Carbon MTB Frame Strengths

[eddy]

, I crashed and the bike landed on the edge of the bridge. the cross bar and seatpost both cracked.

 

 

 

That may have had something to do with it as well.

[Zatopek]

I was going over an obstacle over a bridge near Broadacres / Lanseria, I crashed and the bike landed on the edge of the bridge. the cross bar and seatpost both cracked.

 

Were you on top or underneath the bike after the crash?

[Slabeye]

ROFLMAO

[karma]

You are to big for cycling, go play rugby. 

 

Too*

and, really? 

[nox1111]

I was skeptical buying my Carbon framed bike, but to date have ridden the crap out of it and would buy it again tomorrow if I needed a bike.

Make sure the frame you get is rated for your weight and riding style.

[RockCoach]

I bought the bike 2nd hand, no name on the frame. What is the difference between XC and Trail? Does my size match to the typical XC Racer? Your last statement is exactly why I am asking here, I don't know better. I am asking for help.

Buy a trail bike. They are built stronger than lighter XC bikes. Doesn't matter if it's carbon or ally but I'd rather ride aluminium if you like to ride hard.

[KingTJ]

I Ride a SC carbon, and have done some crazy stuff with i ( well for me at least) . I weigh around 115kg and it is still going strong. there is some nice frames available on the Hub, so have a look around.

 

In regards to XC and trail riding , XC marathon is more long distance riding (jeep tracks, farm roads, SAni2C , Cape Epic etc) Trail riding  is more like enduro riding ( single track more technical stuff with drop off and jumps etc). 

 

If you say you are fearless and trying to bang it out in the bush, then it sounds like you are  more a trail rider ...and want a bike with  a slacker head angle and bigger shocks ...the more enlightened people can tell you what exact bike will fit you best.

[River Rat]

At 120kg the Spez guys will start nudging you towards their alu frames but you'll be fine with Santa Cruz they pride themselves on the strength of their carbon frames. As for trail versus XC you'll be far more comfortable on a trail bike at this stage of your riding. For the record I ride a Spez Stumpjumper which suits me to a T. I considered the Santa Cruz but two things tipped the scales in favour of the Spez, the brain and their awesome aftersales service. On the latter I have no evidence to suggest that Santa Cruz can't match Spez so it is based on my experience of Spez only.

[Skinnyone]

Hi Slabeye

 

I didn't mean any offence,I try and get the full story first, my comment on Chinese frames is meant to be derogatory toward the frame not the rider, I have seen that you bought the bike 2nd hand, no fault of yours but also understand that carbon is not just carbon, you get different grades - Lighter, stronger and more expensive normally go hand in hand. 

 

You then get different methods of laying up (the way the fibers of the carbon are laid in the mold - different directions will give different characteristics etc) construction methods and a number of other factors that determine the weight and strength of the frame. Many times I have looked inside a chinese made frame and found body filler - no structural properties at all - in a crucial area leading to a built in weakness. This is why major manufacturers will spend millions on R+D getting the lay up right, sourcing the right grade of carbon getting perfectly shaped molds so that no fillers are required etc and THAT is why top brands cost so much more.

 

Unfortunately I have seen top brands that have been crashed and broken but that is normally where the rider ends up in the emergency room, or the bike falls off the bike rack/gets driven into/over etc and these are forces that the designers are not building their bikes to take. 

 

Like has been mentioned above - buy a trail orientated bike and enjoy! Buy new so that a warranty can take care of any genuine "JRA" breaks etc - a crash can be covered under a crash replacement policy as well where the dealer should be able to sell you a new frame at the fraction of the cost of full price - most manufacturers will offer this and if you are up front about the mishap then guys will be more willing to help out where possible. - I have seen it all too often where the bike has clearly been crashed and the owner is trying to claim against his warranty - they are two different things.

 

Good luck and enjoy your new carbon machine! 

[Donovan Le Cok]

First off How did you break it? - Crash? jumping? dropped off your car?

What brand is it?

where is it broken?

Is it under warranty?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xreZdUBqpJs

 

This is the kind of testing that most brands will go thru, and if it "just broke" then I find that VERY hard to believe... 

 

That video was just awful to watch.

[Slabeye]

Thanks very much. Not offended, simply frustrated.

 

The difficulty is that the bike shops just want to make money, so they don't tell the truth. They take advantage of a guy like me that doesn't know better, and then I fall on my ass on a river crossing.

 

Thanks for all the posts