's logical fallacy: Appeal to Authority.
When you do the full set, you get some nice glass tumblers. True story
What about chemical resistance? Can I still clean my drive train with deb jizer when it's running on a carbon frame?
I know someone who works for BAE who spilt some dot5 on his carbon bike frame. Just a couple of drops but it ate the resin away and turned the bike in to a pile of noodles.
What about chemical resistance? Can I still clean my drive train with deb jizer when it's running on a carbon frame?
Whats in the stuff? I treat my carbon frames no differently to any other bike I've owned. Wash with a normal stuff and all that.
[url=
jizer data sheet[/url]
Surely the more carbon we tie up in bike frames the less CO2 there can be. Is this not a good thing?
MAKE PENCILS NOT WAR
I have 2 carbon frames, one roadie and an xc bike
I have no fear in them breaking, whats the worse that will happen..it not as if the tubes will fall apart....
Carbon bars on the other hand, wouldn't trust them with my life. I'd be forever paranoid after the smallest crash.
I wasn't paranoid about my carbon bars even after my bike fell off the gondola at fort william onto them. (I did badly bend a set of answer alu bars on my next visit, that sucked.)
I've only really encountered problems with Carbon when there're bits of metal inserted in it.
I had the pedal threads on some carbon RF SixC cranks break away. I had the inserts on my SC Blur LTc the pivots screw into start to break away with circular cracks forming around them and the insert in my Bronson frame that the pivot axle screws into did something weird which resembled what happened with my RF cranks. I did break the down tube on the Blur by hitting a tree, but that would of killed any frame. I would still pick a carbon frame for my next bike without hesitation though.
I have no concerns about carbon bars. I've bent aluminium ones before and my carbon ones have more than convinced me they're up to the job.
This has proved it by the way.. 😉
[url= http://www.googlefight.co.uk/carbon+fibre+deaths-vs-aluminium+deaths.php ]Carbon deaths [100 %] vs aluminium deaths [28 %][/url]
But if you spell them both in American [url= http://www.googlefight.co.uk/carbon+fiber+deaths-vs-aluminum+deaths.php ]Carbon fiber deaths vs aluminum deaths[/url]
Alternatively I know a Lockheed engineer who thinks Carbon on MTB's is a bit silly.
I know aerospace engineers from a variety of companies that think carbon on an aircraft is a bit silly. And yet here we are, with ever increasing percentages of aircraft components made from carbon, and airframes getting lighter.
Like any material, as long as it's designed with appropriate consideration, it's fine. When designed appropriately with some excess strength for normal loading in order to put up with some unusual loading, it's still lighter than aluminium.
The recycling issue does bother me, but that said you could always burn it to generate electricity (which you could use to make aluminium, perhaps.)