Aluminium Or Carbon Frames - What's The Difference?

Aluminium or Carbon bike is an age-old debate that usually happens with your mates at the end of a ride when you enjoy a nice cold beverage. Owen Coutts is here to answer all the questions about both materials to hopefully help you understand which is better... if either is. Sit back and enjoy a brief history lesson and learn a few things you may not have known about frame material!

⏱️ Timestamps ⏱️
00:00 - Welcome!
00:53 - The history of metal in bikes
02:20 - The history of carbon in bikes
03:48 - How aluminium bikes are made
06:25 - How carbon bikes are made
09:36 - The difference in manufacturing cost
12:34 - The difference in bike pricing
13:35 - Sustainability of the materials
14:36 - Life with each material
17:08 - How each bike will ride

Useful Links:

Are you riding a carbon or alloy bike? Was there any reason you chose one over the other?

Watch more on GMBN Tech...

🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Woke Up in Vienna - Ryan James Carr
Stay a While - Ryan James Carr
My Domain - Non-State Actor (1)
Make It Yellow - Andreas Dahlback
Look Both Ways - HATAMITSUNAMI
Hold It Down - Ryan James Carr
Duck Oil - baegel

#gmbntech #gmbn #mtb #mountainbiking #framematerial #carbon #alloycleaninghacks

The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world’s largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community – and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world.

GMBN is dedicated to inspiring and unlocking your riding potential. Our videos cater to fans of every mountain bike discipline: from mile-munching cross-country (XC) riders, through adrenaline-fuelled dirt jumpers, gravity-hungry downhillers or aspiring enduro racers, and beyond.

Every day of every month, our ex-pro presenting team are on hand to entertain and inspire you while also providing a uniquely qualified insight into the world of mountain biking. Every week we deliver original daily videos that include:

Adventurous and entertaining features
Mountain bike skills coaching
Technical advice and guidance
Mechanical know-how to keep you rolling
A place for the riding community with our weekly Dirt Shed Show

Thanks to our sponsors:

Watch our sister channels:

[gmbntech]

Are you riding a carbon or alloy bike? Was there any reason you chose one over the other?

[StanislavNevyhosteny]

"Riding bikes is brilliant! Just get out and ride!" This is exactly the message we all shouid strive to convey to others.

[rinky_dinky]

after decades of slogging at work, i finally can afford a carbon fibre frame, so i'm gonna enjoy it, and also the lifetime warranty and bearing replacement is great

[krissk]

Alloy frames... any time...my preference

[johnssmith]

Even though I don't like Carbon, I have to admit that the shapes and lines that can be achieved with carbon are much sexier, just look at that carbon Propain

[OldManAzeban]

I had a carbon fiber frame fail. I’ve also had carbon fiber components fail. I only utilize carbon fiber stuff in non vital areas; levers, cages, spacers, and accessory mounts. I have trust issues with the material. I appreciate aluminum when it starts to go; it lets you know usually. Creaks, groans, and other sounds that are noticeable.

[kaneda]

Seeing those uneven TIG welds triggers my ocd, there aren’t many manufacturers that do it well consistently.

[crankshoptv]

When zipping down a trail, I prefer a "DING" to a "THWACK"

So it's alloy for me.

[dyslo]

Never wanted a carbon bike till I got one but, I have nothing against aluminum. Ride you want and enjoy it.

[JMJM]

I reckon steel will start to become more popular especially for downhill bikes or the latest ebikes where weight is less an issue. The problem with carbon in mountain bikes is once youve crashed which is inevitable you can never trust the bike again. At least with somthing like steel you know itll bend before it breaks apart which imo will allow you to push things further with more trust in your bike. Id take a weight penalty for the piece of mind any day of the week!

[jcheco]

Waited to find the difference of weight in between, which I understand is minimal. 😊😊

[Barryens]

You didn't mention abrasion resistance. I have seen mud wear through chain stays on carbon CX bikes. (Trek Boone).

[iansingleton]

Why can I listen to Owen for hours? 😂 He's got the Attenborough effect! I love aluminium bikes! I just know what getting! I recently watched a couple videos about bottom bracket & brake mount facing issues with carbon frames! Yes they can be sorted but very very rarely do you get issues like that with aluminium frames. And the old saying goes a good aluminium bike is always gonna be better than a bad carbon bike! There are lots of expensive bad carbon bikes out there. As for ride quality you can't tell. As a hobby cyclist you can not tell the difference! Thanks Owen 👍

[callawaycass]

I was going to get Al for my next bike, but the problem with companies that make both is you can't get an aluminum frame with the high-end build spec. So I just went carbon again.

[MsTatakai]

To me alloy! Aluminium or Steel is really cool to ride... Carbon is too expensive for a stiff ride and usually its better suited for road bikes and not mountain bike...

[sicklygazelle]

Carbon bikes are handmade, repairable, snappier, have damping properties, and are lighter. any crash that will crack carbon will damage aluminum the same. Its wild that the boogeyman effect of "carbon cracks" has lasted for 20 years when carbon wasnt great. id rather have a bike i can repair versus one that becomes wall art after damage.

[ericfroehlich]

I think it depends a little on the manufacturer. I just ordered an alloy Orbea Occam sl and it's almost indistinguishable from other brands carbon frames.

[ShadLife]

I ride a carbon full suspension frame, but my hardtails are either steel or titanium. I will not ride a carbon hardtail or carbon bars. To me, with suspension it takes the abuse out of the frame so carbon can last. I really don't like aluminum frames, with a few exceptions, because they tend to ride too stiff and feel harsh on my body, especially if it's a hardtail.

[vidibites]

There was no mention of CNC or Hydro formed alloy or different grades of alloys. Again for Carbon you did touch on grades but what does this translate to in the real world, how do we know which is a higher grade. I’d like to see that covered here, otherwise super informative thanks.

[chimpornator]

Carbon is far more repairable than many give it credit. I repaired my own frame - the downtube was cracked and delaminated over a 10cm by 5cm patch from a rock strike. Full break in the seat stay too.

5 years on from that repair and it's as strong as it was new. You can snap a tube in half and repair it safely, with the know how to do so. If you have CF damage definitely look for a repairer before you decide to scrap a bike.