I've just purchased a carbon frame off ebay. The dealer had described it in "near perfect condition" but there are paint chips, an area of scuffing on the head tube, a small area of delamination on the under downtube and what appears like a possible crack on the left side seat stay.

It's the possible crack on the left side seatstay that is most concerning. It looks like a possible crack that goes half way arond the diameter of the seat stay. It fails the "cloth test" where a cloth gets snagged running over the area. I suspect this frame may have been in some kind of accident.

I don't know if this is just a suface crack with some delamination or something more serious. I've been a metal bike guy - steel, titanium, aluminium or multi-material. This is my first full carbon frame some I'm not experienced in determining carbon damage.

I'll take it to a local dealer in a week or two for an opinon, three hours away since I live in a rural area, but in the meantime does anybody have any tips/suggestions or can suggest any websites that give info for evaluating carbon frame damage?

Any thoughts from those familiar with carbon damage would be appreciated.

I've emailed the vendor and am waiting for a response. I've done 300+ ebay transactions and this is my first bad one.

This is my first full carbon frame and may be my last. I should have stuck with steel or titanium.

Send it back. If the guy has good feed back he will value his rating more than trying to faust off a damaged item on a buyer. Sorry you had a bad experience. It's not the carbon's fault.

Is it a well known make of frame. If it was a trek or something a local dealer should be able to confirm or deny your fears.
Good luck.

Thanks for the responses. I contacted the vendor and he will take it back if it is a crack in the frame. I'll take it to a dealer and get a confirmation either way.

I had a another close look this morning this time under a magnifying glass and I now think it's more likely just a crack in the resin and not going into the weave. If it's just a surface blemish then i can live with it.

Thanks again.

Here's a quick test: take the area to either side of the suspected damage in your hands and twist and bend as hard as you can, if there's no cracking or other noises it's cosmetic.

Thanks for the tip. Tried it. Seems solid. I'll still get a dealer to check it out.

I'd be a little skeptical. I recently had a bike that was in an accident all it looked like was a crack in the clear. My LBS guy said he's seen impact test at the trek factory before and even if it holds up to the first collision it only takes something small to crack the frame completely. I personally wouldn't chance it.

This is why I'll never own a carbon bike. As a sailor and owner of a high performance catamaran, (I spend a good deal of time each spring doing glass repairs), I'd say that you bought a bum frame. The guy who sold it to you needs to take it back.,