Folding Bike Reviews: Different Types of Foldable Bike Frames
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Folding bikes often the bikes' compactness and portability. However, a folding bike does not only rely on its portability and how small it can be folded. What's more important are the durability│stability and lightness of the bike, which specifically emphasizes the frame and built-construction.
Steel. The most commonly used frame material on both folding and bikes, steel is the easy to bend, durable, and cheap. However, it is also heavier than other structural materials. Steel, when built strongly, can a lifetime of shocks and stress. However, steel are susceptible to rust, shortening their useful life span. This can be remedied by anti-corrosion sprays and paint-on jobs. A breakaway folding bike parts can be replaced easily by purchasing the needed parts on authorized dealers.
Chromoly steel, also called 41xx steel, is a combination│mixture of chromium and molybdenum, thus the name. It is preferred by giant bicycle manufacturers because it is harder and stronger than normal steel and are easily welded. Folding bikes manufactured with chromoly steel are lighter, as the steel weighs less than aluminum framed bikes. However, it does not provide│offer│give the corrosion resistance found on stainless steels.
Aluminum. The most effective workhorse in the bicycling community, aluminum is utilized in most folding bikes due to the of resources, lightweight quality, and ease to work around with. Over time, aluminum proves to be of higher quality, strength, and reliability compared to steel frames. 6061 aluminum alloy is utilized the most by folding bike manufacturers due to the good mechanical qualities and better weldability. It is also considered to be a general purpose aluminum alloy.
High-tier bicycle makers already use 7075 aluminum alloy. It's durability and properties are comparable to steel and has good wear strength and regular machinability that makes it easier to form as a tube or frame. On the other hand, 7075 aluminum alloy provides the weakest resistance to corrosion compared to other aluminum families. It is also more expensive than other frame materials, which limits its use in production.
According to some folding bike reviews, some manufacturers also use the 7005 aluminum alloy, an aluminum graded as aerospace quality that is stronger than 6061 by 5%-10%. 7005 is used as a double butted tube, providing strength at the ends of the tube where the shocks│stress are highest, and leaves the middle part a little thinner to compensate for the weight.
Titanium
Commonly used in aerospace technology, titanium is now utilized for folding bike tubes. Unlike untreated steel and other aluminum alloys, titanium has high corrosion resistance and boasts a high strength to weight ratio. On the other hand, titanium is the most expensive frame material, that is why its use is limited to high-tier│high-level manufacturers and aerospace industry. It is also harder to work than steel and aluminum, further increasing production cost and limits the users of titanium.
Thermoplastic
Some folding bike reviews cited the use of thermoplastic as a bicycle frame. This is still undergoing tests on the Advanced Technology Project of ATP. Thermoplastic, when combined with carbon fibers (another bicycle frame material) can produce│create a rather tough and durable frame. Although it is still under observation, several companies have funded the study as a joint . |
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Author Resource:-
Kellie is an expert when it comes to Folding Bikes. To find out the latest News and Tips on folding bikes, visit Best Folding Bikes at http://bestfoldingbikes.net/
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By :
Jessie Stone
Submitted
2010-10-17 19:33:40 |
Article From Article Mayhem
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