Strength

• Steel tube motorcycle frames are built by welding tubes together. Welding points, or "joints", are required to resist repeated amounts of force. The strained joints potentially represent structural points of weakness. Steel does not possess carcass flexing properties, like those of carbon fiber. Zoltek, a company which produces high-performance carbon fiber, notes that at its highest tensile strength, carbon fiber is 10 times stronger than steel.
  
  

Weight

• A poorly engineered, heavy steel frame can cause unnecessary drag, robbing a motorcycle of horsepower and nimbleness. Conversely, a lightweight, carbon fiber motorcycle frame could theoretically free up horsepower, increase agility and allow for more efficient braking. According to Zoltek, carbon fiber is five times lighter than steel.
  
  

Corrosion

• Steel framed motorcycles are highly susceptible to rust and corrosion in damp climates or when water is otherwise not dried from the frame. Carbon fiber is a non-metallic material and is, therefore, not at risk of rust or corrosion.