dirtforlunch

So the other day i was all ready to head to the whistler bike park when it occured to me that i should go over my bike and check and see if there was any thing wrong with it. to my suprise, i found a crack in the top tube of my frame . knowing this my dad wouldnt let me go, fearing it would snap. then he said may be its time u thought of a buying a new bike. so.. i looked around on the internet but couldnt find anything i liked...... so could u guys suggest any full suspension bike that is good for street but at the same time good for down hill? thx

gwhunt23

What bike do you have now? It might be worth just replacing the frame depending on how valuable the components are.

dirtforlunch

well its kinda of a proto type and i doubt the company will ever make the same one again. My bike is a chumba wumba

ed 

It's not a prototype...just not many made. I remember back in the day, I used to drool over those. I think it's a nice looking frame. Can you post some pic's?

I'd check into the Trek Session 10 for serious hucking. If you doing lighter hucking and still wanna pedal a bit, check into the Specialized Enduro Pro. Dang that bike is a hotty. Only 30 pounds, 6" of travel, Fox 36RC2 fork...that's all the bike you need for most things.

The new Cannondale Judge looks nice, though I've never ridden one and am not really a big fan of C-dale anymore.

samster143

Is that Chumba Wumba Aluminum or steel? If steel it can be repaired.

dminor 

As you probably know, you can't get Chumba Wumba to warranty it, BUT - - - if you like Chumbas and want another, you CAN get a discount from them for a new frame. Check here:

http://www.chumbaracing.com/faq.shtml

C Law

Transition BottleRocket

Drunken Chicken

I agree, sounds just like what you need. You'll be hard pressed to find a bike that is good at street but can downhill well too so it'd be good if you could decide what type of riding you do more of.

dirtforlunch

thx u guys ror replies its a aluminum frame and im not into the trek session.im ust wondering my dads this super good welder and he says we can put another peice of aluminum over top of it and weld over. good idea or bad idea?

dirtforlunch

Whoa that transition bottlerocket looks absolutly awsome! any one know how much in canadian? or any more info?

dminor 

You will get all kinds of advice against this on the Forum, because most of the people here don't know how to weld and think metalurgy is a mysterious black art.

If your dad's real good with the TIG torch or wire feed (bike tubes are verrrry thin), he may be able to do just that. You may be wise to fire mom's oven up and re-heat treat it when you are done, but - yes - it is possible. Hey, the frame's a gonner otherwise; why not experiment?

(Now watch me get flamed big-time for giving you that advice )

EDIT - - - DO check further into the BottleRocket. Transition is an awesome company, based in Ferndale, WA (near the BC border) Owners Kevin & Kyle are absolutely fantastic guys - - and very good riders themselves. Their commitment to quality and value-for-the-dollar is second to none.

Chone

+1, totally, the frame is repairable and if its a goner otherwise, why not try at least? I also agree that Transition makes great bikes and you should look into one of their models if you want an awesome bike for your money.

dirtforlunch

hahahah, thx for your reply, im a little lost right now i just cant decide to get a new one or keep it and fix it up. i absolutly love my bike and it is perfect for the type of riding i do, but it does require a bit of maitenence which sucks about it. i just dont know

Maelstrom 

1200ish...Kevin and Kyle are killer guys too...

DylanTremblay

Are you freakin serious? The bottlerocket goes for 1200ish CND? Why don't I own one then?

Chone

Because 1500ish CND (not 1200) is the price for the frame alone with a Manitou Swinger 4-Way Shock, the price of a complete Bottlerocket is around 3300-3600 CND depending on the configuration.

http://www.transitionbikes.com/BottleRocket_Pricing.cfm

DylanTremblay

Damn I knew it was too good to be true.

samster143

I am no metal expert but I would NOT recommend welding a aluminum frame (and riding on it) without it being properly heat treated. The welding changes the properties of the alli and the heat treating process makes it all uniform again.

dirtforlunch

hahahaha

FreeRidin'

ok first off you CAN NOT weld back aluminum frames, that is one of the few reasons for a steel frame

Chelboed recommended a Specialized Enduro Pro, I think he meant the enduro sx trail II (big diff.) witch is one of my dream bikes and would be perfect. But my number one dream bike is the bottlerocket. Both of these bikes I think would be perfect and are in the same class. It really depends on your price range

dminor 

So sayeth who? Gosh, we better tell all those companies that straighten and repair motorcycle frames that it can't be done. 6061 and 7005 are both weldable alloys. Keep in mind too that the OP's dad was going to scab a patch over the crack, adding new material, not try to weld the crack. Crude, yes. Heavier, yes. But do-able.

It would be best if they heat-treated it after welding. 6061 is usually treated to T6 hardness, some of which will get lost in the welding process. But, even at that, the worst that can happen is it may stress-crack along the new weld on the patch. It's not like it can explode sending shrapnel in a 10 meter radius. The frame is toast if they don't do anything, so . . . .

But they still oughta seriously think about that Transition BottleRocket

samster143

Have you ever seen what can happen to a rider when they have a catastrophic frame or fork failure....It is very ugly. Weld-On if you dare!

dirtforlunch

Well, all u guys that say not to weld is not right, u can put a peice of material over top of it and weld over it. like dminor said it is crude but it will work, any ways i made up my mind im gonna get the transition bottle rocket frame for i think 1500. any ways if i do weld my bike together it is still i high matnece bike, i waste alot of money and my time on this bike. transition bikes are made really good for there price. and there warenty is awsome. another idea i had about my bike is to send it in to chumba and see what theyll do about it.....but if i do that i will have no bike for the summer so that is definetly not an option.

samster143

Good luck.