Originally Posted by
CliffordK
I'm going to have to disagree, at least in part. I'd like to see some additional photos, including a full side view and both main tubes. However, cracked paint on the top of the tube and bottom of the tube looks extremely suspicious for crash damage.
A bend could be hard to detect... Can it spring back? I've found that one can often feel them better than seeing them.
As far as "being saved"... yes, most likely. There are frame alignment tools for just this purpose.
However, the value quickly comes into question. It is just not a frame I'd pay a premium price for. If it was available for a bargain price, then sure. Or,if I already owned the bike, I'd probably do the repairs if necessary, and keep riding it.
The main point should be not to judge a frame by only the photos. I'd be a bit suspicious of that cracked paint, and would like to see it in person. I'd ask if I could remove just a bit of the paint for inspection.
The 4-5 years I worked in an LBS I saw lots of frames that came in and where known to have crashed. I never saw one that had a crack and didn't show permanent bending. Cracks in steel frames are pretty rare, mostly around dropouts, sometimes under seat lugs. I've seen a few with cracks near lugs. Maybe this is one of them. I think it was a good move by the OP to walk away, even if the odds of it being a crack were low. Why risk it?