How unsafe is this frame?
 

Here are pics of My wife's early 70's Azuki. She really likes this bike but I don't feel like it is safe for her to ride. The frame material is just old gas pipe. Should I strip it down and pitch the frame, or let her keep it for short rides to the coffee shop?
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=255327http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=255328

Note: The frame does not appear to be bent from what I can tell by looking at it, but the paint obviously indicates a certain amount of flexing has likely been happening.

It is going to break eventually and it won't break on it's own, it will break when it is being ridden.

A failure of that tube can result in injury. Don't let your lady ride that bike.

Wow, wonder what that frame has been through. Interesting photo's of the trouble area. Scrap it.

death trap. stay away

I doubt it'll ever break but it's still not safe too ride. It'll handle like crap to.

I'd guess that it got bent in a head-on collision, then was bent back into its original shape. Who knows how far it was bent or how stressed it got? Scrap.

[QUOTEHow unsafe is this frame? ][/QUOTE]

9!

Strip it; hang the frame on the wall; and call it your wife's artwork from riding it for all these years.

Was it in a collision? If it really is gaspipe, then likely it's not a big deal. If it was thin wall anything I'd be worried.

How much do you love your lady??? If you love her a lot buy her a new bike and make the gaspipe wall art.

If you lived near me you could have a pick of any of the low end frames I have stashed away. I'm sure It cant be too hard to find a nicer frame to replace this one.

From my experience of breaking bmx frames, it wont go snap. Heat treated bmx frames from 2009/2010 did go snap (see youtube) but this one will bend first, and the second tube will hold it together even if the first tube gives way.

i mean odds are she could ride it for years, but still... don't risk it

I would agree it may have been "repaired" by unknowing or inexperienced hands. what does the fork look like?

I am sure you can easily pickup a suitable replacement in your area.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...7&d=1339370547

I sure wouldn't ride it.

Are you looking for an excuse to replace it, or not to replace it? I, personally, see this as an opportunity to upgrade. If you really really don't want to, and you don't expect her to ride it anyway, as Creme Brulee says, it may last for years. And when (not "if") it fails, it's not likely both tubes will fail at once. First one, then the other. This should give her time to stop. Oops, I said "should" again!

If it was my wife, I'd have her ride Paris–Roubaix on it, without a helmet. :roflmao2:

Thanks for the input, everyone. I told her it was probably unsafe, so she has not been riding it. Fortunately she has a 2011 Raleigh Clubman that she adores more than this heavy old beast. I just wanted to get some opinions before I strip it down and scrap the frame. I don't think it will ever break, but there is no sense in taking chances.

By the way, the fork is straight and does not appear to have ever been crashed. Also, I put callipers on the tube and it measures out to be round and not deformed.

Thanks,
Anthony

I'm not OK with your wife riding it, but I'm OK with you riding it...................:D

My best guess is that the frame was jacked back to approximate shape. The fork may have been too.
If you have original knowledge of what has been the frame's history you would have a more basic understanding of use or scrap.
From the inquiry I assume not.
It is at a price / performance level where finding an alternative should not be too much a job.