jcbil

Hey guys, I've been lurking around these forums for a while before actually registering. Now I have, and could use some advice.

I'm on the hunt for a road bike, but having a hard time finding one in my budget in my college town. I found a Panasonic dx-2000 on CL, but it has a dent in the down tube. I haven't seen it in person yet, so I can't exactly tell how bad it is , but here's a picture:
https://i52.tinypic.com/2s7c9iw.jpg

I think I can get the bike for $20-25 but I'm not sure if it's worth it with an ugly dent. I'm not in love with the idea, but it's so cheap.
So my questions are:
is it fixable? worth it? safe?

I don't know much about road bikes, so Thanks for any input.

bluefoxicy

Is it steel? Aluminum? If it's aluminum, stay away; but I can't see aluminum denting before it outright shatters. Well, it will bend... but usually the force needed to do that kind of damage pushes the frame to breaking. That's a LOT of force.

Steel is easily fixed, but the metal does fatigue from deformation.

kenny213

If it's road ready, $20-25 bike is welcomed in my house.

StephenH

If you weigh 120 lbs, you can get away with a lot more than if you weigh 300 lbs, too.

bluefoxicy

^^^ Advice to give your daughter.

gerv 

Looks like an 80s bike with a nice nick at the "i".You could probably buy it for $25 and keep it for parts. Then find a similar frame that would take those parts. Just about any Japanese road frame from that era would work.