EZRider Posted August 7, 2009 Share The GT carbon is only a few hundred grams lighter than the same specced alu bike and costs 10 k more We measured it in my LBS and the Zaskar Pro (LX build) carbon was 200g heavier then the alu. The rest of the build was exactly the same. The carbon one was R7k more expensive. Wow, didn't know that.I was talking about the Marathons, where the alu is slightly heavier than the carbon and costs a whole lot more.Still, a lot of people are very happy with their carbon bikes. Just as a lot of people like those swoopy, twisted futuristic designs. Each to his own. It's a marketer's dream come true. I sit and drool over a new bike (aluminium) that will set me back more than 50 k. It wont make me a better rider. It probably isn't any better than my GT.But I still want it! I work hard, I make a good living and I will probably buy it soon. There is no escaping the capitalist dream... I pity people who drool over cars, motorcycles or boats, bikes are at least sort of affordable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabasco Posted August 7, 2009 Share ride it hard and make it work for the money you spent!!! carbon will look after you just like you look after it so be careful and he will also be careful That's what my bro-inlaw did with his Raleigh RM8.0' date=' rode it hard, then the frame snapped, is that just a Raleigh thing or a carbon thing??[/quote'] If you buy carbon do your home work, and spend the money on quality. Like anything, you get good carbon and you get cheap carbon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted August 7, 2009 Share ride it hard and make it work for the money you spent!!! carbon will look after you just like you look after it so be careful and he will also be careful That's what my bro-inlaw did with his Raleigh RM8.0' date=' rode it hard, then the frame snapped, is that just a Raleigh thing or a carbon thing??[/quote'] That's what happens when you buy a 'Game brand', I warned about Raleighs and Dunlops but did anyone listen ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EZRider Posted August 7, 2009 Share The fact that most of the top SA and rest of the world's riders are on carbon frames says nothing. They CAN ride bikes. But for someone that topples over often it might be a different story. I topple over a fair bit but still haven't managed to chip the paint on my alu bike I think the whole carbon-will-break-all-the-time thing is blown up out of proportion. My friend's Bianchi alu MTB frame cracked as did another GT marathon frame of another of my riding partners. I ride a GT alu marathon frame and have had nothing but joy from it.Materials fail. There is a warranty' date=' use it if it is a manufacturing defect. My reasons for not wanting to ride carbon is, like your sig says, not wanting to be a ponce. Those swoopy, plastic designs just make me feel like I am in some kind of Buck Rogers movie. Even the road bikes now look all twisted and melted and I am told thats how they are supposed to look?They also seem over priced to me. The GT carbon is only a few hundred grams lighter than the same specced alu bike and costs 10 k more[/quote'] There are more pros then cons to a carbon bike and once you ride one chance are you will be hooked. They give a totally different feel... I agree or the serious race crowd (even the non sponsored ones) wouldn't be riding them.I have ridden a few and I was impressed.I just like the look and idea of the alu bikes more. It is just me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTfan Posted August 7, 2009 Share ride it hard and make it work for the money you spent!!! carbon will look after you just like you look after it so be careful and he will also be careful That's what my bro-inlaw did with his Raleigh RM8.0' date=' rode it hard, then the frame snapped, is that just a Raleigh thing or a carbon thing??[/quote'] That's what happens when you buy a 'Game brand', I warned about Raleighs and Dunlops but did anyone listen ....... Hey hey hey, let's not even go down the 'Game road' , I do feel pretty safe with my super lite alloy frame though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodbadugly Posted August 7, 2009 Share Anything can be broken. Alu, carbon and titanium. If you pull it through your kloof. But I did not pull my carbon bike through my backside and it broke. I am back on aluminum.Handle carbon with care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudda Posted August 7, 2009 Share The front end of my trek 4300 washed out on a tight turn. I jumped off the bike and landed on top of it, with my feet. It has a nice cleat scratch in the frame, where I landed. No bend, or dent at all. I have no problem riding it hard again. Which I have done on many times after. If I hard a carbon mtb, I would be a bit worried if the same incident happend. I am not sure if my thinking is justified ? Take the magalies monster, there are some serious drop off's. Would you goooi it down there on a carbon frame after a hectic fall ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Frail4Life Posted August 7, 2009 Share I am at present riding both carbon and alu. I have had five bikes in the last eight years. I first had three alum bikes, It took me just over one year to brake each alum bike. I then bought my first carbon, which got broken from accident. Which I got replaced. Now I have just been hit off my bike and then got my front wheel flattened under the trucks wheel. Yes the bike is scratched, minor thinking It could of been alot worse. I replaced the Front wheel, pedals and have riden 1200 km since Knysna. Ps. The carbon frame is Italian not very well known in South Africa as in the States. KUOTA KOM frame. frail2009-08-07 14:52:22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodbadugly Posted August 8, 2009 Share Frail. You are one serious bike breaker! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Frail4Life Posted August 8, 2009 Share Dear Goodbadugly.I do not KNOW if it is my drink Cytomax, that I use???OR if it is my Legs ( each leg runs on a 3Litre engine) ??? HA HA My CLUB does not like ME, when we ride Club competions.My bike is setup with Time Trial Blades, 56 big blade and 42 small blade10 speed 23/ 11 cluster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swoosh1973 Posted August 9, 2009 Share So it seams i have broken my aluminium silverback frame on the welding(riding railway tracks)-got my nut squashed a bit too. However the alu frame cracked and it was under warenty. It seams that when buying carbon its not carbon versus alu. Im 89kg Its in fact carbon versus warenty. If jumbo jets have carbon in the tail and some helicopters have it in blades then i guess snap crackle pop is what you get when buying a bike from a manufacturer that dont know what they are doing with carbon? I gues the same aplies to alu. Dont blame the materials...blame yourself and the manufacturer for being weight weenies. Look at the warrenties. You cant have your bread buttered on both sides Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EZRider Posted August 10, 2009 Share So it seams i have broken my aluminium silverback frame on the welding(riding railway tracks)-got my nut squashed a bit too. However the alu frame cracked and it was under warenty. It seams that when buying carbon its not carbon versus alu. Im 89kg Its in fact carbon versus warenty. If jumbo jets have carbon in the tail and some helicopters have it in blades then i guess snap crackle pop is what you get when buying a bike from a manufacturer that dont know what they are doing with carbon? I gues the same aplies to alu. Dont blame the materials...blame yourself and the manufacturer for being weight weenies. Look at the warrenties. You cant have your bread buttered on both sides Too true dat... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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