Koyote

If you think a “minor dent” and a cracked head tube are at all comparable, then you deserve what you get. You posted the photo and ask for advice, and now you are disregarding everyone who tells you anything other than what you want to hear. Not sure why you asked for advice.

Good luck. Hope you have dental insurance.

veganbikes

Because someone on an online forum bought one that was cracked? That sounds dumb.

I have 3 Titanium bikes and zero cracks or issues and know many other folks with lovely titanium bikes also with no issues or cracks. I have personally seen a whole bunch of aluminum frames that are cracked but it doesn't stop me from considering aluminum (the ride quality does) same thing with carbon. Sometimes things crack or have issues but not really a reason to avoid something unless it is really super widespread across many different brands.

Milton Keynes

So he can justify spending money on a bike which is essentially nothing more than a parts bike.

spelger

This frame is a perfect example of a good frame for a stationary smart trainer. it should perform flawlessly.

Milton Keynes

Yeah, that's something which, if it's going to happen that way, you don't need to help along especially when you know you're increasing your chances. The amount of adrenaline rush you'd get from your head tube coming apart on a 35 MPH descent would not be worth it.

Milton Keynes

Much safer than riding it down the road.

RH Clark

Glad you like your bikes, but I have personally seen too many titanium bikes with frame cracks to think they aren't less durable in general than a steel, carbon or aluminum bike. Therefore, I choose not to own one.

Atlas Shrugged

You posts seem to have a pattern of going cheap as possible and then things not working out as planned. Pretty sure we have not heard the end of this.

Regarding, going for broke, with all the money you are saving we highly doubt that.

Polaris OBark

You are pre-supposing that people engage in trolling on Bikeforums.

That never happens.

Ever.

raqball

Strange thread.. The OP asked for opinions and basically got one other person to agree with him that the bike is fine. Then they both went on to disparage anyone with a different opinion who thinks it's not safe to ride...

Could the bike be fine? Sure. Could it suffer a catastrophic failure at a very inopportune time? You bet! Is it worth riding it and risking a serious crash, brain damage or death? Nope..

But hey, I guess that's why they have the Darwin Awards..

smd4

Who agreed with him that the bike was fine? Can you point out that post?

Polaris OBark

philbob57

Absolutely. I'm hoping for more than 85 years of riding without serious injury. That means taking calculated risks (like riding on the road in itself) but being careful with respect to pushing body, mind, and equipment beyond their limits. And hoping for something quick at a ripe old age.

Besides, how can one enjoy a ride unless one is confident in one's equipment? And how can one be confident in one's equipment when the seller and a bunch of unknowns on the 'net are the only ones who are providing opinions - and the 'net experts haven't even seen the actual frame?

mstateglfr 

Paul Barnard

Oh, for the love of God, just stop. You didn't get enough attention the first go-round?

smd4

You can’t, can you?

raqball

I assume he quoted me based on what he said? He knows I blocked him so it's rather weird / odd / strange to quote someone and ask them a Q when you know they can't see it...

He, and the OP have been questioning anyone and everyone who said the bike is not safe..

Meh, it's the Internet and it's loaded with weirdos.. Too bad I can see his posts when someone else quote him though..

WhyFi

Not worth the effort - it was just some rando that obviously doesn't know what they were talking about. Best to ignore geniuses like that and just move on.

smd4

LOL! You can’t either! Too funny.

The lack of logic and reading comprehension in this thread is staggering! But expected at this point.

WhyFi

If you really want to take the effort, just go back a couple pages - you'll find his posts. And yes, while his posts were lacking many things - logic and comprehension among them, as you say - it's unfair to characterize the entire thread that way; it was really only the OP and this one other dude that weren't making any sense.

smd4

And you can’t even name the “other dude.” Why so afraid?

WhyFi

Again - not something to waste time over, it was just some rando. Ignore him. Move on.

smd4

Right. Posting a link to a post is a waste of time, unlike making a post without a link. Got it.

WhyFi

My advice would be to just let it go - this guy's clearly a couple cans short of a 6-pack and isn't worth obsessing over. If you really want to track him down to lambast him, I can't stop you, but I'm done. Best wishes, friend.

CliffordK

That is utter BS... why do you think the guy was selling the bike?

What is most likely is that if you do nothing, the crack will slowly grow.

For complete failure to happen, you'd almost need two cracks and lose the front half of the headtube, or have it grow into either the toptube or downtube (or both).

You could probably ride it a bit.... perhaps gently as a commuter bike.

As mentioned above, the headset could get loose, or even the fork a bit wobbly. Not the best, but not necessarily sending you flying.

As long as it doesn't crack in a manner that the steertube separates from the frame, you'll probably be safe enough.

I think titanium crack propagation is slower than aluminum, but I'm not sure how fast.

Now, if you're planning to ride it hard. Racing? Get it fixed, or just strip the parts.

As mentioned, Lynskey might do a repair.

TiCycles in Portland can also do Titanium repair. You could at least contact them for a second opinion.

I don't know if the choice would be to simply weld up the crack. Perhaps add a larger titanium collar. Or to pull the entire headtube off and replace.