To the props for carbon fiber, Ive never seen the chainstays broken, only some where they weren't glued in properly by the bottom bracket.Idk, carbon fiber can be worked in some interesting ways. If designed properly, it will flex and not fail (c'dale scalpel). I don't think that something like this is outside the realm of feasibility, but some solid and thorough testing will be needed for these to take off.
i havent seen them break either. cdale carbon bikes are pretty solidTo the props for carbon fiber, Ive never seen the chainstays broken, only some where they weren't glued in properly by the bottom bracket.
Moto could also use a lot lighter frame techniques etc but don't. It is probably cheaper to make more power from the motor. I think the motor discounts some of your theory there.Yeah, I'm gonna say no. You can't seriously tell me that bikes are more forward thinking then motocross, rally, or anything else really with a big budget. The weight savins on a moto cross bike size spring would be pretty decent I'd imagine, so if it worked I think you'd see it there first.
Sorry for derailing a bit into another "carbon = weak DH frame" but main problem I see with a CF DH is not its strength for the riding, but its impact resistance to rocks etc in a crash. carbon obviously has a rep for breaking from the early days and Road bikes. But ride a ally road bike down a DH track and I am sure it would crack tooI would trust a carbion spring, long before a carbon DH frame.
And TJ, in a responce.....Carbon used in air craft, boats ETC.....Lives in a much more contorlled environment than that of out Mtn bikes. But then again, it comes back to how its layed in teh first place, will it be strong in Multiple directions? Will it be weak in another? Just more to think about.
LIAR! There is no higher stress application than a mountainbike, NOOB!the thing that has always baffled me about all the carbon haters is they never consider that cabon has been in use in MUCH higher stress applications than a mountain bike. they never seem to notice that
be careful with that. problem with carbon fiber composites is, that they may look all right after the impact from the outside but on the inside they will probably look like in the pictures below. that delamination causes an immense weakening to the whole structure.I have layed into a carbon laminate with a hammer as hard as I could and it barely marked.
good question. at least the latter group is forward thinking. having lived with a carbon dh bike for 3 years, i'm fully convinced of the capabilities of the material for this application. whether it ever becomes viable in a production based / somewhat cost effective scenario is another question. offshore carbon manufacturing is bringing prices down; i suppose a major player could pull it off. i'm predicting a full carbon (world's edition) v10 for 2011...For discussion::
Whats worse, carbon haters that fear the fancy plastic, or carbon fanboys that think it will cure everything including hemorrhoids?
Thanks for the pics, I am aware of that though.be careful with that. problem with carbon fiber composites is, that they may look all right after the impact from the outside but on the inside they will probably look like in the pictures below. that delamination causes an immense weakening to the whole structure.
in glass fiber composites you can see the damage from the outside (see third picture) but CF just remains black.
I'm not saying CF shouldn't be used for DH frames, I'm just saying that it is extremely hard to see possible damage after an impact.
metal dents but with CF you'd have to run ultrasound tests to make sure if the laminate is all right or not.
Already curedFor discussion::
Whats worse, carbon haters that fear the fancy plastic, or carbon fanboys that think it will cure everything including hemorrhoids?
I would tell you but then I would have to kill yousay mr. plow - what's the bike in yer avatar pic?
Completely viable product. I'm not sure why somebody hasn't already been on this. CF is a great spring material. Much more so than most metals.
I'm betting cost vs weight savings have kept companies out. I'm thinking the savings are only going to be 50-100g. Huge in bikes, but not so huge in other spring markets like airplanes. The tooling cost is also much bigger. Ti springs are easy one you're setup. CF springs would require a different mold for every size and rate.
No, there is no one using carbon fibre leaf springs. However there are composite leaf springs (on some Corvettes for example). Not even close to the same spring characteristics.the finish on the one in the pic looks a bit rough, hand laid proto perhaps?
this is the only company ive seen who make composite coil springs
http://www.sardou.net/accueil4.htm
Carbon fibre leaf springs have been around for a while, i see no reason why carbon fibre coil springs wouldnt be legit.
I'm sorry could you elaborate? I don't understand what you mean.lol blackspire, it can too flex mate.