What Is The best Frame Material? | Ask GMBN Tech

Can you upgrade headset bearings from caged to cartridge? Are the modular frames produced by Guerilla Gravity a good idea? What are the advantages of a steel hardtail frame? Why are there not more high end coil sprung forks? Find out in this weeks Ask GMBN Tech🔧

Don't forget to submit your tech questions in the comments below using the hashtag #askgmbntech

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Brought to you by the world’s largest mountain bike channel, the Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN), GMBN Tech goes deeper into the bikes, kit and technology stories that help fuel your rides.

Our mission is to help you discover, dial-in and get the best from the latest cutting edge bikes and technology available.

With news and rumours, first ride exclusives, how-tos, the weekly GMBN Tech Show wrapping up and showcasing the week’s biggest tech stories, and more besides, if it’s off-road tech, it’s in.

Every week, of every month we seek out, showcase, and ride the newest gear and innovations from across the globe in an authoritative, inspiring and entertaining way to help you get the best from your rides. And when we’re not riding, we get geeky in an accessible, easy-to-understand way about forks. And shocks. And more to help you setup and maintain your bikes perfectly.

Engage with us every week on the channel and across social media – we’re here to answer every question you’ve got on mountain biking tech.

[gmbntech]

Remember to use the hashtag #AskGMBNTech with your questions 👇 and we will try to answer them for you. 🔧

[dustinnoyfba]

doddy rocking the helmet hair! ride on!

[erikkurth]

Yes! Please review the Guerrilla Gravity bikes. They look so good (hope not too good to be true). Their 'Made in the USA' carbon frames are $1K cheaper than lower priced carbon frames from other manufacturers. We need to know!!!!

[mattdeso]

I demo'ed a GG Smash with Cane Creek suspension and it was brilliant!

[joshuaj.curtis]

Dude your hairs looking fast!

Great show 👍

[mountainlessmtb]

Of course we love what your doing! Great show!

[adrian]

I have a bike witch I got from my sponsor carbon santa cruz bronson with 170mm travel fork and it have Chris King head set and hubs. First of all the hub sounds awesome that bee sound is so good, second I never had a problem with any of Chris King components.
Keep up good work!!!!
Cheers!!!

[MaplSyrup]

GG better give you a factory tour and let you see the tests they do on frames. That would be a really cool video to see

[Max-pttx]

#askgmbntech

Hey Doddy, it would be interesting to hear what you think of high P.O.E (points of engagement) hubs and if you can easily tell the difference, and what your preferences are.

I think a blind test in a video could be cool, with maybe Neil, Blake and you, testing different hubs back to back (on identical wheel sets) but with engagement points from as low as 18, compared to maybe a 54, then a 120, and at the highest, an i9 with 690 P.O.E.

The challenge could then be to see if you could put them in order, just by feel, and of course sound, and thoughts on the benefits or noticeable differences in engagement speed or any reduced friction. But if we’re being specific about a product, I’d love to hear your breakdown of the i9 hydra and if a product providing that performance is attractive, and is it worth it to you. Cheers!

[drone-adventurer]

Just done a lower leg service for the first time. Thanks for all the helpfull video’s!

[ltrtg]

I have a Chris King headset. I did get it to go onto a mountain bike when the headset fitted needed replacing. The problem I had was the bike needed replacing instead of just the headset. The problem number 2. The headset was completely different. I have a Kona Dr Dew hybrid which I use for road and light off road. When this bike needed a new headset I had the Chris King headset fitted. I had had no problems with it and it is as smooth as the day it was fitted.

[mabecka]

#askgmbntech Steel is unreal! Better than Carbonfiber and aluminium for the environment. Easy to weld or braze. Great feel when out riding, especially hardtails! Strong and not prone to material fatigue. Will not snap without warning.

[ROBinJVILLE]

I have a 13 yr old Chris king headset on an old iron horse mkIII with dw link and that headset is still smooth

[bruhmaxxer]

You could also use loose bearings as a replacement for caged bearings.

[AdrianSchwizgebel]

Just got myself a Chromag Wildangle, steel hardtail with a 160mm Yari. It feels solid like a tank but is just 13.7kg/30lbs.

[ferrinprince]

Check out the Downtime Podcast with the Guerrilla Gravity crew. They talk about the car in fiber and process. Pretty cool for such a small brand. #askgmbntech

[SoilworkZA]

#AskGMBNTech Hey Doddy, what are your thoughts on something like the Push Industries coil conversion. It seems to be a good compromise between the plushness of a coil fork with the bottoming resistance of an air fork. Best of both worlds?

[kyleslater]

Best frame material. The one you can afford so you can get out and ride.

[arcoulant]

#AskGMBTTech I want to build up a bike for the Tour Divide ride but with dropped bars I see the salsa fargo uses a road rear mech (tiagra)would it be man enough for this 2742 mile off road ride whats the difference between mtb and road mech, I Would like to use sti shifters but as they are not compatible with mtb road shifters the only other choice would be bar end shifters or do i take a spare rear mech? not interested in sram as all my other bikes are Shimano.

[mattperkins]

Well what is your opinion on old steel. Frames compared to new carbon fiver and can the steel exceed the carbon fiber in some areas