Raleigh M-TRAX Ti 1000 frame repair

[Pete.H]

I have owned and ridden a Raleigh M-TRAX mountain bike since 1994. I have had a rear parcel rack fitted for the last ten years
The other day after a shopping trip and whilst cleaning the bike i noticed that the rear frame supports had both snapped(see photos)
I've done some research as i definately want to try and get this repaired but it seems as this is a titanium frame it may be very difficult and expensive?
Has anyone else managed something similar?

 

[Ajax Bay]

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/raleigh-m-trax-any-info.242125/
A magnet is your friend to establish steel v Ti and from that thread the suggestion is that any Ti tubes were glued into aluminium lugs; which generally didn't end well aiui; the ALANs were glued and screwed - I have one (81).
Those fractured seat stays look like steel to me.

 

[Pete.H]

Thankyou i will try that immediately!
Lets hope. Update soon🙂👍

 

[ianrauk]

That's a shame. They are such lovely bikes. I hope you can get fixed ok.

 

[Pete.H]

Thankyou i will try that immediately!
Lets hope. Update soon🙂👍

Great news you were right the Ti tubes appear to be just the crossbar and the headstock to BB bar all the joins are steel. Thankyou!

 

[Ajax Bay]

Steel entirely repairable: a judgement call whether the frame is worth it for value, whether monetary or love.
OP may wish to amend thread title, for posterity eg "Raleigh M-TRAX MTB frame repair".

 

[Pete.H]

So for future ref all red parts are steel and black are Ti. I will try to ammend thread title . This bike will be repaired now. Its like an old friend too many thousand miles ridden on it🙂

 

[chris667]

I believe that you used to be able to buy a release agent for the titanium tubes, and like you say the rear triangle was Reynolds 653.

It is fixable, but it might come to some money and they are seriously lightweight with very thin walled tubing - even the brake bridge is only brazed on one side!

There are still quite a few of them around. I would possibly try and source one on a certain auction site.

 

[MichaelW2]

What idiot drilled a vent hole that close to the brazed end! It is a stress raiser waiting to happen.

 

[chris667]

I have owned and ridden a Raleigh M-TRAX mountain bike since 1994...

What idiot drilled a vent hole that close to the brazed end! It is a stress raiser waiting to happen.

28 years isn't too bad?

 

[All uphill]

I believe that you used to be able to buy a release agent for the titanium tubes, and like you say the rear triangle was Reynolds 653.

It is fixable, but it might come to some money and they are seriously lightweight with very thin walled tubing - even the brake bridge is only brazed on one side!

There are still quite a few of them around. I would possibly try and source one on a certain auction site.

One just turned up near me on the bay for £75. Raleigh ti1000 ?

 

[Pete.H]

Brilliant! I just bought it. Thanks for the heads up. Will be cheaper than a repair👍

 

[All uphill]

I'm so pleased!

 

[Pete.H]

I bought this bike for the frame but its in such good nick i dont want to break it so the old one remains and I'm going to get it welded

 

[KneesUp]

That looks like it's been ridden a dozen times and then lived at the back of a garage for 30 years. Nice.