bikeworkshop
Senior Retro Guru
With a 10 year guarantee!
So nothing to fear riding it after 30 odd years, right?With a 10 year guarantee!
There are several paths to frame failure, some of which reduce over time but some increase.Personally I do think frames which last now for 20 years will very likely last even longer.
yeah, good comment, you're right, if you want to use an old Titanal frame, it's wise to not buy a bike which was stored for longer outside in rain, or for the last decade in a damp basement. Corrosion can kill it also from the inside out, also after being 20years failure free.There are several paths to frame failure, some of which reduce over time but some increase.
The way in which new frames brake are in turn different to old frames, and the different frame materials also age differently.
frame materials (most aluminium alloys) prone to fatigue will always be heading towards failure if they are used. Treated gently (well designed and with a suitable alloy) they will last decades.
Materials prone to corrosion (like steel) will be heading towards failure used or not - although if exposure to moisture and corrosives is avoided, it might take centuries.
Carbon and Ti is a more complex picture.