User Guide

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In 1975, Reynolds introduced a very high
strength steel alloy tubeset, Reynolds 753.
Thanks to the extra strength, this tubing was
made very thin-walled, and this had the effect
of reducing frame weight considerably. 753
was more heat sensitive than 531, requiring
special low-temperature brazing techniques.
Due to quality concerns, Reynolds mandated
that only certified builders would be allowed
to purchase tubesets.
Reynolds’ newest revolution of the bike
tubing industry is a steel alloy dubbed 853.
This material, a breakthrough in metallurgy,
was designed specifically for modern TIG
welding. As such, it actually gets stronger
when exposed to the high heat of welding.
New construction techniques
With the advent of mountain bikes, brazed
frame construction fell out of fashion.
Brazing usually requires lugs to reinforce
the joints. These special sockets are formed
to accept specific tubing diameters, and hold
them at a specific angle. The new mountain
bikes of the early 80’s changed bike design,
using different tube diameters and joint
angles than previously used by road bikes.
To allow the freedom of design they needed
to explore these new bikes, manufacturers
switched to TIG welding.
Welding and frame weight
Although brazing steel requires that the
tubes be brought to a glowing, cherry-red
heat, brazing temperature does not approach
the melting point of steel. By avoiding
extreme heat, the steel in a brazed bike
maintains its strength. With TIG welding,
the steel is melted and strength is lost. To
compensate, thicker tubing is used at the
weld site. Thicker steel weighs more, and
doesn’t ride as well. The steel available sim-
ply couldn’t be butted radically enough to
avoid this.
New steel technology
Reynolds now addresses the performance
concerns of a welded frame by a different
path. Their new 853 alloy actually gets stron-
ger after welding. Since the welded area is
stronger, it can be thinner. Traditional butt-
ing and wall thickness can be used, so the
new frames built with this material are actu-
ally lighter than a lugged frame. After all,
there are no lugs. And the wonderful ride of
tried-and-true steel is back.