tiddy1 Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Whilst checking out my carbon road bike yesterday, I discovered some major cracking around the BB/ down tube/ seat tube. Now this is not a cheap chinease frame but a specialized s-works tarmac SL. It is old, (2007) and has done over 20K miles but a replacement frame is currently £2800!!!! and I dont have that sort of money, so I was wondering if it possible to repair in this high stressed area. any reccommendations for repair places and ideas of cost? Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Bad luck! I was going to suggest you use the opportunity for an upgrade - but clearly that would be a struggle! No idea about repairs, but I suspect it's not worth it. Things should have moved on a lot in seven years - hopefully you can find something that performs similarly, for a lot less than a straight replacement - but perhaps with a less sexy reputation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Stewart Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Don't Specialized have a lifetime warranty on frames? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frying Pan Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Extract of UK Specialized Warranty from here: LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY ON FRAMES AND FRAMESETS Also subject to the following limitations, terms and conditions, Specialized warrants to the original owner of this bicycle that this Specialized bicycle’s frame or frameset when new is free of defective materials and workmanship. The lifetime limited warranty is conditioned upon the bicycle being operated under normal conditions and use, and properly maintained. This limited warranty does not apply to paint/finish or components attached to the bicycle frame/frameset such as front forks (unless Specialized branded non-suspension forks forming part of the frameset), wheels, drivetrain, brakes, seatpost, handlebar and stem or any suspension related parts or components. Paint/finish, components attached to the bicycle frame/frameset such as front forks (to the extent not covered by this limited warranty), wheels, drivetrain, brakes, seatpost, handlebar and stem or any suspension related parts or components are covered under the limited two (2) year warranty (above). Certain suspension related parts or components may also be covered under the limited five (5) year warranty (below). This warranty is void if the bicycle or frameset was not assembled by an authorised Specialized dealer in accordance with Specialized’s instructions and does not transfer to subsequent owners of this bicycle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frying Pan Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Hmmm.... This document suggests only a 5 year warranty in the UK But this thread suggests the warranty is usually handled pretty well. Good luck Edited by - 7heavensoon on 24 Jun 2014 09:07:18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiddy1 Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 I fall fowl of the first point, that I am not the original owner, also the damage is probably the result of a crash, although i did not notice it at the time. They do offer a crash replacement service but that is only 15% off retail price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil 01 Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 I've seen plenty carbon repair specialists across the net CBS is one, carbon bike solutions just google their name plenty of information out there Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusCat Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Buy a crap Chinese one (like I've got) for £375. £375 into £2,800 goes 7 times. If they last an average of 7 years that gives you 49 years of cycling which is about the same as a life-time guarantee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiddy1 Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 Thats a bit like suggesting that we should all buy robin hood sevens and drive them until they broke as they are much cheaper than caterhams. I do 50+ miles a day on my road bike and its a bit like blatting, you go out for 10 miles and end up doing 50+ because the bike/ car feels so good. I have many cheap/ hack bikes, but this is my best bike in has to feel special. Now I have no chance of paying £2800 for a frame (thats your R500) but a £1300 frame is more like a R400, and will always exceed my capabilities. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS2000 Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Frame and fork? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiddy1 Posted June 26, 2014 Author Share Posted June 26, 2014 Not really in the same league as the s- works and over 30% heavier. If the repair does not work then one of the bes options seems to be the Canyon SL or SLX, @ £ 960 for the SL or £1100 for the SLX its far more sensible the extortionate price for the specialized. I only paid £ 850 for the s- works back in 2008 but of course the frame is not the only expence as a new frame will undoubtably have a pressfit BB and different front mech fitting, and different cable routing so it all adds up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted June 26, 2014 Leadership Team Share Posted June 26, 2014 Quoting RS2000: Frame and fork? The Planet X is the same cheap Chinese frame with some fancy branding. Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_pank Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I had a carbon frame I paid £800 for fail recently. I sucked it up and got a peach from Justin: here I strongly recommend you do the same and get a bike for life :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiddy1 Posted June 26, 2014 Author Share Posted June 26, 2014 Ti is an option (and similar price ) but having never ridden a ti road bike I am worried that it will not be stiff enough. The Ti Mtbs i have ridden have lots of flex. As for a frame fo life I have so far seen 5 failed Ti frames (and not cheap ones either) so I am not convinced Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_pank Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 If you don't like Ti, then get him to make you a steel one. If either of them break at least they can be repaired, unlike CF Burls is far cheaper than his competition, not because his product is inferior but because he doesn't pay to advertise (he doesn't need to when his customers sing his praises all the time!). As you'd buy a bespoke frame, you can get it made softer or stiffer as you wish. I went from carbon to Ti and am absolutely delighted with the change (not to mention significantly faster)! Edited by - charlie_pank on 26 Jun 2014 14:44:29 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 One of my frames is a £400 Planet X road frame. It is incredibly-light for the price (under a kilo from memory of weighing it on receipt) but it shimmies nastily at speeds above even 20mph (so my 55mph record downhill was more excitement than I really wanted...) That's when I made the move to Ti - I can't vouch for stiffness under sprinting loads, but it doesn't shimmy at speed and feels much more reassuring that the PX one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_pank Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Mine's been fine at 45mph. In fact far more steady than my CF one, but that's probably down to geometry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 This was definitely due to wobbly main-triangle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS2000 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Quoting sforshaw: Quoting RS2000: Frame and fork? The Planet X is the same cheap Chinese frame with some fancy branding. Stu. Same cheap Chinese frame as what? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted June 26, 2014 Leadership Team Share Posted June 26, 2014 Quoting RS2000: Quoting sforshaw: Quoting RS2000: Frame and fork? The Planet X is the same cheap Chinese frame with some fancy branding. Stu. Same cheap Chinese frame as what? Thanks The quality end of the CF frame market is pretty well all made in Taiwan, whether monocoque or tubular construction. In the case of some bespoke custom-built frames, they are European or USA custom built from Taiwanese tubing but this is a very small percentage of all frames. The Chinese are churning out Carbon monocoque frames substantially cheaper and these are the ones that are often branded up with "such-a-such-a-cycle-co" that are fairly new to the market, the Planet X is one such example. This is what I'm referring to as "same". They are unquestionably good value and for many people will be fine, you can even buy direct from China and have them custom adorned with your own colour scheme, graphics etc. Nice way to get into the bicycle business! But, put one in the hands of a more accomplished cyclist and the shortcomings will show up, the most common being a vagueness of stability at speed usually due to flex at the headstock and fork, or as Myles has identified, in the main triangle. Bottom bracket flex is also common when climbing hard. As with all things Chinese there's little doubt that they'll get there eventually, but for now they're building to a price point. As far as I'm aware the Specialized S-Works is a Taiwanese frame (although I stand to be corrected!), just like Pinarello, Colnago, Felt, Giant, Bianchi, Trek, etc. My Bianchi is a Taiwanese carbon monocoque (around £1250 frame only) but is labelled "Made In Italy"! Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS2000 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Thanks Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiddy1 Posted June 27, 2014 Author Share Posted June 27, 2014 When discussing the merits of carbon vs Ti I was told ' Easy one to answer, under the age of 40 a carbon fixation is appropriate, aged 40+ this morphs into a titanium fixation. It goes with the turf, as unavoidable as overly long nose and ear hair.' made me smile... so at 46, looks like I nee Ti. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 Tiddy - I think that's bang on the nail! I bought into carbon 'heavily' in my late 30s - with a Planet X time trial frame (over-engineered, certainly never going to flex or fatigue!) and a track-bike variant that I built into a street fixie. Still have both. I also bought my first Ti frame (a hard tail mtb) and fell in love with it - not necessarily for any performance reasons as the outgoing (Boardman, Ali) frame was incredibly light and accomplished. Around the time if my fortieth, I bought the wobbly frame as a bike kit from Planet X (it was a bargain at the time with SRAM Red kit) for a specific event - but with the intention of reframing it in Ti when one came along at the right price. A Van Nich Pioneer frame popped into my life and became my commuter hybrid. It doesn't have the pretty detailing of my hard-tail, but it does give me pleasure that my previous commuter hack did not. Just after my fortieth, I signed up for the London-Edinburgh four-day ride - and this was sufficient justification to do the reframing with a Van Nich Zephyr. So, with three Ti frames in the garage, my next project (should I ever get around to it - I fancy a CX frame) will also, ultimately be Ti unless there is a truly-compelling reason to do something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_pank Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 Old before my time it seems :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 On the cusp, I'd say - with your hybrid Ti triangle and cf stays! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now