If you follow Flybikes on Instagram ( @FlybikesBMX), you might have seen this already. The past few days they have been posting detailed photos of their 2015 frames explaining some of the features of their frames like an offset thickness head tube, internal integrated gussets on the top and down tubes, multi-butted and tapered tubing and Investment Cast drop outs. These photos show a frame cut in half giving you a good look at just what each of those things mean. Above is a look at their head, top and down tube junction. Check out the other two after the jump.
“Have you been considering one of our frames but were wondering what an Internal Integrated gusset is or why we have an offset thickness head tube? Each of our frames, Stefan Lantschner’s Montaña, Devon Smillie’s Fuego, Sergio Layos’ Trueno and Shane Weston’s Isla, all feature Integrated Internal gussets and an offset head tube thickness that helps create a stronger junction where the head tube meets the top and down tubes.
As you can see in the drawing, our head tube features a 1mm thickness at the front of the head tube and a 2mm thickness in the rear. Our top and down tubes are butted and feature a 1mm thickness in the middle, with a 2mm thickness where the tubing meets the head tube. By doing this we are able to create stronger welds, give the frame a cleaner look and shed extra weight where the frame takes on less stress.
Similar to how external gussets work by welding additional material on, this process avoids weakening the tubing from over heating when the gussets are welded in place. This helps to maintain the tubing’s strength at these important joints.”
“Here’s a look at what each of our frames tubing looks like where the top tube meets the seat tube. The top tube goes from 1mm in the middle to 2mm thick and the seat tube goes from 0.9mm to 1.5mm thick where these two tubes meet. We do this because this junction takes on higher levels of stress, so thicker tubing is important and allows for a stronger weld at the junction to help prevent cracking or breaking.
We are able to use thinner tubing in the middle of both tubes where there is less stress and no welds to help save weight.”
“Have you noticed that all of our 2015 frames feature Investment Cast drop outs? We use Investment Cast drop outs on Stefan’s Montaña, Sergio’s Trueno, Devon’s Fuego and Shane’s Isla frames because it allows us to create a unique and clean looking drop out with plenty of peg and hub guard clearance and it also moves the welds away from the high stress point in the drop out and double up material to create a stronger joint between the stays and drop outs.
Our Investment Cast drop outs feature an angled edge for the welding material that allows us to eliminate the excess for a smooth transition from stays to dropouts as well. ”
You can learn more about Fly Bikes an their products by visiting their website — FlyBikes.com
