Triple Trees - Material Types

[Groover]

Is there any benefit in having aluminum over steel triple trees? Is there a flex issue to consider with one material over the other, or is it just the trend direction? Seems a lot of the older stuff (60's) the triples were steel, all the more modern stuff is aluminum, and some of the aftermarket ones are build to be even more lightweight.

Same bike, if you were to flip steel to aluminum (or vice versa) what would you likely expect the difference to be (if any).

[Toecutter]

Correct me if I'm wrong...  but steel bends, aluminum cracks, no?

That said, if I go down hard enough to bend my triple tree, I'm not riding it til it's replaced anyways.

I think maybe aluminum has more to do with recycling beer cans, and cost of materials,  than anything else, doesn't it?

[Groover]

Not sure, I think Aluminum bends as well (think wheels and pot holes)

[RinkRat II]

  I would think the only real difference would be the weight. Aluminum comes in all manners of strength like steel but  would be easier to machine up a billet of the right grade  versus cast steel.  Where's Chuck? 

       Paul B

[Groover]

Been digging into this during my lunch break. I think there is something about the Sprung Mass and Upsprung Mass and their ratios.

Though, haven't figured out what would do what if one is heaver or lighter. Sprung is the weight above the shocks, Upsprung is the weight below the shocks.