Can I drill a hole in my mountain bike frame?

Use a small drill. 1/16-1/8″ is fine. Be carefull that these holes are in line on the tube. Make sure when drilling into the seat tube that you don’t go through and damage the other side of the tube.

Can you drill an aluminum bike frame?

Aluminium alloys used in bicycle frames are quite fragile. Drilling may easily start cracks that will then spread under stress. Even if it does not happen, you weaken the frame unpredictably. Not only the warranty is gone, but you just don’t know if it will fail catastrophically or not.

Can you convert a bike to internal cabling?

How? The short answer is yes. All you need on almost any Bowden cable-operated brake or rear gear mech is to run the housing in one length from the operating lever to the mechanism, rather than having a break along the way with bare inner wire visible.

Can you drill into carbon fiber bike frame?

There is no circumstance where a hole can/should be drilled in a carbon frame by anyone other than the manufacturer. The reason we can drill holes in frames is that we specifically design areas with reinforcement for post-molding machining processes.

Why do bike frames have holes?

I am sometimes asked, why are there tiny holes drilled in certain parts of a bicycle frame, like the ones shown on the left? These are vent holes. During the brazing process the air inside the tube expands as it is heated. (When the bike is assembled these holes are hidden.)

Is internal cable routing better?

A fully internally routed cable without housing is the better way to go when it comes to aesthetics. Nevertheless, there is no evidence that internal cable routing demonstrably improves shifting or braking performance compared to externally routed cables.

Is it safe to drill carbon fiber?

The best bits for drilling carbon fiber are solid carbide or diamond. Sometimes called brad-point drill bits, they cut fibers without fraying or delaminating the material and they eliminate splintering on both sides of the hole. These bits are incredibly durable and can withstand hundreds of holes if used properly.

Can you drill carbon fork?

Yes it’s probably OK to drill the fork, but I prefer not to drill carbon, as you break the fibres and weaken it more than you’d expect.

What kind of drill bit do I need for aluminum?

High-speed steel (HSS) drill bits can drill wood, fiberglass, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and soft metals such as aluminum. Cobalt drill bits are extremely hard and dissipate heat quickly. They’re mostly used for boring in aluminum and tough metals such as stainless steel.

Can you drill holes in a down tube on a bike?

But at least on a metal frame, you’re not cutting through fibers as you are on a carbon frame. Below are some responses you should pay attention to. Drilling holes in a down tube is a bad idea. The holes will create stress concentrations where cracks could form, compromising the structural integrity of his frame.

Do you drill the holes in your frames?

Most of the holes in our frames are drilled, but we have specific reinforcements in those areas to prevent structural issues and the drilling process is very controlled and repeatable. There is no circumstance where a hole can/should be drilled in a carbon frame by anyone other than the manufacturer.

Can I drill a hole in a carbon frame?

There is no circumstance where a hole can/should be drilled in a carbon frame by anyone other than the manufacturer. The reason we can drill holes in frames is that we specifically design areas with reinforcement for post-molding machining processes.

What to look for when buying a used bike frame?

Some pitted rust is tolerable in low-stress areas of the frame. Rust is common in the bottom-bracket and chainstay area, or wherever paint is damaged — also, due to sweat, on the top side of the top tube if a bicycle has been used on an indoor trainer. Look inside the tubes for rust too. Inside rust is insidious rust.