al_yrpal wrote:As an engineer who spent a lifetime designing metal and plastic structures, reading some of the folklore here makes me smile.
Al
Here here.
The reasons that different bikes handle and ride differently is due to frame design. And frame design depends, in part, on the frame material chosen, as well as the use the bike will be put to (competition, touring, MTB etc etc).
For example, Aluminium actually has a lower modulus of elasticity (ie, bends more for a given force) than steel. The reason Aluminium frames feel stiffer and harsher is that they are designed to be so, by using oversized tubes. This reduces frame stresses thus increasing the fatigue cycle-life that is ever-present in Aluminum and associated alloys. But this in turn means a harsher ride.
Steel, titanium, aluminium and carbon all have advantages and disadvantages, but the first thought for a rider should be "What kind of bike do I want" and "how well does it fit me" rather than "what is it made of".
Contrary to what most are claiming here, I would suggest that titanium is not a difficult material to work with, just different. You have to be more patient and careful in cutting and welding the stuff. But there are plenty of aircraft flying with welded titanium parts that are no more likely to fail than any other weld.
Carbon is very light and strong, but I'm cautious of its failure mode. My local framebuilder has stopped building bikes now. He earns his money repairing carbon frames and his workshop is full to bursting with frames, many cracked/broken, requiring repair or just examination after an accident. At least with steel, Ti or Al, you get a bit of warning.
Cheers,