TJHOO

Talk about an emotional roller coaster, was driving home (inside the car) my brand new Specialized SWorks Tarmac. Had 1996 Litespeed Catalyst on roof rack that had not used for literally years and drove Litespeed into top of garage. Doh, what an Idiot I am!!!

Litespeed apparently MAY BE salvageable.

LBS said components group (1996 Campy Record 8 spd) looks ok. But it needs the following:
· fork
· headset
· stem
· handlebars
· biggest of all, the frame is bent. I’m told by the bike shop that if this were any frame other than Titanium, it would be history. However, Titanium can be remolded. It would take time, sending the frame to Litespeed. Sounds like might cost e.g. $500 to fix. So sounds like would cost at least $1000 total to get in riding condition including new parts. Not sure whether to do this or not. Seems like a lot to spend.

Bike shop thinks the Litespeed is still a quality bike compared to today’s bikes (it was top notch in e.g. 1996), but the components (e.g. shifters, derailleurs etc) will be hard to replace piecemeal because everything now 10 speed, and 8 and 10 spd not compatible apparently. We are awaiting rough estimate from Litespeed on cost of repair.

To have winter/training bike, bought a demo 2005 Bianchi Cross Veloce from LBS (very slightly used) bike yesterday. It is a cyclocross bike.
$1250 (2006 retails for $2300) 2005 almost the same as 2006.
Only a few cosmetic scratches in frame.
Has 700x35 knobby tires. Can also use road tires (I ordered)
Campy Vento wheels which are heavy but apparently durable
Similar road bike version of this frame retails for >$3000
Aluminum (Scandium)/Carbon (in fork, seat/chainstays)
Since it is Campagnolo 10 speed like my Specialized new bike, some parts e.g. wheels may be interchangeable.

So currently have 2 rideable bikes
1) 2005 Bianchi Cross Veloce (Training/Winter, perhaps offroad)
2) 2006 Specialized SWorks Tarmac (Centuries, triathlon, potentially racing)

Do you think I should have the Litespeed repaired???

macca123

Why couldn't you have used the litespeed as your training bike instead of buying that veloce? seems silly to me...now knowing that you had a two perfectly good race quality bikes in the first place. Anyhoo whats the point of reparing it yet anyway, plenty of people would love to be in your situation ahhhemmm me!!! (little jealous lol).

TJHOO

I hear you.

Response: Why bought the X Veloce?
-Knew it would take pbly a long time to repair Litespeed.
-Campy 8 speed parts hard to replace in the future.
-Mentally had hard time taking new race quality bike (Tarmac) out on winter roads w/ sand/salt/ice. Had waited for it since summer.
-Scheduled to lead group rides weekly in January and need immediate bike
-Might like to ride offroad/gravel etc. Perhaps (less likely) cyclocross.

Considering repairing Litespeed, using it as training bike (as had planned prior to my trashing it), and leaving Cross Veloce for winter roads/offroad/cx

macca123

Im hearing you but you are still a very lucky boy...if you have the money then do it!

TJHOO

Thanks.

Has anbody had a Ti frame repaired?
Specifically looks like head tube on this frame needs to be straightened.

patentcad

Are you really serious? $1200 to repair an old Catalyst? Get a new bike dude. That's crazy. I have a 10 year old Ibis Ti Road frame - undamaged- out for a $350 refinishing job and I'm debating if that's a waste of money. And an equivalent new frame would cost about $3K. But the operative word in that discussion is a NEW frame would cost about $3K. I wouldn't spend over $1000 to repair a used/damaged bicycle.

It's your dough.

TJHOO

Thanks.

Haven't received quote from Litespeed yet (thru LBS), but Vicious Cycles estimated $400-600 to repair frame. Perhaps Litespeed will be less$. Doubt.

Also would need new fork, headset, stem, handlebars. That should be few $100. So I now figure total eg $600-1000.

LBS said groupo looks ok (1996 Record, which I think LBS said is similar quality to 2006 Veloce).

Any concerns about SAFETY on a repaired Ti frame???

2manybikes

When the shop starts to switch over the older group little things will start to come up that will cost you more. The quote from Litespeed may be much more. Look on line for a deal on a complete bike before you decide to spend the money. Check ebay.
No safety concerns at all about the frame just $$$$.

I know someone who drove his bikes into the top of the garage TWICE ! The second time he ripped the roof off his old Honda Civic!

TJHOO

Will see what Litespeed quotes.

My problem is I hate to waste stuff. Have problem throwing things out. Have 1989 Honda Accord w/ 220k miles that stalls in wet weather. In this case, usable 1996 Record Groupo and supposedly repairable Ti frame. Already put my seat/pedals/water bottle cages from Litespeed onto Cross Veloce. Wonder how much a repairable Litespeed 1996 Catalyst w/ Record would get on EBay?

2manybikes

I know what you mean.
I have watched a few people think they would save by switching to a new frame and end up having it
be a lot more than estimated. It could go either way.
Your thought about ebay may be a good one.

My 1989 Mazda seves me well ! So does my daughter's 1989 Toyota. Both over 100k.
No reason to throw away money.

serotta

I drove a Serotta legend Ti on a roof rack into a brick wall over my garage about 10 years ago. I sent the frame back to Serotta, 400 dollars later it came back with a new downtube and headtube. I rode the bike for several more years and one of the tubes cracked. Serotta replaced the cracked frameset with a brand new frame.

Herbert

I would trust riding that frame absolutely if it was repaired by us, so that really should not worry you. But it really sounds like you are mostly thinking about whether it is finacially worth to fix it. In my opinion it is well worth it if you are indeed going to use it for several years, however if you are truly going to sell asap, you may end being disappointed in terms of what you will get for it.
Hope that makes sense.
Herbert

Litespeed

www.litespeed.com

merlinextraligh

I agree with Herbert from Litespeed. Unless you buy replacement parts used, and do the work yourself, you're very likely to have more in the project than you can expect to net on Ebay. Assuming $500 for the frame repair, your cost will easily exceed $1000 if you buy retail and have the LBS do the work. A CF fork that would be appropriate will be $300. Handlebar, stem, headset, $100-150. Labor will be at least $100. (Remember that the bike has to be torn down, shipped, and then rebuilt.) Shipping back and forth at least $50.00.
I wouldn't take the bet that you'll get more than $1000 for a ten year old bike with 8speed on Ebay, particularly if you disclose that the frame has been wrecked and repaired, which I think you have an ethical obligation to do. Thus I would only repair it if I thought I was going to get $1000 use out of it.

TJHOO

Litespeed told LBS they would need to ship frame to authorized Litespeed dealer before they would even comment on an estimate. the shipping on this alone is making me think of either just letting it go, or possibly see if I can get a very basic cheap handlebar, stem, headset to work without repairing the frame. this would be used solely for inside trainer.

Would not sell this bike on eBay unless it were repaired and then would have to have disclaimer that had been repaired.

TJHOO

Your story sounds almost too good to be true. Sounds like today it'll cost much more.

Grasschopper

I would strip it and sell the Record 8 spd parts on eBay. I would NOT try to build the frame up without having the frame repaired...that is just asking for trouble.

flythebike

Face it, you broke it.
Don't bother fixing it. My friend just bought a Mercyx Ti frame (same bike I believe) with 9 speed ultegra and new 105 wheels for 1000 bucks. Don't throw good money after bad...
I understand the heartache over it, but just let it go.

RockyMtnMerlin

Several threads have asked if buying top end frames (Ti or other material) is worth it. IF they have a warranty like Litespeed, Serotta or Merlin, and equilavent cutomer service, I believe the answer is yes.

chuck731

A new 2005 Lightspeed Tuscany frame with Carbon fork can be had for 1.2-1.4K.

TJHOO

Where? Just curious

Grasschopper

https://www.coloradocyclist.com/commo...277&TextMode=0
https://www.coloradocyclist.com/commo...277&TextMode=0