Because the bicycle industry, like the sailing industry, is not as mature as the aviation industry, and most companies spend less on development and research than on sales, so if a processing factory wants to sell materials to a bicycle manufacturer, it must do its part in the research. For 100 years, the bicycle industry has been using steel as material, and there are few aspects to be improved, so only a few engineers are engaged in research. Generally speaking, the steel bicycle pipe processing plant knows much more about how to produce a durable bicycle frame than the frame manufacturer. Titanium tube used in bicycle and wheelchair frame was formed in the mid-1980s. The application of titanium has developed rapidly, but the application of titanium slowed down worldwide just as these small markets began to heat up. As more and more cyclists begin to understand the benefits of titanium, they feel shy. TI-3AL-2.5V frame made of aviation quality pipes costs between $1600 and $3,500 each. The whole bicycle sells from $2,400 to $6,000. In the past four years, TI-3AL-2.5V frame made of industrial pure titanium pipe and non-aviation titanium alloy has been very popular. Some sports-grade titanium frames retail at a minimum price of $1,000 per pair and a minimum price of $1,700 for the entire bicycle. In 1985, the purchasing power of titanium for frame was zero. In 1990, the purchasing power was about $1.5 million. By the end of 1995, the purchasing power was about $5 million.

Bicycle parts refer to crankshaft positioners, pedals, handlebars connected to the frame. Titanium parts industry develops faster than TI-3AL-2.5V frame industry. Most of the parts are produced by Ti-6AI-4V, and most of the parts are processed by Ti-6A1-4V. The purchasing power of Ti-6A1-4V parts is only 1/3 of that of TI-3AL-2.5V frame, which is about 10t in 1997. Foundry parts can be SB is becoming more and more common, but this development may be slower than machine-added parts. Titanium suppliers are beginning to provide cheap materials to titanium parts manufacturers. Most of these low-cost bicycle-grade materials are actually obsolete aviation materials. Compact, rigid and light weight are the general requirements for driving specifications of bicycles. Titanium is often not the best material, while forged and cast aluminium are more popular. If the price of Titanium Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) falls, it may become a substitute for some current aluminium application markets. The material requirements of the frame are simple, but the driving characteristics are particularly critical, which complicates the selection of materials in some aspects. Most transport vehicles, structural elements and internal facilities and operating elements are separated. Until recently, all bicycle frames require structural integrity and mounting functions. There is no titanium alloy specially designed for bicycles. Only some materials have been improved for bicycles. Most people consider the cost reduction. The main problem of accepting titanium components is rigidity rather than cost. Ti-3Al-2.5V is the most commonly used titanium alloy for bicycles. Although it is developed for aircraft hydraulic system, it has formability and corrosion resistance. High fatigue strength to weight ratio and good elongation make Ti-3Al-2.5V meet the performance standards of bicycle market. Compared with other titanium alloys, the greatest advantage of Ti-3Al-2.5V is its easy yield strength and tube forming, but its disadvantage is its poor ratio of price to modulus to density. It is not easy to make Ti-3Al-2.5V extrusion as the dominant material of frame. Ti-6AI-4V also has certain attraction, and its die is also attractive. Ti-15V-3Al-6Cr-4Mo-4Zr is also easy to form, but its higher density and lower modulus counteract its advantage of increasing strength.

If the titanium industry is interested in developing the titanium alloy sporting goods industry, including bicycles and wheelchairs, it should not only publicize the producers, but also the end-users of the products. After the failure of the titanium frame in the 1970s, although the reputation of titanium has been improved due to the excellent performance of the Ti-3A1-2.5V tube, it is vulnerable to the threat of cheap industrial pure titanium frame entering the market at present. In addition, some small companies produce titanium frames, which do not have the necessary knowledge and resources to create successful titanium products. These will affect the reputation of titanium in the bicycle industry and other consumer goods. Several years ago, this problem has been encountered in the sailing industry, which has made titanium discredited in the high-tech sailing market. Titanium is still banned by the relevant authorities in sailing competitions. Such problems can be avoided entirely through propaganda.