How bad is this frame damage?

awiseman

New frame arrived today but it looks like the stem has hit the top tube. Seller contacted and waiting a reply. To my eyes this looks like paint layer damage but I could be wrong. Would anyone with more experience of this sort of thing like to share their thoughts. Would like to keep the frame if possible as it's a Sarto.

imposter2.0

Could do with some more pics from different angles, but first impression is that I would be returning that...

First.Aspect

Looks like old damage and peeling paint over it to me.

redvision

I would return that.

diamonddog

As above

sloppyschleckonds

I would be returning that...

Monty Dog

That's pretty major damage and impossible to determine whether it's simply superficial paint or more likely, has created a 'bruise' in the composite laminate structure - I'd refuse to accept it in that condition.

awiseman

Thanks for all the replies

Andymaxy

I would not ride this. Toptubes on modern carbon bikes aren't that strong in that direction. It's may or may not repairable, but for a new bike it's unacceptable either way.

svetty

If it was sold as 'new' it should go back unless the price you paid makes a repair viable. A reputable carbon repair company could repair that with no visual sign so it may still be worth keeping it if the purchase price was low.

priory

I would not want to keep that if i had paid for it. If free I would be a bit scared when stressing it. I did buy a Raleigh SP 531 steel frame with a dent in the downtube. It was quarter price. It lasted about 5 years or 25000 miles then developed a spiral fracture which started in the dent.

cougie

I've a handlebar dent in my Ali cross bike and it's been there for thousands of miles. I'd not accept it out of the box on a carbon frame though.

JakeJ

Before this thread I'd never heard of Sarto...

Now I've found the ultimate dream bike catalogue.