kman18

Just wondering if anybody else has had this problem? Purchased new SL4 and on first ride out noticed that the seat tube water bottle rubbing my leg. Looking at the bosses the top one is not centered on frame and the bottom one is makeing the water bottle cage angle. I could probably enlarge the top hole for the water bottle cage if I had to. Taking it back to the shop to see what they say? Anyone else had this problem and what was done?
Thanks

dsbrantjr

If it was me I'd enlarge the hole and if that solves the problem be done with it.

If it is going to keep you up at night return it to the shop for a warranty replacement, if you can convince them to take it back.

It would have been better if you had noticed the problem and refused the bike before you took delivery.

kman18

I wish I would have noticed at pick up also, but it would be hard to notice until you have a bottle in it. Im not wanting a replacement frame so I will try to get the store to drill out the hole for the cage, probably the best route. By the way it is a carbon rib cage.

JohnDThompson 

Rather than muck up the bosses and void your warranty, I'd try simply bend the cage so it's centered.

Sorry... just saw that you have a carbon cage that won't bend. Trade it in for a metal one.

reptilezs

this is what the warranty is for

FBinNY 

I think the OP has in mind to enlarge the hole in the cage, so he can shift it over a bit, not tinker with the frame.

If it's brand new, ie. picked up only a day or two ago, you should be able to warranty it, or at least have the shop do what it takes for the cage to mount straight. At this level, you're entitled that even minor details are attended to correctly.

BTW- factories use a fixture to locate the holes and it's rare for them to be off (but possible if the fixture isn't aligned). It's entirely possible that the holes themselves are in the right place, but the cage is slipping half way off a raised lip, canting the cage to one side. I've seen this problem fixed with the simple expedient of a stainless steel washer between cage and frame.

wrk101

New bike? I would be taking it back. You paid a hefty premium for new, and this is the kind of stuff they should stand behind.

Phil85207

So OP how did you solve the problem? I would return the bike and let the problem be the LBS's problem.

Looigi

On Trek Madones, the water bottle mounting inserts are not centered on the seat tube. This is because the seat tube is asymmetric and offset to the non-drive side of the bike. The inserts are on the centerline of the bike however.

fietsbob

What does SL4 mean to anyone but yourself?

tcarl

+1

FBinNY 

I don't own, ride or sell Specialized (brand) bikes, but it tool less than a few seconds to find that SL4 is a model designation. In any case it's moot, except to qualify it as a relatively high end bike where one would expect a certain quality level.

fietsbob

the OP should care about getting information enough to supply more,
but I note how many assumptions , to the contrary, are made.

FBinNY 

I agree (imagine that) that it would have been nicer if the OP had said said "Specialized Tarmac SL4", but even then many would still have to looked it up to know what it was. Fact is I hate the overuse of acronyms and shorthand notation as much (more) as anyone, but it's a fact of life in the internet.

kman18

Sorry about the SL4, Yes it's a Specialized Pro Tarmac SL4. Took it back to shop today (for a couple things)and we decided to sand down the hole on the water bottle cage to align it. Picking it back up tomorrow will let you all know how it turns out.
Thanks Guys

Chris_W

I also have a Spec Tarmac SL4 Pro. The location of the water bottle cage bolts is the only thing that I don't like about the frame. Mine are aligned with the frame well enough, but both the down-tube and seat tube bolts are mounted too high for my liking. Fortunately, I found some Arundel cages that have two sets of mounting holes, and by using the upper set of holes, both cages now sit a couple cm lower which gives more room for bottle exit/entry (it's a 52 cm frame) and also allows me to put an XL bottle in there when going on more epic rides. I'm sorry to hear that their precision is so low that they would also put the bolts off-center.

kman18

Well issue solved, LBS and I agreed to to just shave a little of off the bottle cage. They did it and it now fits spot on. Chris mine is 54 cm frame and bottle location seems ok to me. I can see what your saying especially the smaller of a frame you go. Awsome bike though