How strong are forged aluminum alloys? Their applications in motorcycle parts
Greetings, fellow motorcycle manufacturers! I’m Old Wang the Forger from Xinpingfu—your trusted partner in high-performance aluminum alloy forging. For over two decades, Old Wang the Forger has been dedicated to providing high-quality, custom-made aluminum alloy forgings to motorcycle manufacturers worldwide, helping countless motorcycle projects achieve a balance of lightweight design and high strength, capable of withstanding the high temperatures, vibrations, and harsh conditions of road, off-road, and racetrack environments.
If you’re assembling or sourcing motorcycle parts—whether for high-performance, adventure, or sporty vehicles—you know that strength is paramount. Forged aluminum alloys are designed to maintain excellent durability under extreme pressure. Today, we’ll delve into the strength of forged aluminum alloys and why they are widely used in the motorcycle parts industry.
The forging process involves heating an aluminum alloy and pressing it into a precision hot forging die under high pressure, which causes the grain structure to align in an orientation, forming a dense, non-porous, and non-shrinkage-free structure, thereby improving mechanical properties.
- High strength-to-weight ratio: High-strength alloys can achieve tensile strength of 500–600+ MPa, while having a density of only 2.7 g/cm³, which significantly reduces unsprung weight and improves acceleration, handling and braking performance.
- Excellent fatigue and impact resistance: Under repeated vibration, impact and cyclic loading, the fatigue life of forgings can be 5-8 times longer than that of other processes.
- Excellent high temperature and corrosion resistance: Combined with anodizing treatment, the corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance are even stronger.
- Economic advantages of medium- to high-volume production: Near-net-shape molding reduces material waste and subsequent processing, thus lowering overall costs.
Customer feedback indicates that forgings manufactured by Old Wang the Forger in Xinpingfu have resulted in significantly lower failure rates, longer service life, and a more premium feel.
Old Wang the Forger specializes in easily forged and high-performance heat-treatable aluminum alloys, and primarily recommends the following materials:
- 6061-T6: Tensile strength of approximately 310 MPa, good corrosion resistance, easy to weld, excellent anodizing effect, suitable for general structural components such as pedals, handlebars, and stems.
- 6082-T6: Higher strength (≥340 MPa), excellent fatigue performance, suitable for load-bearing components such as frames, connecting rods, and hangers.
- 7075-T6: Ultra-high strength (up to 572 MPa), top-notch fatigue resistance, making it the first choice for high-stress components such as cranks, chainrings, hubs, and brake calipers.
Old Wang the Forger can customize alloy selections according to your specific needs (lightweight, high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, anodizing effect).
Forging
Lightweight & Strong: Offers superior strength with reduced weight, ideal for automotive and industrial use.
No Porosity: Eliminates internal porosity for more reliable parts.
Cost-Effective: Reduces material waste with near-net shapes, cutting machining costs.
- CNC & Die Casting Benefits: Combines precision with cost-efficiency for a balanced solution.
High Precision: Provides exact tolerances for detailed parts.
Smooth Finish: Produces smooth surfaces, reducing finishing needs.
Low Initial Costs: No expensive tooling or molds, ideal for small batches
Cost-Effective for Mass Production: Low cost per part for high-volume runs.
High Yield: Produces high-quality parts with fewer defects.
Complex Shapes: Ideal for intricate designs with fine details.
Old Wang the Forger Suggestions：For high-stress structural components such as motor mounts, cranks, chainrings, hubs, and frames, aluminum forging is significantly superior to CNC and die casting in terms of strength, fatigue life, and reliability.
Old Wang the Forger focuses on providing the global motorcycle industry with the following high-performance forged aluminum alloy components:
These forged components significantly reduce weight, improve strength and fatigue resistance, and are widely used in high-performance motorcycles, off-road vehicles, sports vehicles and electric motorcycle parts
Old Wang the Forger places great emphasis on delivery speed. Mold development for aluminum alloy motorcycle parts typically takes only 3–4 weeks (even faster for simple parts, slightly longer for complex structures). Once the mold is complete, we will provide qualified samples for your testing and verification as soon as possible.
- Forging cycle: Heating to 360–520°C, pressing to form, followed by quenching and aging heat treatment.
- CNC finishing + anodizing
- For high-volume production, the cycle time per piece is fast and the cost is low, allowing for a quick return on the initial investment in molds.
The strength of forged aluminum alloys has been rigorously tested under demanding road conditions. If you need a stronger, lighter, and more reliable forged solution for upgrading your motor mounts, cranks, chainrings, hubs, handlebars, or other components, please send your drawings or technical requirements to Old Wang the Forger, and we will provide a professional custom quote.
Safe riding starts with strength!
Forged aluminum’s strength is proven in real-world motorcycle use. If you’re ready to upgrade your motorcycle components with high-strength forged aluminum, send your drawings or specifications to Old Wang the Forger at Xinpingfu for a custom quote.
