The Cracked Carbon Thread

Karlkarlton · *by **Karlkarlton** on Sun 4/Jul/10 9:46pm*

Recently cracked my carbon hardtail, it just gave up. Not impacted or anything. I know people who have cracked Specialized hardtails (three people), a Merida hardtail, Avanti hardtails (two people), and a Specialized full sus. All carbon.

What have you cracked? Is there any manufacturer that seems to make stronger/ more durable carbon frames?

Spokes · *by **Spokes** on Sun 4/Jul/10 9:48pm*

Karlkarlton wrote:Recently cracked my carbon hardtail, it just gave up.

JRA

wuffy · *by **wuffy** on Sun 4/Jul/10 9:52pm*

If I could have any carbon bike it'd be an Ibis Tranny or Mojo HD. Those Trannys are bombproof.

XCrazy · *by **XCrazy** on Sun 4/Jul/10 9:56pm*

I think trek has some massive warranty on their frames so they may not be bombproof but if it does break under "normal use" you should be sorted out.

MTBChick · *by **MTBChick** on Sun 4/Jul/10 10:00pm*

The way Bergamont designs its tubing looks pretty durable..

banga · *by **banga** on Sun 4/Jul/10 10:13pm*

XCrazy wrote:I think trek has some massive warranty on their frames so they may not be bombproof but if it does break under "normal use" you should be sorted out.

yip, a mate of mine is onto Trek number 7 or 8. Hardtails first and upgraded to fuels and has had a few of those now too. He's not an "average" rider though.

RussS · *by **RussS** on Sun 4/Jul/10 10:18pm*

Cracked my Trance Advanced too. Bloody warranty is taking ages - almost feel like getting the lawyer to start some shit stirring if it doesn't get sorted soon. Having a beer a few weeks ago and I told him about how Giant doesn't have any medium frames available anywhere in the world and that I am waiting for the 2011 models to be constructed - he was not impressed and reckons under our consumer guaruntee act I should either get a full replacement or a full refund. There is apparently wording to the effect of 'timely resolution'.

Have had a few people talking about how brittle carbon frames are, but that is total bullshit. According to a friend that does F1 and aerospace carbon fibre construction - a properly constructed carbon fibre frame should be as durable as any other material and he reckons most frame failures are due to piss poor design and/or bad fabrication. He has broken a few alloy frames too and putting them through an x-ray machine found several areas that were starting to crack due to poor design features.

Spokes · *by **Spokes** on Sun 4/Jul/10 10:31pm*

RussS wrote:Cracked my Trance Advanced too. Bloody warranty is taking ages - almost feel like getting the lawyer to start some shit stirring if it doesn't get sorted soon. Having a beer a few weeks ago and I told him about how Giant doesn't have any medium frames available anywhere in the world and that I am waiting for the 2011 models to be constructed - he was not impressed and reckons under our consumer guaruntee act I should either get a full replacement or a full refund. There is apparently wording to the effect of 'timely resolution'.

Have had a few people talking about how brittle carbon frames are, but that is total bullshit. According to a friend that does F1 and aerospace carbon fibre construction - a properly constructed carbon fibre frame should be as durable as any other material and he reckons most frame failures are due to piss poor design and/or bad fabrication. He has broken a few alloy frames too and putting them through an x-ray machine found several areas that were starting to crack due to poor design features.

So if they dont have any frames and are waiting for some to be made, what do you expect them to do? Build one just for you?

Paul_Bags · *by **Paul_Bags** on Sun 4/Jul/10 10:39pm*

Spokes wrote:
RussS wrote:Cracked my Trance Advanced too. Bloody warranty is taking ages - almost feel like getting the lawyer to start some shit stirring if it doesn't get sorted soon. Having a beer a few weeks ago and I told him about how Giant doesn't have any medium frames available anywhere in the world and that I am waiting for the 2011 models to be constructed - he was not impressed and reckons under our consumer guaruntee act I should either get a full replacement or a full refund. There is apparently wording to the effect of 'timely resolution'.

Have had a few people talking about how brittle carbon frames are, but that is total bullshit. According to a friend that does F1 and aerospace carbon fibre construction - a properly constructed carbon fibre frame should be as durable as any other material and he reckons most frame failures are due to piss poor design and/or bad fabrication. He has broken a few alloy frames too and putting them through an x-ray machine found several areas that were starting to crack due to poor design features.

So if they dont have any frames and are waiting for some to be made, what do you expect them to do? Build one just for you?

Or give him a full refund like it says in his post HTH(I'm a twerp)

Jono · *by **Jono** on Sun 4/Jul/10 11:06pm*

Karlkarlton wrote:Recently cracked my carbon hardtail, it just gave up. Not impacted or anything. I know people who have cracked Specialized hardtails (three people), a Merida hardtail, Avanti hardtails (two people), and a Specialized full sus. All carbon.

What have you cracked? Is there any manufacturer that seems to make stronger/ more durable carbon frames?

I cracked my litespeed titanium frame several years back (fixed under warranty). A friend cracked 2 litespeed road frames too. Cracking is not a carbon-specific trait.