When A Bike Is Not Worth Fixing - Cutting Your Losses

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

For more bike repair videos hit the subscribe button 🛑 and click the notification bell ► bit.ly/SubRJTheBikeGuy

[@Jakeletoiletsnake]

Did you part it out yet?

[@bellaassa4946]

Great video I will be checking rear wheel alignment when purchasing new used bikes

[@RyanWiggins1zoom]

How much do you want for it

[@jackhammer40k_]

At least you've got some parts for the next project.

[@RyanWiggins1zoom]

I did all that already

[@theshamanarchist5441]

I've had this problem with a number of old bikes I've decided to revitalise and bring back upto date. I've normally put 100 hours of stripping down and rebuliding and spent £300-400+ before I realize I'd be lucky to get £150 back from selling it ha ha. But that's not why I do it. I do it because I despise this 'use it up and throw it away' fast food culture we live in and I'm passionate about restoration, customization, preservation and improvement.

[@hatsunemikussnzbmindcontro4444]

The Shamanarchist a men whit a💙

[@Herbybandit]

You sound exactly like me! 😁 I hate seeing things go to recycling when it only takes someone like ourselves to take the time and fix it good as new. There's been a number of times I've done the same as you and bought a load of parts then realised " I'd be lucky to get my money back" it's at that point I first look at my kids bikes and think "I'm keeping it and replacing the kids bike, sell the old one" that way my kids benefit.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

I can relate. Instead of throwing away, I like to fix, restore or re-purpose things. Doesn't matter what it is.

[@doriankelly101]

I build up bikes and resell them for about what I put in (or slightly less). I justify it as a "hobby". But really it's because I have some strange emotion when I see a really good bike that's just in need of love.

[@drmoynihan]

YES!!! 👍😁

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

If a bike has been neglected, it’s a good thing to revive it. If it’s been abused to the point of failure, recognise that it has had its life.

[@SpinozicTroll]

Why is this so sad to read

[@JapaneseSoomi]

@@SpinozicTroll ikr

[@VerbenaHA]

Good bikes are sad to retire, but it that just means it was worth all the use it got!

[@dangerdavefreestyle]

if it was whipped like a rented mule, played kick the can with, the owner is a lazy disgusting individual, then thats what youre buying is a physical manifestation of their demise.

[@LiterallyCensoredDaily]

Cracked and bent old school frames sometimes can still be used as wall hangers. My friend has held on to Konas, GTs, classic Scwinns, etc. for display purposes.

[@blipco5]

Look at the positive side. That bike was no garage queen, it was ridden.

[@daltonbedore8396]

this kind of wear and complete lack of maintenence makes me think this was probably ridden to death by a homeless or very low income person

[@blipco5]

Dalton Bedore ...Or a kid having fun.

[@JamesToward]

@@blipco5 exactly

[@justinwbohner]

It was ridden and hit by a car!

[@blipco5]

Justin Bhoner...It's hard to tell with kids (or adults) but they had piece of mind to strip the derailleurs.

[@johns3106]

I always look at bikes like this as parts bikes...for $20, you get a usable saddle, seat post, wheels, h-bars, BB, etc, all of which would probably cost more (in some cases much more!) if you had to buy them individually as a replacement for a worn or broken part on a "good" bike.

[@HHHSOHS]

me too even if you sell parts on ebay or keep for future builds its a win win

[@benjaminn8139]

Yep! I part up bikes like these for when I find nice frames with bad parts and bingo, one good bicycle! People take the frames for scrap too so it's a win win win situation

[@danbardos3498]

Yeah, $20 ain't bad for the parts he got. (At least on the surface. Hopefully he didn't find more cracks lol).

[@dirge187]

If you're a glutton like me you'll pick up several parts bikes on the cheap ($30 or less) and have a good pile of used parts to fix up whatever bike you actually want to keep.

[@anzaiEntertainment]

Hey Rj, im from phillipines technically south east asia,, for me u are the best bike mechanic in youtube. Every time that i had problem in bike .. I type the problem then you channel pop up,,,, ure great men

[@ENJ4321]

Hahaha ako rin.

[@kevinjfeeney77]

I'm half Filipino...live in U.S. I would love an Ave Maldea frameset

[@mustachgloria6445]

@NebularCrystal same as you. Lol.

[@BangTheRocksTogether]

"Three quarters of a centimeter." I am literally laughing out loud. Old fractions die hard. Rock on, RJ.

[@BangTheRocksTogether]

My rulers are metric. My tape measures are Imperial. My digital instruments swing both ways. Signed, Canada I was seven when Canada made the switch. I rarely convert. I use each system indepedently.

[@forevercomputing]

@@BangTheRocksTogether UK - Waves. We use Imperial, the US uses a variation on this. Which means all the measurements are slightly bigger in the UK.

[@BangTheRocksTogether]

@@forevercomputing Whaaaat? An inch is an inch. The American gallon is unique...

[@forevercomputing]

@@BangTheRocksTogether Uh - no. An inch is not an inch. It's like Hello, vs Hullo. We used "hullo" before the telephone, now we use "Hello" and "hullo" was just phased out.

[@BangTheRocksTogether]

@@forevercomputing I do not understand. But that shouldn't surprise you... 25.4mm isn't the same thing as hello/hullo... or is it?

[@christopherharmon9336]

Sometimes, if it's a bike you've owned, you MUST restore it! I had a worn-out but much loved Gary Fisher, steel framed mountain bike from 1998. It is also the only bike I own with rack mounts. The frame was good, the original fork was replaced with a Rock Shox coil fork about 7 years ago, so I stripped and powder coated the frame. I replaced the drivetrain with an Alivio crank, a narrow-wide chain ring, and an 11-34 nine speed cassette. Yes, I could have put the cash into a modern bike, but now I have a retro but new looking bike with a modern drive train.

[@MrJack421]

I am constantly facing a similar problem with my MTB (Scott G-Zero FX4 from 2006). I know that spend more money on parts than the bike worth, but I still do it. For me it's a sentimental thing. It is my first proper mountain bike. I had some unforgettable moments with this bike. If I want to sell it, it worth probably around 100-120$, however for me it's priceless.

[@bryancorts5389]

If it was a desirable frame its worth keeping trust me. The feeling you get from a bike that fits your body is priceless

[@waldrallye]

I've recently done a similar project but the bike's frame was mechanically in way better condition than your's is. I've stripped it, took off the old paint and decals and gave it a nice respray, rebuilt it and all that took me around 20h of work. Now it's ready to be gifted to my niece (9) on Christmas :-)

[@Toto-is8ci]

Thanks RJ. Nice step by step explanation of non-obvious flaws. I've finally learned to do a through evaluation of a bike before doing repair of individual components. A lesson hard won when I spent hours on a bicycle only to find that the seatpost was epoxied into the frame!

[@andrewpintar1620]

RJ - you got $20 bucks worth of parts AND still got a video out of it!! Instructional as always.

[@zackwetzel2158]

Did he pay $20 to buy it?

[@danpugatch]

As long as the frame is okay it's always worth it. Agree with you don't bend an aluminum frame back. I ride aluminum now but I bought it new. If I was to buy used I would only steel.

[@tamminicholson5060]

Stealing is bad, mmmm k 🤓

[@terrycruise-zd5tw]

i thought aluminum can be bent back a few times before it loses its integrity (including the initial bending out of alignment in the first place)? unless he just decided not to bother due to all the other issues? although he could have restored the frame which is the most expensive part?

[@BruceChastain]

sounds like you're right. For me I probably wouldn't have noticed the frame being tweaked and would have tried but build it up anyway, nice that you have that frame tool.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGrFgZx3nsR-h8U kzbin.info/www/bejne/moazcn6niJiXqpo

[@se7ensnakes]

I dont think you need the frame tool to see the problem with alignment. Just look at the wheel

[@michaelremington1493]

String will work in a pinch.

[@TinyTitian]

After the cracked fork, it was like a horror movie and the bike kept getting worse :(

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

LOL!

[@sidefx996]

🤣🤣🤣

[@slowjamcdub]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@roomservicetaco]

I wouldn't feel too bad - you got a good number of working parts for $20, including shifters, wheels, and disc brakes.. Someday you'll buy a bike with a solid frame and crappy parts for $20, you'll marry the two, and have a nice bike for around $60.

[@zackwetzel2158]

True, good point, but waiting for the one can be hard

[@BerserkerNick]

Strip it down, keep the useable parts and use them on future builds

[@bikemadnessandreviews2238]

I think that's what he has done like threes probably 3 useable parts

[@thenaturalworldwithlewismi9920]

Berserker Nick watch the video till the end, that’s what he said.

[@darkknight17]

Nah, you'd end up with just a large box full of spares you'd never use. If you use random parts from random stripped bikes you end up with an ugly frankenstein hybrid looking bike. Might as well just buy a nice shiny new bike.

[@VerbenaHA]

@@darkknight17 He did say he bought this bike as a fun project, I get the feeling he had a good bike he uses for himself. But isn't the idea of spare parts to avoid breaking the bank on new parts later? I found this video because I'm trying to decide whether it would be cheaper to buy a used bike or repair the clunker in the yard.

[@joewas2225]

@@VerbenaHA It's cheaper in the long run to just buy the new bike. Will last longer.

[@cringineering]

I worked as a bike mechanic for a while and would come across bikes that were really old and needed too much work for it to make sense. I would always let the customer know that it was not economicaly worth it unless they have some sort of sentimental value towards the bike. I always told them I was more than happy to fix it but I personally would not recommend it.

[@bobstevens9040]

Great video RJ. It helps you learn what to look for when you buy a used bike. I spotted that the fork looked bent as soon as I saw it.

[@dirtyboy601]

bicycle repair man gives up. Save us bicycle repair man! We need you now more than ever

[@joef7011]

The decision was due to honesty. I have seen people selling defective products while telling that they work properly.

[@ianmangham4570]

Scumbags

[@davidrowe8747]

Very interesting video! I just overhauled my 1981 Gary Fisher Hoo-Koo-e-Koo and converted it to a 1x utility bike (grocery shopping, commuting, etc.) It cost overall about $700, but I now have essentially a new bike with a great steel frame, that has the Gary Fisher heritage. In my case, definitely worth the money, if only for sentimental reasons. Your video gives a great heads-up to anybody who sees a cheap used bike for sale. I can't believe they hid the cracked fork!

[@geoffpoole483]

0.16 "But alas! My dreams were shattered". I guess the seat post wasn't stuck then. On a serious note this is a very helpful video.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

No it wasn't.

[@johnwilson230]

Rj I did a bike course many years ago ran by local council. They brought bikes that were took to local tips they brought them to us by the shed load.if they were to bad we strip down for parts and use to make other bikes up. They went into front of house were they had the shop all adult bikes some for 30 uk pounds and kids bikes 15 uk pounds. As Christmas approached people with kids bought there kids bike for them for Christmas the kids faces it was full of excitement and expectation . It felt great knowing so many kids had something for Christmas and adults haveing bikes and being able to find work and have cheap transport to get there. All the best buddy john in the uk.😊

[@SeaScoutDan]

Following along, and I was like also like "But the frame is still good, it has good bones. Oh frame is bend, yea we are done here". It seems like the wheels, seat and handlebars are all that is worth saving.

[@maxx-er3fj]

There are other small things, like headset, some fork parts for rebuild of another fork etc

[@the_blair_bike_project]

The fork was the nasty surprise. I think the bike has so much more potential than one of the bikes i fixed up for my son, a real Franken-bike. I had to replace the chain (one on it was new and still in packing grease; i cleaned it and it had damaged linked in more than one location) new rear derailleur (had the cheapest possible one on it), derailleur hanger (bent/stripped threads), new shifters/brakes, bottom bracket and crank, stem, handlebars, and brakes (caliper), seat post and saddle. All that is original is the frame, front derailler, wheels, and front fork. Yes, I'm an idiot, but i learned a lot and do anything for my kids. Only one possibly better bike has come along since but i missed putting an offer on it by minutes. At least i know he has a reliable bike that shouldn't have any major surprises. The bike was like a rotten onion. Looked ok on the outside but slowly revealed its ugly layers as i set out to repair it. "Why is the chain jumping still? What is the knocking sound?" It took me for a nasty frustrating ride.

[@the1andonly]

At Bike Edmonton we are used to get bikes like that for donations. Usually the first thing we check is frame alignment as this is a big factor and we have used parts for almost everything else. The bike is still wort more than the twenty bucks as you can strip off the parts and use them to build other bikes. I personally like 1980's, pre suspension mountain bikes with lugged chromoly frames. They are almost always worth rebuilding.

[@triumphmanful]

So many bikes I find have a bent back wheel ! Did the fools back over them in the driveway where the kids dropped them ? So I take a good wheel I saved and viola, a good bike for a needy kid to ride ! I feel good about savings bikes from the dump !

[@PaulioMaldinio]

Excellent rundown RJ. Thanks

[@customfreak81]

Definitely the best option to scrap it, I would be checking all the parts carefully as well, this looks like it's been in a big wreck.

[@kelliwainscoat6516]

Absolutely fantastic video!! Thanks, I will definitely keep this in mind when I’m trying to give used bikes a new life. 🙏

[@andytorre4858]

As a bike mechanic myself, I feel your pain RJ!

[@GiotheGhreat]

I love your tutorials, very professional and straight forward. Now with COVID19 there are no bikes for sale so I'm buying cheap and flipping them for a quick profit. Your videos help a lot

[@genghisbunny]

Looks like it got run into. Seen a few bikes like that when people don't see it lying in the driveway and roll into the bike before they realise it's there. Particularly common with 4WDs/SUVs because of the terrible visibility.

[@triumphmanful]

exactly how I find them, bent back wheels

[@phoenixdoe2384]

Wow. Thank God you said $20 at the beginning of this! I would've cried when you showed how far off the alignment was. But my tears would not have lasted long. Doing the math on how much you'd pay for each of the parts in good shape, your $20 was well invested. Sweet!

[@cameronmilton1647]

I had a feeling it was going to be a problem with the frame, once you need to replace the frame you're basically getting/making a new bike.

[@ralphpannone3391]

The chain is probably the most overlooked part of maintenance. I was guilty of that myself long ago. Until I had to replace the cassette,chain, 2 chainrings ,and both rear derailleur pulleys,that is. Along with my parts list I added a chain check tool. Well worthy of my $10 investment

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Yeah, if you replace the chain when it shows wear on a chain gauge, the rest of the drive train will last much longer.

[@dom3489]

I bent my aluminum Mongoose frame by hand and it works perfectly fine lmao

[@meadows408]

Very useful. I recently bought an older Cannondale and I was planning on bigger tires mounted on another wheel set, also for a Cannondale. But the rear wheel is just too wide, I had to force the wheel set into the drop outs. Watching your videos and others like it I knew I could not safely mount the bigger wheel set because as you said, aluminum can't be cold set. And as an aside, I inherited a steel GT mtn bike with many shifting and braking problems, using your string method I found out the frame was way out of alignment. Looking at the super heavy weight construction of the GT, I decided to strip the parts and discard the frame. Bummer, but just too many welds on the triple triangle for a garage hack like myself to try and overcome. Wasn't worth it. Thanks for the videos.

[@anthonyschmieder3174]

Great video! This is a perspective I haven't seen much in bike repair videos.

[@NelsonSherry]

FWIW: Cold setting aluminum is certainly something to be cautious about. BUT, with these lower end aluminum frames, the aluminum is actually quite soft and setable for small bends like the one shown on this bike. I have straightened much worse with long-term success. This is similar to bending lower end aluminum rims to straighten rim damage. Higher end stuff, which quite obviously doesn't want to bend when you apply force to it, will dramatically fracture when you try to straighten it (similar some of the hardened DT Swiss and Raceface rims if you've experimented with bending them). Also, on this bike, although those chainrings are worn, they don't look bad enough to need to be replaced. AND finally, thanks for lots of great content about fixing instead of throwing away old bicycles and forks.

[@mrupholsteryman]

I guess if the frame was completely a wash... I would cut the frame down into pieces and turn it into a wind chime. 😇😎

[@robsimpson9784]

Thanks for the tips on what to look for when buying a used bike. I especially like the finger spacing check on the rear wheel.

[@hubdeep9452]

I walked away from an alloy frame that had a crash big enough to break the forks. The frame looked ok but I wasn't prepared to take the risk. Having said that, I've built loads of bikes up from a bare frame and they've become my favourite bikes.

[@sunfirefilms000]

Hey you still got a good video out of it!

[@MrDementori]

About cold setting aluminium... I have a Marin from the same era as that Trek. Got it without wheels and the rear measured only 120 mm. Pulled the stays apart to just under 135 mm and put a wheel in. No issues with alignment. Built it up. Didn't ride it much for a couple of years. Then I needed an ebike and decided to convert that Marin. Have done over 5500 km on it with no issues. Now my commute has shortened so much that there's really no need for an ebike and I just use my regular fixed gear which is much nicer anyway.

[@Keane-fh2pc]

I just made this mistake 3 months ago by swapping parts on my MTB and costs me around 360USD thinking that I could learn something and still be able to use the old bike. In the end, I did learn how to fix a bike but its an expensive experience as it still doesn't feel right. After I felt its not worthy to continue the project, I ended up getting a new bike instead. The point is if it's an old bike and haven't been well maintain in it's enitre life, scrap it and get a new one.

[@mwillemsen55]

Great video! I'm always picking up cheap or free bikes to fix and now seeing this will greatly help me with checking wether a bike is worth fixing or not 👍

[@vsmetc7305]

Like others I like to fix bikes - there are always those that can’t afford new. But sometimes harvesting parts is all you can do. Safety is number one

[@dragnridr05]

I have a Wal-Mart Next PowerX 26" 18 speed I bought over 20 years ago. For the first 10 years, I rode the HELL out of that thing. Then after that 10, it just kinda sat under my carport. I just got around to digging it back out to see if it's worth bringing back to life. Most of the components are a bit rusted and frozen. So I am just going to go ahead and get a new Wal-Mart bike just until I can build up my old one to what I have been looking for in a bike. I love the full suspension, heavy weight frame it has. That frame is tough as hell. I hit a tree head on (lost control) and the frame is still straight as an arrow. And the front forks are still holding up like new. So those are staying. It is going to get NEW Shimano shifter brake lever combo to replace the Shimano twist grip shifters. New Derailleurs for front and back. New cassette and wheels. New cables, and maybe a nice comfy seat as well as new brakes. New chain as well as new Knobby tires and Never flat solid foam inner tubes so flats are never a problem. Once those are done, It should be a good TOUGH bike that will handles a few trails as well as be smooth as glass on any road surface.

[@FOREST10PL]

142 milimemers? Someone wanted to have it boost compatible?

[@TonchoTonev]

Boost is 148

[@bob-ny6kn]

@@TonchoTonev It was a very tight fit. 5mm sounds right.

[@MrAmorti]

142 is 12mm through axle spacing

[@TonchoTonev]

@@MrAmorti nope, mine is 142 and is qr

[@TringmotionCoUk]

141 is boost QR here's a link to the list www.halowheels.com/frame-spacing-hub-o-l-d-information/

[@BigBleuDesign]

Thanks! I am new to biking and I bought a used mtb on marketplace in my area. I have had to do some work and started to worry I messed up in purchasing it. I must say it is nowhere near as bad as this trek is. This was really helpful if I decide to purchase another used one. I will look for these issues.

[@joekahno]

Another sign you're getting too old, you start recognizing situations where the best thing you can do is walk away. *Before* you've sunk a load of time and money into them. (I'm borderline autistic, with a natural inclination to beat my head against a wall.)

[@borderlands6606]

Agreed. The best restorations are where the bike's financial value exceeds any cash sunk in parts and labour. Then there's the projects that are fun enough so you'll ride away with a neat bike for your effort, but no profit in the job. After that there are bikes that aren't viable, but you happen to have just the stuff to fix it up lying around. Then there's hopeless cases like this one. Take the saddle, seat pin, bars and stem, carefully checking they aren't toast along with the rest of the bike, and save yourself a bunch of time and headaches. That's for home restorations, bike shops are a different matter. Something like replacing a drive chain can render the job uneconomical over buying a new bike.

[@Magnabee97]

Joe Kahno did you ever hear the saying older and WISER.

[@joekahno]

@@Magnabee97 Uh-huh, I also worked with some people who had ten years experience, and others who had one year of experience repeated ten times.

[@johnthompson9602]

@@Magnabee97 No, that was the worst mistake I did in my life. Older doesn't mean wiser. Many people are born stupid, live stupid, get old stupid, and die stupid. Following their advice, just because they are old, AND SOMETIMES VERY REALIZED PROFESSIONALLY, is the worst mistake I did. Somebody can be very intelligent, but not wise at all.

[@kafkaian]

That's exactly right LOL. I was born in 1964 so am starting to choose my battles more wisely

I'm currently in a similar situation with my work bike. It was a winter training MTB for me many years ago, now i ride to work with it (smaller risk of getting stolen). But yeah, i have to admit, the bike is quite neglected. I did take care of it, lubing when needed, but still... Chain, chainrings, cassette all worn, derailleurs are getting loose from all those years of use, breaks (V-brakes) could be better, wheels are also worn and quite weak. Cables need to be replaced too. The frame is an old steel frame, quite okay, but i still don't know if i should fix my bike or find an other one. I'm more of a "if it ain't totally dead, fix it" type, also to me a bike has a personal value, not just a bunch of metal, especially after all those years of adventures. Still, a good used bike could be cheaper and definitely a better overall product. It's not easy to decide, that's sure.

[@MonkeyShred]

Speaking of bikes that are too far gone. My neighbour wanted me to look at his sons bike because he'd had a crash and bent the rear derailleur. When he brought it round it was literally wrapped in the rear wheel. No problem. It's a steel bike, I can correct that hanger and maybe swap out the derailleur. I did but as I was doing it I noticed the front derailleur was all twisted, the gear shifters were smashed, it has no grips, the brake pads were bent... The brake pads... Bent, oh and then the bottom bracket was completely loose and the pedals smashed. What got me though is the Crank arm was actually bent and you couldn't spin the cranks 😭 He asked me how much it would be to fix 😂 it was a generic youth bike so I just told him to give it to the scrap man. How does a bike even get that bad??

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Wow! Yeah, that sounds bad. Sounds like a Walmart bike. They are made of cheap metal and parts. They bend/break easily.

[@VR_JPN]

Many thanks; learnt a lot here, especially regarding teeth health and frame alignment. Checking my TREK tomorrow!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

First.

[@sergiojuanorts]

eyyyyy that´s cheating !!!!! hahahahaha

[@MadazzaMusik]

Ha ha😃

[@sid_gm1949]

Awww Mann !! (ノ•̀ o •́ )ノ ~ ┻━┻

[@infectiouspeanut7263]

Oh yeah you're the first to comment...... But not the first one to watch the video XD

[@Irumimiru]

@@infectiouspeanut7263 nope, he probably watched the video in editing a thousand times so he won there too😂

[@HB-yq8gy]

Thank you, RJ even the professionals can't see always a cheap deal has good potential. I'm just starting out pick up a Trek 4500 mint no rust with some upgrades for $100. Unbeknownst to me sold my original owner 1988 Diamond Back Override 19" for $75!! Upgraded to the 4500!

[@monkadelic13]

a TREK for 20 bucks!? Ill take it!- just turn it into a single speed

[@antonioporras5161]

Monkadelic just put a chain on it, a replacement fork, and its a junkyard bike. Employees at a junkyard would love to have a rideable bike to use around the property. I'd be interested in the disc brakes if you're parting out. Best regards.

[@dynothane300]

right on

[@theevermind]

For $20, who cares how it rides.

[@skepticalmechanic]

Frames bent...

[@insertgoodname4809]

Every time you pedal the rear tire is going to be scrubbing not rolling. The rear tire is going to wear out super fast.

[@lukabrlic5826]

Thanks for the tips for looking next time i look or buy user bikes!

[@recycled3654]

Since you were going to scarp the frame, I'd see what happens when I try to cold bend the frame back. I mean, as an experiment. I'm curious how far I could take it before it's really toast.

[@TheFXofNewton]

Ultimately it's probably cracked. So it's just a really bad idea.

[@jonowens460]

Not recommended for aluminium, steel you can cheat a little 😂

[@nitin9330]

This video is really useful specially for those who go for used bycycle, I wasn't aware of all these things to take into consideration when I brought my used bike, but thank god I had not land buying a junk☺️

[@gopromountainbike901]

Awesome treck mountain bike I have same brand it extra large 19.5 and I see mechanic disc break new fork and freewheel pads too right

[@ralph17p]

I just made that call with my old bike. Cycling up a slight hill in town, I got out the saddle to put some power down and the bike suddenly got all weird and unstable on me. I pulled to one side and my down tube had broken near the head tube with an inch of daylight between the two bits. It was a handbuilt custom brazed steel frame that had cost quite a bit, so it might have been worth fixing - but not something I could have done myself, and with internal cable routing and a complete respray the repair would have cost a bomb. Also, I figured the break was probably due to an accident at some point, so there may have been other hidden damage. I moved some of the bits that were compatible across to a Surly Krampus frame I bought off eBay and now I have a sweet, bomb-proof ride. Did make me curse the plethora of incompatible parts standards in cycling though. Hadn't come across Boost geometry before this project, for one thing.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Ouch. You might consult a frame builder.

[@jasonlau7178]

After dealing with a couple of used bikes it's definitely been a painfully slow (and time costly) journey to know when it's not worth fixing. Helps when it was a steal I guess! How do you get such cheap, decent quality bikes??

[@Belindaxtz660]

Same!👍✔thanks for sharing this vid... i like to fix things...sometimes you have to call it a day.. 🤔

[@sidefx996]

😂😂 this is like every bicycle project of mine

[@davidwildstallionjohnson4458]

You can adjust aluminum cold by freezing with dry ice or electronic spray use to spot cool circuit boards. when the area is cold the heat treated aluminum goes to what is called an " o " condition and is malleable. You do have to work it pretty quickly as once it warms up the heat treatment returns. This is the method used to "adjust" body rings for aircraft at the Boeing plant.

[@knightsofnee8626]

This hit too close to home: recently I've been working on a 90's, big-box store mtb my family's had since before I was born. I planned on fixing it and just having some fun with it on lighter trails; but I've found more issues than success at this point. I think it's time for this bike to be reduced, reused and recylced. (edited for spelling)

[@MickR0sco]

I think it's very sunjective. I spend more than I should on my old bike just because I like it and love the look it's got over time. I do a lot of second hand hunting though so could probably break it down for parts as they're all quite nice if it ever came to it.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

With the frame & fork issues, it makes me wonder if that bike was in a major crash, fell off a small cliff, fell off a moving vehicle or got hit by a car.

[@JapaneseSoomi]

O got by a car 2 daysago

[@theilluminated7274]

I have the same bike, I took pretty good care of it, they are very big bikes love the stance on them.

[@jeffcuevas5918]

This is why I never buy used bikes from young people. I buy new frames from Alibaba and build.

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

Hmm funny you say that, I was totally screwed over buying used from a young guy. Then I started learning a lot more about bikes and bought a 1000 buck bike from a guy in his 50's for 200. It's just the most wonderful thing I've ever owned. Suddenly from having the shittiest bike in the entire city, I am the one getting looks of envy now :)

[@supocarta74]

I was given a road bike hardly ridden , aluminium frame,carbon forks, but left outside for a year ...anyway bike retailed at 500 pound brand new so thought it would be worth saving it....so changed bottom bracket,and front derailleur and crank all Shimano plus a extra narrow chain for smoother gear change, cleaned up rusty bolts or replaced...anyway spent about 80 pound all in now rides great even with bog standard torney groupset. I might replace brake calipers eventually but at moment they fine .

[@intheair10]

Nope, nope, nope. I've learned to stay away from low-end MTBs because they've had the snot beat out of them.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

This was actually a half way decent bike. And the Klein I got at the same time as this one is also in rough shape. And that was not a low end bike.

[@bryanjudefernandez2195]

trek dont make "low end" its at least a mid to top end, depending on the group set

[@joewas2225]

@@bryanjudefernandez2195 Check the Trek category at all? They do have low end. They're just junk.

[@bryanjudefernandez2195]

@@joewas2225 oh, well. Where I live. You can get real junk. Litterally Chinese made unbranded bikes with spring forks. Trek at least is reputable and has decent capabilities

[@joewas2225]

@@bryanjudefernandez2195 Trek reputable & capable? 😂 Trek is junk. Want a real reputable brand & capable. Look at Scott bikes. Leagues better & cheaper.

[@ArcGlowingVision]

These are all great things to watch out for. Wonderful video. Good luck on your next fun build. Thx

[@manitoumimi]

I thought "He's got a Trek for $20, WTH could he be talking about "Cutting' his "losses"? Then I watched 2 minutes thirty-nine seconds of the video. Yeah, RUN!!!

[@EmanuelRamneantu]

Ochipwa Greenspider You got me :))

[@reno145]

We'll see if I have just jumped down that same rabbit hole. I wanted to get a project bike and maybe learn a few things, so I popped for a Giant mountain bike at the local police auction for $10. The front hub was loose, and based on another of your videos I think some new bearing and grease will get it good to go. The left side crank arm and pedal were missing, and that was cheap enough to replace. We'll see what else is waiting for me. It is not a matter of good money after bad, but learning. And keeping my mind occupied in retirement. Thanks for your great content!

[@kevinhornbuckle]

Cut it up and teach yourself alum TIG welding.

[@hatsunemikussnzbmindcontro4444]

Kevin Hornbuckle sounds like a good plan 💡

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I don't have a TIG welder and don't plan to buy one anytime in the near future. I barely use my flux welder.

[@MadazzaMusik]

I wanna do that I keep watching cars and cameras and grind hard plumbing

[@kevinhornbuckle]

I will pray to St. Klaus that he bring you a TIG welder for Christmas. You are the kind of guy who would quickly conclude, "I should have gotten one of these a long time ago."

[@kevinhornbuckle]

Go for it. Make a plan for setting enough money aside each month to purchase a inverter TIG welder. Don't settle for MIG for bike frames.

[@JonathanWhoever]

I always bring a piece of string to check alignment with when looking at a bike. Wrap the center of the string around the head tube, pull the ends down to the rear drops. Then look at where the string passes by the seat tube. Both sides should be even.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

You mean like this... kzbin.info/www/bejne/moazcn6niJiXqpo

[@dcorica79]

Rip to the trek bike....

[@irlrp]

it's super funny cause i'm french (and i'm super glad you are using metric system) and it's extremely funny to ear someone talk about 3/4 of a centimeter, we just never do that lol (it's something you only do with imperial system) I love your videos, even tho i do less bike repair (i'm setup now, and your videos helped me quite a bunch)

[@danimayb]

The imperial system is most popular in the US. It's something that came from colonies of Britain and we stuck with it. Metric is a standard in the scientific space just like anywhere really, But in general Imperial is much more common. Not everyone though.. I'm one of those that gets on better with Metric.

[@1zanglang]

You couldn't be more right. Salvage any usable part and scrap the rest.

[@trimmerman1]

I had a Trek with a broken frame once. Light as can be, but nothing I could do with it. Grabbed the parts I could and metal bin for the rest. I made up my mind to keep and use the good parts and dispose of the rest. Don't feel bad.

[@rockybutler]

Sometimes I can't get the tip of my finger in either?

[@AJ-um3ht]

Lol

[@drk321]

Then stay away from 12 year olds....

[@aaacycleverks5622]

Great things to look for on my next used bike purchase. You're the guy RJ. Thanks again.

[@nateross14]

I've owned and broken a lot of aluminum bike frames......and will never own one again. I'll gladly take the one pound weight penalty of having a chromoly steel frame so I can have a frame that can take far more abuse, and be self repaired. I'm not into disposable bike frames which is what aluminum ones are.

[@rafaeltrujillo8210]

Just wondering abt hm you weight?

[@johnthompson9602]

Do you use a hammer ?

[@victorvnl3675]

You could build the rear wheel to have 142mm spacing, and dish it such that it would be centered enough in the frame. Disc brakes might have to go. This video could have been titled "When a bike looks like it is not worth fixing, but.." BTW, I have learned so many tricks from watching your videos. You never stop inventing new approaches to old problems.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

No. Just no.

[@mmkuyt]

not possible. the dropout ends are not slotted so the axle will always be sitting cockeyed.

[@BradleyKang23]

-Trek “lifetime warranty on frame” :p

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

For original owner. Not transferable.

[@chesshooligan1282]

Under normal use, not after beating the shit out of it.

[@OctogonOxygen024816]

@@chesshooligan1282 I don't get to decide the terrain most of the time...

[@chesshooligan1282]

@@OctogonOxygen024816 Sorry to hear that. A man should always wear the pants in a relationship.

[@trek520rider2]

@@RJTheBikeGuy Can't fault Trek too much in this area. The frame broke on my Trek 520 after 58000 miles. Of course I didn't have the original receipt and the shop I bought it at was long out of business. The local dealer was no help so I called Trek customer service. "Send me some pictures of where you've had your bike" the guy said So I sent a bunch of pics from France, UK, all over the place; they replaced the frame for free

[@WilliamMightyRed]

Well, if RJ cant do something with it, then you know the bike is done for!!! BTW, I turned my old Trek 4300 into a BMX-style cruiser/urban assault.

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

I have a bike from about 1990. Had the rings/cogs/chain all replaced. After a few months it started skipping gears and the chain would pop over teeth on climbs. Since I already replaced the drivetrain I don’t know what’s wrong but it’s HIGH time to let go. It was an extremely fast xc race bike, but almost every part has been replaced. I’m currently just mining it for upgraded parts that weren’t too worn yet.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKvVoXZtn9etbrc

[@nivram4491]

I live in Thailand. Recently I found the exact same bike at a Saturday market. It was 4000 Baht which here in Thailand is more than you would pay for an ordinary used bike. In US dollare the bike cost me $115. But the amazing thing that the bike is in mint condition and is a dream to ride. I plan to convert it to a Bafang ebike.

[@dannyvisitacion8975]

Yes I agree with you it’s not worth’s fixing it . I always watch your videos.Keep it up sir I really enjoy it

[@AccFinEco]

Great vid! 👍 Should be, "What to look for in buying a secondhand bike".

[@josephfine3394]

When I find a nice frame like that- for cheap- it has a stuck seatpost, it's bent or has a crack! If it's intact, it's the wrong size! I feel your pain. At least you didn't get ripped off and got your money's worth, RJ.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

A stuck seatpost can be removed.

[@josephfine3394]

@@RJTheBikeGuy In 50 years of working on old bikes, I had 2 seatposts and one stem that were fused to the frame; and even a torch wouldn't budge them. It's an awful job to remove a stuck post in the rust belt here!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@@josephfine3394 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hl68oaB6rZ1pmpI kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZikiX9oe7iMlaM kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWTInGV9mr-te5I kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnuvi2yFn9mlbpI

[@marycartter2095]

You are amazing! You answered questions I didn't even know I had!

[@marycartter2095]

I fixed my Trek with your help. It's been my favorite bike forever, but I always dreamed of having a red Raleigh. Two days ago I picked up a brand spankin' new red Raleigh at a thrift store dirt cheap! I'm so happy!

[@errcoche]

Just working on a steel frame Specialized from the 90s - a Hard Rock low level mountain bike with no suspension. I paid a fair bit of money for the frame because I specifically wanted a steel frame and to recycle something. Bottom bracket is shot and I can't get the damned thing out. Had to order a 60mm long M8-1.0 ( fine thread ) bolt to act as a retained for my bottom bracket removal tool and I may need to invest in a heavy duty 1/2" impact wrench to use on it. Apart from the money, I like to convert old MTBs into good street/commuter bikes with a close ration block and fat slick tires with a nice ride and low rolling resistance so I will be disappointed if the frame has to go in the trash. While I know you can recycle the parts, usually what you end up is a shitload of the same things like seat posts, bars and stems, and none of the stuff that wears out and breaks.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I am assuming cartridge BB? Make sure you are turning it the correct way. Right side is left hand threaded. And left side is right have threaded. Try a cheater bar. Also try hitting the wrench with a mallet to get it to move.

[@davidmuth4571]

My "not worth it" story. I saw and purchase a Kona cyclocross frame ($60) that was mostly stripped except for fork and headset. People said I'd spend way too much equipping it. I bought two donor bikes, a Specialized Crossroads Cruz ($30) and a 1989 Diamondback Apex ($100). I used the 700c rims from the Crossroads, and the Deore DX gruppo except the BB from the Apex. I used a bike shop to figure out what BB I needed to accomodate the triple ring crankset and install it ($60). I sold the bones of the donor bikes for $325 and made $75 putting this amazing bike together. Both donor bikes were garage queens with very very little apparent use.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Sounds like it was worth it.

[@sitflyer2661]

My LBS has given me a couple bikes in similar shape, it was fun to strip them down to the frame, save the few odd bits that were good, and scrap them.

[@sdy0108]

I agree with you 100% on parting the bike, I have tried to fix an aluminum frame and it's futile, I have bent chromoly and steel frames just fine back to original but aluminum just isn't safe after its bent