7/9/14 11:01 PM

Specialized looks to have some different and interesting design features in the Smartweld offering.
Pretty pricy, but not like a carbon pricey. More Like CAAD 10 pricing I guess...

Smartweld on right

7/10/14 8:45 AM

The cross-section view of traditional aluminum frame joints shows extremely uneven stress distribution, so a lot of un-needed metal plus you have scary stress risers on the inside that need some of that extra metal to limit the peak stress points.

This method looks good.

In the motorcycle world, fine die-casting is replacing complex weldments and allowing ever-thinner walls on today's large-section aluminum frames and swingarms.

This Kirk Precision bicycle was one company's attempt at using cast magnesium for racing bike frames: