Bicycle Mechanics - Paint damage / welding flaw on new Trek

I really was not sure were to post this. I figure the Mechanics forum was the best bet.

I rust bought a new Trek FX7.2. I have a decent quality road bike and really did not want to shell out the bucks for a bike path bike that will only get casual use.

While lifting the bike on to the bike rack on my car, I noticed a small flaw on the top tube, near the bracket for the shifter and brake cables.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/6720/damageun9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Should I be concerned about this damage? I am worried that the paint would lift and chip. It appears to be slightly cracked. Is this something Trek should correct?

No and no.

It's very minor and not a hazard.

That is some nice Macro Photography though. Good job

It does not look significant, though if you are really anal you might go to where you got it and see what they would do about it.

Well, it might be significant if you have really caustic sweat that pours off of you...

I really was not sure were to post this. I figure the Mechanics forum was the best bet.

I rust bought a new Trek FX7.2. I have a decent quality road bike and really did not want to shell out the bucks for a bike path bike that will only get casual use.

While lifting the bike on to the bike rack on my car, I noticed a small flaw on the top tube, near the bracket for the shifter and brake cables.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/6720/damageun9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Should I be concerned about this damage? I am worried that the paint would lift and chip. It appears to be slightly cracked. Is this something Trek should correct?


Holy smokes Mary...that is underneath the down tube. :cry:

Holy smokes Mary...that is underneath the down tube. :cry:

No Francis, it is on top of the top tube.

No Francis, it is on top of the top tube.

Yikes!

When you said new I thought you meant 2009 not 2008 :thumb:

I would not worry about it. Bikes will fall and they will get scratched.

I wouldn't worry about it. It's certainly not a safety issue.

I wouldn't worry about it. It's certainly not a safety issue.

Agreed. But it is a brand new bike. :) OK it's an 08 but the 09's are not yet at my LBS and it is fresh out of the box. :)

Wondering how that looks at less extreme magnification and also how it compares to the other side.

If you're gonna be that fussy, you're gonna have to pay more. Also, if you're gonna be that fussy I'd be more upset about the weld.

Quick test of your Zapruder-film-decoding-skills: which of those cables is the brake cable?

jim

Its weld slag. No need to worry

If it bothers you, you can take a rag or paper towel with a little acetone and rub it out.

Wondering how that looks at less extreme magnification and also how it compares to the other side.

It's really tiny. maybe 1/32 of an inch long but I know it's there. :) I guess I will just get used to it. :)

If you're gonna be that fussy, you're gonna have to pay more. Also, if you're gonna be that fussy I'd be more upset about the weld.

Wow you said it. The welds on Trek are really ugly. But even the almost $2,000 7.7 FX has some pretty ugly looking welds. The 7.9 might be just as bad but it is hard to tell from the website with the color of the bike.

You could blast it with an TIG rig until it was all melted nice & smooth.:D

My Trek FX 7.5 had a scratch on the seat-tube above the FD mounting-ring. But, after 6 months of Paxil, I'm growing accustomed to this disaster.

Just another good reason to buy an older, vintage bike. They come complete with scratches, flaws, maybe even a little rust here and there......

Quick test of your Zapruder-film-decoding-skills: which of those cables is the brake cable?

jim

The near cable. :thumb:

scratches on a bike are to be embraced it tells your bikes story and like scars on a man it helps the bike get chicks.

Get some touch up paint, dab it on, go for a ride.