Is it worth hanging on to a dented frame
 

I bought my bike used about a year ago. It is a steel road frame. I was looking over the frame the other day and noticed one of the chain stays has a noticable dent on it near the chain rings. Is it a good idea to keep and use this bike?

Post a picture to get better feedback, describe how the ride is (if rideable)?

Without seeing the bike my guess is it was designed that way. Denting the chainstay to provide pedal or chainring clearance is commonly done.

Here is a picture of the dent. I think it is harder to see in the picture than in real life, but it is a good approximation.

http://comradesoffunk.org/jon/bike-dent.jpg

Steel is very durable. From the bad picture, if it rides okay I think you should be okay. If there is an alignment problem (bad ride), the shop can usually straighten it out the alignment fairly easily with the right equipment.

As mentioned, it could be the design, can't tell from the picture.

Yes, we would need a clearer photo. Or, if you tell us what bike it is, and what year, and post this in the Classic & Vintage forum. One of the experts might have the specifications for your bike and be able to let you know if this is supposed to be there or not.

East Hill

My camera does not take close photos very well, that was the best I could get.

The bike is a Bianchi limited. No idea what the year is, the serial number is JS11179.

Still, if you take some nice photos, and back off enough so that we can see the chain stay clearly, we might figure it out.

What kind of components has it got?

East Hill

see if your camera has a "macro" feature? My canon has a tulip icon.

Otherwise, just back off and take a clearer shot that is a little further away.

I was able to take some better photos.

Most of the original components are gone as the bike was converted to a fixed gear. But I did find the front derailer and it is a "Suntour Cyclone M-II"

http://comradesoffunk.org/jon/dent0.jpg

http://comradesoffunk.org/jon/dent1.jpg

I can see the scratch, but can't make if the indentation is original or connected to the scratch?

As Easthill mentions, an expert can comment on that.

But if it ain't broke, don't fix it ==> just ride it. That's the way it "looks."

I've updated the pictures to point out the dent with a red arrow. I guess it sounds from what you guys are saying is that I'm being over paranoid, and the frame is probablye fine. Thanks for all the input.

From these pictures it's difficult to tell whether or not the dent is accidental or intentional.

A couple of points:

- If the dent is very symmetrical (if it looks like it was deliberately made) then you're probably fine.

- If the dent is actually behind the crankset, how could it have been accidentally created? Unless you, or someone else, stripped the frame completely before a dent was accidentally created, I don't see how it's possible for accidental damage to have occurred to this location on the frame

- It's a steel frame, and as noted before, steel is forgiving of minor damage. The dent appears to be on a thick area of the chainstay reinforced by the chainstay bridge. I doubt you have anything at all to worry about.

Ride on, I say! ;)

With steel, dented frames can be rideable, provided it's aligned. Stress cracks are another story. If you want to be really sure, bring it to your LBS, and the should be able to give you a quick assessment.

If it's aluminum or carbon with a dent like that, I would be more paranoid.

Something I probably should have mentioned earlier, is that this bike has been in a car accident where it went airborne for quite some time. After this accident I had the bike alignment checked by a bike shop, but it is only now, about 4 months since the accident that I've noticed this dent.

An important point, no doubt! :)

Still, the paint is relatively undamaged on the indented area (apart from that minor scratch). If the frame was still in good alignment after the accident, then I don't think the accident caused this dent in the chainstay.

I would still ask in C & V. Also, your bike would seem to be mid 1980s if the Cyclone is the original equipment. It's a very nice derailleur. If you go here, you should be able to date your bike.

It's hard to tell if that was deliberate or not.

East Hill

+1.

The guys and gals in C&V know their stuff. If you can give any more details to help them identify the frame, it's possible someone will be able to give you a definitive answer.

Still think the frame is good to ride, though. ;)

I made a post in C&V

http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=6257828

Excellent! With luck, that should get some action.

East Hill

Sitting here at the monitor in Indiana looking at the image - it just looks a little beat up. If that's the worst spot on the frame and you had the alignment checked - doesn't look scary.

Yup. If it was my bike, I'd build it up and ride it.