2nd hand bikes thats been powder coated, bad idea?

JimboPlob
JimboPlob Posts: 397
edited March 2012 in Road buying advice
Hi

I am looking at a 2nd hand bike (caad9 '09). The owner says it has been powder coated. Is this something I should be wary of? He says that it had a little water under lacquer so thats why he had it done.

Just worried it could be used to try and hide something? How would it also affect the resale?

Thanks

Comments

  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,742
    Surprising for a roadie - Usually Powdercoating is considered a good thing on MTB's though as it hides the inevitable bumps and scratches that accompianies MTBing. It's ever so slightly lighter too I think. I tcertainly won't look like a CAAD9 though, you'd need to be a real bike geek to see that...

    I suppose what you re asking though is that is it covering any breaks or welds, I'm afraid I don't know that sorry...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • JimboPlob
    JimboPlob Posts: 397
    ddraver wrote:
    I tcertainly won't look like a CAAD9 though, you'd need to be a real bike geek to see that...

    Bit confused by that statement
    ddraver wrote:
    I suppose what you re asking though is that is it covering any breaks or welds, I'm afraid I don't know that sorry...

    Yes, it was used to race prior to this owner. Could powder coating be used to cover up any nasty stuff on an aluminium frame.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,742
    JimboPlob wrote:
    ddraver wrote:
    I tcertainly won't look like a CAAD9 though, you'd need to be a real bike geek to see that...

    Bit confused by that statement

    It won't have the (original) cannondale paintwork or logos....
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    Yes, powder coating could hide cracks in the frame. If it was powder coated some time ago, then any cracks will probably be visible since they'll have come through the paint. If its been done recently, then it may have been to cover up a crack.

    Also, there used to be a bit of a debate about powder coating weaken aluminium frames due to the temparatures used in the baking process I think. On mountain bike frames it may not be to bad since the tubing will be thicker, but I bet the wall thickness on those CAAD 9's is paper thin. Personally, I dont think Id buy it.
  • jordan_217
    jordan_217 Posts: 2,580
    It may just be me being paranoid but is the powder coating just to disguise the bike? e.g, it's been half inched and may have had some aesthetic feature that set it apart from other CAAD's.

    Apart from a damaged frame, this is the other thing that crossed my mind when I read the OP.

    Sad that we have to think like this....
    “Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”
  • JimboPlob
    JimboPlob Posts: 397
    If I go and look at it, what should I look for in particular? Powder coated in Nov last year, but reportedly not ridden much since.
  • nathancom
    nathancom Posts: 1,567
    Why would you take the risk when there are plenty of better alternatives out there for a 2nd hand bike? Even if you can't see a crack, you don't want to be worrying whether the bike has a crack every time you take it out.
  • crankycrank
    crankycrank Posts: 1,830
    I'd pass on it. Too many possible risks involved with hiding damage, theft, etc. Of course it may be perfectly fine but for the buyer it's a bigger gamble than a bike with the original paint.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    I'd only pay for the value of the components. Powder coating a virtually new frame is odd - if it was well looked after, it shouldn't need a paintjob. Loads of nice bikes out there - buy one of those.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • springtide9
    springtide9 Posts: 1,731
    Putting a positive aspect on this... what is the cost of power coating a bike frame nowadays?

    I know when I had my frame sprayed it was the best part of £150 for the service.

    If it was me and I had cracks appearing in the frame, I wouldn't bother spending the money with the risk of not getting my money back. And the company that sprayed the frame, they'd have to be pretty poor to spray a frame that obviously had major flaws.

    The MTB frame I had sprayed was brushed Ti (and brand new).. I personally prefer painted finishes, when I requested it to be painted, it was obviously that the spray shop didn't agree with me. So not everybody conforms to "general opinion".

    If I was a betting man I would take a guess and say that the frame is probably good. As a power coated finish is not the normal finish on a road frame, I would guess it would affect the resale value.
    Simon
  • Wirral_paul
    Wirral_paul Posts: 2,476
    I personally wouldnt touch it simply down to it puts into question whether it has been nicked. There should be a frame number - generally under the bottom bracket so check for this if you do decide to go and have a look at it. Doesnt meant the frame is genuine however - give me a TIG welder, grinder and a set of punches and i'm sure i could make a frame look original after a powder coating.
  • springtide9
    springtide9 Posts: 1,731
    Agree could be nicked...

    BTW, how much is a caad9 '09 frame worth?
    Simon
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    Just to offer the alternative view - I built up a bike last year from new and nearly new parts. I got a used aluminium frame (only a few hundred miles). An Aluminium German Meusing frame. It was a horrible colour though - a dull mid-blue. So I stripped it by hand and had it powdercoated white.

    When I stripped it, it was obvious that the original 'paint' was a powdercoat - and apparently, some manufacturers powdercoat frames aimed at winter-bike use.

    If the frame was stamped with a serial number, the powdercoat won't hide it. So the Cannondale's serial number should still be there. If you're worried about it's history, then leave it - but it might be worth checking if the guy has the orginal reciept/manuals etc.

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