Superman material

Cue the “b-b-but what’s the ride quality!?” crowd. Lmao.
I can imagine it being a standard thing someday, but it’ll take 20 years, like carbon fiber was viewed in the 90’s.
I’m all about better materials… bring on the 20# 160mm enduro rigs!

Maybe we can use this new stuff with 'transparent aluminum' to make some really cool frames with lighting inside of them? How wild would that be?

I would like to see a frame made of hemp.....

Until you come home and your roommates have smoked your bike!

I kid, I kid!

Aren't there organic based resins/epoxies being developed? Maybe hemp and epoxy as a CF alternative? But unless it's actually better in some way it would be nothing more than a novelty. Like a bamboo or wood frame.

I would imagine 3D printing and new manufacturing methods will change bikes before new materials do.

Edit: I remember a few months back reading an article about a new battery that can be used as a structural component. Maybe an eBike frame that is also the battery?

FlaMtnBkr said:

I would imagine 3D printing and new manufacturing methods will change bikes before new materials do.

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I think so too. Carbon fiber is a loooong way from being fully developed

They made vehicles out of hemp and fueled the with hemp.......https://youtu.be/TugMbfnA3GI

I am familiar with FRP (fiber reinforce polymer) which is similar to the material alluded to in this article. The current manufacturing processes for FRP uses poltrusion--which is slow and slow equates to something that costs a premium when compare to the exact part fabricated in steel and aluminum.

Regardless, the article sounds promising.

Still waiting for my graphene tube bike

Stronger than steel at 1/6 the weight? Can only mean one thing. Flexy.

Gasp4Air said:

Stronger than steel at 1/6 the weight? Can only mean one thing. Flexy.

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But is it compliant? "2DPA-1 is real" doesn't roll off the tongue as well as steel

The article is a bit nebulous for detail, but more probing seems to indicate this is a derivative study of Aramid or Kevlar. Perhaps not so applicable for bikes as could be for that new bullet-proof vest.

Carry on.

OldSchoolMBer said:

But is it compliant? "2DPA-1 is real" doesn't roll off the tongue as well as steel

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More importantly, is it vertically compliant?

wschruba said:

Still waiting for my graphene tube bike

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Graphene was what I thought of when I saw the posting of this thread!