Cole Henrich

I知 considering buying a used bike and I want to know whether the frame is aluminum or steel; The seller does not know, so I have to guess by photographs. I知 wondering if there are some telltale signs that one could see in a photograph. Unfortunately, I as a new user cannot post photos of the bike (which would be very useful).

3alarmer 

.
...can you get a response if you ask the seller to stick a magnet on the frame ?
Otherwise, you can get a general idea from the shape and diameter of the frame tubing, between steel and aluminum alloy.

DVC45

Post a pic of the bike here or tell us the make and model. There is a great chance someone will be able to ID the bike and determine what material the frameset is made of.

Cole Henrich

Thanks for your response. Yes, I can ask the seller to do that. If the magnet sticks, it痴 steel, if not, it痴 aluminum, right?

Cole Henrich

It痴 a Specialized Allez, which are currently aluminum, but I don稚 know the year of this one and if Specialized ever made steel Allezs. Probably it痴 aluminum.

DVC45

Is it lugged with DT shifters? If so, it is probably steel.

Cole Henrich

I had to look up those terms, but it is good to know that those are distinguishing elements. It does not appear lugged and does not appear to have downtube shifters. I知 pretty confident now that it痴 aluminum, and I can always ask the seller to do the magnet test. Still, I can apply this knowledge when looking at any bike now. Thanks for all the help, folks.

DVC45

Specialized had introduced steel framed Allez over the years.

2011

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/al...or=35595-23431

2005
https://products.roadbikereview.com/...mo-double.html



Almost always, aluminum frame tubings are bigger that steel tubing.

79pmooney

Yes. General rule of thumb - if the tubes appear to be close to inch diameter - steel, significantly larger, like closer to 1 1/2" - aluminum. There are exceptions both ways. Again, in general, newer steel bikes can have bigger tubes but before 1990 that was rare. Aluminum has been made in old steel diameters in small numbers before 1990.

3alarmer 

.
...steel framed Allez were made and sold by Specialized for many years, prior to the switch to aluminum.



I think this might be one of the last steel Allez

Retro Grouch 

Look at where the tubes join. The welding beads on aluminum bikes look like clothes line. The welding beads on steel framed bikes are much finer.

Camilo

Just ask the seller to do the magnet.

Iride01 

Frame material really shouldn't be much of a concern. What should concern you is that the frame fits you well and that everything works.