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Jokes aside, I remember pictures of the M950 generation of XTR cranks flaking the paint off when someone put pedals with titanium axles onto them. The cranks simply corroded, starting at the pedal threaded hole. Stainless steel, if I remember correctly, has an issue with galling where it will essentially corrode onto itself in a nut and bolt situation, when you thread them together. Etc.
But a good point about oxidation as the aluminium oxide layer is technically a ceramic. And it is created basically instantly, I remember a coworker (shout out to Jure, he tends to read the team rumors thread incognito, maybe he's lurking here too
As for superstructures, how do they do that? Because for example cars that have the chassis made out of aluminium tend to be bonded, not welded. If you have the surface area to bond (glue) things together, it's the go-to when it comes to aluminium. It's a win-win, cheap, quick, not energy intensive, doesn't influence the material structure (heat related), etc. So if it's bonded I wouldn't exactly use it as a showcase
At least it appears Aluminium and Steel can live together.
demand planning may be done years in advance, but production scheduling typically isn't finalized that far out.
i know MY (model year) bikes can start the design process 2-3 years before the year they are to be launched (depending on if its a redesign or an all new model from the ground up).
with suspension, the lead times & cost for casting tooling (fork lowers) are long/high, so that's likely longer/earlier in the process. also why the cast lowers get used for a few years before new designs are introduced.