[Mootsguy]

Originally Posted by Industry_Hack

Neither.

I humbly would disagree, in my opinion Titanium is a superior frame material. Course I own four of the silly things ---

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by Mootsguy

I humbly would disagree, in my opinion Titanium is a superior frame material. Course I own four of the silly things ---

Do much downhill racing?

[Mootsguy]

Originally Posted by Industry_Hack

Do much downhill racing?

Not my cup-o-tea, I prefer to earn the rewards... I have however seen more than one Scandium frame snap at the headtube and only one Ti bike which cracked at the weld and not in the material itself.

Different strokes I understand, but spend 6-8 hour cross country on a Ti frame and a Scandium frame and then see which one you buy --

[Industry_Hack]

I'm not advocating one over the other. Different materials for different applications. You've pointed out one of the downfalls inherent in titanium though - it's difficult to manipulate. No doubt if titanium fails, it will be at a welded junction.

The Arantix frame seems to combine the best of everything, and has held up to abuse it was never intended to see. But I'm also waiting to find out more about the new stainless that has been offered recently.

[Mootsguy]

Originally Posted by Industry_Hack

You've pointed out one of the downfalls inherent in titanium though - it's difficult to manipulate. No doubt if titanium fails, it will be at a welded junction.

Rather than a inherent problem in the material wouldn't you say that was the fault of the frame maker? Which makes it important to know where your frames are coming from.

I was at Demo Days and didn't the Arantix road bikes suffer with cracks at the headtubes? I'm not sure if I recall correctly but I believe it was 08.

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by Mootsguy

Rather than a inherent problem in the material wouldn't you say that was the fault of the frame maker? Which makes it important to know where your frames are coming from.

I was at Demo Days and didn't the Arantix road bikes suffer with cracks at the headtubes? I'm not sure if I recall correctly but I believe it was 08.

My titanium tandem MTB held up to some scary abuse, but my point was that you pay a premium for a material that's plentiful, yet difficult to work with. I wouldn't doubt if even Lynskey and Moots have had failures.

I'm not aware of any issues with Arantix, but anything is possible.

[Engyo]

I'm waiting for the Unobtanium frames.

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by Engyo

I'm waiting for the Unobtanium frames.

They've been available for years. Pricing is still an issue. They came out shortly after the drillium phase.

[Mootsguy]

Originally Posted by jpmike6656

I guess my question is how is scandium diff. as a frame material from crmo steel/titanium/carbon/aluminum? Any opinion/help is appreciated.
Merry Christmas to all of you.
Mike

Scandium is an aluminium alloy which is lighter and stiffer than normal aluminium. You can make thinner frame tubing with same strength as normal aluminium. Therefore it is lighter... feel is the same as aluminium. Do note scandium is noticably weaker in impact strength due to thinner walls..they are more "tin-can" than aluminum...so to speak.

Regarding unobtanium, rumor has it that Gary Helfrich still has two available in his studio...

ETA some additional information on the differences between Ti and Scandium: Scandium has a fatigue life, titanium doesn't (well, it does, but very small compared to aluminum/scandium)

Scandium oxidizes, ti doesn't.

Scandium, like aluminum frames, is typically built with larger diameter, thinner walled tubing, that is more prone to denting than smaller diameter, thicker walled titanium.

Titanium can be repaired without requiring heat treating, Scandium can't.

Hope that helps.

[funetical]

IF you guys posted links to articles about the mistery metals I would appreciate it. Saves me from having to Google so much.