Thinking of buying a carbon frame s/h. Not had a cf frame before so what sort of problems should I be looking for? Is it more risky buying second hand carbon frames as opposed to steel or aluminium?

No. If the ad and the seller sounded OK all I’d do would be to grab the dropouts and try to force them apart and together by hand while listening for creaks, same with the fork ends, then inspect the frame in very close detail especially the steerer and any stress risers like the slot for the seatpost clamp.

In practice, it’s probably no more risky but people won’t believe that…

Look out for general appearance, cracks (obv!), soft patches (you can feel with your thumb), repairs and then check the specific frame to understand whether it had problems (debonding, etc)

Thanks for the suggestions.

What sort of frame are you after, i only ask as I will Advertising my 18″ carbon456 in the next few weeks, its probably the best “used” One going having barely been ridden,

Forks will be available aswell (150mm dual air revs) everything else will be goin on the new frame,

Thanks Dan77 but I’m after a 29er.

i bought a tallboy carbon used, paid £1600 – had no issues with it

used/sold a blur xc carbon, blur lt carbon, planet-x pro carbon, merida scultura, all were bought used apart from the lt carbon

I think it’s only more risky in as much as it’s likely to cost more to buy. And you won’t have a warranty for your money.

But then the risk means you shouldn’t pay THAT much more than for an alu frame.

Haven’t bought one s/h myself but have sold a few to very happy buyers.

Chakaping you are very right, it’s the value/risk thing.

Dan77 – how does that ride with the 150s? I’m pondering some for mine. If you do sell the forks desperately, I could be interested.

After this little adventure I’d not just be happy buying used composite frames, I think I would be perfectly happy buying another broken one to fix, they are near enough infinitely repairable with very little in the way of specialist tools or equipment. bust a steel, aluminium or especially a Ti frame and the repair is a much bigger deal IMO.

Just fancy glue and posh fabrics innit…

It’s a bicycle frame. I think people have a misconception that “carbon” is somehow delicate and prone to damage.

Out of interest how much do cheap 150mm 26″ FS carbon frames go for, 2,3 or £400? What’s the cheapest you have seen?

oh, and i have cannondale supersix hi-mod road bike, had it a few years now, bought it cheap, the bars had smacked the top tube and put a hole in it – was repaired by the previous owner, coming up 10,000km on it – 7500km of them being this year

Damaged carbon is always fine; right up until it isn’t.

Still, it’s your bike, and your face.

🙄

I’ve seen plenty of unexpected crashes from broken aluminium and steel frames/components. Best stop riding those too then…

@dadbike, there’s a tallboy carbon frame in the classifieds at the moment. Just saying 8)

Out of interest how much do cheap 150mm 26″ FS carbon frames go for, 2,3 or £400? What’s the cheapest you have seen?

Cheapest I’ve bought (actually it’s a 130mm) was 212 euros without the shock. Not bad for a XC world cup winning frame.

Damaged carbon is always fine; right up until it isn’t.

Still, it’s your bike, and your face.

errmm surely that applies to everything? A damaged anything will have a higher chance of failing than a non damaged thing.

What’s your point?

ScottChegg – Member
Damaged carbon is always fine; right up until it isn’t.

Still, it’s your bike, and your face.

Believe what you like fella, anything can be broken most things can be repaired it’s just how easily, reliably and cheaply that can be done with Composites that I was emphasising.

The typical bleating about warranty you get on here when people are talking about new bikes or frames doesn’t apply to used kit, so the obvious next question is how easily could it be repaired if I broke it… I’ve got much more faith in my bodged merida than I would have in anything I’d welded.