Originally Posted by
mack_turtle
It's definitely steel. The Traitor Crusade / Transition Rapture are chromoly. Look that up.
New frame is definitely not in the budget or I would have done that a long time ago. New bike is absolutely out of the question. That's why I am so desperate to make this one work cheap.
I did look it up reread the post, just the welds appeared sloppy, sell this and buy another used bike that has capacity.
here is the logic path- the bike has some value now- modify it and the value (assuming burnt paint as you are willing to tolerate, will be so much less)
if the frame cracks post modification- you are out. The appearance of the welds just does not exhibit good control of the welding.
A real gamble to modify and have a durable machine.
A broken frame in the future will render the frame value zero.
Then you will have been out the modification cost and need to buy a frame which you state you cannot wrangle.
fair enough, these are tough times.
Why stack the odds against yourself?