Question about 953

[jl123]

I understand that stanless steels are by nature
a few %'s more flexible than traditional cromoly's.

With this in mind does this mean that it would really
not be a good idea to make a regular (old school diameter)
frame out of thin gauge 953 as it would be even more flexible than
tange prestige .7 .4 .7? Or would such a hypothetical
953 frame actually be extra flexible but somehow
a great ride?

thanks, JL

[gdw]

I don't know how flexable 953 is but Reynolds isn't currently offering 25.4mm top tubes so old school frames aren't an option.

[jl123]

Still one could sub a .7 .4 .7 1 inch true temper
or such top tube and make the rest from 953. JL

[Brian Smith]

I understand that stanless steels are by nature
a few %'s more flexible than traditional cromoly's.

With this in mind does this mean that it would really
not be a good idea to make a regular (old school diameter)
frame out of thin gauge 953 as it would be even more flexible than
tange prestige .7 .4 .7? Or would such a hypothetical
953 frame actually be extra flexible but somehow
a great ride?

thanks, JL

I've got a long balancing pole held horizontally as I walk out on this limb:
953 is not a normal stainless steel alloy, in fact I don't think it's even best called that. It Carpenter Technology's AerMet.
Where are you getting the data for its modulus, or are you?
Despite that the data is in doubt, I submit that you would not measure a significant difference among the hypothesized.
One is limited anyway by what one can get, not by what one can imagine.

[rwsaunders]

Tech data.

www.desperadocycles.com/The_Lowdown_On_Tubing/953_Specifications.htm

[RPS]

Jl123, the data from Reynolds suggests it won’t make any difference. The stiffness of the material itself is the same, and so is the material density. It is also interesting to note that the specific stiffness of different materials is very similar (stiffness per weight).

953 is basically stronger so you can make a case for using less material, but less material in itself will lead to a frame that is more flexible unless tube diameters are made larger to compensate for the thinner tube walls. And if that is done, you increase the chance of buckling a tube even more.

[jl123]

RPS,
Yes I read the specs from Reynolds as well. Indeed the same
stiffness.

My last thought on this is that possibly in the .7 .4 .7 regular diameter size
that many steel buffs used to like-- mostly Prestige some 753-- one could
get simply a more durable version of such a flexible frame; if that is
what one is after. Possibly me. JL

[David Kirk]

But it's shiny!

People like things that are shiny.


Dave

[Brian Smith]

But it's shiny!

People like things that are shiny.


Dave

Dave, you're right. Shiny is noticeable so it rides better, I mean noticing shiny bikes makes rides better, I mean...tell me what I mean.