Cracked fork!?
 

Hello,

I just purchased a Gary Fisher '02 Tassajara today, I'm a newbie so I tried to check the bike for obvious damage (cracks, dings, gouges, etc...) Everything looked OK to my untrained eye (couple of rub marks and a ding on the crank though). This bike was already assembled, I bought it right of the LBS rack. I had them put a pair of Continental slick tires and a Serfas gel saddle on and took it home. When I arrived home, I took a closer look (wiping the dirt and grime off) and noticed a straight vertical crack about one (1) inch long on one of the shock cylinders (Manitou Elite). There was also a green fluid oozing out of it. So, is this a manufacturers warranty issue or should I take it back to the shop?

Thanks!

I'd say take it back to the shop since it sounds like you haven't really even ridden it yet. Most manufacturers (not sure if it's the same with most bike manufacturers) will tend to give you the runaround a bit before they send replacement parts, etc. I think it would just save you time to go back to the bike shop.

Now I really need some advice!

I took the bike back to the shop on Monday and informed them about the cracked fork. They acted like it happens all the time and grabbed another bike with the same fork on it to swap it out. I was not impressed by this, is this standard practice?

I mentioned that since the fork is cracked, I am worried that something else may be wrong with the bike so I asked for a new bike. They said no problem we'll have it for you on Wednesday! Couldn't make it to the shop Wednesday so I went today (Thurs.) When I arrived, they brought out the same freakin' bike but with a new fork!

Should I call them on this as they promised me a new bike?

:confused:

Yes! if they said they would give you a new bike have them honor it.

You could demand a new bike but why? The fork is made by a different company that makes the frame (bike), so there is no real reason to be concerned about the quality of the bike itself.
Possibly the guy who made the promise was not authourized to do so. YOU COULD GAIN some points by mentioning the promise but "going with the flow" and accepting the original bike with the replacement part, ( the "mark-up" on bikes is possibly the lowest in the retail industry). Shops tend to do more favors for people who "work with them" rather than making demands that may not be really necessary.

Basically you have a bad/defective PART not a bad/defective bike.

Ride Smart
Pat

mmm, I'm leaning towards pat's side on this one. You can get really far in life with an easy going attitude. Your frame and everything should be fine. As was said earlier, it was just the part that was defective.

i think that i might be interesting to look at the green fluid dropping out of the fork.... hmm if you like the bike you could ask only for the replacement fork... they are different makers and gary fisher rules.... maybe the suspension is not that good... but what i can tell is that you have a nice frame