Hello everyone, Newbie here....
Is there any issues with buying a new bike marked down $500.00 bucks due to a dent in the headtube? The frame is aluminum w/carbon stays. Dealer says Trek gave the o.k. to sell it with full warranty. I've always trusted this dealer so that's no issue. Anything I should be concerned with here?

Anyone?

Check the size of dent. Confirm it with Trek. Check the reason for the damage.

Big dent no, tiny tiny tiny dent yes (maybe).

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Morphed Bianchi Camaleonte IV 2006, Ridley Damocles 2006, Garmin, Mac

Doesn't sound like it was dented in a crash (no other scratches/etc in the frame, and a reputable dealer selling under full warranty). A small 'dent' in the head tube (the kind you'll inevitably get anyway from throwing a floor pump in the tunk iwth your bike..etc..etc) at $500 is probably a great deal.

A bigger dent (bigger than a dime, or with creases/cracks in the tube vs. just an indentation) -- now that would scare me (think: frame failure under heavy load/stress, with you involved in the outcome ).

But that's one of the things that's valuable about a reputable LBS -- if they say you can trust the frame, they aren't giving you a load of hooey.

I would say it's a bit of a crease. It looks like it took a hit with a sharp object though no paint was effected. Kinda like if you took a butchers knife & gave it a slight whack with cloth covering it. The paint is uneffected. It is a bit of a crease though. You have to look for it to see it. It's a Trek 2200 left over with Ultegra for $1198.00. It looks like they discontinued the 2200 but it's the OCLV carbon stays w/carbon fork. I believe it was around $1800-$2000 new from what I've seen posted elsewhere. I guess seeing that dent/crease makes me wonder about it buckling as well. I'm 225lbs from years of powerlifting.

It depends of course... I would agree to check with TREK directly.

It also depends how much and where you ride the bike... A lot of bumpy roads, pot-holes etc... I would stay away from a dented frame. If your roads are carpets... go for it.

I recently bend my Specialized frame (both head tube and down tube) and use it ONLY on the trainer since. I am scared shhh*less to take it outside. Since I have 2 (and soon 3) other road bikes ...no big deal.

Just MHO.

Let us know what you decide

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Driven, pushed, pulled, stretched, smacked, cracked and torn apart... by what's inside !
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Trek 5200, Specialized Allez Comp Intl., Trek 1200, Corratec Glacier MTB ... and since march 30th a BMC ProMachine Yeeehaaa!!!

Hi every one I'm new here . Be careful , aluminum will weaken' when taken out of the tube state . This is an example . Think of an aluminum can and dent it , how strong is it then . Now I know the bike tube is stronger and thicker then the can but you are going to put this bike thru it's steps . The round shape is what gives it it's strength along with the thickness . But yes check with trek and take picture before buying for your safety . And make surer you get a life time warranty when you buy it . I'm not saying not to buy it but I look at bikes like a car , it is an investment and you health and life can depend on this bike keeping you safe . And yes fill us all in what happens . Good luck .

We agree - a significant dent is trouble in any material. It sounds, from lionfish's description, that the dent is fairly superficial (the kind you don't even see head-on, but tends to jump out at the right angle due reflections in the paint... "You have to look for it to see it"). Lionfish, if you take a look at used bikes I think you'll find a lot of that kind of surface marring, and the bikes are still being ridden w/o issue... if that's what this is about then you're getting a heck of a break in cost for a cosmetic ding.