carbon fork vs full carbon
09-17-13, 08:51 PM
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carbon fork vs full carbon
Is therer I great difference between aluminim bikes with carbon forks, and full carbon bikes? I am trying to see if the price difference is worth it . Thanks.
09-17-13, 10:51 PM
#2
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It depends. 
Which bikes are you checking out?
It also depends what you want: do you want comfort, super-light weight, stiffness.. looks?
Which bikes are you checking out? It also depends what you want: do you want comfort, super-light weight, stiffness.. looks?
09-17-13, 11:23 PM
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Each bike is different. Ride them and see what you like.
09-17-13, 11:30 PM
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Generally speaking, the knock on aluminum is a harsh ride.
Adding carbon bits is an effort to alleviate this. It works on my Sequoia; it's smooth and comfortable. But these guys are right- there's just way too many variables here for any kind of blanket statements.
Other than this, and this'll probably turn out to be debatable, but here goes... an all-carbon bike is your best shot at BOTH maximum stiffness AND a tolerably comfortable ride.
Adding carbon bits is an effort to alleviate this. It works on my Sequoia; it's smooth and comfortable. But these guys are right- there's just way too many variables here for any kind of blanket statements.
Other than this, and this'll probably turn out to be debatable, but here goes... an all-carbon bike is your best shot at BOTH maximum stiffness AND a tolerably comfortable ride.
09-18-13, 10:31 AM
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It depends on what kind of ride you want. I have 1 aluminum road bike with carbon seat stays and a carbon fork, and 1 full carbon bike. The full carbon bike is a much better bike, its lighter and significantly more comfortable, but it costs alot more. The carbon seat stays on the aluminum bike may help a little, but they are not designed to be as compliant as the stays on my carbon bike.
I think other features of the bike other than material contribute to how a bike rides. You can design an aluminum bike to be fairly comfortable, and can design a carbon bike to be stiff and harsh.
I recommend test riding a bunch of different bikes to figure out if a carbon bike is worth the extra money. If you can't afford it, there is nothing wrong with an aluminum bike.
I think other features of the bike other than material contribute to how a bike rides. You can design an aluminum bike to be fairly comfortable, and can design a carbon bike to be stiff and harsh.
I recommend test riding a bunch of different bikes to figure out if a carbon bike is worth the extra money. If you can't afford it, there is nothing wrong with an aluminum bike.
