Weight/stiffness of new steel bike
- Thread starter Panza
- Start date
On the subject of stainless tubes for bikes.
Fashion seems to have moved away from stainless, or it might have become more difficult to get stainless tubes.
https://www.kvastainless.com/
https://kvastainless.com/order/
https://www.columbus1919.com/en/xcr-en/
https://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/materials/past-materials/s-953-steel/
https://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/materials/steel/s-931/
https://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/materials/steel/steel-921/
https://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/rtl_steel_alloys_extract.pdf
Fashion seems to have moved away from stainless, or it might have become more difficult to get stainless tubes.
https://www.kvastainless.com/
https://kvastainless.com/order/
https://www.columbus1919.com/en/xcr-en/
https://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/materials/past-materials/s-953-steel/
https://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/materials/steel/s-931/
https://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/materials/steel/steel-921/
https://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/rtl_steel_alloys_extract.pdf
bikeworkshop
Old School Grand Master
Stainless never really made sense imo, as titanium would be superior if you want a hard to weld bare metal frame.
Reynolds did manage to produce a stainless tube with similar properties to the usual steel alloys, but it's much harder to weld,
and has much higher density than ti.
Last edited:
Botty Kayer
Dirt Disciple
I think the problem with stainless was that the manufacturers insisted on much larger minimum orders that Reynolds simply couldn't do, and so they simply couldn't get hold of it in small batches at a decent price so phased it out.
Think that was from.a few years ago so don't know if thats still the case now, but as raw materials, along with everything else seems to have gone up in recent years, I expect it's still the case.
If you found your ti frame a bit spindly, have a you tried a Columbis Max frame? I'm in the 80-90kg weight range so find the likes of Columbus SL too noodly, but really love a Max frame and especially a Max fork, and have a few. I look for ones that can take 28c tyres in the rear as I find Max and 28c tyres the magic formula for me. The rear is usually the pinch point on the old frames as the Max fork has plenty of clearance.for +30c tyres.
They reintroduced Max in recent years so it's still available for new builds, but you can still find decent 2nd hand ones occasionally for less of an outlay than new obvs.
Think that was from.a few years ago so don't know if thats still the case now, but as raw materials, along with everything else seems to have gone up in recent years, I expect it's still the case.
If you found your ti frame a bit spindly, have a you tried a Columbis Max frame? I'm in the 80-90kg weight range so find the likes of Columbus SL too noodly, but really love a Max frame and especially a Max fork, and have a few. I look for ones that can take 28c tyres in the rear as I find Max and 28c tyres the magic formula for me. The rear is usually the pinch point on the old frames as the Max fork has plenty of clearance.for +30c tyres.
They reintroduced Max in recent years so it's still available for new builds, but you can still find decent 2nd hand ones occasionally for less of an outlay than new obvs.
Last edited:
ChromeChainstay
Senior Retro Guru
i am cheap, i will buy on of these someday. to each his own
https://ritcheylogic.com/bike/frames/road-logic-frameset rim brake
https://ritcheylogic.com/bike/frames/road-logic-frameset rim brake
georges1
Retro Guru
Dedacciai DR Zero and Columbus Max, EL, Genius , Nemo and Foco are fine. I have an old Grandis Overmax a specific derivative of the Columbus Max which is very stiff but yet very comfy. On mine I have fitted 700*23 since the wheels I have on it don't allow much more than 700*23 or 700*25. Genius is stiff but more lightweight than Max. I am not a lightweight person anymore 89kilos that is why I need a stiff and responsive frame. The Reynolds 708 Classic on my Peugeot and the Reynolds 631 are also stiff. As for the Reynolds 953, it was a specific Carpenter steel which was too costly to produce and not produced in enough big quantities that is why its production ceased.
Carpenter AerMet 100
https://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/aermet/index.html
https://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/aermet/index.html
Stories differ on the subject of Reynolds 953
https://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/superior-mechanical-properties-of-953-and-931/
https://www.mtbr.com/threads/reynolds-953-stainless-steel-tubing.133746/page-3
https://www.bikeforums.net/4121263-post3.html
https://groups.google.com/g/framebuilders/c/ql2yazfet9s
https://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/superior-mechanical-properties-of-953-and-931/
https://www.mtbr.com/threads/reynolds-953-stainless-steel-tubing.133746/page-3
https://www.bikeforums.net/4121263-post3.html
https://groups.google.com/g/framebuilders/c/ql2yazfet9s
georges1
Retro Guru
It was one of the most complicated to weld materials, Mobilette made one bike with that tubing called the Curve, one of the riders complained that the Front triangle wasn't as stiff as the rear. I have never seen in my life a frame with this tubing
georges1
Retro Guru
Interesting but here is what what Condor says about Reynolds 953, I quote :
"We selected Columbus XCr tubing for our stainless steel frames because XCr is the highest grade of stainless tubing available. It is a seamless tube with an ultra-smooth surface. The tubes are cold drawn multiple times to create the lightest stainless tubes of any manufacturer without sacrificing strength or ride quality.
Columbus XCr is lighter than Reynolds 953, and lighter and stronger than Reynolds 931."
Reynolds 953 isn't made anymore so you will have to play with 921 and 931 tubing in order to get a full stainless steel frame despite being less strong and heavier than XCR. A XCR frame costs as much as a nice titanium frame but isn't common nor cheap. So far Dedacciai DR Zero and Columbus Spirit HSS and Life are a good alternative to stainless steel tubing if you don't have the budget for a stainless steel frame. Some older series from Columbus still work well after decades such as the original Max, Minimax, EL, Neuron, Genius, Nemo, Foco, Ultra Foco and Brain.
