I keep having a problem with my derailleur hanger. It keeps ending up being bent. I keep taking it to the bike shop and having them fix it. Now, it's bent worse than it has ever been, making adjustment of the derailleur impossible. Is there ever a time when it's just a lost cause? Do you have to buy a new frame in that case? I've never really contemplated this question before and can't find much online. Maybe someone here has had a similar experience?

My commuter is a Kona Jake the Snake. I also need to have the derailer unbent every time i take it in for service. It doesn't get bent from crashes or hitting anything, just use. So yes I have similar experiances, but no, i dont have a solution or answer for you.

Mine is 9 spd 105 on that bike.

I just bought a derailer alignment tool as I keep having the same problem with my Blue.

Fortunately it has a replaceable derailer hanger, I just need to get one to replace it with.

I have just purchased a Park derailleur alignment tool to check/adjust my JTS (also w/replaceable hanger). My super link came undone and the chain got wrapped between the cluster and the spokes. The derailleur was not shifting right. Checked it and bent it back. I have had my LBS adjust another bike twice before so I bought the tool this time to check the alignment whenever I have shifting problems.

Hangers getting bent without crashing !?!?! Sounds like a warantee claim to me ... That's unacceptable

I bent my derailluer hanger in a crash last weekend. Luckily it is replaceable. It cost me $20, plus $20 to install, align and adjust the shifting. The shop did it in a day.

If yours isn't replaceable, I don't know what you do. Keep having it bent back or send the frame in to the manufacturer to replace?