Cracks in Ibis Hakka top tube

[avalonracing]

My good friend has an Ibis Hakka that's about a year old. He has noticed TWO suspect cracks in the top tube. One is a couple of cm long and runs with the top tube and the one right next to it is zig-zag.

He took it to the shop where he bought it and the manager said, "It's just thick paint cracking from carbon flex". Sorry, I'm not buying that reason for it because there are two different types of cracks in different directions.

My questions for the Paceline hive? Have any of you seen this before and, of course, would you ride it? I sure as hell wouldn't but my buddy just spent two weeks riding over 400 miles of NoCal gravel and pavement and it didn't explode... yet.

[mtechnica]

Have you tapped it with a coin? I thought white paint was more crack prone than most too. I think the hakka is a strongly built frame but that doesn't mean it can't crack.

[prototoast]

I'd say that's more likely to be the paint cracking than the carbon, but if it were my frame, I'd probably sand the paint down to be sure.

[slambers3]

Looks suspiciously like damage from an impact to me, but it’s hard to know what lies beneath the paint without having it professionally checked out. I’d take it to a carbon repair expert for their opinion.
The coin test, or just pushing on the area with your finger listening for any noise can confirm damage but “passing” such tests doesn’t necessarily indicate an absence of fault in the underlying material.

[fignon's barber]

Yes, white paint can show "cracks" when carbon flexes. That's why they tend to avoid white paint in the bb junctions of carbon bikes. But that zig zag crack looks similar to 2 Canyon Ult CF SLX top tubes I broke when my knee hit them in minor racing dust ups.Does the owner remember smacking the tt with his knee?

[robt57]

Originally Posted by slambers3

Looks suspiciously like damage from an impact to me, but it’s hard to know what lies beneath the paint without having it professionally checked out. I’d take it to a carbon repair expert for their opinion.
The coin test, or just pushing on the area with your finger listening for any noise can confirm damage but “passing” such tests doesn’t necessarily indicate an absence of fault in the underlying material.

Agree that looks like impact. Although it is likely the paint only cracked from the carbon flex from said impact, a place like Rukus here in PDX that can x-ray may be in order for a visit..

[zap]

I've seen more serious and obvious carbon damage from impacts. Impacted area (broken carbon every which way) with linear cracks near the impact zone.

I think the OP's friend should have the frame inspected by a carbon expert.

[Louis]

My money's on the paint cracking, not the CF.

Did he crash, drop the frame, drop something on it, or have some other sort of incident?

[kiwisimon]

Originally Posted by Louis

My money's on the paint cracking, not the CF.

I agree, looks like something has hit the tube and cracked the paint.
It should be fine but IBIS have great customer service so OP's mate should shoot them an email.

[avalonracing]

Originally Posted by Louis

My money's on the paint cracking, not the CF.

Did he crash, drop the frame, drop something on it, or have some other sort of incident?

No crashes or impacts... that he knows of. (Yes, it was new when he bought it).

[chunkylover53]

Contact Ibis directly for input. They have some of the best and most prompt customer service in the business.

[Louis]

Originally Posted by avalonracing

No crashes or impacts... that he knows of. (Yes, it was new when he bought it).

If he has kids and keeps the bike in the garage where they can get at it he needs to ask them if they remember anything...

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by Louis

If he has kids and keeps the bike in the garage where they can get at it he needs to ask them if they remember anything...

Speaking of security cameras...

[indy.cyclist]

Does he clamp it in a car rack using the top tube?

The Zig Zag is the most concerning to me. Had this pattern happen with a GT Grade soon after I bought it. I moved away from CF since.


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[avalonracing]

The whole thing just makes me want to continue buying unpainted Ti bikes. Carbon forks are just something that I have to put up with. And I'll pretty much replace them if the decal gets scratched.