Buying a 2nd hand carbon frame

Mechanic365

Hi all. Happy new year.

In a spot of bother with my current frame(too big), gonna build a better one.
I spent my share on components but the frame I dont like spending a fortune on because im not hard on them, and I just dont have the mula right now.

Anyways im buying a 2010 GIANT TCR Advanced frame (non-SL) and forks.
I dunno what to offer for it?
It has no scratches, no racing (guy upgraded to Dogma).
Whats a good price?
600 - 700 I thought it was worth but it is almost 4 years old

Thanks for your opinions

Cee-Jay-Cee

How much is he asking for it?

Mechanic365

CJC999 wrote: »

How much is he asking for it?

750 for the frame, fork, stem, handlebars, seat post and original saddle.

Mechanic365

Going to look at this now and really dont know is this a good price. By the way its a FiZik Arionne saddle. Thanks lads

denbatt

Offer 600, max 650, its 4 yeas old! Examine closely for tiny stress fractures arond bb area. Good luck.

Mechanic365

denbatt wrote: »

Offer 600, max 650, its 4 yeas old! Examine closely for tiny stress fractures arond bb area. Good luck.

Ya been thinking around that since, especially since I seen this
https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=qZrNUpilEuzA7Aa9n4GYAw&url=http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/giant-tcr-advanced-carbon-frameset/1538222&cd=1&ved=0CDMQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNEQIU5AqhvKx47dvhhQEvnv6krQ2g

Im getting bars nd seatpost so id give 650. Thanks. I got a 2009 sl offered to me at 820 so it seemed like they are overrated

boege

A current new frame is around €1800 (list). A one year old frame would be worth around half this price. Keep halving for each year and your getting near a fairer price (€200-300). In another year or two you will get little or nothing for this frame.

Paying that much money for a 4 year old frame is a waste of money in my opinion. You can buy a half decent new carbon frame for under €1000. There are great deals on donedeal for 1 year old carbon bikes with full ultrega for not much more.

You really need to check this very carefully if going ahead. I am talking about microscopic inspection. If there is any stress cracks you have no comeback and after 4 years of use one is better to assume there must be some stress cracks unless ruled out by inspection. Ask if was carried on a rear bike rack as this is a no-no for carbon as it can put unanticipated stresses on a carbon frame (even with padding) and carbon does not like this type of loading.

It was a great frame in its day. My son raced one for 4 years and I would take someone's arm off if they offered me that much for the whole bike (gotta be said it has a LOT of miles).

Cee-Jay-Cee

Mechanic365 wrote: »

750 for the frame, fork, stem, handlebars, seat post and original saddle.

By the time you buy a full group-set and wheels/tyres the bike will be costing you well over a grand so it will be working out quite expensive for a 4yr old bike.

I'd offer 400 and hope to get it for maybe 460/480 absolute maximum. Like said above, its a 4 yr old frame and you only have the sellers word for how many miles on it. Anything above that price is making it quite expensive.


If you are going to look at it, bring a very bright LED torch with you and examine every centimetre of it under the torch light.

Mechanic365

boege wrote: »

A current new frame is around €1800 (list). A one year old frame would be worth around half this price. Keep halving for each year and your getting near a fairer price (€200-300). In another year or two you will get little or nothing for this frame.

Paying that much money for a 4 year old frame is a waste of money in my opinion. You can buy a half decent new carbon frame for under €1000. There are great deals on donedeal for 1 year old carbon bikes with full ultrega for not much more.

You really need to check this very carefully if going ahead. I am talking about microscopic inspection. If there is any stress cracks you have no comeback and after 4 years of use one is better to assume there must be some stress cracks unless ruled out by inspection. Ask if was carried on a rear bike rack as this is a no-no for carbon as it can put unanticipated stresses on a carbon frame (even with padding) and carbon does not like this type of loading.

It was a great frame in its day. My son raced one for 4 years and I would take someone's arm off if they offered me that much for the whole bike (gotta be said it has a LOT of miles).

You have a very good point that value halfs each year and this really puts things into perspective.

I looked at the frame in daylight and I must say its absolutely flawless -a mark on chainstay from chain rub which is barely noticeable. As for cracking well im not an engineer yet but yea under normal use this type of material should fatigue. The frame only has a years use according to the owner. 1000kms or so and he upgraded.

Mechanic365

CJC999 wrote: »

By the time you buy a full group-set and wheels/tyres the bike will be costing you well over a grand so it will be working out quite expensive for a 4yr old bike.

I'd offer 400 and hope to get it for maybe 460/480 absolute maximum. Like said above, its a 4 yr old frame and you only have the sellers word for how many miles on it. Anything above that price is making it quite expensive.


If you are going to look at it, bring a very bright LED torch with you and examine every centimetre of it under the torch light.

Yea with nee sram red 20 I have in storage and 50mm clincher carbons the cost all out would be 2150 which doesent sound awful bad so I was concentrating on final cost more so.

As I said its flawless and I would happily give 500 for it but i will just have to try and explain how I feel about the price and what It should be.

TychoCaine

Mechanic365 wrote: »

As for cracking well im not an engineer yet but yea under normal use this type of material should fatigue.

I read a quote somewhere recently from the guy that owns Cervelo, and he said that their carbon frames last 10x as long as their aluminium frames on their fatigue test rig. Now crash damage is a different story but if the frame looks visually perfect with no cracks in the paint I'd give it a whirl.