Xtracyle breaks.

[Scout!]

Yes, I mean breaks -- not brakes.

:( :( :(

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/2248915258_7aa62fa4ff.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/2248924260_76cb2ecd6f.jpg

[KonradNYC]

woah! story?

[fordfasterr]

is it made of aluminum ?

[tfahrner]

it's steel. breakage is not unprecedented but is by no means common. the company has always been quite good about promptly replacing broken freerads.

[Hobartlemagne]

Yes, I mean breaks -- not brakes.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/2248924260_76cb2ecd6f.jpg

Great pic- now we have something to post in response to people spelling "breaks"

[Scout!]

woah! story?
There's not much of a story. I've had the xtracycle for a few years, and it has been well used--commuting, grocery shopping, touring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/peroratio/sets/72157600391782135/)...

The frame broke during my evening commute. I felt something strange as I went over a speed bump. There was a grinding sound accompanied by a momentary sag. I pulled over to inspect, but it was dark and I didn't notice what had happened. I rode home. The bike still carried me ok, although it did feel weird when accelerating from a stop. Not until the next morning did I see that the chainstay was actually broken.

I sent an email to Xtracycle via their website, and they replied the next day. I got the return shipping label a week later and I packaged up the broken frame and sent it back.

Here it is boxed, loaded, and on its way to the local UPS store:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2201/2249122278_ec99566277.jpg

[yes]

That's a funny looking garage door ;).

[coldfeet]

Great pic- now we have something to post in response to people spelling "breaks"

Looking at the graduated rust on that break, I would say the original crack was a while ago. I have heard of these breaking when loaded aft of the axle and ridden over rough tracks. Nice that you had two, Xtras.

[cman]

Good to hear that they backed up their product. How old was the Free Radical? Is the warranty good forever on frame cracks?

[Abneycat]

Good to hear that they backed up their product. How old was the Free Radical? Is the warranty good forever on frame cracks?

Warrantied for life against stuff like this. They have the usual clauses, like if you neglect it and let it rust up, ride it abusively and so on - but Xtracycle is *very* good about their warranty.

They provided a replacement freeloader when one of the ones that came with mine had troubles, no trouble.

[coldfeet]

There's not much of a story. I've had the xtracycle for a few years, and it has been well used--commuting, grocery shopping, touring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/peroratio/sets/72157600391782135/)...

The frame broke during my evening commute. I felt something strange as I went over a speed bump. There was a grinding sound accompanied by a momentary sag. I pulled over to inspect, but it was dark and I didn't notice what had happened. I rode home. The bike still carried me ok, although it did feel weird when accelerating from a stop. Not until the next morning did I see that the chainstay was actually broken.

I sent an email to Xtracycle via their website, and they replied the next day. I got the return shipping label a week later and I packaged up the broken frame and sent it back.

Here it is boxed, loaded, and on its way to the local UPS store:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2201/2249122278_ec99566277.jpg

Whats that around the seat tube? Can't make it out on that pic.

[Stax]

Whats that around the seat tube? Can't make it out on that pic.

I think its a Topeak Road Morph pump.

[Scout!]

Nice that you had two, Xtras.

Yes, I am privileged to live in two Xtracycle household. :)


Whats that around the seat tube? Can't make it out on that pic.
I think its a Topeak Road Morph pump
That's correct -- a Topeak Road Morph.

Good to hear that they backed up their product. How old was the Free Radical? Is the warranty good forever on frame cracks?
The frame was old -- from back when they cost $200 and didn't come with a disc brake mount. It had been well used, and I would have felt like I got my money's worth even if they had not replaced it when it broke.

There was no trouble getting the replacement frame. I already got it and put my bike put back together. See picture below. (I recently rehabilitated my snap deck. It was ragged and falling apart a few weeks ago. I glued the loose parts back together, then sanded, stained and sealed it. It looks much better now.)

[cman]

It looks like I might be trying out the Xtracycle warranty. I was cleaning and adjusting my bike tonight when I noticed my tongue on the FreeRadical is cracked. It is a little over a year old.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/conion1/xtracycle/CIMG0701.jpg

[kevbo]

That toungue looks like a classic cold shut joint. Easy to make a pretty MIG weld that won't hold squat. The arc crater is at the end of the weld....better technique to backtrack and leave it more toward the middle, specificaly to reduce the chance of this sort of failure.

The dropout looks like it has a groove just below/infront of the crack. Might have caused some stress concentration. It looks like it might have been done with a grinder when dressing the weld...definatly manufacturing as it is under the paint.

[MrPhil]

Right on, kevbo. Metal speaks if you listen.

Very cool about the folks at Xtracycle.

[badmother]

Better to make your own..:D

[cman]

Finally the new Xtracycle's are in. They have warrantied mine and the new one is on the way. Woohoo.

[Wanderer]

Now, that's pretty cool! A bike hauling a bike back to the shipper.....