I have an older italian lugged columbus tubing steel bike, but I notice all the new steel bikes are butted.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of each?
(锕侊箒)~~~~---------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally Posted by rj987652003
I have an older italian lugged columbus tubing steel bike, but I notice all the new steel bikes are butted.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of each?
Unless it is fillet-brazed, it is welded. Welding is cheaper and faster to produce.
(锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
not all new steel frames are butted.
i got a cheap lugged italian steel frame from gvhbikes - look in their "special deals" section. but yeah, you usually won't see it on any new bikes that don't cost well over $2000.
(锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
Below is a very interesting site for steel lovers, but you must be
warned that Henry James in VERY PRO STEEL and VERY "PRO LUGS", but
I highly recommend reading it: http://www.henryjames.com/faq.html.
After reading his FAQ/FMS page I was never gunna buy a lugless frame,
but I've since calmed down, and now have two lugless steel bikes.
Apparently the new steels are designed to be welded and not lugged, and
they are supposed to be stronger than the old lugged stuff because they
gain strength after being subjected to the heat....but who knows? Many
bike shop guys have told me that it would be silly to lug one of the modern steels.
The weight issue is a bit misleading. Frame companies often claim that
lugless frames are lighter, simply because there are no lugs, but the lugless
tubes tend to have slightly larger diameters, therefore balancing out the
weight. For example, I have several old, lugged frames, one of which is a
1988 (!!) lugged 58cm Raleigh 531c which weighs 1864g (4.1lbs) without
the fork, and the "modern super dooper" lugless frames I have weigh
1670g (3.68lbs) and 1687g (3.72lbs) respectively. So, the removal of the
lugs, and 16 years of progress, although having improved strengh and stiffness,
the weight has only dropped about 180g (0.396lbs)!!!!!
Hmmmmm, that hasn't really answered your question, has it?
Let's see......lugs look better, but larger tubes on the new bikes look better (锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's difficult to compare the pros and cons of each because the old steels are different to the new: the older steels are not as strong as the new ones but they were strengthened by using lugs. The new steels are supposed to be much stronger, even without the lugs.
Occasionally, some of the newer, cheaper lugless frames will not have smooth welds, and can therefore look crappy.
Jeez, I haven't really answered your question either (锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
Advantage to lugged. If you damage a tube it can be replaced/repaired. Can't do that with a welded frame.
Advantage to lugged. Appearance. Some lugs are works of art and if you have patience, the paint jobs can be incredible.
Advantage to welded. Cost and availability.
L8R
(锕侊箒)~~~~---------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally Posted by a2psyklnut
Advantage to lugged. If you damage a tube it can be replaced/repaired. Can't do that with a welded frame.
SH1T!! Is this true?
(锕侊箒)~~~~---------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally Posted by Fat Hack
SH1T!!
Originally Posted by rj987652003
I have an older italian lugged columbus tubing steel bike, but I notice all the new steel bikes are butted.
