Variations in a Mountain Bike Frame – What You Should Know About It

By Paul Kramer

A mountain bike mainly depends up on its design and the design is basically the structure of its frame. The performance of a mountain bike has a large variety of application and for each application some variation in its frame is required. In the preceding paragraphs I will discuss some variations in the frames of mountain bike which has impact on the ride itself.

Metallurgy

YETI 575 CARBON FRAME 2009 – $ 1920.00
From: Jenson USA

The bike frames are available in a variety of materials which affect the weight of the bike directly. The heavier frames are made up of steel while steel alloy frames are a bit lighter in weight comparatively. These frames are used in bikes for local commutation and in bikes meant for pavement or road riding. These frames are much more brittle to take the ruggedness of free riding and quickly bend or break.
The lightest frames are made of aluminum and its alloys. These frames are very light in weight and are usually used in bikes meant for free riding and downhill biking. These frames are more flexible and can sustain a lot of rough handling involved in the roughed mountain biking sports.

Frame Size

TITUS MOTOLITE SPECIAL EDITION FRAME ‘09 – $ 1795.00
From: Jenson USA

The size of the frame has a direct impact on the performance of a bike. A bike with a larger frame will automatically have more weight and will have a center of gravity much higher from the ground. This will make the bike more stable while going down on slopes. But it would make the bike difficult to lift and to balance at a slower speed.

In contrast to that, bikes with smaller frames will be much lighter and easier to handle while maneuvering in through a dirt track or jumping across a ditch. Therefore it is better to get a bike with a smaller frame if free riding is your aim.

Frame Complexity

TITUS RACER X SPECIAL EDITION FRAME 09 – $ 1795.00
From: Jenson USA

A frame has to cater for the type of suspension that it is using. A bike with a hard tail will not require a complicated frame where as a bike with a rear suspension will have to have a complex frame to cater for the inclusion of the rear suspension

Frame plays an important role in a mountain bike which will dictate its performance, selecting the right frame for your needs is what you have to keep in mind when you go to get yourself the next bike.

YETI 575 FRAME 2009 – $ 1789.99
From: Jenson USA