Road Cycling - Felt F50: cracked rear drop-out

the background: i purchased my 2001/2002 Felt F50 (105+ultegra components) used from
someone that had put less than ~100 hundred miles on the bike. besides a single superficial
scratch on the drive-side chainstay, everything looked brand-spankin' new. i got a pretty good
deal on the bike and i was very happy with the ride and handling of the Felt frame. since i have
purchased the frame, i have put something like 5k miles on it. around mile 4000, the rear hub
failed (an Alex 320 wheelset) --- one of the eyelets on the hub snapped off right where the
spoke attaches!

today: i head out for a morning ride and as i am crossing town i roll over some rough
pavement. i notice that coming out of the rough patch, the bike feels loose on the
back end. i stop to check things out only to find that my right rear drop-out is cracked.
there are actually 2 cracks which nearly meet at the center. after uttering a bunch of
profanity, i walk home.

.....oh and in case you were thinking that i am a fat-a$$ for busting a hub and then the
frame; i'm 6'2" and weigh 170 lbs.

looks like i will be making a post soon regarding a new bike purchase, even if the
drop-out can be tig-welded back together.
-m

Don't buy Taiwanese generic catalog bikes next time. Hope you have better luck next time, no one deserves a crappy day like that!

Have you notified Felt? I just bought an f30 and think it's great. I am a "Fat ass" 6"2" 215 lbs. and more than curious about their response. PS I've been to Taipei for business and those are not coolies working in shacks. The are smart industrious people whose sucess should motivate us in the US.

Larry

Never said they were and what the hell is "coolies"? Some racist term?

Felts are generic catalog frames that anyone can order from one of several giant Taiwanese bike manufacturers. There is nothing special about them and they are right on par with any other generic.

Gee, Taiwanese companies also make the TCR which is a very good frame. Hmmm, I guess you call it racism and I call it being objective. I'll call a turd a turd and how much surprise can there be with a generic frame at the pricepoint they are actually manufactured (the Felts are not turds-just nothing special)

Have you notified Felt? I just bought an f30 and think it's great. I am a "Fat ass" 6"2" 215 lbs. and more than curious about their response.
Larry

since i bought it used, the warranty doesn't extend to me. i'll likely contact Felt just to supply
them with some customer feedback.
-m

no replaceable dropout? for some reason i've always heard one should never buy a frame that doesn't have replaceable dropouts. best of luck fixing it up. i don't know that i'd trust it welded, though.

Call Felt and plead your case, but be positive and stress how much you loved the bike, etc. I'll bet they will "help you out" at the very least. Maybe not a free frame, but they'll help.

PJ

Okay, you got me. Don't laugh, but what is the dropout? That's a term that's new to me and since I also ride a Felt that might be something I should keep an eye on.

That sucks. I'm sorry.

Okay, you got me. Don't laugh, but what is the dropout? That's a term that's new to me and since I also ride a Felt that might be something I should keep an eye on.


The dropouts are the slots in the frame where you put the axel. I think the poster above was referring to replaceable derailliure (sp?) hangers, which are common on aluminium frames. I have a Felt F65 and I love it.

Dean

Okay, you got me. Don't laugh, but what is the dropout? That's a term that's new to me and since I also ride a Felt that might be something I should keep an eye on.

it's where your wheels attached to the frame......but for a more lucid definition, i refer you to
this link:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_d.html#dropout

-m

The dropouts are the slots in the frame where you put the axel. I think the poster above was referring to replaceable derailliure (sp?) hangers, which are common on aluminium frames.

Some bikes do have fully replacable dropouts which also results in a replacable derailleur hanger.

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/cycling/bikes/Aegis/2001-Aro_Svelte/images/PICT0017.JPG

Some bikes do have fully replacable dropouts which also results in a replacable derailleur hanger.

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/cycling/bikes/Aegis/2001-Aro_Svelte/images/PICT0017.JPG

Hmmm..... That's pretty cool. I've never seen a replaceable dropout. But, my Felt is my first road bike, so I haven't seen too many road dropouts in general..... So does it bolt on inside the black pieces (I'm guessing carbon fiber)?

Dean

Ahhhh, I just looked at the Aegis in your sig block. That is one sweet bike...........

Hmmm..... That's pretty cool. I've never seen a replaceable dropout. But, my Felt is my first road bike, so I haven't seen too many road dropouts in general..... So does it bolt on inside the black pieces (I'm guessing carbon fiber)?

Actually they bolt to the aluminum frame inserts which are themselves molded into the carbon fibre of the chainstays and seatstays. If you look right above the axle nut you can see the two bolts. I believe the original intent for the replacable dropout was less for damage repairability and more to allow customers to do conversions to single-speed. You can get horizontal dropouts for this frame. Being able to replace a damaged dropout is obviously a good side-benefit.

Felt Bicycle frames are designed in California by Jim Felt, a leading bike engineer for many years. They are NOT "generic" frames that are used by multiple companies.

Any bike company willing to order a set quantity can have generic frames made and painted to their spec. There is a catalog of frames they can choose from. This is not available to consumers obviously.
Just like the generic carbon seatstay plugs that are so popular. Do you think Felt, Supergo, Douglas, or any other brand makes those themselves? Same goes with framesets.

Many Specialized bikes are designed in America. Doesn't mean they are made in America.

Thanks, Deanoldo. Since I ride my Felt on the road and have to deal with railroad tracks on occasion I can see how the dropout can get cracked. This was a most enlightening thread. Astrocub, good luck getting your steed repaired.

Many Specialized bikes are designed in America. Doesn't mean they are made in America.


Not being made in America doesn't make them "generic" either. I doubt that Jim Felt's idea of "designing" bikes is sitting in his living room looking at the equivalent of a QBP catalog for Taiwanese frames.

Dean

Not being made in America doesn't make them "generic" either. I doubt that Jim Felt's idea of "designing" bikes is sitting in his living room looking at the equivalent of a QBP catalog for Taiwanese frames.

Dean

Good one! ;-)

Folks. Why not just buy a steel frame? A good steel frame doesn't weight much more than the Felt. Seriously. There are plenty of good steel frames out there where it's highly unlikely these breaks would happen. Each spring without fail, we get these broken frame horror stories from Alu or Carbon owners.

so what am i supposed to do if taiwanese made bikes are the only ones i can afford... im a college student and i cant be plunking down more than $1000 on bikes alone. :(

i love felt and specialized but it seems like because they arent american made and since you can pronounce their name in your first try... they're sh*tty bikes all of a sudden. :(

so what am i supposed to do if taiwanese made bikes are the only ones i can afford... im a college student and i cant be plunking down more than $1000 on bikes alone. :(

Simple. You ignore all the comments about how all bikes made in the far-east are crap.

I ride a Felt F35. Beats the snot out of anything in its price range. And the frame is fine. I had a BMW once that spent more time in the shop than on the road. Must have been made in Taiwan ... :D

Simple. You ignore all the comments about how all bikes made in the far-east are crap.


I totally agree. I have a Specialized MTB too and couldn't be happier with it. I wouldn't think twice about purchasing a frame made in Taiwan.

There are plenty of good steel frames out there where it's highly unlikely these breaks would happen. Each spring without fail, we get these broken frame horror stories from Alu or Carbon owners.

Pure Krap! So far this year, I have read of two steel and one titianium frame that have broken. I would like to put this old wives tale to bed once and for all. Modern day aluminium frames will last just as long as any other frame, and in some cases longer.

There is a website out there, that I have lost the link to, that tested high end steel, aluminium and titanium. The first to break was steel, the second titianium, the one that never broke was the Cannondale Aluminium.

I have ridden steel and aluminium all my riding days and neither has broken. The steel frame, however, did start to rust.

Soap Box/over

I love how I say one thing and through some BS translator on some of your computers, it comes out as something else.

Read my posts and DON'T MAKE UP WHAT I POST especially when my posts are RIGHT THERE clear for you to read.

Gee how about post #4? How many times should I post that for it to sink in?

And yes, there is a catalog a company can order generic bikes from. Order a set quantity and you can have them painted with any name on it you want- just like Felt, Douglas, etc, etc,etc. Yes it is as simple as ordering through a catalog and picking from their options.

Geez, how the h@!! do you think companies like Douglas, Felt and others get these aluminum bikes made? It's called wholesale, re-seller and retail. Pretty basic bike biz 101 or do you think they order it from the bike fairy?

[QUOTE=RacerX]RacerX

Whew!!! Now I understand your Avatar :D

I love how I say one thing and through some BS translator on some of your computers, it comes out as something else.



Well, you kinda do it deliberately. Attention much?

Simple. You ignore all the comments about how all bikes made in the far-east are crap.

Please point to the posts that say that. The only ones I see are from you and Deanoldo.

Please point to the posts that say that. The only ones I see are from you and Deanoldo.

Someone asked a question and I merely provided a solution. It is left as an exercise to the reader on how, when and where to apply it.

Please point to the posts that say that. The only ones I see are from you and Deanoldo.

I'm not sure where I posted anything about you claiming that Taiwanese frames are crap. I was merely confirming what khuon was saying to boyracer, based on my own experiences. That statement had nothing to do with your posts. My only issue is with some of the comments regarding Felt's being a generic frame that is catalog ordered by Felt. I assume that when the Felt website uses the term "designed" in relation to their bikes, that it means they actually design it. I'm sure they don't actually weld the frame though. With the kind of manufacturing power and efficiency they have in Taiwan, it only makes sense to have them made there to keep the price down. Just like the big boys do. Heck, even Santa Cruz has some frames made at the Kinesis plant in Taiwan.

On an unrelated side note: This is kind of exciting, I'm relatively new to the world of forums and this is as close to an argument as I've ever gotten into.... :D

Dean

People who make blanket statements without any research to back it up are morons. For instance, saying (or implying) that Jim Felt, a well known and well-respected FRAME DESIGNER, orders his designs out of a catalog, is ridiculous, and shows how ignorant some idiots who post on forums can be. Jim Felt has been a designer of 2 wheel vehicles for over 25 years. He was an engineer at Easton Aluminum, makers of aluminum tubing used in almost all Felt bicycles. He began with racing motorcycle designs for Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda used by world champion pro riders like Jim Weinert, Broc Glover and Motocross legend Johnny o´ Mara. Felt's designs won hundreds of races. Unfortunately, not too many people are aware of the heritage of Felt bikes; partly because he has designed bikes for other manufacturers that were used under their brand name, not the Felt brand. Top riders like Paula Newby-Fraser, Greg Welch, Ken Souza, Michellie Jones and many others have won the Ironman, World Championships, Escape From Alcatraz and countless other major events including an Olympic Silver Medal on Felt designed bicycles.

In other words, the catalogs that other bike manufacturers order out of, are frame designs THAT WERE DESIGNED BY FELT.

In case you're wondering, yes I ride a Felt, and yes, I love it. To Deanaldo and khuon, my fellow Washingtonian bikers, if you see a yellow Felt F65 with a short Fillipino wearing a Briko Spark helmet go by, stop and say hi!
:D