This content directly compares the performance and feel of an aluminum versus a carbon fiber bicycle frame, using identical components and identical geometry to determine if the higher cost of carbon material translates to a superior riding experience.
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This is an aluminum frame that costs
over a thousand less than its carbon
version. And this is the carbon version
of the exact same bike. But just because
carbon costs more, does that mean it
rides better? Today, I'm riding both
these frames back to back with the exact
same parts to find out, is carbon
actually better.
To start this test, I'm riding the
aluminum bike, my IBIS RipMo AF. This is
a 29in trail bike with 160 150 mm travel
that I've installed some of my favorite
upgrades that I'm most familiar with.
And these exact same parts will be
installed on the carbon frame after a
baseline test right here on the trail
head. This bike retails in the mid 3000
range, but N plus1 bikes always gives a
killer deal to friends of this channel
As with every mountain bike ride, we're
starting with the climb. I will be
timing segments just because, but this
test isn't about times or racing. It's
more about feel. This Ripo AF feels like
a trail bike on the climb. Efficient,
slow, and steady. Nothing too crazy. [music]
Be upfront about my bias going into this
test. I already think that this Ripmo AF
rides great. And honestly, it might even
be better than the carbon because I've
ridden both and I've never felt like
this bike was missing anything. But with
that said, with all the fancy upgrades
on this bike, got the Fox factory
suspension, carbon wheels, it still
comes in at 36.5 lb, which is pretty
heavy for a trail bike. But I'm just
curious to see if any of that actually
matters once I start pushing it. All
right, time for a flow trail. This one's
Flow trails are where you can find out a
lot about a bike. They're high-speed,
big time g forces in the BMS, and
I'm running each bike three times on the
same trail. And on these runs, I'll be
focusing on corner stiffness, how well
it carries speed, high speed chatter,
and how much pop I can get over [music]
[music] Pretty
Next up is Dragon Scales, a black
diamond chunk trail with lots of rock gardens.
This is where people say frame material
matters most. On these three runs, I'll
be focusing on how the bike behaves when
things get rough.
How compliant [music] is the bike
through the rocks? How well do the
wheels track the ground? Will one feel
smoother than the other? Which one can
hold a line better? And which frame
Well, that went pretty good. I I love
these trails and this bike is pretty
fun, man. have gotten to know this bike.
I have everything really dialed in right
now with the suspension and if I think
about just kind of how the bike feels
with the trail chatter, it does mute
everything. And I think that's part of
the aluminum bike. And if anything, I
could maybe say that this bike feels
vague. Like in the corners, it doesn't
feel like too snappy or anything. It
just feels like a natural bike. I just
really don't think a carbon frame could
make this bike dramatically better. But
that's what this test is all about. So,
let's head to the car and we're going to
swap every single part over directly
onto the carbon frame so we can find out.
I basically brought a full workshop to
the trail head for this. Two bike
stands, a folding table, and every tool
I could possibly need.
If I'm going to answer this question, I
want to do it right. To keep this test
fair, I'm swapping everything over.
Suspension, wheels, drivetrain, the
exact same parts with the exact same
settings. The only difference between
these two rip modes will be the frame
material. Even the geometry is identical.
identical.
Doing this out here was a ton of work,
but I've wanted to test this back to
back for years. [music]
[music]
Well, with everything off, I made it
easy on myself. So, I got the rear brake
already routed. The droppers are the
same. They're routed. Let's go ahead and
weigh these things to see what the
difference is.
This is 12.04 lb. And the carbon 9.33.
9.33.
That means this thing is 2.7 lb lighter.
And everybody always says that carbon is
like a pound or a pound and a half
lighter. I did not expect 2.7. So, I'm
excited to build this thing. Let's do it.
So, about this carbon frame, on paper,
carbon can be laid up to be stiffer
[music] in some areas and more compliant
in others. That's why it's marketed as
the superior frame material. It's
lighter, stronger, and more efficient.
That's what they claim at least. But the
real question is whether [music] any of
that actually shows up when you're riding.
riding.
But after about an hour of building, we
finally have our fully swapped over Ibis
Ripmo V3 Carbon. [music]
Well, the bike is complete and uh man, I
built a lot of bikes, but that was a lot
of work, especially here on the trail.
But I'm glad it all went smooth. But the
first thing I did was I went straight to
the scale. And I just can't believe this
bike is under 34 lb. I think this thing
looks pretty cool, too. But let's go see
Right off the bat, you can call it
placebo, but I think I already feel the
weight difference.
Just kind of gliding uphill just a
little bit easier.
But I mean, it's still climbing like a
All right, made it to the top. And not
going to lie, my legs are burning a
little bit, [laughter] but I did notice
a little bit of a difference. Marginal
gains. And that kind of pains me because
in my mind, I kind of want the aluminum
to be just as good. And I would love to
say like, ah, carbon's not worth it. But
I definitely noticed a little bit of
something. So, I'm going to get warmed
up on this trail. Just a little jump
All right. Well, the things I'm looking
for with this carbon frame on the jump
trails, I want to know if maybe uh it's
a little bit more snappy or if I can
hold momentum better. Maybe I don't
know, I can pump better. I don't know.
We'll have to find out. But I definitely
already felt that it corners a little
bit better in those really ged out
corners. And I got to say one thing
before we go any further. I know I get
comments all the time that say, "Oh, you
got to be a racer to go get the benefits
from carbon." But I just don't like that
mindset. I believe that any rider can
feel the benefit of high-end parts like
carbon or Fox factory suspension. You
don't have to be a racer or a pro to
feel the benefits of that. So, with that
out of the way, let's go hit that jump
trail medieval and really get this high
speed going.
All right, here we go on Medieval. This
Oh yeah,
this is definitely more direct on the corners.
And maybe the trail chatter is a little
But this is definitely holding speed better.
better.
Yeah, I had to work way less hard
[music] to clear that jump. Wow.
>> [music]
>> Well, the flow trail is complete. And I
didn't really think that the carbon
would be better, but boy was I wrong.
The big thing was the turning. It felt
like it was just more direct, more
planted. I don't know. It was weird. But
one negative was definitely I could feel
the chatter of the trail a little bit
more, but it wasn't even that bad. Like
I feel like I could maybe change up the
rebound and the compression front and
rear and that would go away. But the
next test could really show the carbon
being a lot stiffer and everything. And
that's dragon scales. We're going to
test out some chunk and really feel out
this bike. All right, this is the trail
that I'm most excited for. The chunk
Whoa. Almost lost the front end. Whoa.
Yeah, I keep almost losing the front
end. Whoa.
Well, that first run was scary, dude.
I'm going to go ahead and uh maybe add
some low speed compression. Maybe some
low speed rebound cuz the front wheel
just wanted to compress and just wash
out. That was scary. All right, take two.
two.
All right, take two. Added more high and
low speed compression and opened up the
Okay, I actually have traction now.
That was so weird.
Oh, yeah. With my confidence back in the
corners, I was still messing up the
exits of the corners a little bit. Oh,
and this whole day, the bike developed
this weird chirping sound, and I never
could figure out what it was as maybe
the front brake. With the carbon frame,
I could definitely feel the chatter and
vibrations much more. Having ridden and
tested a lot of bikes, the goal isn't to
make the chatter disappear. It's to make
it manageable, which it was on this
carbon frame. It felt sporty and faster.
Oh, yeah. That was good. All right, the
test is complete and I've reviewed the
times and I can confidently say that the
carbon frame felt faster, it was faster,
and has a higher performance ceiling.
This bike climbed better, it felt more
responsive on the flow trail, and it had
more pop. And once I adjusted the
suspension, it felt more precise and
faster, but I could feel more trail
chatter. And a bike like this would
require more time dialing it in to
really unlock what it's capable of. The
aluminum, on the other hand, felt
comfortable right away. It was easier to
set up and it felt planted and just
predictable without much tweaking. So,
this really comes down to performance
ceiling versus ease and comfort. From a
pure performance standpoint, carbon is
better, but that's only part of the
decision. The Ripmo AF Dior build is
37.49 with Rock Shock suspension. Then
the carbon Dior build is $51.99 and that
comes with Fox suspension. and you got a
performance fork and a Fox factory
shock. So, it really comes down to your
needs, how much money you have, and
whether that extra performance is worth
the extra money. So, if I had to pick
one, knowing what I know now after this
backto-back test, well, my answer is
going to surprise you. On a trail bike
in my area with shorter climbs, I'd
rather go for comfort and ease of mind.
And for me, that's the aluminum version.
And I also like the fact that if a rock
kicks up and hits the frame, big deal.
Well, just a little cosmetic scratch. A
bike like this is just a little bit more
carefree to ride. And for me, that
settles it. Going with the aluminum. But
hey, if you made it this far in the
video, let me hook you up. My bike shop
partner, N plus1 Bikes, is offering 10%
back as an online gift card if you buy a
bike through them. [music] So, let's say
you buy a $5,000 bike, you can get a
$500 gift card to use on your next
purchase. Or if you just need some
parts, let me hook you [music] up with
15% off parts and accessories. Just use
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