When we developed the rider focused philosophy Avanti Design Technology we knew the selection of the best and most appropriate materials would be pivotal in achieving optimum performance for each bike. It started years ago with Avanti when we were one of the first companies in New Zealand to introduce alloy across our range and continues today with framesets developed from Carbon, Alloy and Cr-mo specifically designed for rider purpose. The following information outlines how, why and where we use these materials throughout the Avanti range.
ADT CARBON
Many factors influence the making of an Avanti frame or fork. Design details, construction methods, and materials are the primary three.
DESIGN DETAILS
Carbon Fibre is an engineers dream come true: A material that is lighter than Aluminium and is pound for pound stronger than steel. It can be moulded into complex shapes and sizes, as well as having the ability to be "laid-up" with more material where you need it, and less where you don't. By utilizing this material, we are able to take our tube shapes and profiles to the next level. Some of these details include oversized diameters, unique shapes, and exaggerated tapers enabling us to tune the frame's ride / characteristics to suit the intended rider purpose precisely. Every frame implements size-specific details, for example: tube transitions change to support areas of the frame differently. All of this adds up to a frame that is stiff and responsive, yet has excellent damping characteristics and vibration control, specific to the needs of a given rider size.
CONSTRUCTION
Avanti Carbon frames are created using two different methods of Construction:
MODULAR MONOCOQUE METHOD
This is a process in which the front triangle, seat stays, and chain stays are moulded as individual sections. This allows us to completely optimize each frame section toward a specific requirement; be it Torsional stiffness for the front triangle, or vertical compliance in the seat stays. Each of these frame sections is made of multiple layers of carbon. The number of layers is not constant along the entire part: in areas where the load on the frame is high, more layers are used; and in low stress areas, fewer layers are used to save weight. After these individual sections are created, they are fused together into a seamless Monocoque (one-piece) structure.
TUBE 2 TUBE METHOD
This process involves the separate manufacture of each part of the frame individually. The individual tubes are then cut and mitred to fit perfectly with each other, then bonded before a final outer "wrap" of carbon is laid over the outside of each joint.
CARBON DETAILS
Simply looking at the properties of a single material is no way to judge a frame's quality. The carbon weave, or outer appearance, which most people recognize is typically used only for the final outermost layer, which is visible through the clear coat. Although this lends some structural integrity to the frame, it is primarily cosmetic. So a 2K, 3K, or 12K weave designation does not necessarily determine a frame's quality.
Carbon Fibre can be ranked in two ways: one being the Modulus, which dictates the fibre's relative stiffness; and the other being Tensile Strength, or how strong or tough the material is. Building a frame of just the highest modulus material would be a disaster, as the ride quality would suffer from being too stiff, as well as the overall strength being compromised. The key is to blend different materials with unique properties, placing them in specifically targeted areas of the frame. We source materials from several of the world's leading carbon fibre manufacturers. We select the optimal blend of three different fibre types and strategically locate them based on their unique attributes; using the toughest carbon fibre in a given area and the stiffest carbon fibre in another, delivering a chassis with just the right combination of compliance, lightweight, strength, performance and handling. In doing so, we can tailor our frames to possess of stiffness, strength, and compliance while achieving a desired weight.
Outlined below are the different carbon materials Avanti employs or blends throughout our Carbon Frames:
ADT Carbon Material
| MATERIAL |
TENSILE STRENGTH |
MODULUS |
| C40 |
4410 MPa |
377 GPa |
| C30 |
5880 MPa |
294 GPa |
| C24 |
4900 MPa |
235 GPa |
CARBON SUMMARY
When it comes to manufacturing the frame, it goes without saying that an incredible amount of design, testing, experience, and cost goes into the development of each Avanti frame. The result is a frame free of compromise and full of performance; providing a frame to fulfil the desires of the intended rider.
The table below shows the frame platforms available in the 2008 Avanti Line and the specific attributes of those frames:
| TUBING DECAL |
TUBESET NAME |
RIDER PURPOSE |
CONSTRUCTION |
MATERIAL |
FRAME WEIGHT / SIZE |
BIKE MODELS |
 |
ADT XCR1 |
XC Race |
Tube 2 Tube |
C24 / C30 |
1150gm Med - 38cm |
MTB: Competitor 1.0, 2.0 & Team |
 |
ADT CER1 |
Endurance Road |
Tube 2 Tube |
C24 / C30 |
990gm 52.5cm |
Road: Cadent 1.0, 2.0 & 3.0 |
 |
ADT CT1 |
Track |
Modular Monocoque |
C40 / C30 |
650gm Med - 54cm |
Track: Pista Team |
 |
ADT CAR1 |
TT / Triathlon |
Modular Monocoque |
C40 / C30 |
1550gm Med - 52.5cm |
TT & Triathlon: Chrono & Chrono Team |
 |
ADT RC1 |
Recreation |
Modular Monocoque |
C24 |
1000gm Med - 42cm |
Fitness: Blade Team |
 |
CRR1 |
Race Road |
Tube 2 Tube |
C24 |
1100gm 54cm |
Road: Quantum 1.0 |
 |
CRR2 |
Race Road |
Tube 2 Tube |
C30 |
950gm 54cm |
Road: Quantum 2.0 & Team |
ADT Cr-mo
Cr-mo frame is still the standard by which many other bicycle frames are judged. Cr-mo can be described in general terms as lively, solid, and predictable. Cr-mo's durability and unique "feel" make it a favourite of many cyclists.
The Cr-mo tubing used in our ADT bicycle frames is 4130. This material has good formability, and is used to create durable tube-sets which provide the ride that Cr-mo is known for.
Even though technology of the raw tube set has not changed much over the past few years, there is still ample opportunity for the ADT development team to integrate customised solutions for specific rider requirements.
One example of this design application can be found on the K.I.S.S (Single Speed) Models and their custom eccentric bottom brackets. To achieve a single-speed setup, many brands simply provide a BMX-style horizontal dropout so that chain tension can be achieved. For most people, this seemingly straightforward task can become quite a challenge once adjustable disc-brake calliper mounts are introduced into the equation, and complicated even further when the rider decides he needs a different gear combination. On Avanti K.I.S.S models we have incorporated an eccentric BB design, the rear wheel axle is mounted in one location, just like a normal MTB dropout, so the disc brakes line up no matter what gear combo you run. No clumsy pulleys or chain tension gadgetry required. Instead, the eccentric BB is simply rotated until chain slack is gone, and is then tightened. It's that simple. This is just one example of the thought and effort that has gone into every Avanti frame and bicycle.
| TUBING DECAL |
TUBESET NAME |
MATERIAL |
BIKE MODELS |
 |
ADT 4130 Cr-mo |
Premium 4130 Cr-mo Tubeset |
MTB: K.I.S.S 26, K.I.S.S 29 & Derelikt LTD |
ADT Alloy
With the ability to be cold-worked, butted, and formed into complex shapes, aluminium alloys have proven themselves time and time again, to possess excellent characteristics for lightweight bicycle frame construction.
Each Bike manufacturer has its own specialty and philosophy about how an Alloy tube set should be made. An ADT tube set consists of tubes selected specifically for a particular application and to fulfil the desires of the intended rider. Custom tubing shapes, when expertly designed can offer far more than just great looks. Ride quality is of course, one of the most important features to build into the design of a performance bicycle. Internal and external butting, in addition to reducing weight, distributes stress away from the weld zones, while custom tapering, flaring, and making tubes bi-oval can substantially increase stiffness in areas where it is most needed. These properties combined can enhance handling, comfort and acceleration.
At Avanti, we use the most advanced types of forming technologies, one of which is state-of-the-art Hydro-forming. Using high pressure liquid to form tubing from the inside out, Hydro-forming allows for unusual and complex external shapes while being able to utilize premium double-butted tubing internally. This results in lightweight yet remarkably strong Formtech tubing, gaining additional strength without the weight penalties of a gusset. Additionally, we can directionally tune the tubing to offer a set of desired ride characteristics.
When it comes to aluminium Road racing frames, the best possible balance of weight, strength, comfort, energy efficiency, and durability can be achieved by using our ADT Carbon Technologies combined with our aluminium design platforms. Our goal is to extract the ideal characteristics from two different materials and blend them together into one seamless, finished product. We have taken our years of traditional tube forming experience and blended in ADT carbon fibre technology precisely where both can offer the greatest benefit to the rider.
So how does carbon fibre come into play? Since the seat stays are pointed directly toward the rider, most of the road Vibration is transferred from the rear wheel axle straight through to the rider's body. With carbon fibre's inherent vibration damping characteristics, there is no better place to utilize the material than the seat stays. Evidence of this feature is best seen on the Corsa Team, Corsa, Giro and Blade 5.0 models. Whether using this latest technology or traditional methods, at Avanti every tube's diameter, wall thickness, butting and shape is fine-tunedto bring together a balance of high performance, light weight and comfort.
| Tubing Decal |
Tubeset Name |
Material |
Bike Models |
 |
ADT 6061 Alloy |
Premium 6061 Aluminium Tubeset |
KIDS: Spice 20/24, Black Thunder 20/24, Spice 20/24-I Black Thunder 20/24-I COMFORT: Expedition/Low, Discovery/Low Discovery 8, Pioneer, Spirit 1.0, Spirit 2.0, Metro SPORT MTB: BT 26" |
 |
ADT 6061 Alloy FT |
Premium 6061 Aluminium Formtech Tubeset |
COMP MTB: Escape, Atomic, Ridge Rider, Montari |
 |
ADT 7075 Alloy |
Premium 7005 Aluminium Tubeset |
FITNESS:Blade 1.0, Blade 2.0 ROAD: Prima TRACK: Pista, Pista Solo |
 |
ADT 7075 Alloy UL1 |
Premium 7005 Aluminium Butted Tubeset |
FITNESS: Blade 8/Low, Blade 3.0, Blade 4.0 COMFORT: Illusion ENDURANCE ROAD: Sprint, Monza, Vivace, Giro |
 |
ADT 7075 Alloy UL1 FT |
Premium 7005 Aluminium Butted-Formtech Tubeset |
PRO MTB: Scratch 29 DIRT / URBAN / 4X: Derelikt Type 1, 2 & 3 |
 |
ADT 7075 UL2 ASB |
Alloy Premium 7075 Aluminium Double Butted Tubeset |
PRO MTB: Barracuda, Hammer, Aggressor RACE ROAD: Corsa, Pista Pro FITNESS: Blade 5.0 TANDEM: Uno Due |
 |
SC61.10A HF Alloy |
Dedacciai SC61 Hydraformed Double Butted Alloy Tubeset |
ROAD: Corsa Team |