That may, in fact, be the point.Downhill is always top secret, I really don't understand.
OMFG! I really want to fvck that bicycle right now!!!111!!
Come on freaks.
You like a bike or you don't like a bike.
Stop saying you want to have sex with a bike/get sexually aroused by bikes.
It's just weird.
That is not accurate....
Welds are stronger than the material they bring together. More welding area = stronger piece of the frame.
none of the above.Do you want them to glue the gussets on there, rivet them, or weld them? They aren't going to stay in place and transfer load between two load bearing members without being attached.
Isnt he talking about increasing the thinkness of the tubing where the guesset would have been to eliminate the need for a gusset like they do on BMX frames?Wait... so frango- reading this post and your last post, it sounds like you're wondering why santa cruz doesn't hyrdoform their gussests on... I wasn't aware you could use hydroforming to attach two pieces of metal together?
The only way to do this on a hydroformed frame would be to start with a thicker raw material an remove %99 of the material leaving a heavier wall thickness around the desired areas(youd have to have REALLY graduial transitions) the only way i can think of doing this is either by machining(tool marks would leave stress raisers) or chemically etching (hard to be precise)either way would be hooooogly expensive.An it would most likley play havoc with the plastic deformation of the material under the deformation process.Isnt he talking about increasing the thinkness of the tubing where the guesset would have been to eliminate the need for a gusset like they do on BMX frames?
http://www.flybikesbmx.com/image/campillo*-*images*-*details*-*plano-en.jpg
Fly Bikes calls it offset thickness tubing.
Oh i thought you ment "localised reinforcment" the manupulation shown in your pics is basically fancy tube flairing(imo)on the Giant pictured its even shaped to mimic a weld on gusset.... it will increse stiffness an increase weld area if done properly...i dont know about decreasing weight as the tube will have to have thicker butting in the area thats getting formed,which will leave extra material in areas its not needed. A well placed weld on gusset can be made the precise size needed an reinforce only high stress areas.Maybe it's because my english is far from being perfect.
What I meant by non-welded gussets (hydro- or pressformed gussets) is this (pics below).
As far as I know you can achieve increase of stiffness in the area decreasing weight and heat stress at the same time.
Hydroforming was created by Taiwanese company Kinesis. Many bicycle companies started to use this technology with great results.
Apart from technical advantages, non-welded gussets look better, for me.
"offset thickness tubing"....Fly Bikes calls it offset thickness tubing.
thatswhatshesaid!We all know wall thicknesses win races.