Damaged paintwork on carbon frame

[white tiger]

Hi guys.

 

I've got a six month old carbon hardtail 29'er. To keep emotions and personal preference out of the equation, let us not mention the brand.

 

I love the bike and the ride.

I do however have a problem/question regarding the paintwork on the bike.

If you look at the attached photo you will see the damage on the bottom of the frame - it is from normal usage - I've never fallen with the bike.

 

My local bike shop where I got the bike tells me it's normal on a carbon frame - according to them the paint on a carbon bike is more "sensitive" and prone to chips and damage than alluminium bikes!

 

Is this true?

Do I have a valid complaint if I'm unhappy with the paintwork?

 

Please, I would like to hear you comments.

[Capricorn]

errm, more prone to chips and flaking? the latter implies that all sorts of primers are not compatible with the carbon substrate and thus will flake. That's a manufacturing dilemma.

 

However, in your photo, the primer looks grey and there are two overcoats: one red and one black. In some spots, the black is chipping off the red, and in other places, right onto the grey. Where the grey is removed, it looks like it was scraped off. All teh chips are down to red or grey.

 

If you can peel back some black or red with your fingernails, then i'd say the paintwork is not bonding properly to the grey primer. If you can't, then I dont see a problem of flaking as per your LBS.

 

A real paint problem will reveal itself in areas of high frame flex or other areas not easily exposed to strikes from stones and other riding surface objects as normal strikes will skew the argument, ie blur the line between normal paint damage and a real problem with the paint.

[Rapunzel]

my carbon 29er has a kevlar protector on the downtube with the same paint finish as the frame. It has taken some big knocks from rocks and has lost no paint (1 year old and works very hard).

The paint on the top tube was damaged when it connected with the brake lever after the bars turned during a crash but it was a hard enough connection to bend the brake lever.

[TheV]

Hi guys.

 

I've got a six month old carbon hardtail 29'er. To keep emotions and personal preference out of the equation, let us not mention the brand.

 

I love the bike and the ride.

I do however have a problem/question regarding the paintwork on the bike.

If you look at the attached photo you will see the damage on the bottom of the frame - it is from normal usage - I've never fallen with the bike.

 

My local bike shop where I got the bike tells me it's normal on a carbon frame - according to them the paint on a carbon bike is more "sensitive" and prone to chips and damage than alluminium bikes!

 

Is this true?

Do I have a valid complaint if I'm unhappy with the paintwork?

 

Please, I would like to hear you comments.

 

Hi Tiger, I know it's prob not what you want to hear, but that damage is certainly not due to a bad paint job. I think your LBS should be commended for not laughing at you. They did the right thing by trying to let you down softly.

 

The fact is that you should always use a 3M or "such" protective film over your bottom tube, top tube and patches where your cables rub the frame. There are many different makes at different prices. Whenever I buy a new bike I cover it before my first ride.

 

This is something that your LBS should advise you to do, or offer as a service.

 

I cover my top tube because can easily cleat it when you mount, or like the other poster said, during a crash or in transport there is always opportunity for scratches....

 

All good bike shops stock it, the best ones sell them by the roll.

 

You also get "carbon" print ones which you can use to hide your current damage, you can even go to a vinyl/print shop and let them print you a nice custom design....

[Capricorn]

lost no paint? MTBmom: take a close up photo please cos i doubt u wont have similar chips and nicks. Paint these days is strong, but it's not unbreakable.

 

thought though for white tiger: does your bike have a clearcoating? It doesnt look like it. Clearcoats can take an aweful pounding, sacrificing itself to protect the underlying paint. Too few coats though will unfortunately reduce this level of protection, and paint shops unfortunately do skimp on the clearcoat layers.

[The Drongo]

- it is from normal usage -

 

Hell dude! Define "normal usage".

 

Either you are not transporting that puppy carefully, or you like rock gardens.

 

Sorry chap. Whilst some of those may be stone chips, the bigger ones look like poor handling performance.

 

I suggest you look at investing in some clear vinyl protector strips.

 

EDIT: Those are sweet frames BTW

Edited December 20, 2011 by The Drongo

[Rapunzel]

lost no paint? MTBmom: take a close up photo please cos i doubt u wont have similar chips and nicks. Paint these days is strong, but it's not unbreakable.

 

thought though for white tiger: does your bike have a clearcoating? It doesnt look like it. Clearcoats can take an aweful pounding, sacrificing itself to protect the underlying paint. Too few coats though will unfortunately reduce this level of protection, and paint shops unfortunately do skimp on the clearcoat layers.

 

Just double checked - one small chip (about 2mm)near the BB and the bike has done about 10 hours per week over the last year, mostly on trail (majik, kliprug, hillcrest, contermans, ...). Picture sucks - bad light and no flash.

[white tiger]

Hi Guys !

 

Thanks for all the comments!

 

I did a three day race over the weekend with lots off rocky roads and big rocks on the decents.

All the big chips were picked up over the three days.

 

Another question? Is there a way to patch it up/fix it/place that can repair the paintwork?

[Pieterg]

Eina