southerndownhill.com - Forum

OK, so I'm quite light on bikes and have never broken a frame in 6 yrs of riding, so I saw my chain stay when cleaning my bike and was a bit shocked.  The bike is a Supreme Dh 06 and it would appear the strange gusset has propagated the crack.

Has anyone else seen this and seeing as bike is 2 seasons old would it be worth contacting Commencal to try and get a freebie or discount as knowing a bit about stress analysis from what I can see appears to be a design fault or welding issue and would except the new ones not to look like this.  Also if I have to buy a new one full price anyone know how much they are or best place to get them? E-mailed ultimate pursuits but haven't had a reply.

Any suggestions welcome, FYI was using bike for Dh i.e. not doing any big drops etc.  Theres some pics on here http://www.commencalownersclub.com/index.php?topic=1858.0

Cheers, John

If you bought it new does your warrenty still cover it?
It usually stands for 2 years not sure about your frame it could be different.

well i've seen a couple commencal before 2007 bikes crack on the swing arm. more of a design fault i would think.

just because you've seen 'a couple' cracked, doesn't mean its a design fault, any frame can crack.

True

If it is a frame fault then i can't see them being a pain over replacing the rear end or frame, as long as you haven't de-stickered the frame, because with most companies this voids warranty

Its an 2006 trying to find proof of purchase but don't think I have it, reckon will end up having to pay full whack. 

It clearly isn't a great design as its cracked through a weld, which doesn't have to be there seeing as the non drive side doesn't have the gusset on the lower linkage just a straight section. By beefing up one section it has created a weak point on the boundary, which has fatigued.

You have a 2 year warranty on the frame.

I've just recently had an 06 meta frame replaced on warranty, it cracked on the front end. If you can find your reciept you should get a warranty. Take it back to the shop you bought it, your contract of sale is with them. They should sort out getting it sent back and replaced. If you cant find your reciept i'd still go back to the shop you bought it, they may have a record of the sale.

Madison were really slow sorting out the replacement, but on the plus side I ended up with an 08 frame!

Hope this helps

A

You need to speak to your local Commencal dealer, who will in turn speak to Madison.

I'd be suprised that if it was a manufacturing fault that it took so long for it to break- its a pretty severe failure- which you should have noticed starting if you'd been checking the frame on a regular basis.

I've got my second Commencal with the dealer just now with a crack, just outside the two year period but they know what they are doing- just be 100% straight with them about how it happened.

In true Madison tradition, any kind of warranty issue/acceptance of liability will be a nightmare.

My three year old Meta 4 xc bike cracked last month- Madison's suggestion- "ask Real cycles if they have any knocking around". Great, they couldn't even supply a new swing arm at full rrp.

I wouldn't trust Madison with the steam of my piss, so I've given up and am now dealing with Commencal direct in Andorra. My works phone bill isn't happy reading but on the plus side my French is getting better.

Drop me a PM if you want the number of the Commencal guy I'm dealing with.

JamesW,

Are you aware that demand for the frames is pretty high? Real Cycles have been trying to find me a new swingarm as well, and there just aren't any. Most of the Commencal stuff produced goes France bound, what we get in the UK is limited quantity wise so yes it can be hard getting sares- just ask Steve@Real how long it took to source maxle dropouts/axles!

Madison have warrantied my frame previoussly and were fine, and they have  a good reputation for the Giro crash scheme they do.

Their suggestion of contacting Real Cycles is pretty good to be honest- they were selling Commencals before Madison got involved, are one of the key dealers and are pretty clued up.

I've got no problem with Real cycles. Dont know them from Adam, emailed them and they couldnt help- fair enough.

My "beef" is with Madison, they just weren't interested. So f**k 'em, Commencal proper are actually quite helpful- they seem to realise its better for them to have their bikes out on the trails than sat broken in people's garages...

Cheers for comments guys, was thinking if its just outside the two year will be annoying to pay full price, but it would be even more annoying if they can't find me the part!

rock3 the failure looks like fatigue, so internal material defect or just the high stress through the weld due to the design.  Fatigue takes places over extended period of time and usually results in a sudden failure, thats why its lasted two years. The crack appeared very suddenly I checked it every days or so (had to remove chain stay protector, needed for the commencal bad chain line), so ye didn't see crack until had gone completely could of been riding it for a day broken! At the end of the day a top end frame should last a good few seasons if its used for intended purpose.

James if I have no joy I may try the French side thanks for the suggestion, with the expensive phone bills could you not email them? Would be great if you could pm me the contact details in case i need em.

Just to let you know, the guys at Real have a swingarm for the DH frame- might be worth asking how much it is.

Thanks mate, I will look into that.

I've been offered a used swing arm for £80, does that sound reasonable? No idea how much they are new?

Frames have always been £1.5k+, so thats pretty good to be honest

Madison are poo. Even though the shop i used to work for was like a dealer of everything but commencal from madison, they still wouldnt get me a frame at trade price, or even supply us with one at all.

£80 is a steal,snap that up!

I just paid £100 for a used Rocky Mountain slayer swing arm and I thought that was quite cheap.

Looks like thats what I'll be doing as don't have my receipt, so Madison aren't going to do anything. Turns out its an 07, so had to get new mech hanger as that is different which has pushed price up a bit.

Does anyone know whether they changed the linkage plates widths? Looks like same bearings in there so i assume they haven't.

Assumption or fact?

I've returned my Commencal through the dealer and they know I got it there, so they weren't concerned about a receipt. If its an 06 they'll know its around 2 years old, and will probably have a record or where and when it was sold. They don't genrally kick up a fuss about it being a month or so out.

Real Cycles will be able to tell you re. the linkages tc hopefully, certainly on the miniDHb they have changed the swingarms but they still have the same fittings.

I asked whether could do anything from the frame serial, but said need proof of purchase. I will try my dealer, but I've got an 07 one now so not end of world if i get nothing out of them. If Madison were to help chances are would be lengthly wait as they are in short supply apprantely, so at least will have my bike running for now.

Real weren't sure on linkage, will have to see in few days, chances are will be the same, will report back in case anyone else encounters this problem.

why not try and get one on warranty aswell as buying the other one? then atleast you have a spare, or can sell the new one on, and make back what you had to spend on the one you bought?

The frame was brought in early 06, so is half yr over warranty. I've ordered an 07 from Real, so just waiting on that.

Received the 07 back end, anyone else who gets in this position. The linkage widths look same as does the axle. Only difference i can see before fitting is the obvious change to the adjustable wheel base changing the brake mounts to post mounts and the mech hanger design.

Cheers for your comments guys. Problem solved.