I intend to keep my Nomad carbon for life. Any idea how long carbon frame can last without losing it's frame integrity? I keep hearing 3 years for carbon and 5 years for aluminum. It is a myth or fact?
What is he maximum life span of Carbon frame?
chris9888
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It can last forever as long as it won't receive a direct impact strong enough as to crack the carbon fibers. So the answer is: It depends on the use.
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48,161 Posts
I was told that carbon doesn't fatigue like alu does. The down tube of my Heckler cracked nearly all the way round after two years of hard trail riding and was told that would not have happened if it had been carbon. Now on a Mojo for the past two years.............and seen on the Ibis forum that there are guys riding Mojos 5 years old
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739 Posts
I have had 2 Trek Fuel main triangles break, both in their first and second year respectively, but have had a Turner Flux since Jan 2006 which is still going strong.
The Flux has had a far more active life than the Treks ever had and has even done a week in the Alps doing La PassPorte Du Soleil. (Both the Trek and the Turner frames are the same weight around 5.4 lbs).
So +1 for how it was made...
+1 who made it...
+1 for how you ride it...
I have a 18 year old aluminium hardtail that I did downhill races on back in the day. Still going strong (though the Manitou 3 forks have seised, so it is now fully rigid).
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644 Posts
I see, not all carbon frames are made equal. I think Santa Cruz Nomad carbon is one of the better build in the market.
I am not a hardcore rider, only ride once a week on trails - doing small jumps and riding on rock gardens (short section), climbing hills and clearing technical obstacles along the way. Intend to keep it as my life long partner. hopefully it could last as long as I wanted.
I am not a hardcore rider, only ride once a week on trails - doing small jumps and riding on rock gardens (short section), climbing hills and clearing technical obstacles along the way. Intend to keep it as my life long partner. hopefully it could last as long as I wanted.
That's quite a commitment, do you know what mtb's were like 10 years ago? That will likely be old school or tired before it breaks, barring any accidents. Don't be that guy riding a Trek Y bike in 2011. :thumbsup:
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521 Posts
We discuss these things to see whay bikes are most durable and why. A first generation Heckler my buddy owned he just sold for $1100 Cdn. He did drops hardass trails etc. It was a great bike. What I'm aiming at is - arent there any custom frame builders around that are willing to make a STEEL AM frame that is like a more current 6 - 7 inch travel that we know wont break. That we know that once we trick it out we can just go ride instead of weight weenieing?
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48,161 Posts
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A nice bike ten years ago is still a nice bike today, don't believe the marketing.
Speaking of which, I've got a pre-1990 Raleigh sitting in my basement, most reliable bike I've owned. All this high performance stuff is a lot of work, sometimes it's nice to just go out and ride a bike.
Wouldn't want to try a drop on it though...
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138 Posts
I still ride my '92 Cadex.
On the trails until '08, on the streets after that.
On the trails until '08, on the streets after that.
Same story here;
Fisher OCLV since 1995, been through many drive trains, wore out a few Sid's, and several wheelsets (canti brakes)... still going strong. Of note, I was an extreamly strong and aggressive rider when I first got the bike... still aggressive... not near as strong.
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534 Posts
me too! except it got off the trail (for the most part in 03). Love that frame even better as a single speed frankenbike
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Stlll riding a 1995 OCLV Trek 9800. It spent majority of hard riding years in the Sierra Mtns. till '05 where it is now relegated to commute and skinny tire dirt crits. Only caveat was "glue" for bonding lugs, but this was not a problem for me, only it holding the aluminum BB shell; warrantied quick.
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138 Posts
Next step, as soon as I stop pulling the kids on the trailer.1 - 20 of 35 Posts
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