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Cube Attempt - Cracked Frame

by UKHoneyBeeMan
Mon, Sep 21, 2015 16:31
11

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for a bit of helpful advice please.
Out for a ride last week, loud snapping sound followed by "dry" sounding rubbing noise. I make it home, take bike to local repair guys who diagnose rear freewheel hub damage.

Fulcrum Racing 7's freewheel hub duly ordered and fitted, collected bike on Saturday, short test ride shows same problem, return to bike store to explain, after lots of head scratching the guy wobbles the back wheel to reveal a broken drive side chain stay cracked completely through! Picture attached (I think).

Is this a repairable problem or do I have to throw the bike and start over? If so, What would be a good replacement? I have enjoyed using the Attempt but it was my first road bike and so have no experience of any other road bike. Budget of around £1500.

Thanks

Stewart

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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11 comments

Avatar
matthewn5 | 9 years ago
0 likes

Very very happy with my Canyon Ultimate AL 9.0. Can't think of anything much that would make it better.

Avatar
pirnie | 9 years ago
0 likes

Surely for a warranty claim, any Cube dealer should be able to help you out? Some shops might be reluctant to help if you didn't buy from them, but I've heard many stories of others being happy to help in this kind of scenario.

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freebsd_frank replied to pirnie | 9 years ago
0 likes

Sorry about your frame failing.

The other week a guy posted about his Cube frame cracking:

http://road.cc/content/forum/161203-cube-cautionary-tale

My guess: Cube will also try and weasel their way out of giving you a
replacement frame like they did with him. In the unlikely event that they do
give you a frame, I'd sell it on ebay.

The problem with Al alloy frames is that they fatigue fail. Al alloy doesn't
have a fatigue limit like steel or titanium:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatigue_limit

As Flying Scot said, if you did get it repaired, it would just crack again
elsewhere.

If you want a frame that's durable, you want to go for one built out of Ti or
steel. As another poster said, you can pull the groupset and wheels
etc. off the broken frame. You may need to buy: a new bottom bracket,
headset and seatpost; depends if the old ones fit the new frame. You'll
probably also need to buy new handlebar tape and cable set.

You should be able to buy a nice, durable frame and the above bits within your
budget. Check out Van Nicholas and Justin Burls for a Ti frame (Justin also
builds fillet brazed steel frames).

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UKHoneyBeeMan replied to freebsd_frank | 9 years ago
0 likes

Thanks for your comments.
I will check out the frame guys you mention.

As far as Cube are concerned I have a feeling that this is going to become another poor customer service story.

Regardless of the warranty situation you would think that any company worth my hard earned cash would be keen to protect it's name and reputation.

Scenario one: Regardless of warranty they accept the frame had a fault and exchange without question, promptly and enthusiastically. Securing my brand loyalty and watch me become a brand bore for Cube.

Scenario two: They don't answer my attempts to communicate with them, their retailers (Only two that I've spoken to) don't want to get involved and eventually I give up and buy another brand. They lose me as a valued customer who's lifetime spend with them would be worth several £k's given I buy for myself and family and would encourage my close friends to invest in the Cube brand. Not to mention all the accessories and clothing that I would doubtless purchase too. Add to this the negative forum coverage, Twitter, Facebook, instagram etc. It all adds up to a significant number of people that would hear my sorry tale.

I'm off to the Cycle Show on Sunday so will be popping along to the Cube stand to check out their new range as I have managed to convince myself I "need" a new bike as well as fixing the broken one. Their response to my current dilemma will either secure my brand loyalty for life or turn me towards another company that cares a little more about it's customers.

Wish me luck, but don't hold your breath!

Stewart

Avatar
rasalati | 9 years ago
0 likes

You may want to double check that your warranty is indeed out of date.

http://www.cube.eu/uk/service/faq/faq-detail/article/how-long-do-i-have-...

Up to (and including) 2011 models have a 5 year warranty.
2012 onward models have a 6 year warranty.

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UKHoneyBeeMan replied to rasalati | 9 years ago
0 likes

Many thanks for your reply.

I believe the bike is just 5 years old so I'm now trying to contact Cube. Long story short, I don't know where the bike was purchased as it was a gift from my mother who is no longer with us.

I've used the cube website tech support contact page but heard nothing back as yet so will keep searching for another contact point.

Thanks again.

Stewart

Avatar
UKHoneyBeeMan | 9 years ago
0 likes

Thanks for all the comments,

I contacted Cube but not yet had a reply about obtaining a new frame. The bike is about 5 years old so out of warranty but I would have expected a frame to last a little longer than 5 years to be honest.

Searching the internet there do seem to be some specialist bike welding guys out there so trying for a repair and using it as a Winter bike may be a good starting point.

Cycle Show this weekend so will be able to stare longingly at all the new 2016 bikes on display and dream.

Cheers
Stewart

Avatar
Flying Scot | 9 years ago
0 likes

Although alloy can be TIG welded, I suspect your frame is at the end of its life, I've never seen a well used example one that has continued to be ridden after a repair that doesn't fail again later, or indeed start cracking elsewhere.

If it's under warranty, give it a go, failing that repair it and relegate to winter use, or strip it and buy a new frame.

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samcannadine | 9 years ago
0 likes

I would say that a weld repair done properly will fix it. But its obviously your choice. Dont forget all the parts that can be salvaged from this bike so not necessarily a whole new bike just a frame.

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samcannadine | 9 years ago
0 likes

I would say that a weld repair done properly will fix it. But its obviously your choice. Dont forget all the parts that can be salvaged from this bike so not necessarily a whole new bike just a frame.

Avatar
mike the bike | 9 years ago
0 likes

Bad luck Mr HBM,

Firstly, any chance the frame is still under warranty? Some makers guarantee frames for a long time so you might usefully read any documentation you have.

If not, aluminium can be welded. Or a new chain stay could be fitted, if it could be sourced.
So, yes, repair is possible.

But there are other considerations:
Welding will wreck the paint job and some respraying will be needed.
The cost might be greater than a new frame?
Will you ever trust this frame again?

Only you know how you feel about this, so best of luck sir.

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