7 Things You Might Not Know About Carbon Fiber
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 5. 08. 2024
- Doddy has got 7 facts about Carbon Fibre that you didn't know! Carbon is an awesome material that's allowing the bike industry to develop in ways that wasn't previously possible! Check out the video to learn more...and if you've got some awesome facts that we've missed out, leave them in the comments!
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Carbon Fiber manufacturing is a labour intensive process that can produce lightweight, complex frames with many different combinations of attributes desirable for bicycles.
What is a carbon Fiber?
A Carbon fiber is a long strand of material made from carbon atoms. Thousands of these are spun together to make a yarn, which are then combined with resin to make carbon sheets.
What's a layup?
A carbon layup is a combination of these sheets, laid into a mould, usually around a bladder, before being baked or cooked in order to harden them into the frame shape.
Where is it made?
Most major carbon bikes come from a handful of state of the art factories in Asia. These factories have been producing carbo fiber bikes and products for decades.
Sheet and Layup
The sheets have a uni-directional weave, which lends itself to the ride characteristics of the bike. Ideal carbon frames are stiff, light and dampen shock. A combination of these factors will produce a great bike. All of these factors are in fact controlled by the layup, so the better the layup, the better the bike!
How strong is it?
Super strong! Carbon can take a lot of cosmetic damage before becoming compromised and even then can be repaired much easier than other materials!
Fakes
As with most things in life, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is! A fake frame will be from a budget knock off mould and will have a fraction of the engineering and development behind it to make it he bike it is!
Carbon is still being developed as a material! Meaning bikes have got a long way to go to becoming stronger, lighter and more affordable
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Leave us a comment below! - Sport
Carbon fiber makes everything light especially my wallet
i know I am kinda randomly asking but do anyone know of a good place to watch newly released tv shows online?
@Blake Case i would suggest flixzone. Just google for it :)
@Ronald Rohan Definitely, have been using flixzone for years myself =)
@Ronald Rohan thank you, I signed up and it seems like a nice service :) I really appreciate it !
@Blake Case Happy to help :)
Small corrections... Sheets can be unidirectional or multidirectional. Sheets aren't required to be preimpregnated with resin. Sometimes structures are created using the filament winding process (not just laying up sheets of carbon). UV exposure is the bane of epoxy resins' existence, so if scratches are deep enough, you should apply uv resistant paint/clearcoat asap!
nicely done sir
UV rays affect the carbon moreso .
Graphite, itself isn't UV averse. Aramid fibers are very averse to UV exposure. The polymers used in creating graphite fibers are what make carbon fiber more susceptible to uv degredation. Infact, there are projects researching the use of graphene as a coating on composite fiber. Weathering erosion is a bigger threat to graphite than uv radiation.
This has to be the highest production level and information dump quality GMBN video yet. Nicely done! It is hard to explain the benefits of carbon done right but I think you nailed it. I have experience with welded tube motorcycle frames that flex around the engine mounts but keep the wheels in line as well as riding a carbon MTB daily. Carbon is tough in weather, the frame is compliant but never snakes, and it is light yet strong enough to survive me stressing it with luggage racks beyond spec. now and then. I think it is a fantastic material assuming the production quality is there, as pointed out in the video. Critical point.
Yay thx guys I was really looking forward to this one. Didn't disappoint:)
Are carbon fiber MTB bike sales down???
#8 - Carbon fiber is still weak against direct impact / localized forces. And when it does fail, it fails suddenly and or catastrophically.
Something as simple as getting the torque wrong on a bolt, or laying it over in a crash, or simply shipping your bike can ruin your carbon frame or component. Reminder: buy and use a good torque wrench when working on your bikes.
@@icewallowcum856 What exactly does that video prove?
well, its not proving but showing. so correct question is: What exackly does that video show? It shows bunch of people that are riding over and punching OLD carbon frame. And i think its eaven from Author brand, whitch frames are cracking like nothink. so ye
@@icewallowcum856 No, I stated it correctly. What does that prove? Nothing. They're not designed to be ran over by a vehicle, nor designed to be destroyed on purpose. You could do the same exact thing to an alloy frame or any frame and it would have the same outcome.
No, i stated it correctly. And this dude up here said: Carbon fiber is still weak against direct impact / localized forces. And when it does fail, it fails suddenly and or catastrophically. And video shows direct impacts and you could ride home with that damage of frame. so that is it.
I have learned a lot more about CF from the comments than I did watching the video. At the very least, the benefits of CF vs Alloy are debatable. It really did seem like an infomercial, especially since there wasnât a âconsâ list.
# 9 - weight difference is 250-400 g comparing to the alloy frames
# 10 - you scratch chainstay or BB on rock - say Bye-Bye to the frame
# 11 - any solid an abrasive object gets between the tire and the frame, you know what to say from # 10
# 12 - weight and flex obsession when you have heavy forks, shock and tires is a hype (and may be a real mental phenomena)
LisaPet I
Carbon frame + aluminium chainstay + BB cover
i think you should of mentioned that carbon isn't recycled like aluminium or steel
The waste is dumped in the ocean. Waste is about 30% of production. Carbon is shit
@@andrewbuss5751 The source of it would be hugely appreciated.
andrew buss gay alert đš
Into an ocean?? Where? Maybe in southeast Asia.
Been making carbon parts for over a decade . Time consuming but the end results (if you're good) are amazing . I have made seatposts, chainrings, a few sprockets and done lots of carbon repair work .
Is there an expiration time with or without fatigue for carbon frames?
Very good info juragan....
I've seen an expensive carbon frame, on its first ride, crack from a 2 foot drop. I've seen videos of pro riders say they have tried carbon wheels but they kept breaking so went back to aluminium. This has put me off carbon, its expensive and i wouldn't want to replace it if it was out of warranty.
carbon wheels != carbon frame
Then you have Santa Cruz that gives you a lifetime warranty on carbon wheels. (And frames too btw)
You do understand that carbon is naturally stronger than aluminium?
Trek has a lifetime warranty on carbon frames and carbon wheels.
3 years later my 2016 aluminum bike is just as light as some 2021 carbon bikes
Really like the way you make your videos
I've been waiting for this video for too long
Hey GMBN, video idea: PT 1. what forks can you use for rough terrain, low cost forks. Take 4 of most common budget forks and do dirt w them(rockshox 30 and recon, maby reba, fox float 32, suntour etc.)
. PT 2, how dirt forks affect xc times and comfort. Take 2 most used dirtforks like pike, and fox float sc and put against xc forks.
of course manufacturers love it and push it - steel frame is for life, carbon one till the first proper crash on rocks, or sometimes it's enough to transport few bikes in the trunk "improperly"... in any case, it will need to be replaced soon, and if not, they will invent new wheelsize or groupset you "must have"
Doddy, 3:10 is absolutely wrong. Carbon fiber with duromere resins like epoxy have a very little strain at failure (compared to most metals). They are much better at fatigue compared to aluminium and have a high tensile strenght, but they are not "strong" in an accident. Their impact behaviour is very bad. And damages like delamination can not be seen from the outside
Mao gyud noy...
Awesome video
I spent $350 on my flyxii chinese carbon frame(stump jumper clone) and its freaking awesome. Outfitted with all XT components its super lightweight. I have logged hundreds of miles on it and and it's been a great frame. A lot of these frames are made in the same factories tham the name brands. Only difference is your buying a warranty when you buy a name brand. For me, buying charbon was worth the risk.
cool story bro
FINALLY!! đ
How well does carbon fiber age ? I still ride my 14 yrs old Aluminium Lapierre bike, and was wondering if a Carbon fiber frame would still be reliable after more than 10 years ? (I cannot afford to change my bike often, as many high level riders seem to do on CZcams...
Nice vid
GMBN gets a green screen!!! Super Nice!!
at 2:58 you state that if you do not see anything or only little damage after a crash you are fine, because CF is strong. This is simply false and you should not spread this kind of knowledge. If you dent your frame the fibers could delaminate underneath. That means that you do not see anything but there could be sewere damage resulting in a less stiff structure. Therefore not safe to ride anymore.
On delamination: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delamination
On Composites czcams.com/video/FhlsuL9RcYM/video.html
C Wolf so CF is weak?
Mr Cow it is very strong but brittle so it can't handle mechanical shocks as aluminium
Mr Cow, yes it's strong until an impact, after that it is unpredictable, carbon fibre hides delamination well. especially if internal delamination you will never know the frame has started it's breaking process if that's where it starts.
Kevin Nivek exactly, good for those who don't have to pay for another one lol
Carbon fiber is strong on "simple geometry" notably on boats. Carbon fiber is weak on "very sophisticated geometry" like on bikes. Carbon fiber is strong on 1 direction because they are simply overlapping fibers but with bikes of having multiple stress points, it doesnt really play well on long term durability. The sheer number of stress points on bikes are what makes carbon fiber frames weak in the long term also the glue that bonds them which disintegrates overtime. In the molecular level, alloys or aluminum frames are better since they are single construction (homogenous), but carbon fiber is built from many raw materials to form. So more parts, more prone to failures.
My only concern with Alloy is that it has no Endurance Limit.. which somehow bothers me tho..
but that being said, aluminium fails on the welds.
@ GMBN What brand is good for a carbon full suspension frame?
I want to get canyon mtb
-spectral cf 8 or 9 pro = carbon
-Spectral al 6 = alloy
The spectral al 6 and 8 are the same but the spectral cf has carbon frame,
Wich one should i get?
Swear this video was meant to come out time agođ
It's about time alright
If, as you say, all carbon frames are made by a handful of specialist Far East manufacturers, why do they then decide to make inferior ones for their unbranded open mould frame customers? Isn't it that the branded names are just charging everyone for their name. and OEM pass on the benefit of their Low overheads?
Wow. Im gonna buy the new Sp Enduro 2020 now.
Yes carbon is very strong, but you did not mentioned that you often can not see if your carbon frame is damaged after a crash. The structure can be damaged, but you do not see it. On an alloy frame you would see a small split getting bigger and bigger before it breaks.
Maximilian Buschmann just a quick knock will tell you
You will see the crack in the carbon fiber frame too...
And donât worry you will certanly hear the crack,
If a weld fails on an aluminum frame it may be hard to see. You may have to magna-flux the welds to determine where it cracked.
Fantastic article.
I ride on carbon for a long time, on an Ibis, a company that does only carbon frames for a long time.
You should do an interview with Ibis owner, one of the initial icons of mountain biking
Ricky Marek same man I have the original ibis mojo hd it's a great bike
Finally This video,you've been announcing it for past 2 months
If you buy new there not much to worry the warranty on some is amazing!
What is a good place to get parts online?
Ask Minnar about carbon frame :O
30+mph into an immovable wooden post. Not much would've survived that to be fair
Try the same with an AL frame and see what happens... wraps around the post and you still try to peel it off...
That frame did what it was engineered to do and Minnaar rode it like a champ. Whatevs, man.
Yep! You nailed it! đđ
@@WasabiWei , lmfao đ đđ đđ đ
I just bought a 5400$ giant reign advanced 1 and Iâm sooo happy it gets here on Saturday, I worked hard all summer to be able to afford it đ đ đ đ
according to this comment section it should have snapped by now, has it?
Finally!
Video mark 1:37. What bike is the gray one??? Please let me know
I'll stick with Cro-mo Steel frames forever! Even on full sus bikes and especiially for hardtail bikes!
Those are getting harder to find.
That was all very positive. But what about the negative ? Recyclability ??
How do I maintain my pivot bearings of my Scott Genius?
Lubricant? Change bearings
i hace used a "fake" carbon frame and its completely fine as long as you maintain your bike properly... i have raced on it and it met my needs just fine.
I've heard of people making their own carbon fiber frames etc, how do they bake the carbon fiber at home?
Carbon MTB's are lovely to ride, just wish they were more affordable.
my boardman frame is triple butted alloy. is that even good ? my bike is super light aswel.
3:58 I'm not trying to be clever, but do you have any evidence of that claim, or is that something the ''sponsors'' informed you of?
I guess that 26â wheel, entry-level carbon bike might cost a top 29â wheel, mid-to-top Aluminum bike... so, whatâs best deal? I probably choose an Aluminum one...
Can you do a video on how to get a better paying job so I can afford a carbon bike?
I agree on the tech side what carbon is bringing, as an everyday inovation, but for me is one of those things that do not have a middle ground as you love him or hate him, is a on/off thing.. I realy like his feel, but keep on riding al/mag frames and wheels cause I ride some sort of free enduro ride and the disorder that carbon does on heavy terrain with less travel is apsurd.. I can manage to come down alive from some wild tops with al, but carb is so annoying in this situations that i diched it..
I've never ridden a carbon bike. I kinda miss the feel of the crop no frames that seem rare now
#askgmbn is there a way for us to know how good any specific carbon frame is? If the direction of the sheets and/or the design of the multiple layers can make such a difference, how can we as consumers know the difference between two frames or brands? Is there a standard that all manufacturers have to follow?
From what I'm seeing CF has an inherent weakness, that is a when there is a rock strike to the frame, there will be a popping sound and the frame will crack. It's these rock strikes which are causing carbon frames to fail - and there are lots of reports of that now happening with mountain bikes. The probablility of having a rock strike while riding your bike through rough terrain is high!!!
Doddy can you get kevlar frames and if you can how do they stack up against carbon and alloy?
dicksplatts007 they would be a lot more expensive and probably less useful because Kevlar deteriorates very quickly in UV light. I donât know how the strength characteristics would compare or the weight
What is the best material frame?
Doddi in 3D!
The problem is that carbon fiber is fragile and aluminium is ductile, so it's highly probable that a carbon frame breaks if you crash your bike, when an aluminum frame would bend a little and still be usable. If you brake a carbon frame it's NOT easy to repair, you can overlay the broken part or zone with some carbon layers, paint it and ask for quite a lot of money, but the frame will be more fragile on that zone, the only correct way of repairing it is buying a new one, I'm sorry. Everyone should know this before buying a carbon frame and be aware about it.
Steel is real. You guys should do a video on the downsides of carbon and the marginal gains a bike of this material possesses.
thanks for saying you might not know
Carbon trials bikeđȘđ€
Iâm so scared of breaking my carbon frame, what can I do to keep it in good condition?
I am in your position now. So how did it go with your frame? Are you still happy?
@@JP-ot5km hey mate. Had the canyon spectral in carbon for over a year and have had no problems. If anything the frame actually feels more secure and stiff than my old aluminium bike. I havenât had any problems and Iâm definitely still happy with it!
@@Penguin-wk7gqhope to experience the same. đ Thanks, mate.
@@JP-ot5km just make sure you have a torque wrench handy and make sure your linkage etc is not over tightened. Also itâs worth checking the exact NM of bolts after each ride depending on how hard you go of course đ
@@Penguin-wk7gq Just bought a tw to check on this. Thx.
I think that automating carbon layout process will make it more precise, reproducible and cheaper (at the cost of reducing work places though). Anyway, manufacturers nowadays tend to increase price at each new generation of tech, so in the future machine-assembled carbon fiber might still cost more than hand-assembled nowadays :(
Idiot or not but:
1. It is still manual and, therefore, slow process. Meaning that manufacturing capacity is decreased.
2. it still prone to human errors: cost of manufacturing errors is included into the final product's cost. If cost of a single error is as high as a cost of carbon frame, "overhead" price needs to cover that as well.
How thick is the wall of carbon frame? Is it hollows inside?
All bike frames have to be hollow bro. If itâs solid, itâs gonna be too heavy.
Finallyđ its almost like de ja vu
#AskGMBN
Is it true that Carbon Fiber frame will have shelf life?
My friends told me that carbon will only be good for upto 5yrs, beyond that, they say it would be better to change/upgrade frame?
shouldnt be the case. if its used on boats and sailing, then its very, very unlikely than other weather and atmospheric conditions will damage it chemically (other than heavy sunlight, wich is solved with a coat of paint). the material should be stable enoughto last a lifetime if not broken by use
Global Mountain Bike Network What kids trail bike do you recommend?
Ăaño what size of kid are u talking about? I just got my son his first decent bike.. It's a specialized big hitter dh bike, and he loves it.. He has even named it 'big mamma' lol he, 's 4ft8,.. It costs about 800stg new..
Norco fluid 4.2
FINALLY....
Can a carbon fibre frame be recycled when it has reached the end of its lifespan? Any metal frame can just be melted down and turned in to what ever. But what happens to a cf frame?
I still love aluminium
Lawrence Best aluminum*
socar128 Aluminium versus aluminum. ... Sir Humphry made a bit of a mess of naming this new element, at first spelling it alumium (this was in 1807) then changing it to aluminum, and finally settling on aluminium in 1812
aluminium in uk, aluminum in us. dunno about other places.
aluminium in uk, Australia, new Zealand, I'll stop there.
i love an alloy bike, not much difference in wieght of carbon and alloy
2020 and refuse to buy carbon still... i have cracked aluminum frames but that is being super hard...like 10ft drops lol
I heard some bikes are made from finely shredded fiber mixed with resin to create a sort of dough, that they then mold to shape. Is that true?
if it is I'm really concerned. The whole idea behind carbonfiber is the actual fibers.
That would be a bad way to do it, but I think Iâve seen that on old carbon road bike frames which would be more acceptable
Just got my First Carbon Bikeđ
Steel frame for me.
One thing I do know is how to spell it
A lot of the carbon frames are stuck in a complexity mindset, I know ibis have simplified it for their in house small sized frames with good results.
Finally
Aluminium is overall more durable material for MTB. Small compromises in Carbon which cannot be seen could make it fail when most needed. Plus the cost. Could the bike manufactures cost be be lower for Carbon then actually making their Aluminum? I wonder why carbon is being pushed so much in the MTB industry ?
I ran across a fake colnago roadbike at my shop. Two years ago we also had a fake giant anthem come through. A fake giant đđ
You can't clamp it on a bike carrier. Doesn't sound that great to me. Stickn with alloy
Lol I do all the time
in regards to "cheap carbon frame that is too good to be true", based on you experiences, which ones are the legit ones?
The ones coming from official manufacturers like Canyon or Scott
Are carbon seat posts really like a tiny suspension under you?
No
Very nice. Still can't afford it,.... without using credit.
3 months late! But I''l take it :ÂŹ)
What's a T700 carbon frame?
Is it ok to use carbon fiber bikes while raining
does carbon is hard when you pinch it?
Carbon fiber frames are interesting for strenght/weight ratio but you should not forget that they can't be recycled at all .
Hertzfall
True carbon will be the next plastic of the sea. That being said I am waiting delivery of my new Bronson CC oh yeah.
greasemonger29 Can't blame you, i would consider buying one if i had the money ah ah! Actually even my mechanical teachers are kinda concerned about the impact CF planes will make on the environnement after being used!
I really hate carbon fiber I just like carbon fiber handlebars but the best material for me is aluminum
Background music?
Steel frames are the best frames
Titanium is better.
call me a dinosaur.. but i like the look and feel of a steel bike..
Dinosaur
I bought an original ibis voodoo carbon fibre frame, it's well built and not quite as light as the modern stuff, but it's near bomb proof. And I picked it up for what an aluminium hardtail would have cost. New upgraded linkages with fresh bearings for next to nothing, new bars stem and grips, swapped everything else over from my hardtail, it's a really great bike and cost less than many hardtails.
Wicked
#askgmbn What is the difference between Carbon and Composite? Like the D3 helmet u have in composite AND carbon. Even my Giant reign advanced 2015 is composite/carbon frame (sold as carbon)??? Difference or not really?
Speculation: Is carbon always glossy raw and composite a mash with plastic as composite is almost always visually unclear?
Carbon = Material of the fiber
Composite = Material made of fibers embedded in a matrix. This could for example be carbon fibers with resin matrix (CFRP) or Kevlar in a ceramic matrix. The matrix is usually not a strong material itself, the fibers themselves can only carry tensile loads and are soft like a yarn. So the combination of both is used so that the matrix supports the fibers against bending and holding them in shape.
Composite is the general term. For example asphalt is a composite using concrete. Composite simply means that your material is made up of two or more materials used together to share strength characteristics. Carbon fiber is a composite of carbon fibers in a polymer matrix. It gets some of the strength characteristics of the carbon while getting some of the strain characteristics from the plastic.
Got my first carbon bike. Payed for it myself. Was kinda hesitant at first but its got a great waranty by a manufacture I trust. Strength wise it's got the advantage (if you crash hard and carbon breaks then Alu will too). Advantage weight wise but I can care less. Repair is a minus since I can't weld it myself lol. And the slight dampening aspect is nice but not really that noticeable for me at least. Might be good in the long run though considering the strength aspect. Now I'm a light rider easy on my equipment usually. The recycling part sucks but if it brakes it will go up on the wall. At least with the fibers wrapped up for health reasons ;). So if you have the money why not. Still gonna shred my Aluminum rig too though.
Carbon fibre is only strong in one direction, along the length of the tubes. Under any sideways impact or pressure it's basically just a weak, brittle, and thin kind of plastic. This is pretty much inherent to the material, because it relies on the carbon fibres for its strength and they only run in flat layers. Even then, the threshold between normal flexing and catastrophic failure is rather abrupt, especially worrying for parts designed to flex in normal use.
Mahalo my dudes .mtbshreddinggang
Is there anything I can do with a cracked carbon fibre frame?
Tomas Benes Repair it and it's like new
There are carbon repair specialist out there!
carbon for road bikes, aluminium for mtbs where typical bike weights 2x as much as a road bike
does anyone wonder where old carbon frames end? They are very hard to recycle, that is why I ride steel and aluminum, and I am ex roadie
Who would find a carbon repair shop in their country ? I recon there aren't that many places to go here in EU. Plus, would you trust your repaired carbon frame, handle bars after repair ? I don't... If carbon is better than ALU for MTB, why isn't KTM ( for example ) using it for offroad bikes ? ( they have perfected making ALU frames so well, that carbon seems to have no added value, it would require too much man hours to produce ) KTM does offer carbon for (MTB)bikes though... interesting...
What is the impact of carbon fibre on the environment?
Y'all with yer aluminium... STEEL IS REAL BOYZ