Lugged Steel Frame Vs Welded

Lugged steel frame construction is a method of building bicycle frames using steel tubing mated with socket like sleeves called lugs.

Lugged steel frame vs welded.

When choosing a new bicycle the frame is arguably the most important individual part. In theory the butts more wall thickness at the end than the middle of the tube can be a little bit shorter since heat from tig welding is more localized. For most of the bicycle s history steel has been the primary material for bicycle frames with lugged construction the primary assembling method. Kd frames are the least expensive because they are shipped disassembled allowing them to be tightly packed for shipping and jobsite storage.

Also called continuously welded or fully welded the comer perimeter joints have all elements of the frame member continuously welded including soffits stops rabbet faces and returns. If you masked off a lugged steel bike and a tigged bike installed the same components and tires on them i doubt that one rider in a hundred could reliably identify which was which by riding them. Those who prefer welded frames and those who favor lugged frames. The frame greatly affects the bike s weight ride quality and handling.

How the individual pieces are joined together depends on the material and the builder. In this guide i outline the pros and cons of a steel vs. With a lugged construction the frame is made from columbus cromor steel tubing and features a 1 1 8 head tube and a lugged chromoly fork. Knowing this i am quite happy with the tig welded xo 2 that i just built up.

With a brazed lugged frame the heat spreads over a greater length of the tubing so the butts may be longer. You won t find downtube shifters here instead masi. Cyclists can be categorized into two types. Steel aluminum carbon even cardboard.