How Long Do Steel Bike Frames Last?

Find out how long steel bike frames last and what maintenance tasks you should perform to keep up their longevity!

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Family riding on steel bikes

Purchasing a bicycle to ride around is a major investment in your hobby. Bikes can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on the quality of the bike frame and the various components. 

One of the leading factors that determine how much you spend on your bike is the type of frame it has. The better the frame, the more you can expect to pay for it.

Steel bike frames are built to last for a significant amount of time. In fact, the typical steel bicycle frame may be expected to last at least six years on its own. Those who spend extra time making sure their frame is properly maintained can do even better than that.

How Long Do Steel Bike Frames Last?

If the steel frame is properly maintained, then it should be able to last for up to ten years.

That said, there are a number of factors that go into determining how long your specific frame may last. You should know a few of these factors so that you know what to truly expect from the bicycle that you invest your money in.

Two guys riding on steel bikes

Bike Frames Are Not All Alike

The untrained eye may view different bicycle frames and think that they all look alike. They believe that there is nothing all that special about one type of bicycle frame over another. 

However, the problem with this type of thinking is the fact that bike frames are not built alike even if they appear to be on the surface of things.

Steel Is The Strongest Material You Can Buy For A Bike Frame

Steel is the second strongest and the most widely used metal in the world.

The good news for someone who has purchased a steel bike frame is that it is the strongest material that someone can purchase for their bike. 

It is such a strong material that it is able to withstand many of the things that can be thrown at it. It is known to withstand being damaged much better than some of the other materials that a bicycle may be created out of.

The flip side of this is that it does make for a much heavier bike. Compared to carbon or aluminum, steel bikes are slower and you will have a tougher time on hilly terrain.

Young couple riding bikes

The Danger Of Rust

While some may feel comfortable that they are unlikely to damage their steel bike frame in an irreversible way, it is important to recognize that this type of frame is not without risk.

One of the biggest risks when dealing with a steel bike frame is that it can be subject to rust more so than some of the other bike frame materials.

Therefore, it is imperative that all steel bike owners understand that their equipment may suffer from rust damage if they are not extremely careful about keeping it protected.

Rust poses the biggest danger when the bike is left out in the weather. Steel and rain can combine to cause rust issues. However, it is also true that a steel bike that is stored away and rarely used may also be subject to rust as well. Thus, all cyclists need to know how to store and protect their bikes.

Finally, you need to be aware that it is possible for steel bike frames to rust from the inside without being noticed. You may have a steel bike frame that is already starting to fall apart and not even realize it. This should be troubling for all people, and it is a very good reason to give proper consideration to how you will keep your bicycle protected as necessary.

Rusty steel bike frame

The Dangers That Bike Frames Must Face

There is a multitude of ways that a bike frame may sustain damage, and each one should be looked at carefully. Knowing what kind of dangers are out there is a great way to make sure you don’t end up in a position where you inadvertently end up with damage to your frame.

Impact

Obviously, one way that a bike frame can be damaged is if it comes in direct contact with another object or person. If someone collides with another cyclist, with a car, or even just with the ground, the bike frame can be damaged.

In most cases, a steel bike frame will come out ahead when compared to a carbon or aluminum frame.

Pressure

The bike does not have to be directly impacted to suffer damage to the frame. It is certainly the case that the application of pressure can cause a bike frame to get warped or even damaged in major ways.

This could happen if heavy objects are placed on top of the bike frame. Think poor garage storage! 

Owners should make sure they protect their investment in the bicycle by never putting it in a situation where it can potentially face the dangers of too much pressure being added to it.

Improper Care

There are some who don’t take the proper care of their steel bikes as they know that they should. When they are not placed in a safe place and given the proper maintenance that they need, then it is entirely possible that the bike will suffer from damage and become less valuable than it otherwise should have been. It is challenging to put it in those terms, but that is exactly how these types of things tend to play out.

Related article – How To Maintain Your Bike – Essential Maintenance Tips

Outdoor bike maintenance

Rust And Corrosion

The other thing that people need to consider when it comes to the care of their bikes is the fact that rust and corrosion are big factors.

We have already mentioned how steel bikes are particularly vulnerable to rust, and there is no question that this is one of the leading concerns that cyclists need to think about when they are looking at how to keep their bikes protected.

You deserve to have the kind of protection that you need from rust and corrosion for your bike, but it all starts by understanding that this is one of the most likely ways that your bike may sustain some damage in this way.

Related article – Best Bicycle Covers For Storage

How To Extend the Life of Steel Bike Frames

There are a number of ways that you can improve the lifespan of your bike frame. The very first thing that you can do is make sure you keep it out of bad weather to help it avoid some of the rust and corrosion issues that it may otherwise face. However, it definitely goes beyond that.

Read Your Owner’s Manual

You may look at the owner’s manual of your vehicle without a second thought, but do you think about stopping and taking a look at the owner’s manual for your bike and bike frame? 

Sadly, many people miss out on this. They simply don’t take the time to learn about how to keep their bike safe.

Inspections

Regularly check on a steel bike frame to see how it is holding up. 

The sooner that you can identify issues such as rust buildup and the like, the faster that you can take corrective actions to make sure the rust doesn’t build to such an extent that it takes on some true damage to the bike frame that you have been dealing with up to this point.

Fix Only What Needs To Be Repaired

The final thing to think about is to make sure that you only work on fixing the things that need to be done. If you can stick to this, then you should be in great shape to make sure your bike is properly maintained without putting more into it than what is absolutely necessary.

After all, you don’t want to spend more than you need, but you do want to keep your bike frame maintained!

Think about all of this and keep your bike frame maintained just the way that you need to. It should last you for a considerable number of years, and you can enjoy riding well into the future.

Interesting read – How Long Do Carbon Bike Frames Last?