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Can anyone tell the difference riding carbon hardtail and steel hardtail, does carbon have the same feel as aluminium frame?
I use to ride aluminium mtb and got a steel at the end of 2009 and noticed the difference on the bumps doing downhill which it was more comfy on the steel due the flex.
Just seen the On-One carbon 456 last weekend and was surprised how light the whole bike was compared to steel 456.
Carbon abssorbs a lot more high frequency buzz than steel IME, to the extent that I've raised my tyre pressures by 5 psi with no detrimeent to comfort. I moved from a Rocky Mountain Steel frame to a RM carbon frame, geometry the same so a good comparison. Withit I got the benefits of a torsionally stiff frame (even in gate size) it's lighter and accelerates noticably quicker.
Last alu frame I rode was a Pace RC100, only 200 metres, so I can't really comment on how the Alu rides in comarison, but I have read that scandium frames ride a bit softer.
I can't tell the difference between steel and Ti, but magnesium (the alloy used is motly aluminium I think) is noticably harsher.