How unsafe is this frame?
#1
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From: St Louis
Bikes: 72 Lygie (SS conv), 87 Ironman Expert, 94 Allez Sport, 16 Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross
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?


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.
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.
Last edited by acoffin; 06-10-12 at 05:27 PM. Reason: incomplete post
#4
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From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Wow, wonder what that frame has been through. Interesting photo's of the trouble area. Scrap it.
#5
death trap. stay away
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From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
#7
vintage motor


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From: Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
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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.
#8
Get off my lawn!


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From: The Garden State
Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman
[QUOTEHow unsafe is this frame? ][/QUOTE]
9!
9!
#11
Velocommuter Commando
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Houston, Texas
Bikes: '88 Specialized Sirrus, '89 Alpine Monitor Pass, two '70 Raligh Twenties, '07 Schwinn Town & Country Trike, '07 Specialized Sirrus Hybrid
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?


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.
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.
How much do you love your lady??? If you love her a lot buy her a new bike and make the gaspipe wall art.
#12
12345
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: south france
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.
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.
#14
Bianchi Goddess


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From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
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I am sure you can easily pickup a suitable replacement in your area.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#16
multimodal commuter
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From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
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!
#18
Thread Starter
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From: St Louis
Bikes: 72 Lygie (SS conv), 87 Ironman Expert, 94 Allez Sport, 16 Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross
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
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
#20
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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.
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.
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