Everything you need to know about aluminium electric bicycle frame

Everything you need to know about aluminium electric bicycle frame

E-bikes can be manufactured using different frame materials. Some of the commonly used ones are: carbon fibre, steel and aluminium. However, aluminium framed e-bikes seem to be more popular these days and this is because of the numerous advantages they offer. It is most commonly found in newly manufactured modern e-bikes. Affordability, strength, and light weight make them more adaptable than others.

This article will discuss aluminium used in the design and manufacture of e-bikes, which will guide and help you when you are considering buying an e-bike.

1. What should I know about aluminium e-bike frames?
Aluminium e-bike frames make up 80% to 90% of all e-bike frames manufactured today. There are many reasons why aluminium e-bike frames are so popular. Aluminium is strong, affordable, lightweight and easy to use in the manufacturing process.

There are two main types of aluminium: 6061 aluminium alloy and 7005 aluminium alloy. By using this industry-standard material, e-bikes are able to pass on cost savings to customers in the form of competitive pricing. In contrast, 7005 aluminium alloy is a stronger material, but results in a more costly bike. 7005 is more expensive, heavier, more resistant to corrosion, and overall stronger. Not everyone wants a heavier or more expensive bike, but for some riders, the trade-off may be worth it.

Next, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of e-bike frames.

2. Pros and Cons of Aluminium Frames
If you are looking for a cheap, lightweight and fast e-bike, an aluminium e-bike is one of the best options. It is lightweight, easy to move quickly and often used by bike racers and for recreational purposes. The properties of aluminium alloy will determine its advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed below for e-bike frames.

Advantages of Aluminium Alloy (Pros)
Some of the factors that make aluminium alloy a quality alloy for e-bike frames include:

Cheap to buy:
One of the advantages of aluminium compared to other metals is that it has a low financial cost to the buyer. This is because aluminium bikes are quite cheap to manufacture as it takes less time to manufacture and the skills required to manufacture the bike are not expensive to use, which reduces its price to a much cheaper metal than other bikes.

Light weight:
Lightweight aluminium alloys help to make the e-bike more sturdy. This makes it easy to ride, making it a popular choice for bike racers. It is undeniably lighter than magnesium alloy.

Rustproof:
Compared to other bike frame alloys, aluminium alloys are less capable of rusting. This is very effective if you are a bike rider or bike racer who rides on wet surfaces as aluminium alloys are highly resistant to rust so you don’t have to worry about rusty bike parts.

It’s faster:
Aluminium alloy e-bikes are faster than magnesium alloy e-bikes due to their light weight.

Its stiffness:
The stiffness of an aluminium e-bike frame makes riding easy, especially for bike racers. The immediate transfer of pedalling force makes riding faster and easier, especially during sharp turns and corners.

Disadvantages (cons) of aluminium alloy
Despite its advantages, aluminium e-bikes have some disadvantages that make them less effective than other alloy e-bike frames. The disadvantages of aluminium e-bikes are:

Poor shock absorbers:
This is one of the disadvantages of aluminium e-bikes as they are less capable of absorbing vibrations from the road, making the cyclist feel uncomfortable. This can lead to a poorer riding experience, especially on rough roads.

Complicated welding process:
Once an aluminium framed e-bike is damaged or cracked, the welding process is complicated and laborious. However, an aluminium frame bike with cracks will have less effective performance and will not be as powerful as before.

Low durability and longevity:
Aluminium frames are prone to metal fatigue. It has a lifespan of 2-3 years because the more you ride an electric aluminium bike, the more its strength changes significantly compared to a carbon frame e-bike.

Less comfortable:
As aluminium frame e-bikes are less capable of absorbing shock and road vibrations, road vibrations are directly transferred to the rider, causing riding pleasure and discomfort.

Repair Difficulty:
Aluminium e-frame bikes are more difficult and complex to repair, as fixing a broken bike takes a lot of time and expertise.

Easy to break:
Due to its lightweight nature, it breaks easily, making it less popular than carbon and magnesium fibre, especially when riding on rough roads.

Below is our new aluminium alloy frame electric bike:

Aluminium alloy frame for superhero e-bike

3.Summary of the advantages of other e-bike frame materials
Whether you should choose an aluminium, steel, titanium or carbon fibre e-bike frame will depend largely on what you intend to do with your e-bike and your own experience. When, where and how you ride is just as important as your previous riding experience. Do you want a dedicated bike that can tackle challenging trails or a recreational bike for exploring town? Here are other material advantages for you to consider:

Steel:
The easiest frame material to repair.

The most common frame material in older bike frames.

Good, natural shock absorption.

Durable and at the same time more affordable than titanium and carbon fibre.

Titanium:
The frame with the best weight to durability ratio.

The most durable material with the best corrosion resistance.

Easier to repair than aluminium and steel frames.

Provides a smoother ride than other frame materials.

Carbon Fibre:
Lightest frame material.

Non-metallic base so it degrades differently and does not rust like other frames.

Durable despite the lightweight frame construction.

It can be used to create more complex frames that are not possible with other e-bikes.

4. conclusion
Once you understand the importance of aluminium e-bike frames, make sure you invest in quality materials. The quality of the brand will affect the durability of your aluminium bike. You can check the specifications of a particular e-bike to better suit your needs. By following the guidelines in this article, you will be able to choose the best e-bike frame that suits your tastes and preferences.

If you want to know more about Shuangye electric bikes or have any questions about our electric bikes/smart helmet and their components, please feel free to reach out to our customer service. We are always here to assist you.