What are the advantages of lugged frames?

Question

I happen to like them very much, because I think they are much more elegant, but what are the advantages over welded frames?

Answer 1

Lugged frames demanded a high level of skill in manufacture and was labour intensive, and very expensive. I doubt if a lugged frame could cope with the demands made by modern mountain bikers and would certainly restrict the design possibilites for the frame shape.

Modern, automatic TIG welding is very cost effective and safe, I have only ever seen one failure at a welded joint.

But, yes, a lugged frame looks much more elegant.

Answer 2

The only advantage other than the repairability of them is that they look cool.  

Answer 3

=deep breath=

First, lugged frames are either brazed or silver-brazed... not welded

Second, a lugged frame has MUCH stronger joints, and not only because there is extra metal there. Whenever a thin walled tube is heated it loses or gains strength through annealing and hardening. While brazing a lugged frame the heat is permitted to go along a longer area of the tube making this transition much more gradual resulting in a stronger structure and reducing a stress "notch" always found on TiGged frames.

Ignoring the FACT that only British-built Reynolds 853 frames have all 8 tubes of the material (most production frames have only ONE tube of the stuff), this is one reason those guys that tout the use of high end air hardening steel and TiG it are missing most of the point. The steel NEEDS the spread of heat that a torch provides. I have TiGged CrMo and aluminum frames laying the tube on a paper template and didn't even burn the paper. Talk about heat concentration.

Also, lugged frames may be lighter because they can be made with thinner tubes and maintain their strength. I have a lugged 58cm (8 tube) Reynolds 853 frame that weighs in under 2kg (3.6 pounds, actually).

EDIT: TREVOR- Bike frames are welded by hand... I've been to most facories around the world and watched this with my own eyes. My answer stands.

Answer 4

Lugged frames are also welded.  The tubes can be smaller and thinner do to the lug taking more of the stress.

Answer 5

Lugs are normally brazed, not welded....I think?  Anyway, I think you're referring to "old-school" lugging on frames.  In a lot of ways, I think the advantages go to welding rather than lugging.  One big advantage of lugs is that repairs and modifications are much easier.  In fact, they're downright impossible or impractical on most newer frames.  

I love the look of them, too, although only one of my seven bikes has lugs.  They're just s**y and show a level of time and craftsmanship that tig-welded beads do not.   :o)

Answer 6

Lugs make frames stronger.