[Mapei]

There's a large contingent of posters here that say frame material is unimportant, and that any frame material can be tweaked to provide any type of ride - from teeth-rattling to pillow-soft. That being said, does anybody out there ride (or know of) an aluminum frame that proves this to be true, i.e., that is both of racing weight and also soft and smooth on the road?

 

[MB1]

I did an internet search.

LensCrafters® claims to have plush lightweight aluminum frames.

http://www.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/s...-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/417/top/-/-/-/1

 

[Zampano]

That being said, does anybody out there ride (or know of) an aluminum frame that proves this to be true, i.e., that is both of racing weight and also soft and smooth on the road?

Vitus.

 

[bigbill]

How about one of those bonded Alan frames? They sucked. I had a bonded carbon Alan frame for a while in 1989, it sucked even more. Actually a Vitus would probably be a good bike for you since you ride a smaller frame. For me, it would be a short trip to the recycle bin.

 

[cdmc]

Yep, it is called a Titus Drop-U. Well designed, balanced between stiffness in the bottom bracket and ride quality, and unfortunately discontinued. They pop up used for $300.

 

[Kevin Leonhardt]

I had an Orbea made of xlr8r tubing, all aluminum rode great and came in around 1200grams for a 51cm frame. This was a very nice smooth riding bike.

Kevin

 

[Bertrand]

at the risk of being branded...

At the risk of being labelled a shill, I think that the motobecane lechamp sl frame has the qualities you're looking for. I have this bike, and it's a great ride IMHO. Certainly light enough, and I like it fine for long distances. Or you could look at the Fuji Team SL, which is the identical frame with angular, rather than ovalized tubing.

 

[DIRT BOY]

My Litespeed Capella...

was light (around 1302g) and was VERY smooth. Most who rode it thought it was was a Ti frame painted. For a botton of the lione frame form Litespeed, the thing rode like a dream. I sold because it got a small ding in the TT and I had a chance to go full carbon.

It was the smoothest Alum frame I ever tired. The 2004-05 Vela is the same frame.

 

[Mapei]

Thanks everybody. It's nice to know there are makers out there fighting the good fight for Alu.

 

[fbagatelleblack]

There's a large contingent of posters here that say frame material is unimportant, and that any frame material can be tweaked to provide any type of ride - from teeth-rattling to pillow-soft. That being said, does anybody out there ride (or know of) an aluminum frame that proves this to be true, i.e., that is both of racing weight and also soft and smooth on the road?

Go find a used Bridgestone Radac frame, circa ~1990. Some would say this was the sweetest aluminum bike ever made.

- FBB

 

[Italianrider76]

A Giant TCR Alloy will do you just fine.

 

[steel515]

is this a bonded frame? do the bonds weaken over time? say if I live in the humid jungle?

 

[fbagatelleblack]

is this a bonded frame? do the bonds weaken over time? say if I live in the humid jungle?

It is a bonded frame, but I have never heard of the bonds failing on a Radac. I have been hammering a bonded ATB frame I made since 1994 with no problems. Epoxy bonds, when done correctly, are a safe and permanent method of joining tubes.

Yours,

FBB