Dented Top Tube
02-18-22, 05:08 PM
#1
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Dented Top Tube
Would you guys ride a bike with a dented top tube like this? Aluminum frame, I dont actually see an issue here. What do you think?
02-18-22, 07:30 PM
#4
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Alum? I would ride it. Nice bike to not care about scratching up really. Unless there is large hole or any other stress cracks that start to grow I would ride it. I would bet that it will never be an issue.
Heck might even whistle if you ride fast enough
Heck might even whistle if you ride fast enough
02-18-22, 07:36 PM
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I probably personally wouldn't ride it or would keep a very close eye on it. Looking at the pictures it already looks like there is a crack and crack is whack. It is your life in the end if you want to risk it go for it if not I would look for a different frame. If it were steel and no crack I would probably say keep an eye on it but ride it but aluminum with a crack not so much. Now that crack could be my eyes and my monitor not 100% sure but would rather be wrong in the over cautious sense.
02-18-22, 08:18 PM
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Is it a crack in the aluminum or a crack in the paint coating?
02-18-22, 09:11 PM
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Can you take more pics of the damage? Top shot? What has your shop said? I have so may questions..... I would still ride it
02-19-22, 01:36 AM
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Watch it carefully. I had a wood box fall on my bike and dent the top tube. I naively put a sticker over the dent and forgot about it. 6 months later, I saw what looked like a crack peeking out from the sticker. Turns out it had developed a crack almost 1/4 of the way around the tube! Glad I caught it before something terrible happened.
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02-19-22, 10:09 AM
#9
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Considering it, but not 100% sold on it.
02-19-22, 12:40 PM
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I'd ride it if it was already my bike when it got dented. I certainly wouldn't buy one that was dented like that.
It'd have to be a heck of a deal. Something on the order of 10% of the MSRP or less if I was desperate for a bike.
It'd have to be a heck of a deal. Something on the order of 10% of the MSRP or less if I was desperate for a bike.
02-19-22, 01:49 PM
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well, that is a bit different. I guess for me as a indoor trainer/zwift set up I would still ride it no hesitation. For a daily rider, again I would probably still ride it if the damage was just in that local spot. BUT if your looking to buy it better be DIRT cheap. I thought you already owned the frame, without better pictures its a really tough call for sure. How cheap are talking here? I mean you can get a used frameset for a pretty reasonable price IMO so this would have to just be a steal of a deal.
02-19-22, 06:00 PM
#12
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It has the Sora groupset, and its complete, not just the frameset.
I feel like I would pull the trigger if I could get it for $500 shipped, $600 has me just hanging in there.
02-19-22, 06:12 PM
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meh, now I say pass. Sora is fine actually but short of 105 at that price I say its a no go. Stock wheels aren't so great so if it were me shipped to my door for $400-450 max.
Just my opinion now so take for what you like.
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02-19-22, 07:43 PM
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In that case, I wouldn't touch it with a 10' pole. You don't know exactly how that dent came to be, and you haven't invested a dime in the bike as of yet. It would be one thing if it was a bike you already owned and invested in. With this, you're taking a gamble on needing a whole new frame, which means a lot of time wrenching or a good chunk of $$$ paying someone else to do it for you, plus the cost of the frame.
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02-19-22, 09:02 PM
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Why would you even entertain the idea?
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02-19-22, 09:18 PM
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That’s a hard no.
02-20-22, 06:54 AM
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The problem with aluminium is that it tends to crack pretty quickly once compromised like this - and that looks like a pretty big dent with a possible crack at the top. If it was a steel frame then no problem. But being alloy, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
02-20-22, 07:11 AM
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Nope.
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02-20-22, 09:04 AM
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I've always understood that, all else equal, harder materials such as steel are more likely to crack and that softer materials like aluminum tend to tear rather than crack.
02-20-22, 09:40 AM
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In that case, I wouldn't touch it with a 10' pole. You don't know exactly how that dent came to be, and you haven't invested a dime in the bike as of yet. It would be one thing if it was a bike you already owned and invested in. With this, you're taking a gamble on needing a whole new frame, which means a lot of time wrenching or a good chunk of $$$ paying someone else to do it for you, plus the cost of the frame.
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02-20-22, 10:02 AM
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Crack, tear, whatever you call it, any separation of the material means it's no good anymore.
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02-20-22, 10:54 AM
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The problem with aluminium is that it doesn't tolerate this kind of deformation as well as steel. It tends to buckle and fail more easily. A steel frame will take dents like this much better. Like you know how easy it is to crush an aluminium can vs a steel one.
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02-20-22, 11:54 AM
#23
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Though I realize I'll probably never purchase a one year old used bike because of my valuation standards. <grin>
02-20-22, 12:28 PM
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Here's a quick Vid on Dye Penetrant Inspection. Might be a possible solution for your question on frame integrity. If not, then still good info for that USF file in the back of your brain...
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02-20-22, 01:27 PM
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Do you need another "Not just no...." Astonishing what folks will try to sell.
