Cracked carbon is one of the biggest risks when buying a used premium bicycle. The problem is that damage doesn't always look like an obvious crack. Sometimes it's a small scratch, a change in sound, a soft spot, or an impact mark.
Typical areas of damage
- head tube and headset area,
- down tube after stone impact or transport,
- bottom bracket shell,
- rear dropouts,
- seatpost clamp area,
- fork and steerer tubes,
- carbon rims.
What should raise a red flag?
- paint crack running along the fibers,
- a soft or yielding spot,
- a dull sound when gently tapping,
- a sign of a hard impact,
- an unnatural wave or bulge in the paint,
- the seller avoids photos of a specific area.
Does every scratch mean a problem?
No. A used bike may have chips and signs of normal wear and tear. The difference lies in the location, shape, and history of the damage. A paint scratch from transport is different from a crack near the head tube after a crash.
What not to do?
Do not buy a carbon bike based solely on pretty pictures of the entire frame. You need close-ups of critical areas, information about its history, and preferably an inspection by someone who knows where to look.
How does ReVelo approach this?
During selection, we reject units with unclear damage and describe the actual condition of the bike. You can find more about the process on the How we verify bikes page.