Things that make your heart drop

[guysbikes]

Gutted for you

If it were me, I'd gather every dictionary definition of wear & tear I could find, most of which say (often somewhat more lengthily admittedly) "Gradual physical deterioration of an asset through age, use and / or weathering".

I would then argue that this frame crack is clearly not a gradual deterioration, but rather a failure - and most likely a sudden one at that - and ask them to reconsider their decision, with all of the information that you have provided very much in mind.

Good luck

 

[suburbanreuben]

No wrecks recently. (recently...)
It was my ride of choice for most of 14 years so I guess I can't complain too much. I'm just glad I found it before a catastrophic failure at an inopportune moment.

You guys don't really expect titanium frames to last forever do you? :roll:
"bought new in '97 and ridden like he stole it"
I think that's pretty impressive. The manufacturer have no control over how it's ridden, and in those 14 years it could have been crashed, stacked, dropped, piled, high sided, low sided, slided, collided...
If you push titanium too far, for too long, it will break, just like any other metal. It's not magic, like some of you seem to think. :roll:
Steel, though, you could repair...

 

[one-eyed_jim]

I would then argue that this frame crack is clearly not a gradual deterioration, but rather a failure - and most likely a sudden one at that

This is a fatigue failure, and fatigue, by definition, accumulates gradually and invisibly. The visible crack is the end result of hundreds of thousands of stress cycles, and that's a textbook example of gradual deterioration.

Every frame that fails has to fail somewhere. In a welded frame, the eventual failure point is likely to be a weld. After fourteen years of hard use, that failure doesn't imply a manufacturing defect. If the original warranty was against manufacturing defects, Litespeed doesn't really have a case to answer.

 

[guysbikes]

I agree with the last post to a point - which is that the lifetime guarantee wasn't honoured due to wear & tear which I think is a shame & too easy a way out for a company to take. I had a steel Kona that cracked at the headtube with a similar guarantee & it was replaced without any question. I'm just a little surprised that they didn't offer something more or want to look at the frame for their own research purposes...

 

[mechagouki]

Assuming that Litespeed stick to their original decision, and you decide not to buy a new frame from them (and they're not really selling themselves as a company you want to deal with, are they?), and if you really love the bike, then you should get in touch with this gentleman:

http://www.stevepottsbicycles.com/

He will be able to tell you why the frame failed, if it is worth saving, and how much it will cost to save it.

If you decide to just buy new, and you still want Titanium, Moots would be my first (money no object)choice , though they (and most bike companies these days) have a wear and tear/fatigue get out clause in their lifetime warranty. Lynskey will build you a new frame pretty much any way you want it, though that can still be pricey. If you don't mind an import, I hear good things about Habanero, and they too offer a custom option, and for a lot less than you might expect:

http://www.habcycles.com/

 

[guysbikes]

"Every frame that fails has to fail somewhere."

I think that many people buying a frame with a lifetime guarantee would feel protected against that eventuality though

 

[one-eyed_jim]

I think that many people buying a frame with a lifetime guarantee would feel protected against that eventuality though

Most "lifetime" guarantees aren't no-questions-asked new-for-old replacements. That's especially true of expensive, lightweight sports equipment. I haven't read the details of the guarantee that Litespeed offered, but it seems unreasonable to expect a light frame to last for ever. Fatigue failure after fourteen years of hard riding means that the frame has worn out. It's not a defect.

Here's Keith Bontrager, a clever guy:

http://classic-web.archive.org/web/2001 ... ts_f1.html

So what if you pay the big money and get the trick lightweight racing parts. Now what? Can you assume that the parts are bulletproof no matter what? Nope.

Sorry, but this is true with few exceptions. As parts get lighter, the way they are used matters more and more. The designer has made the part perform well in some specific way or situation, and this specialization will inevitably limit its performance in some other circumstances. This is how parts get lighter once all of the easy stuff has been done. You can't simply remove material uniformly from existing designs and get away with it, even if you've got the good material and the sophisticated manufacturing process.

To make a light part lighter the designer spots a place on the part where a rider can get by with a little less metal (or whatever) under the right circumstances. Then the designer has to try to attract (limit the sales of the part to) the sort of rider who rides within those circumstances, or who is willing to accept the consequences if they don't. But that means that you've got to communicate your design intentions (and limitations) to your customers. What are the circumstances that you considered appropriate for the use of these parts? What are the limitations of the design and reasonable restrictions on its use?

 

[suburbanreuben]

"Every frame that fails has to fail somewhere."

I think that many people buying a frame with a lifetime guarantee would feel protected against that eventuality though

As John says, the Lifetime guarantee in the brochure specifically excludes wear and tear.
It's not just meaningless small print. :roll:

 

[The Ken]

Sadly I think litespeed are right here but i have seen many cases where I think they are wrong. Pick a model and ask for a price, you might be lucky and get it at trade or cost, if it is 10% off RRP tell them no thanks, I'd find out what they are offering before jumping ship.

 

[Neil G]

As above, worth seeing if they can help out towards the cost of a new one if they're not prepared to send you a new one free of charg.e.

A friend at work recently had his brand new Marin Ti crack at the weld (dropout area) and it did look very different to that. Lynskey who make the frame are honouring the guarantee.