Hi guys

Back in '07 I spent about a thousand dollars and purchased myself a hard-tail mountain bike made by well known brand, lets put it that way for now. Aluminum frame, hydraulic disk brakes, shimano shifters, solid fork yadda yadda. Not an elite type of hard-tail mountain bike but a medium frame with medium-bottom end component parts. I loved the frame and in 5-6 years rode the hell out of it. Serviced it regularly and rode it during warm dry seasons. Being +215lb person and a sluggish rider I cracked the frame. Cracked the one of the chain stays tubes right on the weld line to the lower braket. Given that the frame was on life time warranty, I brought the bike back to my LBS to submit the claim. My LBS kept me out of the loop for weeks. After about a month I received a call from LBS informing me that claim went through and that I will be getting a new frame. Few more weeks passed as some parts needed to be ordered and changed to fit the new frame (headset and a rear brake set). When I go to pick up my bike today from LBS Irealize that the frame is lower series from the original. I asked the shop owner and the response I got was: "its a same quality frame". Later model for sure ('11-'12) but still a lower series frame (like 4 series when original was 6 for the reference). Am I entitled for the same series frame or am I being cheated by my LBS?

P.S. withheld the manufacturer on purpose for now

The LBS has nothing to do with the warranty other than being a middle man between the manufacture an you.

For the different frame supplied, was the bike model you had back in 2007 still made in 2014? (you don't expect them to keep frame back from 2007 just in case they need warranty swaps) If it is still made, is the frame the same material? If it is made, is the frame used over multiple different models, so this is just a decaling issue? have you asked your LBS the difference between the frame models in the range?

Guessing from the model of the bike you mention, you have a Trek? Whatever frame you got, a 2012 frame will be stronger than a 2007 frame, as there are different standard used now, to then, specifically CEN, it's a EU standard, but all bikes coming from TW/CN will be built to it, this was introduced in 2010, so your new frame will be stronger than you old one,

For the amount of time take, 6-8 weeks isn't that bad, have heard and experience longer for bike parts to be replaced under warranty, if you want updates, could you not have contacted the LBS, and asked them to contact the manufacture on your behalf?

Would be interested in why the need to change the rear brake, the spec for the brake (post) mounting has not changed in the last 15 years or so, so there should be no need to change brakes, the headset would have changed from EC to either ZS or IS, so that is understandable.

AFAIK, as of 2012, the Trek 4000 series and 6000 series used the exact same frame (Alpha Gold aluminum). The difference was in the components. By 2013, the 6000 series was no more, and only the 4000 series remained. LBS is correct, it's the same quality frame (actually, more than likely it's a nicer frame than you had, for the reasons mentioned by jimc101.

You're entitled to a frame that is equal or better than the one you broke. Exactly what is equal or better if they can't do an exact replacement because what you currently have is obsolete is the pregnant question. I think you need to get a lot more specific on exactly what you had and what you now have to comment much further.

- Mark