1/12/2018 10:58 PM
Edited Date/Time: 1/12/2018 11:00 PM
Andy_Greenney wrote:
Are they at a crossover point where the same frame rigidity/strength in an aluminium frame would have to be heavier? I'm no metallurgist so it's a genuine question.
The aluminum frames are stiffer. And aluminum is more consistent (frame to frame comparison).
For example, in MotoGP, Casey Stoner used to complain about Ducati's steel frames because even tho built identically, their was still roughly a 15% difference in characteristics. No 2 bikes were ever the same. It made testing a bitch.
Aluminum is said to have about a 5% difference. Ducati just skipped the aluminum and when to carbon for their frames, which are so consistent that it's impossible for just about anyone to tell two frames apart. And with carbon, you have infinite ability to pick where you want stiffness and where you want flex, and how much. That's a topic for another day. But it's sorta relevant here because with aluminum frames, engineers have more options of where they can make a frame stiff and what parts they want to flex.
With the torque & twisting that a modern 4 stroke racing motor can create, aluminum has it's advantages. And yes, it is cheaper to produce. But the frames do last longer. Pro's can wear out a MX frame in a ridiculously fast amount of time. I was told that when Dungey first went to KTM, he was burning thru frames faster than suspension. That's nuts.
But that shows how much the steel frames flex. Which is great for feel. Great for the average consumer who isnt going to wear out the frame anytime soon.
Im no frame expert. That's just my understanding of it all from asking a lot of questions to factory engineers. Im fascinated by this sorta stuff.
I would never expect KTM to produce a aluminum frame. They're too committed to offroad. There's a reason all the Euro brands that focus on building enduro bikes all use steel. Aluminum's best suited for supercross. And KTM is having no problem making steel work there. So I just cant see them going aluminum, what's the incentive? Aluminum isnt necessarily lighter. Some of these aluminum frames are damn heavy (Yamaha for example).
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