Dented my frame

Sikora

Came off my bike at Coed y Brenin today and put a dent in my top tube



Anything to worry about? No signs of any cracks in the paint on the other side

leaflite

Might be worth getting it checked by your lbs or someone with experience with damaged frames.

cat_with_no_tail

Is that just a split in the pain at the top there then?

Purely going on that pic, I'd say it was new frame time*.

At the very least take it somewhere that does frame repairs and let them look at it.

*this is purely my non-expert opinion

ricardo_smooth

i'd say its fine. People panic a little I feel when they see a dent. If we said 'its new car time' everytime someone dented their car it would be a chaotic car market wouldn't it

I know bikes are a little different but I have a rather large dent in my downtube and have had it for the last 10 months. Yes the paint has split but i coated the area in a clear varnish to prevent any rust implications as paint did crack, but the metal underneat didn't crack and any nearby welds were fine also. It has been ridden hard ever since and there have been no other structural differences made to the frame .

I'd say these are the main things to worry about in this case and going on what I can see without a closer look i'd say you will be OK.

Just don't expect to be able to sell the frame on to anybody in future (i'm in the same position)

JonnyN

Which section did you crash on?

DickBarton

top tube section! ;-)

JonnyN

...

bennett_346

ricardo_smooth wrote:

i'd say its fine. People panic a little I feel thwn they see a dent. If we said 'its new car time' everytime someone dented their car it would be a chaotic car market wouldn't it

I know bikes are a little different but I have a rather large dent in my downtube and have had it for the last 10 months. Yes the paint has split but i coated the area in a clear varnish to prevent any rust implications as paint did crack, but the metal underneat didn't crack and any nearby welds were fine also. It has been ridden hard ever since and there have been no other structural differences made to the frame .

I'd say these are the main things to worry about in this case and going on what I can see without a closer look i'd say you will be OK.

Just don't expect to be able to sell the frame on to anybody in future (i'm in the same position)

Except dents in cars arent as structurally critical

ricardo_smooth

bennett_346 wrote:

ricardo_smooth wrote:

i'd say its fine. People panic a little I feel thwn they see a dent. If we said 'its new car time' everytime someone dented their car it would be a chaotic car market wouldn't it

I know bikes are a little different but I have a rather large dent in my downtube and have had it for the last 10 months. Yes the paint has split but i coated the area in a clear varnish to prevent any rust implications as paint did crack, but the metal underneat didn't crack and any nearby welds were fine also. It has been ridden hard ever since and there have been no other structural differences made to the frame .

I'd say these are the main things to worry about in this case and going on what I can see without a closer look i'd say you will be OK.

Just don't expect to be able to sell the frame on to anybody in future (i'm in the same position)

Except dents in cars arent as structurally critical

bennett_346

ricardo_smooth wrote:

bennett_346 wrote:

ricardo_smooth wrote:

i'd say its fine. People panic a little I feel thwn they see a dent. If we said 'its new car time' everytime someone dented their car it would be a chaotic car market wouldn't it

I know bikes are a little different but I have a rather large dent in my downtube and have had it for the last 10 months. Yes the paint has split but i coated the area in a clear varnish to prevent any rust implications as paint did crack, but the metal underneat didn't crack and any nearby welds were fine also. It has been ridden hard ever since and there have been no other structural differences made to the frame .

I'd say these are the main things to worry about in this case and going on what I can see without a closer look i'd say you will be OK.

Just don't expect to be able to sell the frame on to anybody in future (i'm in the same position)

Except dents in cars arent as structurally critical

Funny, i did read that, but since we're discussing something here that could potentially save the OPs life i think speculation like this isn't the best way of going about it.

captainfly

It doesn't look like the dent has creased the edges/bends in the tube, if it was just the flat section I wouldn't worry about it as the stiffness comes mainly from the folds that's why the flat sections bend (this comes from my motorcycle days, 125cc racing there were plenty of TZRs with dented frames that were fine)
BUT if you are concerned get it checked out.

Sikora

JonnyN wrote:

Which section did you crash on?

"Abel" on the MBR.

JonnyN

Love that section... I was there last week.

nicklouse

what frame? and is that where the seat post gusset joins?

Sikora

nicklouse wrote:

what frame? and is that where the seat post gusset joins?

2008 Stumpjumper FSR. The seat post gusset is directly above the dent. No visable cracks at the weld

nicklouse

I would pick off all the lifted paint as the bit above the dent makes it look worse.

I think it will be OK but I would put some paint on it so that you will be able to see if it is changeing.

ricardo_smooth

bennett_346 wrote:

ricardo_smooth wrote:

bennett_346 wrote:

ricardo_smooth wrote:

i'd say its fine. People panic a little I feel thwn they see a dent. If we said 'its new car time' everytime someone dented their car it would be a chaotic car market wouldn't it

I know bikes are a little different but I have a rather large dent in my downtube and have had it for the last 10 months. Yes the paint has split but i coated the area in a clear varnish to prevent any rust implications as paint did crack, but the metal underneat didn't crack and any nearby welds were fine also. It has been ridden hard ever since and there have been no other structural differences made to the frame .

I'd say these are the main things to worry about in this case and going on what I can see without a closer look i'd say you will be OK.

Just don't expect to be able to sell the frame on to anybody in future (i'm in the same position)

Except dents in cars arent as structurally critical

Funny, i did read that, but since we're discussing something here that could potentially save the OPs life i think speculation like this isn't the best way of going about it.

Fully aware and gave an explanation as to why i think it's ok. I didn't just make the sweeping statement and not back up why I thought so

d00m

I think it'll be fine. Loads of dents in my toptube from shifters/brake levers hitting it...

Sikora

Thanks for the replies. I'm taking it to my nearest Specialized store tomorrow to get it properly checked out

Anonymous

Oh dear.

customer "hi, I have a tiny dent in my bike, do you think it'll be ok?"
speccy salesman "nope, but I can sell you a new frame, or better still a new bike. Yep, those cranks look scuffed too, definitely new bike time"

Sikora

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Oh dear.

customer "hi, I have a tiny dent in my bike, do you think it'll be ok?"
speccy salesman "nope, but I can sell you a new frame, or better still a new bike. Yep, those cranks look scuffed too, definitely new bike time"

I must admit I have the same thinking as you. Who wouldn't try and push the sale of a new bike?
It was a local biking site that suggested trying my luck with contacting Specialized UK after hearing they had excellent customer service. They want me to drop it off at my local store and get it checked out.