Litespeed Classic Frame Break - any advice?
 

My Litespeed Classic Ti frame broke, right at the drive side chainstay-dropout weld. It's a '99 (pre ABG), I'm the original owner. Just curious if anyone else (preferably Litespeed owners) have been through this and have any advice or suggestions.

TIA

Well, first of all, don't worry to much. There is not a manufacturer out there that has not had a frame break before. The guys who started Litespeed have actually been working with titanium since the first days of the skunk works airforce program. Litespeed built a couple of frames for us back in the early nineties, and I broke one of them, it was fixed in like a week. Just call them up, they're warranty should take care of everything.

I would be on the phone to Litespeed. IIRC the frames are lifetime guarantied. Roger

If you are the original owner and you have the sales receipt or, better yet, registered the warranty when you bought the bike, you are covered by Litespeed's Lifetime Warranty. They will repair the frame at no cost.

However, you must have your paperwork in order. A friend bought a Litespeed about 1996 and the LBS promised to fill out the warranty card and send it in. They didn't and he didn't keep the sales receipt. When the chainstay broke after over 50,000 miles, Litespeed refused to repair it under the warranty.

I met a guy a few months back who had exactly the same weld failure on his LS. He wasn't the origional owner, so he took it to a very qualified welder. I saw the weld, I couldn't tell it from a factory weld and it is holding up very well. Shouldn't be a problem.

I have a Litespeed Classic, also, I would be interested to hear how this goes, how long it takes, etc. Hope it turns out well for you.

I would also be interested in seeing a picture of the break, if you happen to have one.

I'm the original owner, registered the bike (have a letter from Litespeed acknowledging the fact), and original receipts. Just don't know if the new owners are as good as the Lynskys. On the downside, instructions require working through a dealer. Currently, the nearest dealer is 70 miles away. :(

Here's the break. In the pic, it's held together pretty tightly by the chain, etc., but the break is complete. I can pull it open. Hope they fix it, and quickly!

Good idea. Shipping will cost more than that, plus 4+ weeks turn-around. I will investigate.

FWIW, I called Litespeed today. No real help, reiterated what I read on their web-site, that I have to go through a dealer. I asked the local shop where I bought (Performance, no longer handle Litespeed) if they could help. Shop manager got the Litespeed phone # and said he'd call and find out. Haven't heard back from them yet.

My understanding is that the Ti welding process is highly technical. It might be hard to find someone local who has the equipment and know-how. Basically the welding has to take place in a vacuum or in an enclosure containing an inert gas. Manufacturers of titantium products can afford the specialized equipment needed to do so. But not likely your ordinary welding company. (http://www.welding-advisers.com/Welding-titanium.html).

I have a Litespeed Classic, so your post caught my attention. If it were my bike, it's a no-brainer where I would be sending it for repairs. The folks who built it in the first place.

Bob

The problem with this is that it will immediately and completely void any warrant in the future. If Litespeed repairs it the lifetime warranty remains in effect. If anyone else does it, kiss any future warranty work goodby.

All of the tubes are filled with argon to displace the oxygen and make the weld pure. I watched it done and it was very cool to watch and the guy was an artist with a torch. I can send you a pic if you PM me if you would like to see it.

Well, as it turned out, there were no readily-accessible ti welders.

The latest as of today: Litespeed is willing to work with the local Performance shop to handle the return. They no longer sell Litespeed, the manager says (paraphrasing), 'you bought it here, we want to take care of you.' He/they rock. It took a while to get everything worked out, partly because it happened the week of the 4th, and a lot of people at ABG (Litespeed) were on vacation. Now, it's just a matter of time, I hope. Meanwhile, my CX/commuter is serving double duty with the help of a wheelset with skinny tires.

Final update. Performance called on August the 5th to say they'd gotten the frame back. I was out of town, and picked it up a week later. It honestly looked like a new frame. Completely spotless. They replaced all decals, all removeable pieces had been replaced (BB cable guide, down-tube cable adjusters, headbadge, even the bottle cage bosses and bolts). The only way I was sure it was the same frame was the serial number. After two evenings, it's all back together. Later today it'll go out for a test drive.

worked on a few of these "lite speed"bikes........very bad frame alingnment!

Now here is a little disappointment to one day owning a Litespeed. Titanium, I thought the strongest metal and almost impossible to break. ? But, servicing sounds like a snap and the problem repairable.

Yeah, they did the same on mine both times it was in for warranty (for the same problem) It's a shame, since I'd spent much time and effort removing the old ones. You'd think if a customer sent in a bare frame... then perhaps that's the way they might like it back!

You missed the boat. Litespeed is done. The "litespeed" you're after is now made by Lynskey.

I did miss the boat. So will it continue to be the same basic bike.

A bottle of Acetone and a rag will make short work of the decals if you want them off.

To the OP: maybe they really did send you a new frame and just stamped the same serial number on it.