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Carbon fiber doubt

Carnaza

Monkey
Aug 10, 2006
243
0
Santiago, Chile
Hi guys. I need you help....

I'm thinking to buy a specialized enduro carbon, but it's the 08 model so I don't know if the carbon fiber suffers anything with the time (3-4 years old frame), exposure to sunlight, etc

I already have a 09 pitch.... So I don't know if it's worth the change.... Will sell mine for the same amount I buy the new one


Gracias !!!
 

Carnaza

Monkey
Aug 10, 2006
243
0
Santiago, Chile
Yeah I don't have problems with the geo.... The sworks enduro has actually the same geo.... It's basically a carbon version of the pitch....

The change will be only for aesthetics and weight reasons
 

p-spec

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2004
1,278
1
quebec
inspect or very well.ask if this bike was shop maintained.

Allot of people have the tendency or over torquing stuff wen it comes to carbon ( non use of low NM torque wrenchs )

I could go into how the main thing with failing carbon is crash's deep scratchs and the frame lay-up.

if the lay-up is off or wrong so to say,you can get the resin starting to push itself and cracking/failing do to in-proper lay up ( wich has been seen in the past )

im sure someone else could explain this to you a bit more "coherent"
 

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
54,235
20,019
Sleazattle
The resins used in composite construction typically are sensitive to UV light. Boats, corvettes and anything fiberglass have the same issue. You don't see too many of them breaking because they were left outside.
 

Freeridin'

Monkey
Oct 23, 2006
316
2
Colorado
Yeah I don't have problems with the geo.... The sworks enduro has actually the same geo.... It's basically a carbon version of the pitch....

The change will be only for aesthetics and weight reasons
The geo is similar but not the same. The new enduro is a "bigger" bike: slightly lower, slacker, and shorter...all good things I guess.

If anything I'd compare the Pitch to the Stumpjumper.
 
Last edited:

Npdh

Monkey
Apr 29, 2007
141
0
The only reason you want that bike is because it says SWORKS... haha

If it is okay in shape, then just do it. AWESOME bike.

Cya cuñado
 

Carnaza

Monkey
Aug 10, 2006
243
0
Santiago, Chile
You're an idiot.

If you really are worried about things like that don't buy it.
WTF is wrong with you... if the question is that stupid.... well don`t be even more stupid wasting your time answering it.......

i wasnt`worried about the color fading or something... only worried about a long term sunlight exposure could possibly modify the chemical structure of the CF....(thinking of the bike lying outside for years)

Pretty much all the "plastic like" material become fragile when they`re exposed to the sun... for long periods of time... so why CF wouldn`t suffer something similar.?
 

4130biker

PM me about Tantrum Cycles!
May 24, 2007
3,883
448
Have you ridden an 08, before you pull the trigger?
The only one I rode was a turd, but it could have been those specialized forks and shocks messin up the ride...
I liked my 2007 much better, but definately no bling factor.
I say stick with pitch, especially if it's warrantied to you. Spec is outstanding with warranties in my experience and the pitch seems to be a sweet bike.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,572
24,186
media blackout
WTF is wrong with you... if the question is that stupid.... well don`t be even more stupid wasting your time answering it.......

i wasnt`worried about the color fading or something... only worried about a long term sunlight exposure could possibly modify the chemical structure of the CF....(thinking of the bike lying outside for years)

Pretty much all the "plastic like" material become fragile when they`re exposed to the sun... for long periods of time... so why CF wouldn`t suffer something similar.?
the fibers themselves don't degrade, its the resin.
 

Owennn

Monkey
Mar 10, 2009
128
1
Not entirely. Carbon bikes are coated with UV protective paint. (or clear)
Boeings new 787 has to be painted before it can go outside. With the aluminum planes, they roll them out and fly them, unpainted, to another facility for paint.
Yes I realise some resins don't like UV light, but that is why CF frames are painted, or gel coated as a final layer, or have twill CF layers on top for protection (or all of these).

Like you say in your own post its not something an end user needs to think about. Its taken care of in production.
 

Owennn

Monkey
Mar 10, 2009
128
1
WTF is wrong with you... if the question is that stupid.... well don`t be even more stupid wasting your time answering it.......

i wasnt`worried about the color fading or something... only worried about a long term sunlight exposure could possibly modify the chemical structure of the CF....(thinking of the bike lying outside for years)

Pretty much all the "plastic like" material become fragile when they`re exposed to the sun... for long periods of time... so why CF wouldn`t suffer something similar.?
Ask a stupid question, you got a stupid answer.

CF frames have paint, gel coats, or top layers of material purely for cosmetic reasons and protection. The issues with UV light affecting the structural epoxy inside the frame is taken care of multiple times, no need for an end user to even consider it.

If a frame has enough damage for enough light to get to these layers of the frame, the frame shouldn't be ridden. It would have to have quite large holes for this to happen though.
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
One thing to point out is that an used bike has no warranty, something always to be concerned about with a carbon bike.
 

Sghost

Turbo Monkey
Jul 13, 2008
1,038
0
NY
Test the waters by asking if he would take some Day Glo posters as a partial trade. If he does, then you know to walk away.
 

Udi

RM Chief Ornithologist
Mar 14, 2005
4,915
1,200
Ask a stupid question, you got a stupid answer.
Carnaza is a pretty switched-on guy and by no means an 'idiot'. His question was perfectly reasonable, and an interesting discussion topic considering the recent popularity of carbon frames.

No need to be rude. :)
 

Owennn

Monkey
Mar 10, 2009
128
1
Carnaza is a pretty switched-on guy and by no means an 'idiot'. His question was perfectly reasonable, and an interesting discussion topic considering the recent popularity of carbon frames.

No need to be rude. :)
Yes I may have been a touch short in my initial post, Carnaza I do apologise.

But worrying about sunlight with carbon frames (and a product designed to be used heavily outdoors) is like worrying about corrosion inside aluminium tubes killing a frame.
 

kidwoo

Artisanal Tweet Curator
But seriously, nothing ruins a bike faster than the internutz
Nothing ruins the future of carbon like a specialized manufactured mtb frame.


I wouldn't touch that thing if you paid me.

If a frame has enough damage for enough light to get to these layers of the frame, the frame shouldn't be ridden. It would have to have quite large holes for this to happen though.
Hence...................."being concerned about sunlight"
 

dropmachine

Turbo Monkey
Sep 7, 2001
2,922
10
Your face.
Yes I may have been a touch short in my initial post, Carnaza I do apologise.

But worrying about sunlight with carbon frames (and a product designed to be used heavily outdoors) is like worrying about corrosion inside aluminium tubes killing a frame.
Holes like say, just for example, a rock would make if kicked up? Or from a crash?

Its not an unreasonable question at all.


Carnaza, I have throw 3 frames into the sun when I was bored (i am quite strong) and none survived. Try to limit your riding on the sun to maybe 1 day a week.
 

intensified

Monkey
Mar 31, 2004
519
6
Canton,Ma
By buds is from around that year and its a killer bike. Very light and rides like a magic carpet, he got a great deal on it and has been thrilled. I am impressed with it, i love all the carbon fiber and the transition now to dh, what i hate is the price like everyone else.
7000 dollar mtb bikes aint right,, when its more common the prices will get better.
 

p-spec

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2004
1,278
1
quebec
By buds is from around that year and its a killer bike. Very light and rides like a magic carpet, he got a great deal on it and has been thrilled. I am impressed with it, i love all the carbon fiber and the transition now to dh, what i hate is the price like everyone else.
7000 dollar mtb bikes aint right,, when its more common the prices will get better.

not much wen you consider 15 000$ road bikes.
 

p-spec

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2004
1,278
1
quebec
some bike compagnies use car paint,I have a customers bike with cracking paint all over it cause carbon is so compliant