FMGCrossCheck

I was hit by a car on March 1st and my frame was bent. I was thinking about buying the same frame and moving my parts off the bent bike to the new frame. How much does is cost to pay someone to do that? I have no idea how to build bikes so I don't want to do it on my own. I have a 2009 Surly Cross Check

OH! My friend is a welder and says he thinks he can straighten my bike is that safe?

thanks!

unterhausen

moving this to bike mechanics. If you want a better response about the frame repair, post another thread with as many pictures as possible in the framebuilding section. Any steel frame can be repaired safely assuming a competent repair person. The real issue is cost.

cny-bikeman

Your friend may not have the tools, guages or knowledge to determine whether the frame is back to spec once he finishes - or maybe he's really talented. Not every steel frame can be repaired sufficiently. The cost to straighten a frame depends on what is required. Switching over parts from one bike to another involves far too many variables that we (and probably you) do not know. If you have more than one shop available get some quotes.

caloso

It's not difficult if you have the right tools. It's extremely difficult if you do not. I'd take it to the LBS. They might charge you $100 for labor, but it would be worth it to know that it's done correctly. And, couldn't you charge it to the driver who hit you?

dedhed

And, couldn't you charge it to the driver who hit you?

Not if it was his fault.

kycycler

Repairing the frame is NOT a god idea. If it is bent it is a good candidate for the trash bin. Most shops in my area charge about $120.00 far frame change over, and you get quality work.

Six jours

Nonsense.

Repairing a bent steel frame can be quite simple. A rear triangle out of alignment, for instance, can be easily and neatly aligned, with no significant loss of strength. Such things have been done countless times.

Replacing a damaged tube is more difficult, but has also been done many, many times. Done properly, the repair is at least as strong as the original.

ultraman6970

agree with many in here... if you have the money find another frame, move the parts over and done with it. Unless you have a bike that means too much for you or something that is really a collector item i wouldnt even bother, it sucks to have accidents like that anyways... good luck

MrCjolsen

Surly has a crash replacement program. I got my crosscheck frame and fork replaced for $290. Your's might be less since it's a lot newer than mine was.

FBinNY 

The question is would a frame that was repaired/straightened by your welder friend be safe.

The answer is it depends.

First on what the frame is made of, steel being most saveable, carbon being not repairable at all and aluminum somewhere in between,. second on the nature and extent of the damage, and third on the skill of your friend.

If he knows what he's doing, and is the kind of guy who admits his limitations then you could give him a crack and trust the results. If he's the kind of guy who's over confident, and likely to bull his way through, then it's a bit shaky.

The cost for moving components from frame to frame varies tremendously from a low of a bit over $100.00, to $250.00 or so depending on area, and the exact work involved, for example does a new fork have to be cut to size, are the new frame's BB and Head tube prepped, etc. Also most shops will give you a better deal on the labor if you buy the frame from them.

MrCjolsen

I considered having my frame repaired. the down tube was seriously bent and would have needed to be replaced. The thing was that when it bent, it also deformed the bottom bracket shell, causing the bottom bracket to not work properly.

A framebuilder would have probably charged a couple hundred to replace the down tube and bb shell. A new frame for $290 made a lot more sense.

One option is have a shop install the fork and bottom bracket - two jobs that require special tools. Trust me, after that, the rest isn't that hard.