Is this fork bent?
 

http:// 3m43o93p55U55P45X1 .jpg

I'm thinking about make an hour drive to see it, but the more I look the more bent (ever so slightly) it looks.

At first glance, I was sure that it is. But then I put a straightedge up to the photo, and I'm not so sure. Call it a definite maybe.

SP
Bend, OR

+1

It is bent the wheel is to close to the frame. Roger

I put a straight edge up to the photo and it does look bent to me compared to the head tube. Front wheel looks closer than normal to the down tube as well.

looks bent to me but i also am not 100% sure.

Bent. The forks have re-raked themselves at the bend, and it's bent a few inches below the crown as well. The tipoff is not the fork so much as the frame; note that the top tube is definitely slanting upwards.

-Kurt

What's the frame size? I ask because all of my bikes are 64 or 68cm (tall frames) and they all look like they might have bent forks, but when I put a strait edge up to them they are strait. It's weird to me, but that's what it seems.

I'll bet you it's a 56 or 57, ST C-T-T.

-Kurt

+1 top tube slant

I think she's bent:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=164115

+100 Bent. Donor bike.
+1 56 +/- frame.

Some how I knew the answer, needed to hear it. Still I'm sad. Its a Dawes Atlantis, 58cm asking $125 for the frame, $175 for the bike.

Thanks everyone, I feel better now....anyway a 60cm would have been a better fit....but still, set with 3+ inches of drop to bars, she would look mean.......no..no...no...it's bent...look away you fool........H...E....L...P........M....E....

Could it just be the fork only that is bent? Or most likely top tube / head tube / down tube also? I guess what I'm asking is the fork the only problem or frame likely as well? Hard to tell from the pics.

I wouldn't mess with it. Boat anchor.

Top tube shows a noticeable bend. Seller is a crafty scam artist.

-Kurt

Here's another photo. Top tube sure looks compromised, but it could be optical distortion. Personally, I never make assessments based on poor, small sized photos unless there is obvious evidence of a crash. That's not to say the others are wrong...I simply don't have a very good eye for it.

http://images.craigslist.org/3n03p93...c82dab1013.jpg

But the down tube should show some crinkle on the lower surface, as well.

I agree...I think a crimp would be obvious. Not sure the down tube would bow, but something would be evident, no? So maybe the top tube bow is an optical distortion.

Kinda hard to argue with khatfull's forensics, though. And the tire does appear too close to the down tube, though sometimes a slightly turned wheel will make it appear closer than it is. Forks look lined up though...

When in doubt, walk away.

J

Thanks Khatfull I can now walk away with peace of mind, and for that matter for everyones observations, you guys are great!!!!!

No. Front end collision damage can be anything from a sharp wrinkle to a gradual, virtually blemishless curve. This is an example of the latter; if that tube was curved from the fisheye lens effect in the enlarged photo, then the rest of the tubes would exhibit a similar curve. They aren't - the top tube is bent.

I've long desired to dig up one of these mild curve frames to see how well they'd do with the Park HTS-1.

-Kurt

See my Dawes below - It looks bent, but it isn't.

If I were in the market for that blue one, I'd drive an hour to see it and remove all doubt.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ntisBars2a.jpg

I would ride and see in person.cameras put weird angles at times.

Nope, your's confirms it in my mind, she looks straight. The spacing on the tire on the blue one, the top tube and the inconsistant rake of the forks. Truthfully, if it was a 60cm I'd make the drive, I wasn't in the market for another bike, it caught my eye and the addiction set in.