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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

Thanks mate, I will look into that.