Gradory

Since I have read a lot of scary stories about broken carbon frames, I am not convinced of carbon (or plastic to put it bluntly ) components. I am looking for an XC bike built on light, high quality, aluminium components like Deore XT or XTR, a light seat post, light wheels (eg. DT Swiss XR 1501) etc. It seem like all manufacturers avoid putting high-end aluminium components to alu-framed bikes. I believe it is possible to build an entirely alloy 29er which weighs about 10 kg. It would be affordable. Do you know any manufacture, especially a European one, who offers high-end aluminium bikes?

CliffordK

There would be a ton of vintage aluminum frames, but to get 29er and disc brakes likely throws you into 5 to 10 year old bikes.

I still think it shouldn't be too hard to find. Especially if you look at frames, or perhaps finding the right base bike, and stripping and rebuilding to your specs.

Gallo

There are plenty of high end aluminum bikes built today Pivot Santa Cruz Specialized Cannondale Niner Yeti etc etc

Very few components are made from carbon for mountain bikes.

Having a aluminium only bike is not difficult. You can buy on off the shelf

There is nothing wrong with carbon as a material btw Likewise there is nothing wrong with aluminium

prj71

AIR 9 3-STAR

Kapusta

All my thoughts exactly.

WannaGetGood

Carbon is the stronger of the two materials, at least from the videos I have watched. I have not ridden a carbon frame, but they are stiffer with can give a bit of a rougher ride. What I believe it boils down to is how much money you want to spend. Plus a lot of companies do not give warranties on their carbon frames. Unless your racing on the world circuit or have too much money burning holes in your pocket, aluminum is still a solid product.

Canker

What companies don't have warranties on their carbon frames? A lot of companies don't offer lifetime warranties on carbon, 5 years is normal, but I haven't heard of any with NO WARRANTY.

Carbon frames don't ride stiffer than aluminum unless they are designed to ride stiffer. One of the pros of carbon is you can make it flexy where you want and stiff where you want.

prj71

Santa Cruz offers lifetime warranty on their carbon frames.

In my experience, on the same exact model of a bike, moving from aluminum to carbon resulted in a less harsher ride.

WannaGetGood

I looked at a few more companies and you guys are right on the warranties, Kona is the brand that does not offer a warranty on their carbon frames. Every video I watched about carbon frames claim that they are all stiffer. I don't know if I would want my frame flexing on me racing on a DH trail. However with that said, I love to learn so if you have some reading material for me I would love to see it.

Canker

https://warranty.konaworld.com/terms.html

Kona is actually 5 years for carbon as well.

(this warranty is limited to five years for carbon fiber frames and three years for electric pedal assist frames).

I'll give you it wasn't exactly clear and took me a bit to find that.

There is stiffer and then there is stiffer lol. When they say carbon is stiffer they usually aren't talking about ride quality, they are talking about pedaling efficiency. Things flex less when putting massive power through it and such.

WannaGetGood

LIFETIME LIMITED WARRANTY ON BICYCLE FRAME*

Kona further warrants to the original owner that the frame of this new Kona bicycle purchased from an authorized Kona dealer shall be free of defective materials or workmanship for a THREE YEAR period for the ORIGINAL OWNER. If the warranty is registered with Kona NO LESS THAN THREE MONTHS after the purchase of the bicycle, THE WARRANTY IS EXTENDED FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CARBON BIKES & FRAMES. During this warranty period, Kona shall repair or replace, at its sole option, the bicycle frame if Kona determines the frame is defective and subject to this limited warranty. The original owner shall pay all labor and shipping charges connected with the repair or replacement of the bicycle frame.

I am confused then what the yellow highlighted is supposed to mean.

Canker

Yeah I was too till I found the page I linked too. I took it to mean they EXTENDED the warranty on frames from whatever it was before ,5 years?, to lifetime on everything but CARBON. It is confusing and took me a couple mins to find that other page specifically mentions how long the warranty is on carbon frames.

prj71

Carbon or aluminum...warranties are about the same from the manufactures.

I wouldn't be scared of a carbon bike at all. For as many horror stories you may hear or see on the internet about carbon frames there are just as many horror stories about aluminum and steel bikes.

Cyclist0108

Alu ≠ aluminum

Al = aluminum

WannaGetGood

Santa Cruz does what they have to in order to break the bike. Actually a lot more force than I would have expected. To boot, its a used frame.

triggersd

If you haven't gotten a bike yet, check this out:
https://undergroundbikeworks.com/

Seems to be what you might be looking for. Look into who is behind the brand. Super cool.

Good luck.

Cyclist0108

My kid has a mountain bike frame in which the rear triangle is Al and the main part of the frame is carbon fiber. We are currently replacing the Al part because it cracked. The carbon fiber part has suffered no such indignity. (Having said that, I went for a steel frame road bike. My subjective impression is steel is much more pleasant to ride than Al.)

PS: Al is the IUPAC/Periodic Table abbreviation for Aluminum. (Alu is something different.)