easily Dented downtubes ( trek in particular )
M6TTF
Posts: 602
Washing my bike down this afternoon and found another big dent a few inches above the bottom bracket. It's a sizeable ding right on the outside edge of the tube ( fuel ex ) it's taken all the paint off too. Not I'm fairly sure that the strength of the tube won't have been compromised due to the location, so not really an issue other than cosmetic. But makes me wonder if anyone else suffering like me? I've never had a bike that dents so easily before! If I'd bought the carbon version I'd be crying!!
0
Comments
-
probably wouldn't have dented the carbon one at all!0
-
I'd hazard a guess it may well have split it!0
-
they fuel ex is a light weight bike, that means thin tube walls. sorry but thats one of the trade offs.Fancy a brew?0
-
that video linked above is hardly a accurate experiment with regards to actual "trail use"
yes metal tubing will crush in a dirty great bench vice :? no surprise
and he spent the first minute hitting the carbon quite gingerly.
as soon as he hit it hard it turned dust
i'd have wrecked it first blow 0 -
Looked like he started to smack it quite hard! But carbon, when it does go, tends to be more spectacular.0
-
He hardly touched the bike with that hammer to start off with.0
-
It's amazing how many doubters have lined up to lynch carbon. Have you ever seen an F1 car's carbon monocoque take a REALLY big impact? Funny how the driver walks out. I don't think I'd like to see what would happen if the car was made of aluminium.0
-
the carbon used in F1 cars aint built to the same tolerances as a bike frame!!
bikes don't have to withstand 200+mph
but point taken.0 -
Briggo wrote:He hardly touched the bike with that hammer to start off with.
But he whacked it bloody hard towards the end!0 -
i dont doubt the strength or science behind carbon for one minute.
however , in an " imminent collision situation " i'd still rather take my chances on a metallic
frame.
yeehaa's comparison with F1 car crash cells is a million miles away from the technology
used in bike frames.0 -
It depends how is constructed. GT reckon their carbon Fury frame is lighter, stronger and stiffer than the alu version.
Any frame can fail catastophically if poorly designed. Problem is, for a while, many carbon frames were just that.0 -
I just don't trust carbon yet.
If your alu frame gets a ding you see it, with carbon you hear an impact but don't see what effect it had. You could have structurally damaged the frame but not know it and unless you have an X-Ray machine handy you probably won't ever know...
Can't deny it's a great material though...Not really active0 -
how likely are you to have a non-catastrophic carbon frame failure?0
-
dunno - there could be some really funny testing though...Not really active0
-
Yeah, a very interesting idea, I cannot think of any mtb frames that have cracked but not completely failed. In which case it's perversely safer, as you cannot start a ride on a damaged frame...0
-
Catastrophic as in riding along, then snaps in two with no warning. Some will creak first, show cracks or other problems.0
-
some just creak anyway - my mates carbon Fuel creaks around the bottom bracket, apparrently the aluminium insert istn't glues in correctly...Not really active0
-
i meant more a crash/stunt of some description that results in a knackered frame you would still ride.0
-
same issue with the dent on my fuel ex. Happened while in the post. Also, the water bottle cage holes are easy to over torque and break the welds.0
-
Got a dent on my Alu Remedy too from some rocks at cwmcarn
The new CF remedy's seem to have a pretty cool plastic protector near the BB now.
CF is an incredible material but is only super strong if you load it in the way the bike designer wanted.0 -
Carbon is stronger than Aluminium, weight for weight.
But generally Carbon frames are built to be light and thats why they tend not to be very strong.Canyon Spectral AL 9.0 EX
Planet X RT90 Ultegra Di20 -
Was between a Remedy and a Reign X but possibly half the Treks on the 'bay have seriously dented downtubes.
Must be because they are flat bottomed. Nice shape but very susceptible.Giant Reign X10
