Should you buy a carbon or aluminum MTB?

The first purpose-built mountain bike was made from steel. The first mass-produced mountain bike was also made from steel. Many boutique mountain bike brands still produce very capable steel bikes today, and you’ll often see them around your local trail centers.

In the 1970s, aluminum came to the fore as a durable, reliable material suitable for high production volumes. Though it was initially priced at a premium, overseas production soon improved the pricing for the consumer and it became mainstream fairly quickly.

Aluminum paved the way for lightweight, nimble and affordable mountain bikes and they’re still celebrated for these characteristics today.

Early carbon fiber prototypes can be seen racing the downhill circuit as early as the 1990s. Carbon mountain bikes became popular at the start of the 21st century. It has the highest strength to weight ratio and has unparalleled levels of stiffness compared to other materials. Carbon is manufactured by laying up sheets of fabric into a mould. This means it’s possible to fully optimize and customize the frame shape beyond the typical circular tubes on metal bikes.

Titanium has the strength of steel but is lighter in weight. It’s a shock absorbing material which will soften the blow of a rocky ride without compromising its shape. It is however very expensive compared to the other frame materials.

We want to make performance bikes accessible to everyone regardless of budget. That’s why we’ve launched our Spectral, Spectral 125 and Torque models in both aluminum and carbon.

Both of our Spectral models are available with a robust aluminum frame or a lightweight carbon fiber frame. The choice is yours when it comes to this poppy and playful range of trail mountain bikes. “The Spectral AL is 400-500 grams heavier than the CF version but that isn’t always a bad thing,” says Lorenz. Weight is only half the story when it comes to the riding experience on the trail. Stiffness geometry and kinematics play a role in how a bike rides and how it climbs uphill. The team of engineers and product developers have worked hard to ensure our AL bikes match the performance of the CF as close as possible.

Finally, the Canyon Torque is a force to be reckoned with no matter which frame material you choose. Get big thrills for fewer bills on the AL models or take your shred to the next level on our carbon fiber frames.

If you’re on a budget and want the best bang for buck, an aluminum frame will pack in a lot of fun. What you save on the cost of the bike itself, you can spend on some flash new mountain bike kit and accessories for your new ride.

If you want the premium look and an exceptional ride quality, a carbon mountain bike might just be what you’re after. Whether you’re looking to take your skills to the next level or simply want to treat yourself to the latest in mountain bike technology, a carbon MTB can do it all.

Rene Birkenfeld is one of our Development Engineers who works with carbon every day. In short, he says carbon isn’t always better. “If the part isn’t manufactured perfectly, fibre undulation occurs in the laminate, which can compromise the bike part,” explains Rene. Canyon invests a lot into quality control including a CT scanner to ensure faults are kept to an absolute minimum.

“It’s also much more complex to design, manufacture and get the best out of carbon parts. The costs and timings sometimes outweigh the benefits,” adds Rene. “We’re also mindful of the CO2 footprint of carbon, so we’re researching other materials and manufacturing methods all the time.”

Having worked with in manufacturing and quality control for over 14 years, Rene is passionate about finding the limits of materials. In his opinion, it’s worthwhile having a frame, fork, seat post and rims made from carbon as the benefits speak for themselves.

The stem, saddle rails, derailleur hangers, chainrings, cassettes and any kind of frame protection offer minimal benefits for the high cost outlay. Even then, quality is likely to be substandard compared to other materials.

This is a question most people can only answer themselves. Rene has been around long enough to answer this question objectively.

• Budget: consider how much money you’re spending on a hobby. If you’re racing, it’s a little different as you need a competitive edge.
• Looks: personal preference on the aesthetics of a carbon frame versus aluminium or steel.
• Maintenance: can you afford to maintain carbon parts? Do you have the experience to do so?

“At the end of the day, it’s not about your bike’s material. It’s about the fun you can have.”