Are carbon all mountain frames up to ebike use

[JimmyBoy]

Advice please, I have a 2018 aluminium Canyon Spectral ON and was thinking of upgrading but the latest Spectral's are full carbon.
My Spectral has suffered unnumerable dings from flying stones, crashes and general trail use, will the carbon frame take the same abuse, I suspect not.

 

[Alexbn921]

yes

 

[Bummers]

Almost all the top brands and their mid range to top spec ebikes are carbon and have been for some years now. If carbon fibre was an issue they just wouldn't be getting the sales they have.

I was the same when getting a new e-bike, wanted aluminium for piece of mind but you're very limited in choice. I ended up with carbon fibre and I just ride it and don't worry about it.
Insurance covers crash damage as well

 

[Montana St Alum]

Yes, they are.

 

[Stihldog]

I never put frame wrap on when I got the bike 4 years ago. Maybe I should have but the small scratches I see are to the paint only…and my shins.

 

[steve_sordy]

I had the same doubts about carbon frames, but I've had four now (each for 2-3 years) and I've had zero problems with any of them. Buy with confidence.

 

[B1rdie]

Yep, carbon is OK. Thats what oceangate said.
Just don’t dive your bike past 13.000 foot.

 

[RiderOnTheStorm]

No issues here with carbon frame as far as frame resistance and longevity. I've been riding both alu and carbon frames. Although I have to admit, I may be a little bit more careful when riding my carbon bike, but that's just me!

 

[steve_sordy]

Yep, carbon is OK. Thats what oceangate said.
Just don’t dive your bike past 13.000 foot.

I agree that the pressure is immense, but it is a known factor and predictable, as is fatigue life. So far so good. But it would appear that they did not take into account the "being soaked in sea water under pressure aspect" Over time, this may have caused delamination and or some physical weakening. I am not an expert, so I and the sources I have read may be completely wrong on this aspect.

 

[Montana St Alum]

Well, applications vary! A mile down underwater isn't the same as riding a trail!
I flew the F-14 (aluminum) which was rated to 6.5Gs. I also flew the F-16N (carbon) and it was rated to 9.3Gs. Other than bragging rights, there's no correlation to E-bike materials/builds!

 

[RustyIron]

Yep, carbon is OK. Thats what oceangate said.
Just don’t dive your bike past 13.000 foot.

I was going to say it, but didn't have the guts.
Thanks.

 

[JimmyBoy]

I don't do much underwater riding (actually I did once but that's another story). I frequently ride in North Wales UK where there are long sections of rock garden which give the bike a hammering. There are also lots of loose stones on the trails which fly up and knock lumps out of the paintwork.

 

[Montana St Alum]

Yep, carbon is OK. Thats what oceangate said.
Just don’t dive your bike past 13.000 foot.

It wasn't the carbon that failed, it was the Lego frame. I expect a movie is being pitched right now.

 

[Mikerb]

I have said this many times before!! If a bike frame maker a ctually specified what their "carbon" frame actually consisted of I might be happy to buy a bike with a carbon frame. Saying it is carbon is meaningless!! There is clearly a difference between brands probably mostly to do with who actually does the layup together with the modulus and mat type specified by the designer......and equally important quality control. I might be persuaded to trust a Specialized carbon frame but not some other brands which are considerably cheaper...probably for a reason!!

 

[Nomad1]

Advice please, I have a 2018 aluminium Canyon Spectral ON and was thinking of upgrading but the latest Spectral's are full carbon.
My Spectral has suffered unnumerable dings from flying stones, crashes and general trail use, will the carbon frame take the same abuse, I suspect not.

buy a carbon bike from someone who's frame is guaranteed

 

[LowStandards]

Carbon kills rich people, so it must be good

 

[B1rdie]

I don't do much underwater riding (actually I did once but that's another story). I frequently ride in North Wales UK where there are long sections of rock garden which give the bike a hammering. There are also lots of loose stones on the trails which fly up and knock lumps out of the paintwork.

Sorry to disturb the thread. I ride on similar terrain, and have a 2018 alloy spectralon. On a recent trip to the UK I bought a carbon cube 160 and am very happy with it. It has an alloy rear triangle and a thick ruber battery cover at the downtube, no signs of damage to the frame yet, and it has seen lots of fast rockgardens and gravel.

 

[Stihldog]

Apparently Trek has a lifetime warranty on their carbon frames for manufacture defects and stuff. I’ve never personally needed it but a neighbor has successfully had his frame replaced. Took a few weeks though.

However, I can visualize the Titanic if I close my eyes for a moment while I’m going OTB. Takes practice though .

 

[Binhill1]

Keep an eye on headset I got too much play and needed a new frame

 

[rpurdie]

Watch the Santa Cruz test video of a carbon vs alluminum frame on their test rigs. That convinced me their carbon frames are going to be fine. My Heckler frame is fine at 3 years old despite crashes, rocks bouncing off it and all sorts, I've no concerns about it failing and if it did, I suspect anything else could have too.

 

[Canyon Shawn]

I have said this many times before!! If a bike frame maker a ctually specified what their "carbon" frame actually consisted of I might be happy to buy a bike with a carbon frame. Saying it is carbon is meaningless!! There is clearly a difference between brands probably mostly to do with who actually does the layup together with the modulus and mat type specified by the designer......and equally important quality control. I might be persuaded to trust a Specialized carbon frame but not some other brands which are considerably cheaper...probably for a reason!!

You could make the same argument for any material used to make a bicycle. I don’t care how good Specialized carbon is, Specialized, in my opinion is one of the scummiest companies on the planet. Oh by the way, all the large companies and even most small companies make carbon that is just as good. Prove me wrong!

 

[Chairman]

You could make the same argument for any material used to make a bicycle. I don’t care how good Specialized carbon is, Specialized, in my opinion is one of the scummiest companies on the planet. Oh by the way, all the large companies and even most small companies make carbon that is just as good. Prove me wrong!

Please elaborate on what makes Spez so scummy

 

[Canyon Shawn]

Please elaborate on what makes Spez so scummy

It’s all over the Internet. You’ll appreciate what you learn more, if you do your own research.

 

[Chairman]

It’s all over the Internet. You’ll appreciate what you learn more, if you do your own research.

Thanks for tip but if you have already done the research and trust your sources I would be happy to hear what you have to say. If punters on here are in disagreement then I am sure they will let us know.
Cheers

 

[Shorty4]

I've put 9,000kms on my 2018 Focus Jam Plus C carbon frame, while there have been quite a few track, gravel and bitumen road rides in that 9k most of it has been done in the dirt on single track, while I rarely get any air (I'm in my late 60's and 100kg) it has stood the test of time well and is still as nice to ride as when I got it.

 

[volts]

Thanks for tip but if you have already done the research and trust your sources I would be happy to hear what you have to say. If punters on here are in disagreement then I am sure they will let us know.
Cheers

I find that "Do YoUr OwN rEaSeaRcH" is just used as a get out of jail free card when you don't want to get in to specifics because it's easy to call bullshit on those.
I'm not a Specialized fan and I dislike how they treat stores and their price structure (not the prices themselves, but the actual structure), but I don't think you can fault their manufacturing or warranties so on the consumer side I think they do very well except for the outrageous prices - but that's a direct consequence of having great warranty so again, I don't think you can really complain too much about it.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Val di Sole Practice ... (Photo by Nathan Hughes)

 

[Humanbeersponge]

Its all down to design, U tend to see lots of pictures of failures in Alloy frames around the welds either down to poor heat or fatigue around the welds. Carbon if done properly you shouldn't see fatigue failures that often. Hitting a tree in any material means your bikes fubar anyway.

Always look for lifetime frame warranties.

 

[Binhill1]

Easy to break a frame I did two alloy ones. one was going uphill. Could have been damaged before I don't inspect with a microscope. Back of weld.

 

[JimmyBoy]

As I do all my own maintenance, what about the mounting points for head bearings, frame bearings and wheels?