JakeB1992

So, I had an accident 4 weeks ago and while I'm on the mend, my Specialized 61cm Secteur has a cracked fork and the LBS tells that it will take 2 months to get a replacement fork. The gent responding on the Specialized web site says this is because Specialized gets the fork from another company. Well...

1. I like the Secteur and have put just under 9K miles on it in 3 years
2. The LBS I bought it from never did make me feel like I mattered.
3. I don't care why I can't get the fork in a reasonable amount of time, I want my bike back.
4. I think I'm done w/this LBS and w/Specialized

I'd love to buy my next bike while I wait on the repair...sadly, I have other priorities (2 kids in college) and so while I have my eye on said "next bike", I will be riding it in my sleep for the time being.

Question: Where can I find a bike now for cheap? At 6'4" 200 I need a bigger frame and while Craigslist has lots of bikes, none in my size--and I've been monitoring my local area (Orlando) as well as a couple of other larger cities "near by" (Jax & Tampa). Are there used bike stores that one could visit virtually?

This is sucking.--John

Sixty Fiver

2 months ??

I recently had a customer come in who could not get a damaged fork replaced by a local shop and it did not take me long to source one locally and get him back on the road. A good shop would call other Specialized dealers / shops to see if they had the part that was needed as 2 months is far too long to wait for what is a straight up repair.

chasm54

65-er is right, that is ridiculous. You could source an equivalent fork on-line and have it in a week.

iforgotmename

Looks like it could be due to the recall of 2012 2013 forks. https://www.bikerumor.com/2013/01/25/...-secteur-disc/

Sixty Fiver

I was just going to mention this...

TrojanHorse

Maybe see if the shop can hook you up with a loaner (or a loaner fork) for the duration.

Alternately, buy a different frame and move your parts over.

Or, get a cheap road bike from craigs list.

Unfortunately, the last two options may require money you don't feel like spending.

Wooden Tiger

Not sure where you are or what your budget is but there's a real nice Specialized Tarmac SL2 at the LBS here for $1,800. It's a real nice bike...or you could go for the S-Works Tarmac they just got. That one goes for $8,000.

vesteroid

I would just buy a fork off eBay...Ritchie should make one with an aluminum steerer that will work ( one of their cross forks since your bike has disc brakes.

rebel1916

Yeah, just get a fork from ebay or nashbar. $100 or so should have you back on the road til you can get a nice paint matched one.

OneLessFixie

So sorry. That sucks.

I call shenanigans. I'll bet the LBS could get you a new fork in two minutes if it were attached to a new Secteur.

They rarely do in my experience. And I've tried and tried.

I bought my new bike from Bikes Direct. Sure, you have to do some of your own wrenching and Dawes, Motobecane or Windsor don't have the snob appeal of Specialized, but if that's not important to you, you can avoid getting ripped off again. Or you can go to their sister site, Bike Island and order a new fork for your current bike, or a new frame to put your existing components on. Alternatively, if have an REI near you, they will charge you like $50 - $75 to put a bike together for you. After you do that, I would send a picture of said new ride to that LBS along with a letter telling him why you will not be doing business with him anymore.

jsigone

call spesh youself, get it figured out then have the shope be the middle man for spesh to ship the bike too. Most of the big companies are 1-3wks turn around time.

Rowan

If you do decide to order a non-Specialized fork, there are a couple of things to consider:

1. The trail/fork dimensions/angles match the original fork, otherwise you might find an undesirable change in the way the bike handles;

2. The headset dimensions for the fork match those of the bike (eg, 1-1/8th or 1-1/4" or conical.

Be aware, too, that fitting a non- Specialized fork may void the frame's first-owner lifetime warranty.

OneLessFixie

I'm sure that whatever he did to crack his Secteur's fork long ago voided any warranty. Most bike warranties are so full of loopholes that changing the saddle or the handlebar tape renders the bike "modified" and thus the warranty voided.

JakeB1992

Update.

So...good advice to call Specialized. I called them and learned that due to the size of my frame (61 cm), it really is difficult to find a new one immediately. The representative recommended a generic fork and gave me the correct rake.

I next called the LBS where I got the bike and I was referred to a manager. This gent very quickly apologized saying that they (not me) should have done the leg work on options and he promised to get back with me with some options.

A day later, I got a return call from someone at the LBS and they proceeded to work with me on the options...to include:

1) A new frame w/cost @ $600
2) A new bike in the same model but 2013 @ $800
3) Waiting to find the right fork

I should note that the LBS was/is giving me a "crash credit" with the above prices. Seems lilke @ $200.

I went into the bike shop a couple of days ago and we reviewed the options...and added a 4th--a new carbon 2013 61 cm Specialized Roubaix for a discounted price of $1300.

I'm going w/the "Clint Eastwood" ("For a Few Dollars More") option #4. Everything I read tells me that the carbon frame will be kinder to my body and so I was already planning on that as my next step up. I ruled out the "waiting for a correct sized fork" option because I want to ride now. The other options would leave me making a significant investment in a bike that I could not do anything but sell at a loss. So...

Conclusions:

1) The LBS came through. That is, I felt like there was a good bit of good faith on their part. Ditto for Specialized who has the program w/the LBS to give me a "crash credit".

2) None of the experts who frequent this board need to be told but...taking the bike in to get it checked out was the right thing to do. As sad as I am about the cracked fork, I'd be sadder still to find out about the damage while on the road.

Now I need to work on the financing of the new wheels...can't wait to get it!--John

donalson

do you get to keep the old bike in this deal? If not you may be better off taking the bike back and replacing the fork with another and selling it (or selling it to someone knowing that it requires a new fork... heck for $200 I'd buy it from you.. it's the right size and everything haha.

either way, good on them getting it sorted out, it sees all to often bad experiences at a LBS have more to do with who you worked with at the LBS than the store itself (sad but true)

as for the fork failure, any idea what happend? I've started looking into buying a new road bike for my hopeful foray into longer charity rides and the Secteur caught my eye... but i'm a good bit heavier than you so maybe I should stick to a steel frame/fork combo?...