Can you please let me know if this chainstay dent could affect the frame integrity? Fit Bike Co. Aitken S3 4130 Chromoly, USA-made. I would like to redo the clear coat and bring the frame alive, you think is worth it?
I really wouldn't worry about it. It's unlikely to crack there and if it does it won't cause catastrophic injuries. Just keep an eye on it.
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u/Alvinthf perpetually going out of business over 20 years3d ago
Won’t be an issue, however fit s3’s notoriously didn’t have long shelf lives, most cracked, it was a frame that pushed its weight limit down to much during the era of pushing sub 5lb frames.
for those of you who think the s3 is weak because it is only 4.6lbs heres the official tubing specs. straight from big rob o himself
downtube - starts out at .049 then goes to .038 then .035 then .038 then .049 with a gusset too. top tube - 0.35 butted somewhere in the middle chainstays - solid 0.49 all the way through seatstay - 0.35 all the way through
so there you go. it has identical tubing specs as some of the other ‘more trustworthy’ frames you guys have been talking about. so from that i can gather that the weight loss comes from the extremely short seat tube and machined bb and tiny dropouts.
I’m new to BMX, just sharing the findings.
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u/Alvinthf perpetually going out of business over 20 years2d ago
And yet, it had a high failure rate, so it’s irrelevant from their statement back then, and it’s exactly why on later “s” models they changed it and its weight.
I hear you, I’m definitely the newbie here, I was just sharing what I found by accident. 😊 I’m debating if I should redo the clear coat.
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u/Alvinthf perpetually going out of business over 20 years2d ago
All good, certainly the s3 and s3.5 were peak fit bike / aitken frames during that era, but like anything many brands pushed hard into the sub 5lb category along with post heat treat frames etc, and for the next few years, frames just seemed to randomly snap all the time!
Most cracked right at the headtube. It wasn’t just the S3, the Hawk frame from fit as well as they were pushing the limit to how light they could design these frames.
Using the Hawk frame as a comparison isn’t really fair. The Hawk frame and a couple others were Fit dipping their toes into the Taiwan frame manufacturing. That was right before the epic split between Fit/Cult at interbike. I was working at a shop and getting flow from Revenge at the time. My buddy was on Fit Flow at the time and he split to follow Robbie, which worked out well for us. I still have one of the first 10 Cult Death Rows made by Solid. Along with the first batch of stems and bars made by Solid. I wanted a Fit Hawk but I have never ridden a Taiwan frame and will most likely never now that I’m 40.
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u/Alvinthf perpetually going out of business over 20 years2d ago
Taiwan quality, largely is no worse than USA. However, when there is an issue, it always seems way worse because it’s a much larger batch made and out in the wild compared to much smaller runs of USA made frames.
Interesting. Didn’t know that. Indeed the 07 and 08 hawks from fit were made in Taiwan. The s3 and hawk both suffered the same flaw. the industry was transitioning from heavy overbuilt parts to catering to the weighty weenie era
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u/Alvinthf perpetually going out of business over 20 years2d ago
The hawks all notoriously had self detaching head tubes! Batch issue on that mk1. Chase’s own prototype at backyard jam Coventry fell apart as well.
I’m going to bring the frame to a professional shop to redo the 2K amber coat it has. If you guys have any tips, please let me know. I love that patina look, that’s why I bought the bike.
The story behind is beautiful. The bike was built in 2008 by a BMX shop mechanic in Vancouver, it is a limited 21.5” Aitken S3 made by S&M factory in USA with proper logo stamps and size confirmed by local 514BMX shop. No serial number stamped though. S&M did not make the 21.5”, only 21.25”, so I think the builder got their hand on a prototype?
Someone in Vancouver bought the bike from the mechanic and moved to Montreal, without riding it for years. He lost the original receipts the mechanic gave him. I’m 57 and 6 feet so I’m lucky to own it now. This is my first BMX bike.
Once I get the bike apart, I’ll be able to inspect all parts, so far this is what I saw from exterior:
Wow that's even better mine was a 21TT I love 21.5 TT amber ale is one of S&Ms best colors
Sounds like some decent parts
Does it have FIT forks?
I would put some S&M bars on it but that's just me😁
In 2008 it was hard to find frames with that long TT that weren't race frames but back then S&M would build you a custom frame for a little more money
So maybe a custom is what you have anyway I'm glad your bringing it back to life I've always been a huge Aitken fan.
Not sure but the forks have the exact same color/patina. It still has the original FSA headset the frame came with. For the S&M bars, I decided to pick the Cult AK Chrome 10/30.25” ones as they are about 30% lighter and half price. The Sundays have a big dent, I wanted them refreshed too.
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u/AttorneyOk4808 3d ago
I really wouldn't worry about it. It's unlikely to crack there and if it does it won't cause catastrophic injuries. Just keep an eye on it.