I bought three x Topeak Flashstand bike stands earlier this year. I put my new bikes up on them in a shed for a few months.



I now find that the el-cheapo dip-on rubber material used on the stands have marred the bike finish. See photo



I sent an email to the Australian agent for Topeak, who immediately tried to worm his way out of responsibility by (a) telling me that the stand was not designed for extended use (although nothing to this effect said in the product manual) and (b) telling me to contact the US-based eBay seller for satisfaction (who sent me back to Topeak for warranty issues).

I want to warn people that

1) Topeak do not seem to care about product quality or warranty

2) Their products may damage bikes.

So, once again it's a case of caveat emptor.

That is the paint on the bicycle itself. I have a Redline R530 that was strapped down in the back of my truck and the nylon strap left an impression in the paint around the top tube.

Aaron

No it is not the paint. It is a rubber residue on the clearcoat covering the paint. The rubber on the Flashstand can also be seen to have changed as well, shiny and flattened where there was contact. Don't forget, Topeak have applied a cheap rubber finish to the tool rather than a proper vinyl sleeve.

They used something like this, the cheapest option, and the worst:



And then they try to blame the consumer for using the product!

So you didn't purchase from an authorized retailer? Given that, why would any manufacturer care about a problem you've had?


If it is simply a residue, then remove it with an appropriate solvent.

I've tried various solvents, including turps and alcohol, and Bug 'n Tar Remover. None budged it. I think the clearcoat has had a chem reaction with the rubberised goo on the Flashstand.

This product is not safe on bikes.

Sounds like 'sour grapes' to me. Besides, who can see this mark when you are riding the bike?

Sour grapes? Not sure what you mean. I paid thousands of dollars for these brand new bikes, and the very first damage they experienced is from a supposedly quality product.

I tell you what, badamsjr, you go ahead and use this product on your bikes. You sound like the kind of guy that doesn't sweat it over a little damage here and there. Good on you, mate.

If I were you, I would search around the company web site for further contact information, and e-mail them again - in great detail!

I doubt you'll have much luck getting satisfaction on this, so I've not much to add, sorry. BTW I use the Feeback Rakk if you'd like to find a reasonably priced stand, that touches nothing except the tire, this may be what you may like. Good luck.

+1

The only other suggestion would be to put a video of it on YouTube and send a link to Topeak. That might get results.

Rub it out and quit complaining.

As a matter of fact I DO have one of these to carry in my touring kit. If how your bike looks is more important than how it rides, then have a hissy fit. Go on Youtube and alert the media. I'll be out riding.

Do you really need to read an explicit description to figure out that this is the wrong tool for the job? What ever could have given you the impression that a Flashstand was an appropriate device for long-term storage? Why would you want to store your bikes for a few months on an unstable, short, folding jack that only holds one wheel off the ground?

I've had a Flashstand for 4 or 5 years. I'll agree with you on one point: The Flashstand absolutely sucks. But it sucks for its intended purpose, which is as a portable repair stand to allow the rear wheel to spin during drivetrain adjustments.


I've actually found the opposite to be true: They are extremely responsive to customer service issues. I've had three Topeak pumps die, and they've sent me replacement parts at no charge every single time. It sort of bugs me that I have to keep fixing these things -- I'd much rather buy a pump that simply doesn't break -- but at least Topeak backed up their product. And without even asking me whether it was still under warranty.

You've had THREE Topeak pumps die, eh? Well, that says it all, doesn't it? And you keep buying their products, do you?

Funny, man.

I've had 5 Topeak pumps at various times, and none has every failed me. Bob said Topeak sent him replacement parts so he could repair his at no charge. That's pretty good in my books.

IMO, you left perfectly good bikes sitting around without moving or maintaining them. That's no way to treat 'em.

So why aren't you blasting the bike manufacturer too? By your logic, you'd think that a maker of bikes worth thousands of dollars would be responsible for using paint that does not react to rubberized coatings.

OTOH, you did not use the Flashstand for it's intended purpose, yet blame Topeak for your mis-use?

Sorry that you marred your finish, but at some point you need to take some responsibility for your actions.

So you paid thousands of dollars for the bikes and used a very inexpensive stand that is explicitly not designed for long term storage. Further you purchased from an unauthorized ebay reseller to save a few additional dollars... And then you whine about the manufacturer not caring... Why should they? You obviously didn't either.

Try a little toothpaste on an old cotton T-shirt, rub until dry, then polish residue off with a clean section of cloth. Meguires also has a plastic polishing compound that would work fine. I have it around for polishing minor scratches out of CDs and DVDs; some of the ones I borrow from the local library aren't in the best of shape.

PS I wouldn't want vinyl in long term contact with paint either, so I don't see how Topeak dinged you over. Clear silicone tubing would be a better choice. It also looks like you could also just wrap it with a strip of old T-shirt or some wool felt and be done with it. Of course, if those get damp/wet, and lay against the paint for some time, you get marks too.

BTW, you, the consumer, decided it was an appropriate product for long term storage. I see nothing in Topeak's description suggesting that is what this device is intended for.

I love all the posts telling me this is my fault. That's why I generally avoid forums. The signal to noise ratio is far too low. Please note that had Topeak used a proper sleeve on the tool, there would have been no damage and I would not have started this thread.

There is nothing in the product instructions saying that it cannot be deployed for long-term use. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with assuming that a Flashstand can be used long-term, and I cannot be held responsible for the damage.

Staggerwing, you make a sensible comment (one of the few here). I intend to purchase some Meguiar's Scratch-X to try out. It's possible that the mild abrasives in this product will lift the bonded layer off the clearcoat without penetrating through the clearcoat.

I'm with you, Africa. It seems like the bottom line is that Topeak used a coating that is not safe for bike paint. Granted, Topeak doesn't bill the Flashstand as a storage rack per se, but nonetheless, it seems reasonable to presume two things: 1) that consumers would use a product designed to stabilize a bike as such for some period of time, and 2) given all of the non-reactive bike products out there, including those from Topeak such as their frame mount pumps, that the bits that contact the bike frame would not damage it.

No matter how I slice it, it seems that Topeak should have done something differently; either a disclaimer for period of time of use, built it with appropriate materials, or have taken the time to hear and understand your concern about the damage.

Thanks for the heads-up on this product, although I admit I'm not surprised to hear of Topeak's indifference to the issue. Like you, I'd be upset to have my bike marred like that, but I don't have any tips on how to proceed except to continue pressing Topeak until they acknowledge there is, potentially, a problem with their product.

Your precisely the type of consumer that causes manufacturers to use the cheapest materials they can... This stand is less than $40 MSRP and yet you chose to buy from a non-authorized discount dealer to save a few more dollars... clearly demonstrating that all the manufacturer would have seen from a better designed product is a lower profit...

In the instructions, maybe not, but how about the product description (which you undoubtedly didn't see on the ebay add from the fly-by-night seller you purchased it from)?

FlashStand™

The Ultimate portable tune-up stand. Great for keeping in the car or for travel. You could even take it on a bike tour. It also comes with it’s own storage bag!

Myriddin, you are beating a dead horse.

1) I bought from eBay because the product was not available in my local store in Australia, and the local store wanted to charge about $60 each to import them.

2) It should not matter whom I bought the product from, but in fact I bought it from a reputable online dealer with tens of thousands of positive transactions involving bicycle-related products.

3) TOPEAK should support their products while in the warranty period. Failure to do so will result in consumers making reports like this.

4) The fact that the product is "portable" does not mean it cannot be used for extended periods. I repeat, because you seem unable to absorb the information: the instruction manual has no caveats about length of use.

Chaadster, thanks for the sensible comment.

I have the same problem with some racks from Discount Ramps. now all my bikes have old cycling socks between the rack and the bike

Now THAT is a sensible comment!

The product is sold as a portable tune-up stand, not a storage device. The instructions would have no caveats about length of use since the intended purpose of the product (portable tune-up) would preclude any reasonable person from expecting someone would have a bike on the stand for more than an hour or so.

There are numerous actual bike storage devices, including the venerable s-hook (~ $5), which certainly can be found in your area. You used the product for something other than its intended purpose, you purchased it from a questionable source, and yet you blame the manufacturer...

I also note that you recently purchased some Kool Stop brake pads from ebay as well... Guess that you can't find those locally either?