Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,786
Likes: 349
From: Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Bikes: 48 Automoto, 49 Stallard, 50 Rotrax, 62 Jack Taylor, 67 Atala, 68 Lejeune, 72-74-75 Motobecanes, 73 RIH, 71 Zieleman, 74 Raleigh, 78 Windsor, 83 Messina (Villata), 84 Brazzo (Losa), 85 Davidson, 90 Diamondback, 92 Kestrel
Keep or toss this bent frame?
My 1992 Trek 520 (4130 chrome-moly MTB tubing) has a very slightly bent downtube. It’s on the underside, right behind the head lug, typical head-on collision damage. It’s a pretty slight bulge-- difficult to see and you can just barely feel the bump if you run your finger over it. How compromised is the structural integrity of this frame? Would you do a loaded tour with it?
This has been a great bike-- I commuted on it for 18 years and have certainly gotten my money's worth from it-- and I’d like to keep it going. On the other hand I don’t want to ride it if it’s no longer safe. Plus it needs a new fork (top of steerer tube sheared off).