Mountain Biking - Infinity Cobra-21 speed aircraft aluminum mtn bike

**.

It's done.

21 speed full suspension bike

It's done.

There is a 2 inch crack at the top of the head tube.

Toast. Non-repairable.

**

This bike is used as a commuter bike.Doesn't go off-road.Is there a way I can put a clamp around the top of the head tube to stop it from cracking more(the crack is vertical).The reason I ask is,it's a customer's bike and he's very fond of it.Should I tell him to stop riding it?What's the worst that can happen,total failure?He just brought it to me to tune it up for him.Now I gotta tell him his bike is pooched?

Yes. Thoroughly pooched. He needs a new frame.

This bike is used as a commuter bike.Doesn't go off-road.Is there a way I can put a clamp around the top of the head tube to stop it from cracking more(the crack is vertical).The reason I ask is,it's a customer's bike and he's very fond of it.Should I tell him to stop riding it?What's the worst that can happen,total failure?He just brought it to me to tune it up for him.Now I gotta tell him his bike is pooched?

Would you want to be party to the customer having an accident on a bike you said was OK to ride, but knew there was a questionable defect?

This bike is used as a commuter bike.Doesn't go off-road.Is there a way I can put a clamp around the top of the head tube to stop it from cracking more(the crack is vertical).The reason I ask is,it's a customer's bike and he's very fond of it.Should I tell him to stop riding it?What's the worst that can happen,total failure?He just brought it to me to tune it up for him.Now I gotta tell him his bike is pooched?

Wait, you're working as a bike "mechanic" and you have to ask this question? Put down the wrenches and step away from the bike stand. You are done.

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So is Aluminum.

There is a 2 inch crack at the top of the head tube.Is this frame done or can it be repaired?


You can buy a new aluminum hardtail frame from Leader for a little over $100. Just swap your fork and group over. A repair will cost that much and it won't work. Good luck

Tim

It was done even before the crack.

On the other hand, try returning it to Costco... their return policy is....

Wait, you're working as a bike "mechanic" and you have to ask this question? Put down the wrenches and step away from the bike stand. You are done.

No sh*t.

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Sorry but that isn't elitest or profound knowledge. It should just be common sense that if a frame has a 2" crack it is junk, there shouldn't even be a question about it. I've never seen a professional wrench that would have to ask if it was junk or not.

I look way down my nose as "thebikeguy" slinks away.........

Mmmmm "Aircraft Aluminum" one of those wonderful marketing terms.

I was warned that this forum had some elitist jerks on it.You've got nothing constructive to add so you gotta piss on them.Not very supportive.We're not all blessed with your profound knowledge and come here to find the answers.Instead get BS from idiots.1st and last time,thanks for bolstering the sport.

I don't see any one giving you BS

Mmmmm "Aircraft Aluminum" one of those wonderful marketing terms. D00d my Maglite be mades out of the aircraft aluminums it says so on the commercial.

But can you fix it if it has a 2" crack in it?

Sure give me some duct tape.

Instead get BS from idiots.

Let me get this straight, the guy asking if a cracked aluminum frame should be junked is calling me (and others) an idiot? Based on your question, it's clear that you aren't going to be a wealth of knowledge or provide any value to the forum. Get lost.

This bike is used as a commuter bike.Doesn't go off-road.Is there a way I can put a clamp around the top of the head tube to stop it from cracking more(the crack is vertical).The reason I ask is,it's a customer's bike and he's very fond of it.Should I tell him to stop riding it?What's the worst that can happen,total failure?He just brought it to me to tune it up for him.Now I gotta tell him his bike is pooched?

I think you should start riding it and take it off some jumps.

RIP, buddy.

The reason I ask is,it's a customer's bike and he's very fond of it.Should I tell him to stop riding it?What's the worst that can happen,total failure?He just brought it to me to tune it up for him.Now I gotta tell him his bike is pooched?

You are a mechanic at a shop? Holy crap that is scary!

In all honestly, how did you go about getting a job at a bike shop?

You are a mechanic at a shop? Holy crap that is scary!

In all honestly, how did you go about getting a job at a bike shop?

Yeah, I wouldn't want him to work on my bikes.

Yeah, I wouldn't want him to work on my bikes.

I wouldn't want him to work on any customer bikes. Period.

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Name calling is inappropriate at best. I think you need to relax a bit. Even if the bike was made out of steel, which is apparently real while other materials are not, I would not want to ride a bike that had a "fixed" head tube crack. The idea was that a head tube crack = done frame.

When you said customer, this implies you are a professional wrench. If you charge any amount of money, or even an exchange of services, you fall into this catagory. As a professional wrench, one would assume you know this.

But I do have to say, kudos to you for at least asking the question and not letting your customer ride a dangerous bike.

When you said customer, this implies you are a professional wrench. If you charge any amount of money, or even an exchange of services, you fall into this catagory. As a professional wrench, one would assume you know this.


Don't forget the fact that in his profile he has this.


Running my own(small)bike shop and museum at home

It's you guys that give the mtn biking forum a bad rep.Stand up and take a bow.Kudos to you.Jerks.

You give Canada a bad rep.

You guys are just sore that I called some of you jerks.Thanks for proving me wrong.I never claimed to be a "bicycle mechanic" or work in a shop AND I am not the 1st one to pose this question.But I guess asking a question that is "beneath you" merits a pissing contest.If I wanted that I just have to call up the ex.You guys are bush-league compared to her.
Don't get me wrong,I appreciate the people that honestly answered my question.It's the rest of you I have no use for.It's you guys that give the mtn biking forum a bad rep.Stand up and take a bow.Kudos to you.Jerks.

Maybe it would benefit others who read your posts if your profile said something like 'hobbyist' or 'bike collector' or 'home mechanic', something like that. Perhaps when you mentioned a 'customer' it gave the wrong picture. Just trying to help. :)

I never claimed to be a "bicycle mechanic" or work in a shop

Then, as LowCel pointed out, why does it say so in your profile?

I find that most of you guys are generally pretty nice folks so should be acting accordingly... the name calling isn't needed.

With that being said...the bike is toast and was not a good bike to start with in the first place.

I retired a nearly identical bike yesterday (some Infinity FS model) at our shop as the member came in (I work in a bike co-op) and he had crashed the bike with enough force to bend the rear pivot and drive the non drive cup out of the bb.

Infinity bikes are really low end and are not worth the money they charge for them new and are certainly not worth too much time and effort it takes to keep them running.

It is pretty common for folks to ask if stuff like this can be repaired and after telling the guy his bike was dead (he had no problem with this) we set him up with a nice bike that was probably 10 times better than the bike he had and charged him a pittance as we wanted to see him riding home instead of walking.

If we share knowledge then everyone benefits...

I find that most of you guys are generally pretty nice folks so should be acting accordingly... the name calling isn't needed.

With that being said...the bike is toast and was not a good bike to start with in the first place.

I retired a nearly identical bike yesterday (some Infinity FS model) at our shop as the member came in (I work in a bike co-op) and he had crashed the bike with enough force to bend the rear pivot and drive the non drive cup out of the bb.

Infinity bikes are really low end and are not worth the money they charge for them new and are certainly not worth too much time and effort it takes to keep them running.

It is pretty common for folks to ask if stuff like this can be repaired and after telling the guy his bike was dead (he had no problem with this) we set him up with a nice bike that was probably 10 times better than the bike he had and charged him a pittance as we wanted to see him riding home instead of walking.

If we share knowledge then everyone benefits...

You give Canada a good rep.