Hey Guys, I'm planning on purchasing a bmx bike and I have been recommended by many people the Kink Launch 2012. I'm thinking of getting it but the frame is made from High Tensile steel and I know the chromoly is stronger and more expensive, but I plan to use my bmx just to chill, ride with friends and some times go through dirt trails at my park, I would like to know, how strong Hi Tensile steel is and can it handle jumps not massive jumps but like jumps where you get like 3 feet high (1m) just for fun, I might go to the skate park but I'm not gonna do tail whips and massive jumps, I just want it as a mobile piece of transportation. I don't want to buy a mtb because I already had 3 of them and they are not practical to take with you on holidays.So, do you think the Kink Launch 2012 is good enough or should I cough up an extra $80 and get the gap ($500 AU)? As I said I ain't gonna do huge jumps.
High tensile steel could mean almost anything. SAE 4130 Chrome-Moly steel is the de-facto standard for steel bikes frames. High tensile steel could actually mean the same thing since chrome-moly is classified as high strength steel. The strength of the frame depends as much on the quality of the welds and on the size/thickness of the tubing as much as anything else. I'd say what kind of steel you use makes only a minor difference. One reason you want to buy bikes from reputable name-brand companies is they tend to have strict quality controls, this is particularly important when it comes to welds. Welds are always the weakest part of any bike frame, don't let anyone tell you different. 99% of the time if something in the frame breaks, it'll be at the welds. hope this helps.
