Before You Buy Vol. 3. Frames
Previously, we’ve discussed tires and suspensions and touched a bit on industry hype. Frame geometry on conventional (non-electric) bikes is fairly well locked in. You don’t see a lot of really stupid mistakes except maybe in the newer category of Gravel Bikes.
For longer rides, rougher rides or slower rides you want relaxed frame angles. This means there is more tilt to the head tube (where the fork and handlebars enter the frame) and the seat tube. This sort of stretches out the bike and makes it more compliant. The ride can be buttery smooth without suspension.
For shorter rides, on pavement and fast riding, you want more upright frame angles. This gets confusing as people think of upright as a riding position. We are talking about that head tube and seat tube being more straight up and down. An exception to this are time trial and triathlon bikes where aero dynamics trumps everything.
Frame materials are still all over the place. In no place though will you see more abuse of both than in factory e-bikes.
No street legal e-bike generates more torque than you generate with your legs. None come close to a pro road or mtb racer. Why anyone thinks e-bikes need over sized, thicker wall, straight gage tubing is beyond me. It just makes them heavy (range sapping) and hard to handle.
There is still a lot of talk about aluminum vs carbon fiber. CF is still brittle, but the average road e-biker or touring cyclist will never know the difference. I remember when we complained the same about aluminum vs steel. Technically, both are true, but it hardly ever matters. CF rides better, but good luck finding it on any road e-bike. Low end, traditional CF bikes weigh as much or more than aluminum (are you really expert enough to know what you are getting?).
Nothing rides better than steel and with quality, double butted tubing, they are darned near as light as anything else. Steel is very responsive and seems to last forever. Steel was reintroduced into road racing just two years ago. It never left cyclocross or rando riding. The best touring bikes are all Steel as well. I don’t own the best of anything, but all my bikes are Steel.
Aluminum is affordable. It is light and with new hydroforming capabilities, it is a lot more comfortable than in the past and quite light. Your frame material is not nearly so important as your frame geometry and that is not nearly as important as getting the right style of bike for your application and a proper fitting. Do not expect a bike made for off road use to be comfortable, easy to handle or in anyway to be efficient on the street.