Bikes: Do Brand Names Matter?

It’s easy to be dizzied by the changing technology surrounding bicycle frame manufacturers.

Today, big and small frame builders make carbon-fiber products including components and frames. Yet, sure enough, each one of these companies has their own secrets behind the design and production processes.

But still, is there really any difference between a brand-named frame and a generic make?

To answer this question in detail we need to define the terms. Specifically: what type of bike frames are we looking at, and what exactly is a “generic” frame?

Generic, Carbon Fiber Bike Frames:

By generic we are talking about a frame not associated with any major brand. Since carbon fiber is a popular bike frame material (very light and stiff), we’ll focus on carbon fiber for this discussion.

One caveat: it is important to note that not all carbon fiber bicycle frames are the same.  Carbon fiber sheets come in different grades and gauges, different weights and weaves. When you’re shopping for a frame, you don’t want to be comparing apples and oranges. Double check to make sure the type of frame you’re interested in buying has the same quality carbon (which is sheet fiber: used to make a frame that is technically a carbon-fiber composite…but that’s another story).

Where are They Made?

These days typical carbon fiber frames are made almost anywhere such as France and the US, and – of course – Asia. However, all the carbon fiber materials come from Asia (China and Taiwan in particular).

When we talk about a generic frame, we are discussing frames that come primarily from Taiwan. They are not associated with any major brand at all. Engineers form these frames in ‘open molds.’

What’s in the Mold?

A better way to differentiate a generic frame from a brand name is in the mold. An ‘open common mold’ is a form anyone can use to cast a frame. Engineers fill the mold with carbon fiber sheets, weaved together with other compounds, to create a generic frame. Most brands have the money to make their own molds, used exclusively to make frames for that manufacturer.

Pros and Cons of a Generic Bike Frame:

Generic frames have an excellent price point. Typically you can get a comparable frame (to what you would get from – say – Pinarello) for a fraction of the price. Often times the frames you get online (from eBay, for example) may come straight from the factory itself where the frame was cast. And that is a great deal.

Or maybe not. And therein lies the problem.

Although the generic frame may cost less for a comparable product from a big-name manufacturer, you have no way of knowing. There is no guarantee (and no warranty) on a frame purchased from a private seller off of eBay, or any other internet site.

There are dealers and distributors who are certified and can get you a great frame, with a two-year warranty, such as Velobuild in China. However, if you ever damage the frame outside of the two-year window, you may be out of luck. Although you can repair a carbon fiber bike frame, the question remains as to whether or not you can trust the integrity of the repair.

Stand by Your Brand

The brand name bicycle frames cost a lot more than generic frames, but they stand behind their product on several levels.

First, each bike company has a lifetime warranty, guaranteeing you a substitute frame if it should crack or split for any reason.

Second, the company makes the mold specifically and uniquely for its own frames (as we mentioned earlier). So BMC and Specialized have their own teams of designers creating new molds and new frames. Thus, you know the frame integrity has been studied by engineers and shouldn’t ever fail.

And if you think there is no difference in frame design among the big manufacturers, think again.

What’s the Big Difference? 3 Examples

Technology is always changing, and that’s great because the products keep getting better. Shimano introduced electronic shifting a few years ago and bike manufacturers had to respond. Now we see a lot of road-bike mounted disk-brakes, so the frames are changing once again.

Colnago claims to have the ‘safest frames in the industry‘ built with certain tolerances between lugs and tubes. Colnago builds these frames in a dust-free environment ensuring the integrity of the carbon fiber. The team also subjects the frames to high-intensity aerospace testing.

Pinarello has had success with its a-symmetrical frame build years ago. Their research showed a bicycle’s drivetrain undergoes more torque on the right side than on the non-drive left side of the frame. They use different thicknesses of carbon fiber on the right side of the frame in an attempt to compensate for the energy created in each pedal stroke. They also make bike frames with hidden cables: another example of innovation in design.

As one of the oldest Italian bicycle brands on the market, Bianchi has discovered a way to have the natural flexible properties of carbon fiber to soften the bumps in the road. It’s called “countervail technology” and it allows the frame to “bend” without compromising the power behind the pedal stroke. Bianchi’s recent accolades at the Giro d’Italia may suggest they are on to something special. In addition, there is no better example of sleek, Italian bicycle design than Bianchi’s Intenso series that Ciclismo Classico uses in its rental fleet.

Is All of This Technology Just a Gimmick?

Not entirely. The engineering and design teams for all these major companies are always working with new ideas and concepts.

Brands are often pushing the limits of what the materials (and the competition) can do. Thus, among major frame manufacturers, the differences are subtle but significant.

So if you’re in the market for a new bicycle, go try out a few. Like trying on new shoes, you’ll eventually find the one that fits you best.

Or sign up for one of our European Ciclismo Classico tours and try on a Bianchi Intenso. It’s sure to be a perfect fit!