Mountain Biking - Dents in tubing?

How bad are dents in terms of structural stability of a frame? Is it dumb to pay about 150 bones for a frame that looks like this? It's a Giant XTC NRS.

The dent is on the top tube if there is any confusion.

Another pic of the whole frame. Similar ones run for 500ish new.

Eek..I'd be scared of getting it...You could probably give it to some poor unsuspecting soul on ebay for 150, but that dent probably affects the structural integrity of the frame, I'd feel guilty if I sold it :P

That's a cool bike, if I had it I would ride the snot out of it and not worry...

I guess that's what I get for being a dumbass :o




It's on Ebay, bid up to 130 bucks at this point. I didn't properly read the description and there's no way to retract it at this point so I guess I'm screwed. At least I can ride it and see if I like the NRS bikes I guess. Or I could just not pay the guy but that would be kinda ****ty to do to somebody.

What's the worst that could happen anyway, you know? A complete catastrophic failure during a steep downhill or something.. no biggie for a hardcore mofo like myself.

:roflmao:

Personally, I wouldn't pay for a damaged frame, but since you're current high bidder (and probably eventual winner), I'd build it and ride it until it dies!

Also, make sure you come up with a good story about how you got the dents in the first place!

L8R

If you're concerned you could always slap a clamp around it but I wouldn't give it a second thought. Just give it the gas and hang on!

I'm going to ride the absolute sh1t out of it then. If I'm going to ride junk I'm gonna ride it hard! I only weigh 140 pounds. I've never broken a frame so it's probably about time right?

:D

Jerks keep jacking up the price on this thing, too! I shouldn't have put 200 in as my max bid. I did so thinking it was a perfectly good frame. I knew it sounded too good to be true.

I've never broken a frame and I weigh 200... I'm knocking on wood as I say this too... Oh, and a2 - more accurately I weigh 197 :p

Maybe the dent isn't even as bad as it looks, who knows. I'm not sure I'm even all that worried about it. I'm pretty sure I'm screwed at this point anyway. I just hope idiots either outbid me at 200 or quit jacking up the price. Every lame bid they make drives the price up on this thing that I've got to pay!

I'm gonna go bid $189.50

:p

Bastard :D

Hey, I've been racing a dented frame for over a year now (XC). I also have a small dent on my DH rig which is in a spot that doesn't look like it's too bad.

Unless you are doing something far outside of what the frame was built for, it should hold up. They are so overbuilt, and the small dents should be no problem.

Joe

MikeOK, you suck! j/k Congrats you ex-clydesdale!

L8R

Good.. because it's mine now, lol...

A2.. did you ride that 50 miler this weekend?

heheha!

When's the bidding over? I stay out of ebay whenever I can. It never fails, I will go in there looking for something, find something else I just can't live without, then I bid on impulse. In about 5 minutes I think doh! why did I do that? Especially on bike stuff. So far every time I've done it some other poor sap has come along and outbid me...

edit - LOL! I just read back and saw you got it. Never even think about that huge dent in the frame. Next time you go down a cobbly rocky steep downhill at waro speed that'll be the last thing on your mind. It'll never bend at that exact spot......... will it??

Enh, it's only 160 anyway. Not like it's anything major. I'm torn as to whether I should pay for it or just offer to reimburse the guy for his auction fees and his time or something.

Go for it, that dent is nothing.

If it was advertised without disclosure of damage then you are under no obligation to buy it Jim. But in my opinion the dent you showed would not be a worry for a fly weight like yourself ;)

Hmm. I'll need a fork if I build it up. What kind should I use? Fox? Rock Shox?

Get the fox 100x

I looked at those.. kinda expensive tho!

So what about a nice bike is cheap anyway? Go for it, its only money and it won't make you happy anyway.

Dammit Sam, quit justifying my addiction to buying rediculously expensive bikes :D

Dammit Sam, quit justifying my addiction to buying rediculously expensive bikes :D

OK, you can always run down to Wal-Mart and pick up a new bike. Some of them also have suspension. Dual suspension at that. WMart has really come up in the world. ;)

Too bad it's not a cannondale, I got a lefty I'll sell ya!

I actually rode a Roadmaster for some freeride manuevers near my house as a test. I taco'd both the wheels so badly I couldn't even ride it home!

:roflmao:

5 mm pvc pipe or plastic\alu over the 'ding and strap it tight. in-^CASE it gets bought in the same spot.
I was going to ask the forum bout my bite- :mad:
I strapped it case of the>... down the rocks ect >....hit again, in the same spot- and they do-
as long as the tube integrety stands round its fine, wrap it sideways treesize? its over.
brace it with like shunts, an alu tube that is in 2 parts and strap or clamp.
Gravity is a harsh mistress..

how about

The dent looks ok. Tiny dents are normal to even new frames . For example i had a tiny dent on the exterior of my brand new SX frame as in the pic. But the dent was external and didnt have any impact on the shape of the headtube so i got the frame from the shop plus a free hopeheadset which costs 100$.

Dents are really not something to worry about if it's cosmetic. The dent in the frame you shown Jim will not effect the structural integrity of that frame.

you are clear to go- I was gonna photo mine-
But if you have to adjust lamps to show a little dimp..naw.
a cylinder is a super tube- squares are compromised more- but are way easier to reinforce.
I would worry about a rear triangle 'ding or around the bb more. :D

For forks I would go with Fox or a Z1. BTW I have one of each going now and like them both, I think the Marz is a little beefier. BTW - what's up with the prices on the Fox forks? They are WAY higher than the rest. They are good but unless you buy used or buy a bike with one already mounted it's hard to afford them...

Yeah, I was looking at the Fox Vanilla... it's 350, but it's kinda heavy since it has 125 mm of travel.

I'm using a Vanilla RLC on my Yeti right now, it's the best fork I've ever ridden. I got it completely rebuilt last fall for $60 from the factory. I can say nothing but good about Fox at this time, well, except for the new price they want. You can change it to 100, and I think 80mm travel but yes, it is heavy. I'm going to try and find a Float this spring for the Yeti...

The thing about this frame is.. I probably won't keep it for long. I'd heard good things about the NRS series bikes and it got great reviews on MTBR so I figured for 150 bucks I couldn't lose.. so if I ride it and like it I'll probably buy a newer model that doesn't have a gigantic dent in it. So picking a good fork is a little harder when you're not quite sure what bike it could end up on.

The dent looks ok. Tiny dents are normal to even new frames .


Any dent is not normal to a bike frame, they only happen during shipping and handling of the bike.

As for a fork, I think that a Fox Float 100 RL would be a great choice for you.

Awww man, I just bought a Schwinn Homegrown HT for that price, if I had even known... :P

I can still buy it from the guy if anybody from here wants it.

heh, too bad I already paid for my homegrown and its being shipped as we speak :(

show me the link to the auction and I might consider it...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3653638522&category=22679&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWN%3AIT&rd=1

Ah, sorry, I don't have any disc brakes...

LMFAO!! Jim, I think you'll be just fine with that frame. You would be supprised at some of the frames I've seen ridden hard with bigger dents. The rider usually wears out before the frames.

I would think of it as a score if you get it for $200. Build it up and ride it hard... FYI my buddy had a FOES DHS Mono that he crashed into a tree, it bent the bike like a bow, he sent it back to FOES they made it straight again and he raced another season in it ;)

LMFAO!! Jim, I think you'll be just fine with that frame. You would be supprised at some of the frames I've seen ridden hard with bigger dents. The rider usually wears out before the frames.

I would think of it as a score if you get it for $200. Build it up and ride it hard... FYI my buddy had a FOES DHS Mono that he crashed into a tree, it bent the bike like a bow, he sent it back to FOES they made it straight again and he raced another season in it ;)


He could have got it for $160, but didnt.