Carbon or Titanium?

Buying a new bike is great, but there are so many frames out there that it can be quite confusing to know what to spend your cash on. Sergio is in that position, he wants to know which to go for; carbon or titanium?

Question:

Samuel..

I want to buy a new bike, but I wonder which is better, a titanium frame or a carbon frame?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Sergio Nolasco.

Hi Sergio.
This is a tricky decision to make, but many peoples choice is carbon for a few different reasons, let us take a look at the why’s and why not’s:

For Carbon

Carbon is comfortable and stiff with great handling performance and looks great. The prices can vary by quite a lot for carbon frames depending on the quality of the carbon and how the frame has been manufactured. There a re frames with tubes jointed with a lug system or monocoque, which looks more integral as the frame is wrapped with the carbon material. Both systems are strong and give a certain amount of comfort with stiffness. You don’t mention alloy, it also is stiff, strong and light, but gives a very harsh ride without much comfort, you don’t see so many alloy frames these days.

Against Carbon

The cost of a carbon frame could be a problem as some are very expensive and if you damage the carbon weave it can be difficult to have it repaired, not impossible, but not easy. It has been said that the carbon will lose its stiffness with time, but I don’t know of any yet. You can have it repainted by a specialist if there are any scratches, but scratches or any damage must be examined for weakness. So there isn’t too many against.

For Titanium

It is said that if you get a titanium frame it will last you for the rest of your life if it has been built properly, it will never wear out. This could also be an “against” point as many people like to change bikes every few years. Titanium has comfort as well as strength, but can feel imprecise in the handling. Titanium looks good for ever.

Against Titanium

As I said before it could last you a life time, which you might not want as a change is nice, Price, titanium is not cheap, even for one that you don’t know where or by who it has been made. Repairs are possible, but have to be done by a specialist; you probably wouldn’t paint titanium as you want everyone to know that you have one. Titanium frames can feel soft; usually you would have carbon forks and maybe a carbon rear triangle, so why not go the whole way?

There you have it Sergio; go for carbon, but which one?