Folding Bikes - Broken Handlepost/Handlebar on a Dahon Speed D7 - covered by warranty?

I've had this bike 2 months and am well within the weight range recommended by Dahon. This evening I was miles from home when I had a catastrophic failure of a vital component. Pulling away from a standing start the top of the seatpost sheared in half. This is the part where the clip grips down on the handlebars to stop them rollng forwards and backwards. The top fastener, not the one for setting height of bars, nor the one for holding the steering column upright. Anyone know the technical name for this part? The damn thing just sheared right off cleanly at the thinnest point, made a small cracking noise as it went but nothing dramatic. I just found myself holding the bars which were loose from the bike. It needs a new handlepost.

Anyway Dahon UK's website say they cover 'all frames and folding mechanisms' for 5 years, or for a lifetime if you get the bike checked by a specialist prior to first riding it. I didn't get mine checked but I should still have 4 years and 10 months cover anyway so this is not an issue.

My concern is this - does this topmost fastener count as a 'folding mechanism'? I imagine all of the other clips and fasteners do as they must be manipulated in order to fold the bike but I'm not clear about this top fastener - it's been adjusted maybe twice in 2 months and is not touched when folding...although it is a vital and integrated part of the telescopic folding handlepost.

Anyone have any experience of this? I was quite stunned by this as I was applying very little force, just moving away from a standstill in second gear to resume my pootle. I hate to think what might have happened if I'd been belting along and this happened.

In the event Dahon aren't prepared to replace this part can anyone advise me on Dahon parts in the UK? Are there any good suppliers/pitfalls/economical alternatives?

It's been a heck of a busy week and this is my first chance in a few days to go for a ride and now I'm bikeless for the foresseable future. What a pain. :mad:

I think you are refering to the folding mechanism of the revolve stem. It should be covered. If you need your bike, all you will need is a 1 1/8 inch threadless stem (for 08 model, 07 requires a shim or a 1 inch stem). Clamp that baby onto your stem post and clamp the handlebars on to the new stem and you are in business.

The fold wont be as nice but you won't be bikeless.

Like this.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/vanloch/Curve%20SL/curvesl2000mi003.jpg

Thanks for the advice! Mine is a 2007 model and yes, I think it is the folding mechanism of the revolve stem. However it was not the folding part that sheared off, it was the top of the post, where the folding mechanism hinges. There is an aluminium 'hoop' on the top which the core of the folding mechanism passes through to form a hinge. This just sheared perfectly in half, like a laser cut it. Quite bizarre. The bike is 2 months old, used modestly and sensibly, I way considerably less than the upper weight limit and I was pulling away froma stop in second gear. The folding mechanism was set sensibly - enough grip to hold my bars in place but not overtensioned. It just seemed primed to fail under very little force.

I've e-mailed Dahon UK but their website is pretty vague on repairs/replacements under warranty and the only e-mail address I could find was for sales. I'll see what they say next week I suppose.

I have seen a thread over at the Dahon forums about this part failing. It was replaced. These would fail gradually over time as a crack propagates then it will eventually give way while "applying very little force," as in your case.

Do you know which Dahon forums? The only ones I've noticed were on the Dahon UK website but I didn't expect a discussion of their failings there so didn't look in. I'll check it out now.

I must say I'm surprised to have such a problem after 2 months - the bike is still being run in in my opinion!

Perhaps something went amiss in the factory?

I wonder if anyone here knows how Dahon are with replacements and so forth - delivery timescales would be so helpful as I have some free time coming up and want to know whether to include access to a bike in my plans.

It turns out that the link on the UK website takes me to a USA forum, so I've registered thered and asked for help.

you should bring the bike to the dealer and let him check it. The dealer will make a report to the Importer and they will send the dealer a new handpost .. usually ,, if the dealer and the importer deems it to be a warranty case...
If you cannot get any help whatsoever , make me a picture of the part, give me as most info as you can, in an email and I rattle the cage ... usually not necessary , but as a last resort I am able and willing to help

thor