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Titanium or stainless steel?

Old 03-29-20, 09:31 AM
  #26  
alo
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I don't know the history of the bike. Maybe it came from the factory with ordinary handlebars. Maybe this was fitted later.
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Old 03-29-20, 09:31 AM
  #27  
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That stem is steel. It might have a steel handlebar. It's old enough to have that.

It's not stainless steel. Not now, not ever. Try a magnet.

My guess is low grade steel vs aluminum in a finish you haven't seen before.
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Old 03-29-20, 09:36 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by rosefarts
That stem is steel. It might have a steel handlebar. It's old enough to have that.

It's not stainless steel. Not now, not ever. Try a magnet.

My guess is low grade steel vs aluminum in a finish you haven't seen before.
The stem is steel.

A magnet does not stick to the handlebars.

Could there be another material which retains a shine like stainless steel?
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Old 03-29-20, 09:38 AM
  #29  
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OP is asking as if we're all metallurgists and have direct access to his handlebars to test them. It's an entry-level bike; I'd be amazed if anyone splurged for anything more expensive than aluminum. If it were steel, would it have to be rusty?

You want to tell for sure? Heat it up, then tell us the temp it melted at.
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Old 03-29-20, 09:42 AM
  #30  
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In the 1990's there were lots of maybe-too-light MTB bars on the market - I put bars like that on my Cannondale hybrid and they didn't break. (Ridden on roads only.)
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Old 03-29-20, 09:43 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by alo

How could I tell if they are titanium or stainless steel? What is the difference in the appearance of titanium and stainless steel? Could they be something other than titanium or stainless steel?
It's not a particularly expensive bike. The frame looks like it's steel.

The handlebar is not titanium.

Why
, if you have question about the handlebar, didn't you post a close up of the handlebar?
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Old 03-29-20, 09:43 AM
  #32  
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That bike would not have been spec'd with a titanium or SS handlebar.
And nobody in their right mind would add one of those to the bike after the fact. And really nobody would do this while retaining that original stem.

If its shiny, its chromed steel. If its clean and a bit more dull, its aluminum.
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Old 03-29-20, 09:49 AM
  #33  
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one look says it isn't titanium, ti always has a grey finish to it, its the nature of the metal; I've had ti frames, have ti spokes and use ti kitchen ware for travel, they're all shades of the same color. Even with stainless if you have a strong magnet there will be some degree of attraction, it might only be a momentary pause before the magnet falls off but I've yet to see a SS that was 100% not magnetic; I've found that poptop openers that stick to the fridge tend to have a decent magnet and should give a reading. As someone else said, remove the grip and nick the end, if a sharp knife can take off a sliver its aluminum, if it only seems to glance off or not want to dig in its SS.
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Old 03-29-20, 09:49 AM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by njkayaker
It's not a particularly expensive bike. The frame looks like it's steel.

The handlebar is not titanium.

Why
, if you have question about the handlebar, didn't you post a close up of the handlebar?
The bike frame is aluminum.

I am not at home and cannot take more pictures.

It would not be possible to go home, even if I wanted to. Airlines have stopped flying.
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Old 03-29-20, 09:55 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by Russ Roth
one look says it isn't titanium, ti always has a grey finish to it, its the nature of the metal; I've had ti frames, have ti spokes and use ti kitchen ware for travel, they're all shades of the same color. Even with stainless if you have a strong magnet there will be some degree of attraction, it might only be a momentary pause before the magnet falls off but I've yet to see a SS that was 100% not magnetic; I've found that poptop openers that stick to the fridge tend to have a decent magnet and should give a reading. As someone else said, remove the grip and nick the end, if a sharp knife can take off a sliver its aluminum, if it only seems to glance off or not want to dig in its SS.
If titanium is more grey, it must be stainless steel. Unless someone knows something else that has the same appearance.

It is much more shiny than aluminum.
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Old 03-29-20, 10:12 AM
  #36  
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Any of the metals being discussed here can be polished to a high shine.
That shine can be preserved with a coat of clear coat.

Until someone can actually put hands on, or a very good clear picture, you all are just spinning your wheels.
The next question is what difference OP, at this point, does it make?
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Old 03-29-20, 10:12 AM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by alo
It has a wire brush finish, not a smooth finish like chrome plating.
so.. is it a brushed finish, or really shiny? If it's brushed, why is it more shiny than brushed alloy?
certainly all sorts of brushed finishes out there, even brushed chrome, eg. take a look at Home Depot faucet lineups.
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Bath-Bat...vZbreoZ1z13hq2
I agree, stainless would not be first or even 2nd or 3rd assumption
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Old 03-29-20, 10:39 AM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by alo
The bike frame is aluminum.
Yeah, the large downtube makes that more clear.

Originally Posted by alo
I am not at home and cannot take more pictures.

It would not be possible to go home, even if I wanted to. Airlines have stopped flying.
Then, getting the answer now doesn't matter. It would have made more sense to wait until you were able to provide useful photos.

The photos you provide seem to indicate that they are aluminum.

Ti bars are $250-400 now.

https://www.jensonusa.com/search?q=t...lebar+mountain


It's not likely at all:
  • That the bike came with Ti bars.
  • That somebody would have spent that much for a component on this bike.
  • That somebody who put Ti bars on the bike would have just thrown them out.
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Old 03-29-20, 10:43 AM
  #39  
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I can't find any spec info, but most of the entry level bikes would be aluminum alloy. You in Australia? Anyway, titanium and stainless would be a darker grey.
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Old 03-29-20, 10:45 AM
  #40  
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Titanium or stainless steel?


Oops, I thought this was gonna be another helmet thread !
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Old 03-29-20, 10:59 AM
  #41  
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And I thought we were gonna talk frames.
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Old 03-29-20, 11:02 AM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by dedhed
The next question is what difference OP, at this point, does it make?
IKR, especially because he said he’s not worried about strength.

I am smelling something, and it ain’t pretty. Time to blow this clambake.
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Old 03-29-20, 11:04 AM
  #43  
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Next up: Are the pedals plastic or resin?

Other exciting questions include: Are these original decals? What lube is on the chain? Who makes these brake pads...

Guess now. The answers will be posted in several months.
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Old 03-29-20, 11:36 AM
  #44  
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If you really want to know, do a simple calculation. Take the bar off the bike. Measure its length, diameter at the end and the thickness at the end. Weigh it. Calculate the volume of the metal. (Length X outside diameter X 3.14, ie pi). Divide the weight by the volume, This will give you the density. (Yes, I am ignoring the center thicker area so the weight and density will show a little high. Maybe use 90% of the calculated as a reasonable approximation, Now compare to the densities of titanium, aluminum and steel. They are very different.

Measure everything in centimeters. Weight in grams. The density of steel is ~8 g/cm^3 (cubic centimeter), titanium - ~4.4 and aluminum - 2.7. It will be obvious which material our bars are made from once you do this calc.

Ben
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Old 03-29-20, 11:59 AM
  #45  
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Originally Posted by alo
If there were two handlebars side by side, one titanium, and the other stainless steel, could any of you tell which was which by looking at them? Is there any difference in their appearance? What is that difference?
Both titanium and stainless steel come in many different alloys. Neither is anywhere near a "pure" element. (Steel is by definition, not a pure element. The pure stuff is iron.) The different alloys have different colors. Heat treatment and other processes also can change colors. Both aluminum and titanium are similar mixed bags of alloys. Some alloys are of distinct colors but there is also a lot of overlap. The different brushings also can have very different looks. (Check out different makes of titanium frames and how different they look.)

Over the internet with our different screens and drivers, there is no way we can positively tell you much. (Actually, that's not true. This is the internet, We can tell you anything!) I understand you are far from the bike and won;t see it for months. I suggest leaving this question unanswered until you have it in your hands.

One possibility that no one has said (and I didn't hear ruled out with a magnet yet) is brushed chrome. Chrome is just another metallic finish that can be brushed, sanded, scratched and abused like any other. Chromed handlebars have been made (and sold on Raleighs) for about the past million years. A magnet will stick to the steel underneath. My density calc in the post above will only tell you "steel", not what kind.
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Old 03-29-20, 12:17 PM
  #46  
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Some have said it would be unusual for a bike like that to come with stainless steel handlebars, or to have them fitted later. So something unusual happened.

It would be unusual for a bike with stainless steel handlebars to be thrown in the trash. It was probably fitted over 20 years earlier. It might not have been known or not have been valued. Sometimes the owner dies, and a relative gets rid of their possessions.

If most people on this forum saw stainless steel and aluminum, they could easily tell the difference. Most would not be confused. There is a clear difference.

It is either stainless steel, or something that looks like stainless steel. It is not aluminum.

Last edited by alo; 03-29-20 at 12:23 PM.
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Old 03-29-20, 12:21 PM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by 79pmooney
One possibility that no one has said (and I didn't hear ruled out with a magnet yet) is brushed chrome. Chrome is just another metallic finish that can be brushed, sanded, scratched and abused like any other. Chromed handlebars have been made (and sold on Raleighs) for about the past million years. A magnet will stick to the steel underneath. My density calc in the post above will only tell you "steel", not what kind.
I have said twice that a magnet wont stick to the handlebars.
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Old 03-29-20, 12:37 PM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by alo
It would be unusual for a bike with stainless steel handlebars to be thrown in the trash. It was probably fitted over 20 years earlier. It might not have been known or not have been valued. Sometimes the owner dies, and a relative gets rid of their possessions..
Not really. People thrown valuable things away on a regular basis.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ster-find.html
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Old 03-29-20, 12:50 PM
  #49  
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Originally Posted by BlazingPedals
You want to tell for sure? Heat it up, then tell us the temp it melted at.
Spark test:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_testing
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Old 03-29-20, 12:54 PM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by alo
I have said twice that a magnet wont stick to the handlebars.
All that tells us is that it is not a magnetic steel alloy. Given the apparent price point of the bike in your picture, my best guess is aluminum.
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