aluminum or steel?

gscx · 12-23-2007, 06:00 PM

well i saw a post that WR had in another thread about steel and aluminum frames, what do you guys think is better, and why. well i think steel would be better just because it flexes alot more and is more forgiving to the rider, but it weighs a little more and isnt as strong as an aluminum frame

wr250f95 · 12-23-2007, 06:57 PM

the main reason for me is maint. on the newer aluminum frame bikes you have to take the bike have apart just to rejet, that and I can weld steel, but not aluminum. imo aluminum is over rated, I dont care to debate it with tig because everyone has their own opinions and I respect that.

gscx · 12-23-2007, 07:13 PM

yea i never really though about the maint. side of it. even to adjust the sag is a pain

wr250f95 · 12-23-2007, 07:33 PM

that and I never figured out what was wrong with steel to begin with.

gscx · 12-24-2007, 12:43 PM

well aluminum is a bit lighter but i dont think that waas the big thing with it, its stiffer which makes the handilng more precise

tigmaster · 12-24-2007, 04:21 PM

well, im not going to argue either, just gonna toss in my opinion. first off, a steel frame is always stronger than an aluminum frame. i am happy to know about these maintenance problems, as far as taking big parts off to get to little parts. what models does this apply to? personally, i want an aluminum frame for one major reason, no painting required. this not only means that i dont have to worry about scratches and the rust caused from the scratches but now i do not have to worry about my frame rusting from the inside out. it is not uncommon for a steel frame to crack in half from rust on the inside. i think manufactures thought they were going to save like 10lbs on a frame and after the first wobbly pieces of crap aluminum frames came out they realized that 100s of gussets would be their solution. that is why they only save like 2 lbs from the steel to aluminum switch. aluminum is much weaker than steel and requires much more support not just to keep it from breaking but because the fatigue life of aluminum is much less than that of steel. if it was just the weight diff, i would see no need for an aluminum frame personally but i really like the no paint feature. and on a slightly dif topic but one i feel i should discuss even though it has no pertinence to this topic would be materials in general. now this is not directed to any of you because i assume you already know this but to future readers i want to give a heads up. first thing i want to go over is the fact that TITANIUM IS NOT STRONGER THAN STEEL! it is not a magic metal. granted its strength to weight ratio is outstanding, however it is not stronger than steel. it weighs more than aluminum but is close to the strength of steel. this makes it great in some cases but if just plain brute strength is needed, steel is still the choice today. second topic is billet materials. i once read a post by this kid instructing someone to purchase all the aluminum AND billet items he could. billet is not a material in itself, it is a machined version of the material. it means that the product was not cast, making it stronger because there is no chance for casting flaws. there, that is what i have to say. o and i weld aluminum, 20 bucks a bead, lol jk but seriously i do weld aluminum and if anyone ever needs anything, dont hesitate to ask you friendly tigmaster. lol

gscx · 12-24-2007, 05:28 PM

well for the maint issues pretty much all of them will get in the way tig

tigmaster · 12-24-2007, 05:49 PM

really? glad to know.

gscx · 12-24-2007, 06:27 PM

except for KTM, just because they dont have a aluminum frame though

tigmaster · 12-24-2007, 07:34 PM

ya and they do weigh a bit more.

12-23-2007, 06:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
gscx Pro Mototips Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: bridgeville DE Posts: 1,943	aluminum or steel? well i saw a post that WR had in another thread about steel and aluminum frames, what do you guys think is better, and why. well i think steel would be better just because it flexes alot more and is more forgiving to the rider, but it weighs a little more and isnt as strong as an aluminum frame __________________ 2004 YZ-125 - PC exhaust, Blue applied triple tree, blue turner OV bars, ASV levers, Sunline sprocket and gold chain, FC springs, white plastic . DONT MESS WITH ME, I HAVE A HAMMER AND WILL USE IT!!!!!

12-23-2007, 06:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
wr250f95 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 6,869	the main reason for me is maint. on the newer aluminum frame bikes you have to take the bike have apart just to rejet, that and I can weld steel, but not aluminum. imo aluminum is over rated, I dont care to debate it with tig because everyone has their own opinions and I respect that. __________________ "LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING'...HOLY S**T... WHAT A RIDE!" this, is why I ride.

12-23-2007, 07:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
gscx Pro Mototips Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: bridgeville DE Posts: 1,943	yea i never really though about the maint. side of it. even to adjust the sag is a pain __________________ 2004 YZ-125 - PC exhaust, Blue applied triple tree, blue turner OV bars, ASV levers, Sunline sprocket and gold chain, FC springs, white plastic . DONT MESS WITH ME, I HAVE A HAMMER AND WILL USE IT!!!!!

12-23-2007, 07:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
wr250f95 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 6,869	that and I never figured out what was wrong with steel to begin with. __________________ "LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING'...HOLY S**T... WHAT A RIDE!" this, is why I ride.

12-24-2007, 12:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
gscx Pro Mototips Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: bridgeville DE Posts: 1,943	well aluminum is a bit lighter but i dont think that waas the big thing with it, its stiffer which makes the handilng more precise __________________ 2004 YZ-125 - PC exhaust, Blue applied triple tree, blue turner OV bars, ASV levers, Sunline sprocket and gold chain, FC springs, white plastic . DONT MESS WITH ME, I HAVE A HAMMER AND WILL USE IT!!!!!

12-24-2007, 04:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
tigmaster Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Missouri, United States Posts: 7,068	well, im not going to argue either, just gonna toss in my opinion. first off, a steel frame is always stronger than an aluminum frame. i am happy to know about these maintenance problems, as far as taking big parts off to get to little parts. what models does this apply to? personally, i want an aluminum frame for one major reason, no painting required. this not only means that i dont have to worry about scratches and the rust caused from the scratches but now i do not have to worry about my frame rusting from the inside out. it is not uncommon for a steel frame to crack in half from rust on the inside. i think manufactures thought they were going to save like 10lbs on a frame and after the first wobbly pieces of crap aluminum frames came out they realized that 100s of gussets would be their solution. that is why they only save like 2 lbs from the steel to aluminum switch. aluminum is much weaker than steel and requires much more support not just to keep it from breaking but because the fatigue life of aluminum is much less than that of steel. if it was just the weight diff, i would see no need for an aluminum frame personally but i really like the no paint feature. and on a slightly dif topic but one i feel i should discuss even though it has no pertinence to this topic would be materials in general. now this is not directed to any of you because i assume you already know this but to future readers i want to give a heads up. first thing i want to go over is the fact that TITANIUM IS NOT STRONGER THAN STEEL! it is not a magic metal. granted its strength to weight ratio is outstanding, however it is not stronger than steel. it weighs more than aluminum but is close to the strength of steel. this makes it great in some cases but if just plain brute strength is needed, steel is still the choice today. second topic is billet materials. i once read a post by this kid instructing someone to purchase all the aluminum AND billet items he could. billet is not a material in itself, it is a machined version of the material. it means that the product was not cast, making it stronger because there is no chance for casting flaws. there, that is what i have to say. o and i weld aluminum, 20 bucks a bead, lol jk but seriously i do weld aluminum and if anyone ever needs anything, dont hesitate to ask you friendly tigmaster. lol __________________ --'03 CRF450r-- --FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle-- --Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs-- --Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars-- --Devol Full SP With Moose HGs-- --Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain-- --Now It Is The End, Probably...-- --'06 CBR F4I-- --Bone Stock-- Check Our Latest How-To Here

12-24-2007, 05:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
gscx Pro Mototips Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: bridgeville DE Posts: 1,943	well for the maint issues pretty much all of them will get in the way tig __________________ 2004 YZ-125 - PC exhaust, Blue applied triple tree, blue turner OV bars, ASV levers, Sunline sprocket and gold chain, FC springs, white plastic . DONT MESS WITH ME, I HAVE A HAMMER AND WILL USE IT!!!!!

12-24-2007, 05:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
tigmaster Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Missouri, United States Posts: 7,068	really? glad to know. __________________ --'03 CRF450r-- --FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle-- --Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs-- --Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars-- --Devol Full SP With Moose HGs-- --Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain-- --Now It Is The End, Probably...-- --'06 CBR F4I-- --Bone Stock-- Check Our Latest How-To Here

12-24-2007, 06:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
gscx Pro Mototips Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: bridgeville DE Posts: 1,943	except for KTM, just because they dont have a aluminum frame though __________________ 2004 YZ-125 - PC exhaust, Blue applied triple tree, blue turner OV bars, ASV levers, Sunline sprocket and gold chain, FC springs, white plastic . DONT MESS WITH ME, I HAVE A HAMMER AND WILL USE IT!!!!!

12-24-2007, 07:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
tigmaster Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Missouri, United States Posts: 7,068	ya and they do weigh a bit more. __________________ --'03 CRF450r-- --FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle-- --Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs-- --Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars-- --Devol Full SP With Moose HGs-- --Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain-- --Now It Is The End, Probably...-- --'06 CBR F4I-- --Bone Stock-- Check Our Latest How-To Here

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