Best Steel Bikes
- Thread starter Err
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Just to echo what others have said - the skill is in using the correct material for the application. 531, 631, 653, 725 etc.. etc.. will build a great bike if used right, will build a crappy bike if used wrongly.
All good steel tubes are essentially Cro-Moly but as alloys some have other materials added to the mix. 531 is Mang-Moly as opposed to Cro-Moly. Remember that there are different versions too. 531 (now only available to special order) came in 'C' for road bikes, 'ST' for touring bikes and 'ATB' and 'All Terrain' for mountain bikes. Most wheelchairs were made of plain gauge 531 in the UK.
A good example of a bike that should have been shoddy but was actually great was the Raleigh Maverick - plain old HTS frame but the handling was spot-on (for its time) and I remember guys on Maverick 15s spanking me in early races.
Some steels are much harder to work with than others, but tubing choice is often down to whether or not a manufacturer produces the tubes that will fit the design you've envisaged.
The oldest tubeset still in use seems to be Tange Prestige - I remember lusting over a Fisher Comp in Bike UK back in 1987 and there were new bikes made of this at the Cycle show only a few weeks back.
All good steel tubes are essentially Cro-Moly but as alloys some have other materials added to the mix. 531 is Mang-Moly as opposed to Cro-Moly. Remember that there are different versions too. 531 (now only available to special order) came in 'C' for road bikes, 'ST' for touring bikes and 'ATB' and 'All Terrain' for mountain bikes. Most wheelchairs were made of plain gauge 531 in the UK.
A good example of a bike that should have been shoddy but was actually great was the Raleigh Maverick - plain old HTS frame but the handling was spot-on (for its time) and I remember guys on Maverick 15s spanking me in early races.
Some steels are much harder to work with than others, but tubing choice is often down to whether or not a manufacturer produces the tubes that will fit the design you've envisaged.
The oldest tubeset still in use seems to be Tange Prestige - I remember lusting over a Fisher Comp in Bike UK back in 1987 and there were new bikes made of this at the Cycle show only a few weeks back.
Wold Ranger
Old School Grand Master
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The true marque of a great builder in steel is that of choosing differing materials for the appropriate tube and altering the geometry for differing sized frames.
Different qualities being required in different areas. Headtube, down and top tube need strength, seat tube, rigidity, seat stays, compliance, Chainstays strength and rigidity. Forming and profiling can make large difference also. Snaked stays, bot seat and chain, add not only heal clearance, but mud clearance and both compliance and stiffness weere needed.
Bespoke frames are now getting into the £1000 plus area even for steel. But even the best off the peg brands will be totally outclassed for ride and fit with a custom frame.
The true marque of a great builder in steel is that of choosing differing materials for the appropriate tube and altering the geometry for differing sized frames.
Different qualities being required in different areas. Headtube, down and top tube need strength, seat tube, rigidity, seat stays, compliance, Chainstays strength and rigidity. Forming and profiling can make large difference also. Snaked stays, bot seat and chain, add not only heal clearance, but mud clearance and both compliance and stiffness weere needed.
Bespoke frames are now getting into the £1000 plus area even for steel. But even the best off the peg brands will be totally outclassed for ride and fit with a custom frame.
FairfaxPat
Senior Retro Guru
Steel Frames
No one has mentioned the Breezer frames of the 90's-the Lightning and Jet Stream, basically the same light high-end steel frame with different parts groups. These frames ride super nice, I have had several with different forks on them and you can build a VERY light bike with one, 21-23 pounds depending on the fork and parts group. The frames used a one inch steer tube until 1995, then used a 1 1/8" steer tube until 1998.
No one has mentioned the Breezer frames of the 90's-the Lightning and Jet Stream, basically the same light high-end steel frame with different parts groups. These frames ride super nice, I have had several with different forks on them and you can build a VERY light bike with one, 21-23 pounds depending on the fork and parts group. The frames used a one inch steer tube until 1995, then used a 1 1/8" steer tube until 1998.
Elev12k":pfxcg3rn said:
Ishiwata, didn't go bust as such but decided to stop manufacturing bike tubes sets as Al tubes had flodded the market. Other parts of their business continued on.
My old (mid 70s) track bike is made out of Ishiwata tubing and I say its up there with the best steel tube sets.
Thy-Bo San
Dirt Disciple
Re: Here it is..
I see one on a reflex
CURTLO? they made also some stem in the middle of '90, no?slimjoe":3fsnsjyi said:
I see one on a reflex
Thy-Bo San
Dirt Disciple
here :
sorry for the pics
sorry for the pics
