I bought my SL tubed dream frame on ebay last week and it arrived today. It was packed with fork installed and turned backwards. The box took a hit and now I have a dream frame with a fork bent forwards. Not drastically bent, but kinked enough to raise ripples on the leading edges, more pronounced on the left side. I'm talking to the seller now about returning it but would like to know my getting it fixed options, I really do not know where to start and could use some guidance.

I'm intentionally short on details until I get this sorted out with the seller.

Holy hell, am I ever sad about this. Listening to Requiem in D Minor sad.



edit: I'm located in Baltimore/Washington area

New high-quality forks designed to match your frame will be $200 to $500. If you just need a steer tube it'll probably be less, but I wouldn't really know. I have had fork quotes in that range, however.

If your blades are rippled, they are cold-set. Not too many folks will be willing to bend them back for you for fear of permanently weakening them, but it might be worth a try.

Do you know any folks I should get on the horn with? Am I looking for framebuilders?

Was the package insured?

I've had some luck bending back a slightly skewed fork. Went from unrideable pulling hard to one side to tracking straight enough to ride no-handed. It took hours at the local bike coop using a Park's FFS-2 frame/fork straightener. Whether this is possible and safe depends a lot on the severity and location of the impacted area, and the steel in question. I doubt any shop will touch it for liability reasons. A framebuilder will be able to tell you whether it is salvageable--but no idea if they'd work on it. Some perhaps, for the right selection of beer.

G'luck getting insurance/sale sorted out.

I think so. It was all paid through ebay and paypal if I have to have to use the nuclear option to get my money back. The seller has filed a claim with the shipper.

If there are 'ripples' (signs of buckling) on the blades, I wouldn't trust just straightening them. I'd have a replacement fork built by Waterford or other similar custom builder to the specifications of the original. That's what insurance is for, and I sure hope the seller insured the bike for its full value.

EDIT - Since the bike was shipped with the fork installed on the frame, if you haven't already done so I'd recommend you carefully inspect the top tube and down tube just aft of the head tube joins looking for any wrinkles in the tubing. Often, if a fork takes a hit serious enough to bend the blades, the frame gets damaged too.

+10 With Stan. Ripples mean the fork is permanently compromised. Return it.

+10 if the fork took that big of a hit, it could well have damaged frame.

Even IF the frame triangle is OK, I would still return it.

Good luck getting the shipper's insurance to pay out. They are experts at denying everything. Regardless, put a claim in with ebay, as it is the seller's problem, not yours.

Sorry to hear - stinks!

Agree with the cut your losses camp. Open a claim with ebay and return it. If you ever want to sell, you'll have to explain wht happened and you take another hit.

Dude, that so sucks. I'd return it and start the search again.

Unfortunately, if a front fork fails at speed, you can be faced with very expensive dental work. I'd check the frame too as others have said it could have also been damaged. If there's a bicycle co-op or old style bike shop near you you moght be able to get a replacement fork there. Good luck.

Cheers from Miele Man

Assuming you want the fork/frame fixed, Eagle One should be able to do that for you.

Pricing

It will cost you some coin, though.

Best bet here is a refund from the seller - unless you really like what you were sent for sentimental reasons.

I'll be sending it back. Lesson here: Don't ship a frame with fork installed if it all avoidable and make sure anyone you buy from knows that too.

I think you do need a frame builder.

Waterford is a good suggestion. I've had quotes in the past from people like Ron Boi, Mitch Pryor (MAP Cycles), Mike Terraferma. These well-known guys were in the upper end, and I got a nice low quote from Ralph Ellis, builder and owner of Ypsilanti Cycles (I went with him, the product was excellent!). Mainly, I'd pick a builder close to you who can take your frame and the old fork, work with you to figure out the best geometry (since you no longer have a good example of what the original designer intended), and get you in for a look-see when problems or questions come up.

For me, I'd also check out Franklin Frames, located in Ohio not too far from Michigan. But I really like the local product aspect of it and think it's important. I'd also (if local) speak to Dave Wages at Ellis Cycles, and Chris Kvale in Minnesota. Check out the Framebuilders' Forum here on BF, as well.

Without knowing the best geo for your bike (presuming that is what the original fork represented), it would be hard to buy an aftermarket fork that would be a very strong fit. So you need a maker who is also a good designer, in my opinion.

I wouldn't know who's local to you in BWI or Ann Arundel or wherever you are, but Richard Sachs is not too far away, and there are a few well-known builders in Boston area and NYC area.

I had a fork that was slightly bent- I took it to two different shops (including one that had a frame builder) and they said they wouldn't bother with straightening it. Just ride it.

Maybe try photographing the bike from a different angle?

teehee.