Originally Posted by
IbelieveLiar
Easily dented, not as stainless as one might hope.....
I find it strange that anyone familiar with the material would say that.
I've been riding a Waterford 953 frame for a year and a half and it still looks brand new. The material is extremely impact/dent resistant (similar in impact strength to armor plating). I haven't been careless with the frame, but it as survived accidental impacts that would undoubtedly have dented other equally thin (0.3mm) steel tubes, and showed no sign of the impact.
Although I've never left the frame immersed in salt water or poured acid on it, I have no reason to disbelieve Reynolds' assertion that corrosion resistance is similar to type 410 stainless steels and that under some conditions, e.g. exposure to sulphuric acid or prolonged submersion in sea water, 953 will show signs of pitting and corrosion. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't think bicycles would be subjected to these environments.