Duke of Kent

Here it is:

1) As I understand it, Trek, whether you like them or not, has the best warranty in the business. Even bikes that are crashed and break, they cover. Is that true?

2) If I buy a Trek carbon frame second hand, i.e. an Ebay auction, classified ad, from a friend, and don't have the original proof of purchase/receipt, can I still go through with the warranty claim?

ZappCatt

1) I have never heard of Trek "warantying" a crashed bike...

2) According to trekbikes.com, the warranty is ONLY for original purchaser...so I think the answer to you question would be no.

"Trek Bicycle Corporation provides each original retail purchaser of the bicycle a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship in the bicycle frame and rigid fork when purchased from an authorized Trek dealer."

ovoleg

No and No to both questions

Warranty is in place for manufacturer defects. If they went out and fixed everyones bent frame due to crashes they would be out of business...

Also, they only warrant the original owner because they don't know what happened in the exchange of hands.(Actually I don't understand this part of it but thats Ok, the answer is still no)

Sorry

Pfoot

I have heard stories of trek replacing frames in instances that go beyond those limitations. I've also heard of Look doing the same.

roadwarrior

(1) If you race it you are on your own. Unless you are racing on a Trek sponsored team and they gave you the frame(s), obviously. But the typical CAT V or IV racer in a crit, you break the frame in a crash and you are on your own. You are free to pursue a claim and the local Trek rep would review the situation. But I seriously doubt that they would cover it.

(2) Warranty only extends to the original owner. Whether the manufacturer, in a certain situation would step up would be on a case by case basis. I've not seen it, but they also do not like bad publicity, either.

Trek's warranty is lifetime to the original owner, just like most other bike manufacturer's...what they didn't do is what some other companies DID do and spell out the "extreme use" (read racing and heavy mileage)...frames have a life. Using the frame in an extreme fashion, like a professional would (who will use up a frame and get more) stresses the frame. But riding a couple hundred miles a week and racing a 30 mile crit on Saturday probably will not "use up" the frame. I am talking more like 30+ hours a week of riding plus heavy racing.
What they are trying to do is cover stressing the frame beyond its capabilities. Pros go through multiple frames in a season. They do not want to hand out free frames to folks riding this type of mileage.

mandovoodoo

Think of warranty as part of the purchase contract. There's no contract between the maker and a subsequent purchaser. Look up "privity."

Bluechip

I purchased a used 5900 on Ebay and it had the fairly common problem of a bad headset. I took it in to my shop and had it checked out. They knew I was not the original owner and it was still replaced free of charge. It uses a non standard lower headset so it has to come from Trek. I took it in expecting to pay but was pleasantly surprised that it was free.

jsharr

Cannot speak to your second question, but as to warranty for crashes, I can say yes they did replace my crashed Trek 1000. It was one of the old thermally bonded versions, and I took a spill and knocked the rear shifter boss off the downtube. The either repaired or replaced my frame, not sure which, at no cost to me. I have ridded nothing but Trek road bikes since the early 80's, and will never switch, due to their customer service.

cydewaze

1) You never know until you ask.

2) I doubt you can get a warranty on a second hand. But swing by your local Trek LBS and see what they say.