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Dented Top Tube

Old 02-18-22, 05:08 PM
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returnoftheyeti
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Dented Top Tube

Would you guys ride a bike with a dented top tube like this? Aluminum frame, I dont actually see an issue here. What do you think?



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Old 02-18-22, 05:40 PM
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band aid and it will be good
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Old 02-18-22, 06:20 PM
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Ride it
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Old 02-18-22, 07:30 PM
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Alum? I would ride it. Nice bike to not care about scratching up really. Unless there is large hole or any other stress cracks that start to grow I would ride it. I would bet that it will never be an issue.

Heck might even whistle if you ride fast enough
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Old 02-18-22, 07:36 PM
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I probably personally wouldn't ride it or would keep a very close eye on it. Looking at the pictures it already looks like there is a crack and crack is whack. It is your life in the end if you want to risk it go for it if not I would look for a different frame. If it were steel and no crack I would probably say keep an eye on it but ride it but aluminum with a crack not so much. Now that crack could be my eyes and my monitor not 100% sure but would rather be wrong in the over cautious sense.
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Old 02-18-22, 08:18 PM
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Is it a crack in the aluminum or a crack in the paint coating?
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Old 02-18-22, 09:11 PM
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Can you take more pics of the damage? Top shot? What has your shop said? I have so may questions..... I would still ride it
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Old 02-19-22, 01:36 AM
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Watch it carefully. I had a wood box fall on my bike and dent the top tube. I naively put a sticker over the dent and forgot about it. 6 months later, I saw what looked like a crack peeking out from the sticker. Turns out it had developed a crack almost 1/4 of the way around the tube! Glad I caught it before something terrible happened.
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Old 02-19-22, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by sdmc530 View Post
Can you take more pics of the damage? Top shot? What has your shop said? I have so may questions..... I would still ride it
Its brand new on eBay as damaged /non-operating. The price is good for a low end Allez, but its not a steal. Its my size, and I could use it as a trainer/commuter bike.

Considering it, but not 100% sold on it.
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Old 02-19-22, 12:40 PM
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I'd ride it if it was already my bike when it got dented. I certainly wouldn't buy one that was dented like that.

It'd have to be a heck of a deal. Something on the order of 10% of the MSRP or less if I was desperate for a bike.
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Old 02-19-22, 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by returnoftheyeti View Post
Its brand new on eBay as damaged /non-operating. The price is good for a low end Allez, but its not a steal. Its my size, and I could use it as a trainer/commuter bike.

Considering it, but not 100% sold on it.

well, that is a bit different. I guess for me as a indoor trainer/zwift set up I would still ride it no hesitation. For a daily rider, again I would probably still ride it if the damage was just in that local spot. BUT if your looking to buy it better be DIRT cheap. I thought you already owned the frame, without better pictures its a really tough call for sure. How cheap are talking here? I mean you can get a used frameset for a pretty reasonable price IMO so this would have to just be a steal of a deal.
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Old 02-19-22, 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Iride01 View Post
I'd ride it if it was already my bike when it got dented. I certainly wouldn't buy one that was dented like that.

It'd have to be a heck of a deal. Something on the order of 10% of the MSRP or less if I was desperate for a bike.
Its listed at just under $600 with shipping, which I believe is about 40% off MSRP.

It has the Sora groupset, and its complete, not just the frameset.

I feel like I would pull the trigger if I could get it for $500 shipped, $600 has me just hanging in there.
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Old 02-19-22, 06:12 PM
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Originally Posted by returnoftheyeti View Post
Its listed at just under $600 with shipping, which I believe is about 40% off MSRP.

It has the Sora groupset, and its complete, not just the frameset.

I feel like I would pull the trigger if I could get it for $500 shipped, $600 has me just hanging in there.

meh, now I say pass. Sora is fine actually but short of 105 at that price I say its a no go. Stock wheels aren't so great so if it were me shipped to my door for $400-450 max.

Just my opinion now so take for what you like.
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Old 02-19-22, 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by returnoftheyeti View Post
Its brand new on eBay as damaged /non-operating. The price is good for a low end Allez, but its not a steal. Its my size, and I could use it as a trainer/commuter bike.

Considering it, but not 100% sold on it.
In that case, I wouldn't touch it with a 10' pole. You don't know exactly how that dent came to be, and you haven't invested a dime in the bike as of yet. It would be one thing if it was a bike you already owned and invested in. With this, you're taking a gamble on needing a whole new frame, which means a lot of time wrenching or a good chunk of $$$ paying someone else to do it for you, plus the cost of the frame.
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Old 02-19-22, 09:02 PM
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Why would you even entertain the idea?
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Old 02-19-22, 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by returnoftheyeti View Post
Its listed at just under $600 with shipping, which I believe is about 40% off MSRP.

It has the Sora groupset, and its complete, not just the frameset.

I feel like I would pull the trigger if I could get it for $500 shipped, $600 has me just hanging in there.
That’s a hard no.
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Old 02-20-22, 06:54 AM
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The problem with aluminium is that it tends to crack pretty quickly once compromised like this - and that looks like a pretty big dent with a possible crack at the top. If it was a steel frame then no problem. But being alloy, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
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Old 02-20-22, 07:11 AM
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Nope.
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Old 02-20-22, 09:04 AM
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Originally Posted by PeteHski View Post
The problem with aluminium is that it tends to crack pretty quickly once compromised like this - and that looks like a pretty big dent with a possible crack at the top. If it was a steel frame then no problem. But being alloy, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
I've always understood that, all else equal, harder materials such as steel are more likely to crack and that softer materials like aluminum tend to tear rather than crack.
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Old 02-20-22, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by urbanknight View Post
In that case, I wouldn't touch it with a 10' pole. You don't know exactly how that dent came to be, and you haven't invested a dime in the bike as of yet. It would be one thing if it was a bike you already owned and invested in. With this, you're taking a gamble on needing a whole new frame, which means a lot of time wrenching or a good chunk of $$$ paying someone else to do it for you, plus the cost of the frame.
Originally Posted by indyfabz View Post
Why would you even entertain the idea?
Originally Posted by Koyote View Post
That’s a hard no.
Originally Posted by PeteHski View Post
The problem with aluminium is that it tends to crack pretty quickly once compromised like this - and that looks like a pretty big dent with a possible crack at the top. If it was a steel frame then no problem. But being alloy, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
Originally Posted by stevel610 View Post
Nope.
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Old 02-20-22, 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Trakhak View Post
I've always understood that, all else equal, harder materials such as steel are more likely to crack and that softer materials like aluminum tend to tear rather than crack.
Crack, tear, whatever you call it, any separation of the material means it's no good anymore.
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Old 02-20-22, 10:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Trakhak View Post
I've always understood that, all else equal, harder materials such as steel are more likely to crack and that softer materials like aluminum tend to tear rather than crack.
The problem with aluminium is that it doesn't tolerate this kind of deformation as well as steel. It tends to buckle and fail more easily. A steel frame will take dents like this much better. Like you know how easy it is to crush an aluminium can vs a steel one.
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Old 02-20-22, 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by returnoftheyeti View Post
Its listed at just under $600 with shipping, which I believe is about 40% off MSRP.
40% MSRP is what I'd pay for a one year old used bike in great condition. 60% if it's in great condition and the owner is selling it in the parking lot after walking out of the bike shop with it the first time.

Though I realize I'll probably never purchase a one year old used bike because of my valuation standards. <grin>
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Old 02-20-22, 12:28 PM
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Here's a quick Vid on Dye Penetrant Inspection. Might be a possible solution for your question on frame integrity. If not, then still good info for that USF file in the back of your brain...

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Old 02-20-22, 01:27 PM
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Do you need another "Not just no...." Astonishing what folks will try to sell.
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