Do frames “wear out” ?

7/31/2026 1:29pm

Wasn't it Ricky Carmichael who used to thrash practice bikes so hard they basically had to toss them, frame and all?

1
7/31/2026 2:10pm
My 1st mx bike 87 cr125 I jumped up & down  a ski flying ramp. The wood was removed. Jumped it sideways too that was like...

My 1st mx bike 87 cr125 I jumped up & down  a ski flying ramp. The wood was removed. Jumped it sideways too that was like cliff jumping. Get air hang in the air pancake the bike then turn it left . Still hanging take a deep breath & drop 700 ft.  That frame was trashed when I sold it . Lol   I broke the shock in 4 ft whoops too.  

Bro.  What.

10
Sc2
Posts
410
Joined
6/4/2018
Location
GB
7/31/2026 2:17pm

If you ever owned a cr 03 - 07, then you would have come across, where the shrouds have rubbed a grove in the frame, not worn out, but hell of a groove, unless some sort of DIY application applied 

6
Splat03
Posts
346
Joined
8/5/2018
Location
Kiowa, CO, USA
Fantasy
7/31/2026 2:18pm
My 1st mx bike 87 cr125 I jumped up & down  a ski flying ramp. The wood was removed. Jumped it sideways too that was like...

My 1st mx bike 87 cr125 I jumped up & down  a ski flying ramp. The wood was removed. Jumped it sideways too that was like cliff jumping. Get air hang in the air pancake the bike then turn it left . Still hanging take a deep breath & drop 700 ft.  That frame was trashed when I sold it . Lol   I broke the shock in 4 ft whoops too.  

Bro.  What.

Pro, not bro

11

The Shop

lumpy790
Posts
11623
Joined
9/18/2007
Location
York, SC, USA
7/31/2026 3:14pm
MOTO13 wrote:
The older Jap bikes. You could measure when new from the pivot point to the rear axle and there was def stretch over a year or...

The older Jap bikes. You could measure when new from the pivot point to the rear axle and there was def stretch over a year or 3. This was dependant on how many hours and if you rode hard obviously...casing constantly never helped. I found that out on my 1992 KX 125. Snapped that bitch on both side near the pivot area. Tore the bike down to the frame and squeezed it back with ratchet straps and welded it. Never had an issue. I forgot about how we'd measure the head tube to the footpeg and pivot areas also. The frames back then def would kinda bow if that makes sense...actually increasing the wheelbase over time. We just lived with it. 

Swingarm bolt hole center to front axle hole center measurement is part of homologation process.

I was behind Jeff Stanton’s mechanic going through national tech once and it was off and he claimed Stanton had stretched it by riding it one time.

2
1
7/31/2026 3:17pm
My 1st mx bike 87 cr125 I jumped up & down  a ski flying ramp. The wood was removed. Jumped it sideways too that was like...

My 1st mx bike 87 cr125 I jumped up & down  a ski flying ramp. The wood was removed. Jumped it sideways too that was like cliff jumping. Get air hang in the air pancake the bike then turn it left . Still hanging take a deep breath & drop 700 ft.  That frame was trashed when I sold it . Lol   I broke the shock in 4 ft whoops too.  

Bro.  What.

I was seeking out big air , so I went to a ski hill & made my own track, trespassing.  1st pal I brought there , end of the day we skimmed a big pond ovr & ovr . Spray each other with greasy mud on the edges. . When we brought his borrowed yz250 back full of mud . The Bro was yelling at us. Lol 2nd pal I brought out I told him I had permission to ride there.  Yeah by me. Haha A dude showed up going crazy yelling at us.  I said the shop in town said ride here whenever you want. Lol My gf really missed that place , she liked to run around naked & sun tan herself. 

6
5
lumpy790
Posts
11623
Joined
9/18/2007
Location
York, SC, USA
7/31/2026 3:18pm

Wasn't it Ricky Carmichael who used to thrash practice bikes so hard they basically had to toss them, frame and all?

Top Pros trash Dozens of bikes thats why they have a practice mechanic.

1
1
aees
Posts
2807
Joined
8/20/2015
Location
USA
8/2/2026 12:09pm

Stefan Everts just said Herlings always had 3 practise bikes ready to go. Apparently needed new frame every 10h, which is also what he put of riding per week 😄

1
TeamGreen
Posts
37259
Joined
11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA, USA
8/2/2026 2:39pm
Spoonguy wrote:
Once a bike gets a couple years old the frames are genuinely dangerous and should be replaced with a new bike. At least that is what...

Once a bike gets a couple years old the frames are genuinely dangerous and should be replaced with a new bike. At least that is what wives across the nation are told.

It’s a Safety Issue! 😁

8/2/2026 8:37pm
My 1st mx bike 87 cr125 I jumped up & down  a ski flying ramp. The wood was removed. Jumped it sideways too that was like...

My 1st mx bike 87 cr125 I jumped up & down  a ski flying ramp. The wood was removed. Jumped it sideways too that was like cliff jumping. Get air hang in the air pancake the bike then turn it left . Still hanging take a deep breath & drop 700 ft.  That frame was trashed when I sold it . Lol   I broke the shock in 4 ft whoops too.  

Only 700’ ? 

moto5.56
Posts
23
Joined
2/17/2024
Location
Cedar, MN, USA
8/3/2026 3:39am
Sc2 wrote:
If you ever owned a cr 03 - 07, then you would have come across, where the shrouds have rubbed a grove in the frame, not...

If you ever owned a cr 03 - 07, then you would have come across, where the shrouds have rubbed a grove in the frame, not worn out, but hell of a groove, unless some sort of DIY application applied 

When the bike was new , I would glue strips of old inner tubes to the frame. Under the shrouds to prevent grooves. 

8/3/2026 3:56am

I can imagine Benny Bloss's frame wears out 

 

PNWMXer
Posts
1770
Joined
1/13/2022
Location
Washington, WA, USA
8/3/2026 4:17am
My 1st mx bike 87 cr125 I jumped up & down  a ski flying ramp. The wood was removed. Jumped it sideways too that was like...

My 1st mx bike 87 cr125 I jumped up & down  a ski flying ramp. The wood was removed. Jumped it sideways too that was like cliff jumping. Get air hang in the air pancake the bike then turn it left . Still hanging take a deep breath & drop 700 ft.  That frame was trashed when I sold it . Lol   I broke the shock in 4 ft whoops too.  

Langhammx wrote:

Only 700’ ? 

Must’ve been a warmup.😂

Post a reply to: Do frames “wear out” ?

The Latest