Repairing a carbon bike
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10-13-19, 10:49 PM
#2
Senior Member
Anything that's been built, can be repaired. Just a question of whether it's economically viable to do so
10-14-19, 06:27 AM
#3
Junior Member
An acquaintance buys damaged CF bikes for cheap, repairs them and resells. While his work looks good, I question the strength and durability of the repairs, not to mention his ethics in selling the repaired bikes without full disclosure.
10-14-19, 06:30 AM
#4
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I damaged the chainstay on mine and sent it to Calfee. $350 later it was as good as new.
Much cheaper than a new frame.
Much cheaper than a new frame.
10-14-19, 01:27 PM
#5
Senior Member
The fork on my avatar bike developed several cracks around the crown. It's completely custom spec and the manufacture no longer exists, so it was either repair it or have a custom one built. My repairs have held for 3000 miles so far.
Last edited by BlazingPedals; 02-04-21 at 06:55 PM.
10-14-19, 05:07 PM
#6
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10-15-19, 02:36 AM
#7
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Very impressive. It's only just up the road from where I live and I'd never heard of it before.
10-15-19, 02:51 AM
#8
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Yup, after watching a bunch of videos on carbon fiber flaws and repairs, I'm a bit more confident in repairs but horrified about the shoddy quality control in some of the industry. Watch some Luescher Teknik videos at your peril. Kinda justifies ponying up the extra cash for Trek or any company that offers a really good warranty.
Ditto, the fellow behind the Hambini bearings company -- although he's amusingly irreverent and seems to be credible. Although he needs to wash his dang bikes -- his bikes are even filthier than mine. But his observations on carbon fiber and bearings are fascinating, if a bit techy.
A friend gave me a couple of bikes that we divvied up for components. I was just about to build up a featherweight Diamondback Podium frame using parts cribbed from a Trek tri-bike with cracked frame (stress, not wrecked). I was just gonna slap on all the parts and ride, but after watching some Luescher Teknik videos I ain't riding that bike until I've completely disassembled everything and studied it under a magnifying glass and tapped every square centimeter. Nothing against Diamondback -- they were very clever in designing internal cable routing that's easy to redo, no need for magnets or weird tricks to thread cables back through. But after seeing so many examples of frames, forks, steerers, handlebars, etc., with voids and cracks, I'm gonna be much more diligent about carbon fiber stuff.
And I'm not gonna risk a sub-$100 carbon fiber handlebar just to save a few grams. Especially those complex carbon bars with aero tops and bonded ends/drops, and holes for aero cable routing -- there's no margin for error if there's a void. I'll stick with good brand aluminum bars.
But if I had a good quality carbon fiber frame that I liked and the main tubes, chainstays, etc., needed patching, sure, I'd consider it.
Ditto, the fellow behind the Hambini bearings company -- although he's amusingly irreverent and seems to be credible. Although he needs to wash his dang bikes -- his bikes are even filthier than mine. But his observations on carbon fiber and bearings are fascinating, if a bit techy.
A friend gave me a couple of bikes that we divvied up for components. I was just about to build up a featherweight Diamondback Podium frame using parts cribbed from a Trek tri-bike with cracked frame (stress, not wrecked). I was just gonna slap on all the parts and ride, but after watching some Luescher Teknik videos I ain't riding that bike until I've completely disassembled everything and studied it under a magnifying glass and tapped every square centimeter. Nothing against Diamondback -- they were very clever in designing internal cable routing that's easy to redo, no need for magnets or weird tricks to thread cables back through. But after seeing so many examples of frames, forks, steerers, handlebars, etc., with voids and cracks, I'm gonna be much more diligent about carbon fiber stuff.
And I'm not gonna risk a sub-$100 carbon fiber handlebar just to save a few grams. Especially those complex carbon bars with aero tops and bonded ends/drops, and holes for aero cable routing -- there's no margin for error if there's a void. I'll stick with good brand aluminum bars.
But if I had a good quality carbon fiber frame that I liked and the main tubes, chainstays, etc., needed patching, sure, I'd consider it.
10-15-19, 04:50 AM
#9
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I am certainly no CF repair expert, but having read and watched quite a lot about it from multiple different people with different backgrounds, especially those from aerospace, the ultimate quality of any proposed CF repair to a frame is highly, highly dependent upon the expertise and experience of the person/team doing the repairs. So, I guess the lesson from these people is to always try to find the very best CF repair shop you can. They need to have a lot of experience doing this kind of work. Send it off if you have to. Don't skimp. The consequences of a deficient frame repair could be catastrophic, obviously.
Several years ago, I was meeting with a rep from one of my insurance companies, Northwestern Mutual. Anyhow, he saw my Orbea sitting in the corner of my place and asked if it was carbon fiber. Yes, I said, it was. He then proceeded to tell me about several death claims they had paid or were processing of clients whose carbon fiber frames had suffered catastrophic failures at speed. I raised my eyebrows.It frightened me.
Then, I bought another carbon fiber bike.
Several years ago, I was meeting with a rep from one of my insurance companies, Northwestern Mutual. Anyhow, he saw my Orbea sitting in the corner of my place and asked if it was carbon fiber. Yes, I said, it was. He then proceeded to tell me about several death claims they had paid or were processing of clients whose carbon fiber frames had suffered catastrophic failures at speed. I raised my eyebrows.It frightened me.
Then, I bought another carbon fiber bike.
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10-15-19, 07:01 AM
#10
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especially those from aerospace, the ultimate quality of any proposed CF repair to a frame is highly, highly dependent upon the expertise and experience of the person/team doing the repairs. So, I guess the lesson from these people is to always try to find the very best CF repair shop you can. They need to have a lot of experience doing this kind of work.
https://calfeedesign.com/carbon-repair/
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02-04-21, 04:00 PM
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same issue with my tri-bike...Calfee wants 350, without paint or finishing... Don't forget the cost to strip the bike down, ship and rebuild.. if it's not DIY., I'm in NY. its about 1k, if.your checking everything else on the bike during the rebuild,
02-04-21, 04:08 PM
#13
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For me, I've done it myself. Not rocket science. Just have to have patience and an eye for detail.
I draw the line at it has to be frame related. No handlebars, no stems, no seat posts, no forks. Those can be replaced separate anyway usually for $200 or less.
I've done a chainstay and a top tube. The hardest part is making it "look good". It's stupid simple to make a repair stronger than the original carbon (and heavier). The money and art is in making a repair not seem visible with the sanding/layup or repainting.
My repairs are more visible since they are DIY. Doesn't bother me. I'm not reselling either. When done, I'll either trash them or put them permanently on an indoor trainer.
I draw the line at it has to be frame related. No handlebars, no stems, no seat posts, no forks. Those can be replaced separate anyway usually for $200 or less.
I've done a chainstay and a top tube. The hardest part is making it "look good". It's stupid simple to make a repair stronger than the original carbon (and heavier). The money and art is in making a repair not seem visible with the sanding/layup or repainting.
My repairs are more visible since they are DIY. Doesn't bother me. I'm not reselling either. When done, I'll either trash them or put them permanently on an indoor trainer.
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02-04-21, 04:43 PM
#14
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02-06-21, 12:09 PM
#16
Senior Member
Over at CGOAB there is a guy writing. journal about building a custom carbon recumbent for his son. He seems to be doing it in just a home shop, with conventional tools, no vacuum ovens, or unobtanium catalysts. It is pretty interesting/impressive.
02-06-21, 01:29 PM
#17
Senior Member
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/p...id=563153&v=Yh
Last edited by BlazingPedals; 02-07-21 at 10:06 AM.
