| The cost of a mountain bike frame is | | | | durability and a compliant ride characteristic. |
| proportionate to its material, as well as the | | | | Aluminum For the past 15 years, aluminum has |
| treatment that material has received. Currently, | | | | been refined in pretty much the same way as |
| there are five types of material used in mountain | | | | chromoly. There have been various alloys |
| bikes - high tensile steel, chromoly steel, aluminum, | | | | developed, as well as heat treatment, oversizing, |
| titanium, and carbon fiber. Oversized diameters, | | | | and butting. With dual suspension bikes, aluminum |
| heat treating, and butting are tubing material | | | | is the preferred material as it's the stiffest and |
| treatments that will increase the cost of a frame | | | | most cost effective. |
| as well. | | | | Aluminum is stiffer than chromoly, and therefore |
| High tensile steel This is a very durable alloy that's | | | | it will crack before chromoly. Of course, this |
| found in lower priced mountain bikes. It offers a | | | | depends on how you ride and how much abuse |
| high carbon content which makes it less stiff than | | | | you give the frame. The advantages of aluminum |
| chromoly steel, so more materials are needed to | | | | is that the frame is very light and very stiff |
| make it stiff enough for bicycle frames, which will | | | | through oversizing or butting. |
| in turn make it that much heavier. | | | | Titanium Even thought it's somewhat exotic, the |
| Relatively inexpensive to produce, you'll find this | | | | prices for this material have come down over the |
| material in trail bikes, city bikes, and even entry | | | | last few years. Frames made of titanium remain |
| level mountain bikes. There are some bikes that | | | | expensive because it takes longer to weld the |
| come with a chromoly seat tube, while the rest is | | | | tubes to the frame. |
| high tensile steel. | | | | Titanium is considered an alloy, normally mixed |
| Chromoly steel Short for steel alloy, chromoly is | | | | with small amounts of vanadium and aluminum to |
| best described by its major additives - chromium | | | | give it better weldability and ride characteristics. |
| and molybdenum. This is probably the most | | | | More compliant than chromoly, it offers better |
| refined framing material, giving over 100 years of | | | | fatigue and corrosion properties. |
| dependable service. | | | | The material you choose for your bike, all |
| Depending on the type of heat treating and | | | | depends on where you ride and what style you |
| butting, you can find this material in bikes as low | | | | use. Almost all materials will last you for years, as |
| as 400 dollars all the way up to 1,500 and beyond. | | | | long as you take care of your bike and treat the |
| The chromoly steel material offers very good | | | | frame with some respect. |