Carbon Fiber vs Aluminun frame for MTB
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After 15 years since this thread was brought to life, what is the current consensus on carbon frames for XC riding? Have they become more durable or are they still brittle liabilities? After buying back my old Surly 2 weeks ago, I have ridden it enough that I think I can justify looking for something that is lighter and then sell this heavy pig. I'm pretty brand agnostic, really looking for something that is built for climbing and smooth decents (no drops or gnarly rocks). Hard tail with a decent front suspension fork, 29 tires on carbon wheels. My purpose for riding is primarily exercise, but I do really enjoy the ride down. Is it just not worth the risk to buy a used carbon frame, not knowing its past? I really don't have any desire to build a bike or take depreciation hit on new....
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I have a carbon yeti and beat the shiat out of it going on 6 years. Some XC but mostly downhill rocks. It is also on carbon 29’s. You get a lot of flex but the rolling resistance is excellent. It is their top tier Corbin frame and holds up amazing for a reinforced piece of plastic. For the rims, this may be where you stick to aluminum in the rocks but if only XC you can’t go wrong with carbon. My first set got blown out but my envy’s are amazing and take a ton of abuse. Well worth the $$$$. My bike is set up like a tank and not chasing grams here but sure there is some weight saving to be had.
Carbon rims only. No aluminum hoops for me. But I have carbon fiber and titanium mountain bikes. The titanium one is very pretty, but it beats the f*** out of you just like an aluminum bike would. Oh, did I mention it's a hard tail?
The carbon fiber bike is a full suspension bike. It's awesome, more comfortable, I beat it like a stepchild, and there's really nothing that aluminum could take that carbon fiber can't. Also I'd be more confident in a carbon fiber repair than an aluminum repair. But I've never needed one.
That said, I would bet a 1975 factory soft top Land Cruiser that a full suspension aluminum or titanium bike would be just as comfortable as a carbon fiber bike. The aluminum and the titanium are a little bit heavier than the carbon, which matters to me because my bikes are cross-country bikes, but not significantly enough to make any noticeable difference. Again in my opinion.
So in summary, my answer to the original question of metal versus carbon is: 6 of one, half dozen of your mother.
The carbon fiber bike is a full suspension bike. It's awesome, more comfortable, I beat it like a stepchild, and there's really nothing that aluminum could take that carbon fiber can't. Also I'd be more confident in a carbon fiber repair than an aluminum repair. But I've never needed one.
That said, I would bet a 1975 factory soft top Land Cruiser that a full suspension aluminum or titanium bike would be just as comfortable as a carbon fiber bike. The aluminum and the titanium are a little bit heavier than the carbon, which matters to me because my bikes are cross-country bikes, but not significantly enough to make any noticeable difference. Again in my opinion.
So in summary, my answer to the original question of metal versus carbon is: 6 of one, half dozen of your mother.
I currently own six carbon frame bikes that I ride regularly, although one of the mtb's has a aluminum rear triangle. Only one was purchased new. My first carbon frame bike was in the late 90's, a Giant road bike. The second a Trek Madone and I still have that frame on the wall in the garage. I have never had an issue with carbon frames or wheels. I have only seen two carbon frame failures. One when a buddy slammed his tailgate on the bike and broke the frame and one when a guy had a shunt on a traffic island and cracked the frame which was repairable. Carbon is not an issue nor is buying used.
My thoughts, I am 40 years now, and avid mountain biker. And for a full suspension Mountain bike, I greatly prefer aluminum frames. Mostly because of the cost difference, the fact that pretty much no one will just noticed a few grams and weight difference, and you don’t need the vibration dampening from carbon with a suspension. That said my current primary bike is a specialized stumpjumper Evo carbon, as I got the last one my LBS had at 50% off after the stumpjumper 15 was released. But wheels are a different story. I am all in on carbon, rotational mass of the wheels is where you definitely notice a few grams in weight difference. I’m in Alaska and do everything from Long multi day, backcountry bike packing rides to 4000 vertical foot tech downhill descents. I am seven or eight years now with carbon rims on all of our families bikes with no issues. We have lightbike China rims on 3 bikes including my Kona Process, my wife’s trance, my sons trance X that he races enduro on, my daughter has Reynolds carbons on her Salsa that she races endurance and enduro on and I have Noble on my stumpy.
My stance on the new trendy stuff. Aluminum over carbon for frames for full suspension, carbon over aluminum for rims, high engagement hubs suck on full suspension, and electronic shifting sucks even more (I switched my transmission X0 to mechanical transmission), internal cable routing is the worst thing that happened to bikes in the last 40 years.
My stance on the new trendy stuff. Aluminum over carbon for frames for full suspension, carbon over aluminum for rims, high engagement hubs suck on full suspension, and electronic shifting sucks even more (I switched my transmission X0 to mechanical transmission), internal cable routing is the worst thing that happened to bikes in the last 40 years.
I also forgot to mention. All My hard tails are also aluminum.
So I’d agree with your plan. Al frame, carbon wheels, good suspension fork. If I were looking for something like that I’d strongly consider a Kona Honzo, salsa timber jack, or Rocky Mountain growler.
Good insight. I have rode my hardtail more in the past few weeks that I ever did when I owned it previously for a couple years. Going to sell it and look for a carbon frame & wheel'd Yeti. Looks like I can get a pretty darn nice bike for $3k or under.
@coleAK I agree with everything except aluminum frames. I'm not against them, I'm just a sucker for carbon frames. My last two hard tails, gravel and single speed, have been titanium though. Waltly does a good job of building custom titanium frames for affordable-ish prices.
With wheels, I'm 100% with you. Lighter is always better if all else is equal. I've come to the unscientific conclusion that most name brand rim manufacturers are trying to make things more "compliant", which requires more fiber which adds to the weight. So basically, they are making them flex like aluminum which in turn makes them weigh the same as well.
With wheels, I'm 100% with you. Lighter is always better if all else is equal. I've come to the unscientific conclusion that most name brand rim manufacturers are trying to make things more "compliant", which requires more fiber which adds to the weight. So basically, they are making them flex like aluminum which in turn makes them weigh the same as well.
I’m
titanium all the way for road, gravel, and hard tails! My preference to aluminum is really geared to longer travel full suspension (trail, endure, DH). I can see advantages of carbon in a full suspension XC race bike.
Fair point. My Smuggler is FAR more capable than certain parts of my anatomy will allow me to ride on the trails so my use case might be different. The trail segment could be debatable depending on the "who, where, and how" of the ride. But once you start getting into the realm of Enduro and DH, the benefits of carbon diminish quickly. Any hits against sharp rocks is where aluminum will shine over carbon.
I will add, RUN WHAT YOU BRUNG!! These are just my opinions after 30+ years of mountain biking. In the end, I'd rather see people ride any bike rather than no bike at all. Wait a minute, I take it all back. I do love an early 90's anodized aluminum GT Zaskar. Throw some Spin tri spoke wheels and a machined Manitou elastomer fork on that beast and you have one killer bike!!
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Lighter in weight I like my carbon full suspension Yeti and works really good for how I use it when climbing obstacles.
Geometry > Frame Material