New Bombardier Sport Quad?
#12
10-19-2002, 07:20 AM
New Bombardier Sport Quad?
In my opinion, it would be very difficult and extremely expensive to make an aluminum frame of this size durable enough to handle what the DS currently is capable of, but if it was done the weight difference would surely be significant.
Aftermarket swingarms currently made of steel are an average 12 pounds lighter than stock, and aluminum could take a few more pounds off on top of that. It would be hard to get that much weight removed from the front as well though, so the weight bias would end up suffering worse than it already does. Moving the oil tank to the rear of the bike could help offset this, but other issues associated with that have been encountered when it was attempted by others conscerning oil pump performance.
All in all, if it was done and done right, I think 30 to 40 pounds could be dropped with an all aluminum frame construction, but to me the sacrifice in durability would not be worth the cost. Affordable aluminum is just not as strong as the steel used in frames, which is why Lone Star, Roll Design, and all the other serious MX aftermarket frame companies are still using old faithful. C-dale took a very impressive step into the aluminum frame, and their design is quite awesome I must say - especially with the frame acting as the oil reservoir, but if the DS frame were to be made lilke this then I would think it'd cost quite a bundle more.
[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
Aftermarket swingarms currently made of steel are an average 12 pounds lighter than stock, and aluminum could take a few more pounds off on top of that. It would be hard to get that much weight removed from the front as well though, so the weight bias would end up suffering worse than it already does. Moving the oil tank to the rear of the bike could help offset this, but other issues associated with that have been encountered when it was attempted by others conscerning oil pump performance.
All in all, if it was done and done right, I think 30 to 40 pounds could be dropped with an all aluminum frame construction, but to me the sacrifice in durability would not be worth the cost. Affordable aluminum is just not as strong as the steel used in frames, which is why Lone Star, Roll Design, and all the other serious MX aftermarket frame companies are still using old faithful. C-dale took a very impressive step into the aluminum frame, and their design is quite awesome I must say - especially with the frame acting as the oil reservoir, but if the DS frame were to be made lilke this then I would think it'd cost quite a bundle more.
[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
#13
10-19-2002, 11:42 PM
#14
10-20-2002, 12:36 PM
New Bombardier Sport Quad?
Originally posted by: Hightower
Affordable aluminum is just not as strong as the steel used in frames, which is why Lone Star, Roll Design, and all the other serious MX aftermarket frame companies are still using old faithful.
Affordable aluminum is just not as strong as the steel used in frames, which is why Lone Star, Roll Design, and all the other serious MX aftermarket frame companies are still using old faithful.
actually roll design just came out with an aluminum frame.
and lonestar came out with a titanium one (but i don't like that)
#15
10-20-2002, 04:30 PM
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#17
10-21-2002, 12:02 AM
#18
10-21-2002, 10:14 PM
#19
10-21-2002, 11:01 PM
New Bombardier Sport Quad?
well hightower if you want to consider a 12000 dollar chromoly steel roll design lobo chasis affordable then you must have a ton of cash. the only frame i can think of that is truly affordable right now is the LRD attitude frame for 2800! great price and the frame is made out of aluminum too.
