Titanium or stainless steel?
#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.
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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A magnet does not stick to the handlebars.
Could there be another material which retains a shine like stainless steel?
#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.
You want to tell for sure? Heat it up, then tell us the temp it melted at.
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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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The handlebar is not titanium.
Why, if you have question about the handlebar, didn't you post a close up of the handlebar?
#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.
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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#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.
#34
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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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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.
It is much more shiny than aluminum.
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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?
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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#37
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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
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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Yeah, the large downtube makes that more clear.
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:
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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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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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.
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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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
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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#45
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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.
#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.
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.
#47
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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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https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ster-find.html
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