Is this frame salvageable?
 

Hi there,

I suspect I know the answer to this already and if I am right then Plan B kicks in (use these parts and get new frame).
But what do people think the chances of bending this back fork into place are?
Would it ever be truly safe to ride on?

Context: someone tried to steal my old steel bike and bent the back fork.
Bike is a 1984 Raleigh Record Sprint.
Frame is Reynolds 501 (Buted Frame and Tubes)
The frame is not cracked, just bent.

Pics:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=437077http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=437076http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=437078http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=437079http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=437076

This will make good wall art for your workroom.

Anything can be fixed but would it be worth it? The tube is trash. If you kept it after straightening you would have to braze some reinforcement on it. It really should be replaced. It would be cheaper to find another frame.

it looks too severely damaged to be bent back

We would call this frame damaged beyond reasonable repair. Yes, it could have a replacement stay (or a reinforcing sleeve placed over the broken spot) installed, but at a cost that will exceed the frame's value. Then there's the bent wheel to deal with. I hope the rider has gotten sufficient compensation if this happened in an accident and it was the other guy's fault. Andy.

unfortunately, he said it was vandalized

Not Bent Back.. But, the seat stay can be replaced by a Frame Builder , but the cost may be more than you want to spend.

but after the job you can get it repainted in a color of Your Choice ..

Looks to be a bit more bent than what could be salvaged by simply bending it back but at this point you have nothing to loose, just don't ride it until you add
a bit of a "sleeve" on the outside or inside to reinforce the damaged area.
I had a frame that had a really similar kink in the seat stay same place. Since he metal hadn't cracked or split it was just bent,
an old-timer simply bent it back in place and I rode it for another
25,000 miles. It was a nice Italian built frame 1979 or so. One of the best rides of any bike I have ever had. T
I am from the school of "every frame is worth saving if its save-able"
I see steel frames entering the hallowed world similar to that of vintage vinyl
records.. If you love the frame save it.