Carbon Sceptic? Top 5 Aluminium MTBs You Can Buy In 2023
Vložit
- čas přidán 20. 07. 2024
- Fed up of insanely expensive carbon fibre super bikes? Do you want to literally reduce your carbon (frame) footprint? Or are you a heavy hitter scared that carbon bikes are just snappy accidents waiting to happen?
If you fall under any, or all, of the above categories, we’ve got five mountain bikes for you!
Aluminium bikes might not be the talk of the town they once were, but they’re still a solid choice if you don’t want to go down the carbon route.
Aluminium is easy to work with, durable, cheap to manufacture and potentially more green than carbon bike frames.
We’ve compiled five aluminium bikes we think you should definitely check out, from a cutting edge wonder using state of the art technology to come out lighter than many carbon frames, though to an old school freeride monster brought bang up to date.
Which one would you choose? Would you buy an alloy or a carbon bike if all things were equal? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
#mtb #carbonfree #aluminium
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:34 Ibis Ripley AF
02:34 Marin Rift Zone 29 XR
04:38 Actofive I-Train
06:56 Norco Shore 2
09:03 Santa Cruz Chameleon
Top 5 | 2023 Downcountry Bikes We Want To Ride
→ • Top 5 | 2023 Downcount...
Top 5 | 2023 Trail Mountain Bikes We Want To Ride
→ • Top 5 | 2023 Trail Mou...
Top 5 | 2023 Enduro Mountain Bikes We Want To Ride
→ • Top 5 | 2023 Enduro Mo...
Bike Prices FINALLY Falling 💰 | BikeRadar News Show Ep1
→ • Bike Prices FINALLY Fa...
SRAM Changes The MTB World Again? | New T-Type Drivetrain
→ • SRAM Changes The MTB W...
Listen to the BikeRadar Podcast
→ www.bikeradar.com/bikeradar-p...
Follow BikeRadar on our social media channels:
→ / bikeradar
→ / bikeradar
→ / bikeradar
BikeRadar is supported by Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus Magazine -For more information and to subscribe please visit
→ bit.ly/3nMr3Rn
For more content like this see our latest subscription offer -
→ www.cyclingplus.com/subscribe...
→ www.mbuk.com/subscribe-today/ - Sport
Apologies for our spelling error, it is of course the Ibis Ripley not Ridley - now that's a very different bike...
That Actofive is peace of art 🤩
the steel version IMO was even nicer but man are they ever expensive.
PLS correct Ibis bike title, it!s Ripley, not Ridley
Just turn your screen upside down while you’re reading the d
Just picked up NS Eccentric Alu 29 and put a short, 120 fork on it. Dream machine in the woods. Replaced a broken carbon frame I rode for only 1k miles-less than a year. This new one will outlive my grandkids.
Sounds like a sweet build! Tag us on social media with #bikeradarbuilds, we'd love to see it
I went with that Norco! Love it! Carbon for my road bike is good. I will never have it for my mountain bike if possible.
Awesome! Glad you like it!
Unfortunately, many bike makers don't sell complete stock alloy bikes with higher end build kits. Complete alloy bikes with GX or XT drivetrains or Grip 2 dampers or some of the better components are hard to come by. Brands like Specialized, Trek, and Santa Cruz only make stock alloy bikes with low end components.
Very sad but true, especially for the big brands. Sometime might get lucky deal with special editions. Canyon for example released new Spectral Fabio Wibmer edition with GX and top of the line Öhlins and SQ lab buildkit, and the price is quite great.
Commencal is an aluminum only brand so they got top spec
'Airdrop Bikes' if your in the uk they are very nice alloy bikes
I've listed my 5
Commencal. Nuff said.
I have 3 bikes. Currently no carbon. Cromag Rootdown, Canfield Yeli Screamy and a Ibis Ripmo. Bike weight is improtant to me but a good aluminum frame can be built light. I do have Caebon Fiber wheels on two bikes and carbon finer jandelbars os all 3. But I like aluminum or steel frames.
That sounds like one hell of a quiver of bikes!
I live in Central Scotland. Easy access to everywhere from tweed valley to Highland munros and everything in between. I Had a nukeproof mega 290 comp. Impressively capable bike. So much so 70% of my riding became kind of average if that makes any sense.
Sold the the NP. Bagged a Ripley AF. Still riding all the same places... Now smiling 100% of the time and back in love with mtbing.
Ibis ripley AF's really do sit in a special little place of their own ❤🙏✌️
120 is plenty 😉
"Super sturdy e13 rims" 😂 classic! Voiceover guy definitely hasn't ridden them then. 3 ride specials they are!
We found them to fine, and Alex who reviewed the bike is a SHREDDER!
Aluminum mtn bike bike fell off car wreck yesterday. Was going around 50 mph. Abrasions on grip and seat (deep one). But no other damage. Do carbon bikes do well with that situation?
Ouch! Don't think material makes too much of a difference, damage may be more obvious with an alloy than carbon bike, but we'd be getting any bike that'd been in accident like that checked out before riding it!
I'd love to see what's on offer, in very light aluminum, in the XC range...
Specialized chisel, Scott scale, BMC two stroke AL 1, I opted for the BMC, but the chisel is a probably a pound lighter.
I ride the scz chameleon mx and can vouch that it is an absolute beast so fun and playful not the lightest though at 31 pounds I love alloy but bring on the carbon version;)
Nice! The previous Chameleon did come in a carbon version, be interested to see if they bring it back!
I am scared of carbon, damages, problems with transport, prefer alu
It's OK to feel that way. If I ever buy an MTB in the future (trail bike in this case), it'll be aluminium too.
Valid concerns and it's great to have more choices!
If i had endless cash, i still think id be attracted to aluminum over carbon and steel... But Ti would be pretty tempting as well.
Ti bikes are lovely but can have their own durability issues, seen way more broken Ti frames than other materials!
Ibis Riply AF for the win!
It is a great bike for sure!
Pretty much every bike brand still makes amazing aluminium bikes.
Pole has some wicked enduro and downhill slayers.
For sure! So many brands making awesome aluminium bikes!
How is the polygon siskui not on this list? Very nice geometry and componentry for the almost under 2k.
It is good value for sure, we liked it a lot when we reviewed it, but wanted to keep this list a little varied, hence including the Chameleon and Actofive over other obvious choices
You can check out our Polygon review here - www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/mountain-bikes/full-suspension-mountain-bikes/polygon-siskiu-t7-29-review/
Is carbon really problematic with small cracks being the end of the frame?
Privateer would fit this list amazingly
We hope they make a 121 to go with the range!
I opted for the Santa Cruz Hightower AL (R spec). Love it.
Awesome bike, glad to hear you're enjoying it!
Are you a carbon sceptic? Let us know in the comments 👇
Now do one with steel as it lasts longer than aluminum and some would say rides nicer too.
Ask, and you shall receive 😉
norco's fluid is the one to showcase, i like the shore but its far from their most impressive alu bike
Agree.. and more versitile also.
The Fluid is a great bike, but we felt the Shore deserved some attention too 😁
Commencal Clash & Meta should of been on the list
Great options for sure, the Tempo looks like its riotously good fun too!
Ridley is my fave!
It’s Ripley
The Ripley is a great bike too! 🤣
List lacks Spectral FW edition
Great shout, and one of the few alloy bikes with high-end rather than budget kit
You excluded the best hardtail on the market. The Paradox V3 made by Banshee.
Thanks for the info mate, I am searching for a XC hardtail with 140mm of travel and now this one is also on the list of candidates!
@@RuiSilvaPT It is a wonderful bike.
@@RuiSilvaPT Being the owner of a Banshee Paradox I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an XC bike. The Paradox is firmly placed in the trail/light enduro corner, similar to Nukeproof Scout and Trek Roscoe. If you're looking for a hardtail I'd suggest the channel hardtailparty.
It is a bike we'd love to try out for sure!
Nukeproof mega alloy
Awesome bike, and one we're a big fan of!
Coming from the road bike world, I've had carbon and steel framed bikes that have gotten clapped out, and they can get friggen expensive. Aluminum has always been the most robust material In my opinion but the ride is buzzy. In the mountain bike world with fat tires and suspension that's not as much of an issue. P.S. If you're a steel guy, look seriously at Tange infinity and prestige, you won't be disappointed.
Lightweight steel can a little dent prone, and decent steel is more expensive than alloy as you say. Alloy is definitely a nice middle ground!
4th
Id rather get a Vitus fs then a SC ht
yep..SC HT is way overpriced IMHO also.
Awesome to have the choice though!
Who needs carbon?
Me
Our presenter Tom also has some kind of carbon addiction, he is seeking therapy and this video was the first step in his recovery 😂
Keep it real, keep it steel. You can keep your new light weight aluminium 👍😆
You may like our next Top 5 video 😉
I wouldn’t call alloy durable. It can suffer from fatigue within seasons if ridden hard and isn’t as repairable as carbon.
This is very true, be careful with older alloy frames!
@@bikeradar that’s the reason I personally stick with steel and (good) carbon.
Seriously? ... AL frames and nor Commencal nor Canyon makes it to the top 5 list?
No, I am not an upset Commencal/Canyon owner. I am just surprised those two are not on this list.
There must be something magical about that IBIS that compensates for its look. I know it's very subjective/personal, but that's one hell of an ugly frame IMHO.
My thoughts exactly, those Ibises are damn ugly, i mean with tech today you could atleast make a normal straight toptube… terrible. And talking aluminium and not mentioning commencal is kinda strange and weird choice…
It is subjective, we really like how the Ripley looks and it rides sooooo well!
You mention Actofive and not Pole bikes? SMH
Pole have been doing it for longer, but we felt Actofive deserved some attention and Tom really wants to ride the I-Train!
7.45 pounds vs. 5.73 pounds is according to you "gaining around pound in weight". It is quite weird mathematics (maybe intentionally misrepresenting?). According to the school I have studied is 1.72 difference rather around two pound than "around pound" 😉
In general I think that for XC bikes is 1.72 pouns weight difference already quite appreciable but for more gravity riding style it is significantly less important. But as it was already said in some of other comments - the difference between aluminium and carbon frame is not only about the weight.
The weight difference is noticeable on some climbs, but for sure, it lessons on descents and in terms of the weight loss from your wallet too!
No no no. Knolly. Commencal. Banshee. Reeb. And let's not overlook the recently released Devinci Chainsaw.
Honorables go to the Norco Sight A1... belongs in the 5, in fact. And the Rocky Altitude A70... could have been built with better hubs in lieu of kashima, in my opinion.
All great shouts, though Reeb might be making an appearance on the channel soon... We have a chainsaw in for review as well so stay tuned for that!
I would NEVER buy a plastic/Carbon mountain bike. I would never fall for the marketing BS of today. Aluminum or Titanium for a FS mtb would be my only options.
The fact that you call carbon plastics pains my soul
@@durrantmiller8810 technically it's plastic, even if it don't sound nice
It's nice to have the choice of all three materials though, you're not forced to buy one, you can have whatever you like for the most part 😁
I already know Banshee isnt on this list so it's wrong
Banshee make some great bikes for sure and definitely a solid option. Even though we didn't include them, doesn't mean we don't like/rate them very highly!
What's a pound? Please also quote in Metric for you know the majority of the rest of the world.
A pound is 453.592g 😉
@@bikeradar Thanks I hate it…
*skeptic
In the USA, it's sceptic here in good old blighty 😉 Kinda like another word in the title, Aluminium (spelt the right way 😝)
Lot of ignorance in these comments. Carbon is exceptionally strong. It’s not weak and fragile by any means. And anyone who thinks having a carbon frame and/or parts is about weight savings is the most ignorant of all. Carbon gives a much better ride quality than aluminum ever could.
Most people get aluminum because they can’t afford carbon. and that’s OK. But to be so foolish as to say it’s just as good or better? That’s hysterical. Go be poor somewhere else. 😂😂
What a load of utter rubbish.
Carbon is a fiber material. It's very strong in fiber direction, but not that strong if it's stressed in the non main fiber direction. It's very strong if you just ride it, but it's vulnerable if you hit something with your frame or crash. It don't bend plastically, it is flexible to the point it breaks, unlike metal which would get a dent but wouldn't fail completely if you hit a rock.
Trek Slash and Remedy are better than most of these bikes on the list.
They are great bikes, but of the ones reviewed in this video, we've rated them very highly.
@BikeRadar i don't disagree that they're no of high standard, but comparatively when looking at what the Slash 7 offers, as basic as it is, and the remedy, it's incredible hard to beat.