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What do you all think about the safety aspect of regularly hammering older bikes.
Much as I would like a modern bike I can't afford one at the moment. But I seem to be enjoying riding faster than I used to and hitting trail features harder than I used to and am starting to wonder if my old 2006 Stumpy can take the abuse for much longer. I am finding the thought of sudden breakage is starting to hold me back.
The only thing that would be catastrophic as opposed to just having to curtail your ride, would be the headtube coming off.
Very unlikely I'd say. Though it did happen to a mates' On-One inbred 😉
I had the head tube come off an old gt . Most unpleasant. But,if you keep checking for cracks on the welds you should be fine .
I used to hammer old bikes, after a couple of fatigue related frame fails I’ve started retiring major components before catastrophic failure.
Although the story of the day the seat tube came off is amusing, it could have been the other end and a bit more painful.
So, you reckon theres going to be warning signs well in advance of anything nasty happening?
Really Tom!?
I had a Inbred and was a big guy and regularly pushed it hard pump tracks natural woodland jumps etc praise be to the Brant god
Brant Brant Brant where are thou!?
Ride em till they break. I have a 13 year old ally full suss and a 15 year old steel hardtail, my roadie/cx is an unknown vintage but must be similar.
As James suggests, I think components such as handlebars/stems are much more important especially if they may have been torqued up too much or survived 'minor crashes' that potentially stressed them.
So, you reckon theres going to be warning signs well in advance of anything nasty happening?
I’m talking about 10-15 year old aluminium frames. Chances are they’re going to fail.
Although the frame the seat tube came off was creaking beforehand, I checked every part, changed the bushes etc.
Oh and yes handlebars are consumables.
Really Tom!?
I had a Inbred and was a big guy and regularly pushed it hard pump tracks natural woodland jumps etc praise be to the Brant god
Yup, it was Del (he might pop up, as he frequents here).
It was one of the 853 frames, and it let go at the end of some steep singletrack. Broke his collarbone too AFAIK.
In summary in my opinion, yeah keep riding them but I’d not ‘hammer’ old kit. It will break eventually.
Yes, handlebars and stem have been changed recently. I think I am mainly worried about something like the headtube(although visually it looks fine) or the forks/steerer going when landing a drop or hitting a rock garden.
Thanks: there I am happily smashing away on my 10 year old Commencal - albeit a Triggers broom of warranty frame replacements / new parts. And athough I've had a fair share of frame failures - they all happened when pretty new: but now I've got the fear! All over again.
Sorry kneed! Didn't mean to spread the fear 🙂
2006? Old frame?
Oh bugger. That’s most of my kit that i’d better retire then. Starting with my 20-year-old Hope XC rear wheel 🙁
But,if you keep checking for cracks on the welds you should be fine .
This, and newish head tubes can also come off due to cracks, so check them too.
As others have said, it's worth keeping an eye on. Cracks are more likely than catastrophic failure. I remember a GMBN video where they tested an old Giant (or was it a GT?) DH against a modern enduro bike. Neil Donahue was riding both bikes hard and the DH bike was waaaay older than 2006 if I remember correctly and cracked in a few places. I did see a Stumpy FSR of similar vintage the other day with a brand new set of 200mm Boxxers on though... now that is an accident waiting to happen!!!! Unless you're doing similar by putting a massive fork on it or throwing it down seriously gnarly terrain or big jumps there shouldn't be much to worry about.
I bought a 10year old Ibis mojo.....because I liked it.
Still rag it.
My road bike I just retired as I didn't like the carbon/Ali bond at the headtube. It started to flake so I felt it was time to stop.
Condition is everything.
Check for cracks!
Should check for cracks regularly on every bike....
lawman91
I did see a Stumpy FSR of similar vintage the other day with a brand new set of 200mm Boxxers on though… now that is an accident waiting to happen!!!! Unless you’re doing similar by putting a massive fork on it or throwing it down seriously gnarly terrain or big jumps there shouldn’t be much to worry about.
Well, now you've gone and said it!
I have to confess that it is overforked. Frame is designed for max130mm travel fork. Manual includes a warning that fitting longer forks may lead to catastrophic frame failure! I have 150mm Marz All Mountain SL on it. When I first fitted them I used the neg spring to lower the travel to 130mm but over the years I have allowed it to creep up until I am now using the full 150mm.
What do you class as seriously gnarly? This year I am in for Ard Rock and Ard Moors as my first enduros. Am I gonna die
I’m sure it’ll be fine but racing will invalidate your warranty ;-).
If you hammer it hard enough and enter enough races you’ll be needing a new one. Nothing lasts forever.
Any frame can fail, had a 10 year old zaskar snap on the rear stays but also had a 2 year old ghost also snap a rear stay too.
ame is designed for max130mm travel fork. Manual includes a warning that fitting longer forks may lead to catastrophic frame failure! I have 150mm Marz All Mountain SL on it
It's the riding rather than the fork length that is significant. Doesn't sound like you are hardcore.
No, I'm definately not hardcore. But, not always a mincer. Think I'm just looking for an excuse to persuade the other half that I really must buy a newer bike 🙂