gna

I was discussing our childhood bikes with my brother the other day, and I asked him about a Fuji he bought in high school, about '82. To my great surprise, he still has it. He said the frame was slightly bent, probably came that way, and he's been advised to just get a new bike. He's been told it's not worth fixing.

He brought it to a bike shop several years ago to have the frame checked, and apparently the mechanic stripped it down, checked the frame, saw it was bent, and reassembled it, without straightening it or even asking him if he wanted it straightened. Apparently the wrench wanted extra to strip it down again to straighten it, so he just left.

While it may not compare with modern bikes, is it really not worth repairing? At the time, he paid what seemed an enormous sum of money for the bike, made bussing tables and washing dishes, but it probably wasn't the best bike Fuji made. Still, I remember it as a quality bike.

He lives in Birmingham, Alabama, so I'm not sure what his options are, but he's asked some people he knows about repair and they're trying to steer him to new bikes. They sound like serious roadies, though, (one is in France to watch the TDF), and I think my brother just wants to ride around recreationally with his family.

Any advice for my brother, or any other information needed to make an intelligent decision?

Gary

CardiacKid

I really depends on where and how much it is bent.

gna

Hard to say. My brother says he's not sure, only that he can't ride no hands without it leaning over.

reverborama

A bent frame is a bad deal. I have a Royale I've put over 3500 miles on. It's a nice riding frame, but if this one is bent.... It's probably only good for the parts.