Bike left outside for 5 years, internal frame rust, is it worth keeping?
06-07-12, 01:22 PM
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Bike left outside for 5 years, internal frame rust, is it worth keeping?
Bike was $300 when I got it, it's a Haro Backtrail X3.
It was left outside for 5 years all seasons. I believe the whole inside is rusted, based on a quick look up from the forks to the handlebars. I'm wondering if it's worth keeping and fixing or if I should just buy a new one. Money is not really an issue, I've got some saved up and I'd rather not spend money on fixing up this old bike if it won't be worth it. I also have another bike that's in the same condition with worse frame rust and a dent.
If I were to fix this, I think I'd probably need new bearings, a seat, brakes, rims and tires.
I'll upload some pictures in a moment, taking them now.
Pictures added! I can upload some more if needed, just ask.
Rust
https://imgur.com/pjGat,Dzm3A,QbsG5
Frame
https://imgur.com/X6UkJ,nxRdu,2C1j2,FE80R
It was left outside for 5 years all seasons. I believe the whole inside is rusted, based on a quick look up from the forks to the handlebars. I'm wondering if it's worth keeping and fixing or if I should just buy a new one. Money is not really an issue, I've got some saved up and I'd rather not spend money on fixing up this old bike if it won't be worth it. I also have another bike that's in the same condition with worse frame rust and a dent.
If I were to fix this, I think I'd probably need new bearings, a seat, brakes, rims and tires.
I'll upload some pictures in a moment, taking them now.
Pictures added! I can upload some more if needed, just ask.
Rust
https://imgur.com/pjGat,Dzm3A,QbsG5
Frame
https://imgur.com/X6UkJ,nxRdu,2C1j2,FE80R
Last edited by Mike10925; 06-07-12 at 01:58 PM.
06-07-12, 01:41 PM
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Drag it by an LBS to get their inspection/triage..
not able to judge remotely.. I'm not there. good luck.
.. of course, desert vs seashore.. 'outside' is different..
not able to judge remotely.. I'm not there. good luck.
.. of course, desert vs seashore.. 'outside' is different..
Last edited by fietsbob; 06-08-12 at 08:37 AM.
06-07-12, 01:49 PM
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KingoftheMountain wannabe
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Depending on how bad it is, it may or may or may not be worth keeping. I would guess, however, that after this amount of time and weathering that it is not worth the effort. The costs (in time, replacement and repairs) are not going to be less than what you could just get another bike for. I'd look for a new bike, try to clean up that rained on bike as best you can and then get whatever $$$ you can off of craigslist for it.
06-07-12, 02:17 PM
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Doesn't look bad to me. You are only seeing the inside of the steerer tube though.
06-07-12, 02:19 PM
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If it was my bike I wouldn't worry excessively about the frame but, when you start replacing parts like wheelsets, the cost/benefit factor goes away pretty fast.
As a general rule the cheapest way to buy bike parts is when they are bolted onto a frame.
As a general rule the cheapest way to buy bike parts is when they are bolted onto a frame.
06-07-12, 03:16 PM
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06-07-12, 03:45 PM
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The frame of a $300 bike will generally have adequate wall thickness that a little bit of rust is not going to matter. Unless you see places where the rust is perforating the tubes, keep riding.
But tear the bike down and apply some type of rust inhibitor first.
But tear the bike down and apply some type of rust inhibitor first.
06-07-12, 04:06 PM
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Is the seat stem loose? If it's frozen and if you ever want to move it, you might find that extremely difficult without trashing the seat tube to break it loose.
06-08-12, 05:47 AM
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It is like what my father told my mother when my older brother fell into the outhouse .. . . Dad to mom "Not to worry" . . "it is easier to make a new one than clean to old one up"
06-08-12, 11:50 AM
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Scrap it and move on..........
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My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
06-08-12, 03:21 PM
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Pedaled too far.
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In the last month of my student days, I was desperate for a bike. My brother had left a Montgomery Ward 10 speed sitting out on the porch for no one knows how long. This was Santa Barbara, it was exposed to rain and the salt air, but it looked okay.
I inflated the tires, they held air. I oiled the chain with WD-40 and I was in business.
Two weeks later, the bike felt oddly soft as I rode it down the bike path on campus. The downtube had pulled out of the bottom bracket.
I inflated the tires, they held air. I oiled the chain with WD-40 and I was in business.
Two weeks later, the bike felt oddly soft as I rode it down the bike path on campus. The downtube had pulled out of the bottom bracket.
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