Does this frame look bent

[davidphilips]

Seen this frame on gumtree dont know what it was but to me it looks like scrap? Any one think it is worth saving?
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/...-frame-restoration-project-£40-ono/1295450131

 

[I like Skol]

YES.

Forks appear to be bent back at the crown.

Lugs are nothing fancy, rear brake bridge is el-cheapo and parts are missing or low spec. Not even worth a fiver IMO.

 

[screenman]

The forks certainly look like they are.

 

[T4tomo]

unless you're after an unknown frame of unknown provenance that may or may not be stolen, its probably in the avoid pile.

hard to tell from1 picture but forks look bent at a strange angle from head tube, plus its got a dodgy paint job, plus its on gum tree.

 

[Drago]

Not worth the brain power to even consider it.

 

[Cycleops]

Some poor bugger might be taken in. I hope everybody susses it.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Seen this frame on gumtree dont know what it was but to me it looks like scrap? Any one think it is worth saving?

It's the sort of thing I'd pull out of a skip and salvage, but only if I already had a suitable spare set of forks for that wheel size - probably 27" in this case. Although they are likely to be perfectly safe (unlike a crashed carbon!) the geometry will be screwed up. One of my drinking cronies knocks around on an old hybrid beater with crashed forks, and he's now upgrading his to a high quality butted frame disguised with crappy paint. I might well have his old frame off him, but only because it will come FOC and I've got a spare set of unicrown forks that I can swap on. I wouldn't pay anything for the Gumtree one unless I strongly suspected/knew it was 531, and Id only pay beer money, not £40!

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

Although they are likely to be perfectly safe (unlike a crashed carbon!)

I have a carbon frame that went into the side of a car at 30mph. Written off by the LBS. 25000 miles later, still going strong. I spoke to a few carbon repair companies, and they told me that if the paint is not damaged they would be 99% sure the carbon is ok. they were happy to take my money and scan it for piece of mind, but with their recommendations, I am still using it.
Carbon is not the fragile material a lot of people think it is.

 

[Drago]

So not 100% sure then?

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

More sure than the steel frame that has bent rear stays after being rear ended. I didn't need anyone to tell me that was 100% scrap.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Carbon is not the fragile material a lot of people think it is.

It's more fragile than steel if subjected to impacts, and if it fails it doesn't bend and stretch gradually - it snaps. I can judge the safety of a steel frame purely visually with a high degree of confidence. I would not trust a crashed carbon frame just on a visual!

 

[roadrash]

Although they are likely to be perfectly safe

I certainly wouldn't risk using them

 

[screenman]

I have only ever had one frame snap on me whilst cycling, it was made of steel. It is easy to see when a carbon frame is stressed/damaged.

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

More sure than the steel frame that is bent in two after being rear ended.

It's more fragile than steel if subjected to impacts, and if it fails it doesn't bend and stretch gradually - it snaps. I can judge the safety of a steel frame purely visually with a high degree of confidence. I would not trust a crashed carbon frame just on a visual!

So what are your credentials in evaluating any materials?
I machine and inspect steel, aluminium, titanium, exotic materials and deal with a lot of carbon fibre moulds. I have seen jobs that have been machined fail destructive and non destructive testing testing due to stress raises in the job that cannot be seen by the naked eye.
Carbon fibre doe not bend gradually? Are you sure about that? One of the best things about carbon fibre is that it can be designed to bend as much or as little as you want (within reason)
I spoke to 3 people that are specialists in carbon fibre repair, and they were happy for me to carry on riding a frame (they had not seen in the flesh) that went straight into the side of a car at 30mph. I would take their expertise over yours. I guess the fact it has since done 25000 miles makes them right.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Although they are likely to be perfectly safe (unlike a crashed carbon!) the geometry will be screwed up.

The geometry is not just screwed up, it makes the frame unsafe to ride as the handling is likely to be unpredictable and land you on your face. It's a pile of junk.