I need some advise on what to do.
 

I have a Trek 2000. I really like the bike and I just finished rebuilding the bike. I made a boo-boo and a couple peices of the frame broke off where the seat post goes in. I got a new seat and raised the seat post to where I needed it, tightened it down, hopped on(on the trainer) pedaled three time and CRACK! the seat post was at a 45 degree angle backwards from where it is supposed to be. Now here is my question. I took it to my LBS and he said it was safe, I just need a longer seat post. I believe him because it looks safe to me. I just wanted to hear it from him. Then he mentioned that I should take it over to the trek dealership(a different LBS) and try to get a warranty claim on the frame without telling them that it was my fault. So I took it there and showed them. They said they will need to hang on to the bike and file a claim and it might take a week. I was bummed that they needed to hang on to the bike because I have the longer seat post and I NEED to ride. So it might be two weeks before I ride again. If they have it for a week and then another week or two for the frame to come in. Then I will have to transfer all the components onto the new frame. Should I just keep the frame I have and ride with the longer seat post or should I get a new frame and transfer everything over? The frame I have now is probably a early 90's frame, so it would be worth more, I'm assuming. What do you guys think?

I think it's going to take more than 2 or 3 weeks to get this sorted out and for a replacement frame to be delivered. Trek is great for warranty claims but they don't move that fast. The local Rep will need to make an in-person assessment and if he feels a new frame is in order, Trek will try to match the quality of the new one with that of the one being replaced - which means you are just as likely to end up with a repaired used frame as you are a brand new one. Either way, you are better off.

I also don't think you should ride it. Broken carbon, no matter what or where, is not a good thing. Check with the LBS for a loaner or a rental. Or suck up and buy that second bike you've been thinking about. Now is as good a time as any. ;)

55/Rad

Its not carbon, its aluminum. I would LOVE to buy the bike of my dreams, but I have to pay for my wedding in July. Its safe to ride, but I just wonder if its worth the wait and work because I will be transfering the parts so I dont have to pay them.

Haha, I'm in the same boat as with my wedding in May.

How did you crack the frame around the area where the seatpost clamp is? Did you have the seatpost in at least to the minimum insertion line?

Wow, a lot of upcoming weddings in the BikeForums world. Congrats to both of ya'll. Mine is in May as well. :)

To the OP - as much as its going to hurt to be off the bike for a while, look into getting it replaced. Seriously.

This is why everybody needs 2 bikes.

Why not get a Fetish Cycles frame off of eBay? They're cheap as heck. http://cgi.ebay.com/2006-Fetish-Cycl...QQcmdZViewItem You'd have something to ride while you wait, and once the waiting is over you could keep the frame and save it until after your wedding when you'll have a little money to put some cheap parts on it and make it a beater.

No. The previous owner was shorter than I am and he cut the seat post. The post has no min insertion line and I didnt realize how short the post was. There was only about a 1/4" in the tube when I sat on it. Whoops. :)

I guess you better hope that nobody from this other bike shop is a reader of bikeforums...since your description was so detailed....

Rad's right....a warranty deal can take a while. Rep's got to look at it, then order the replacement, then shipping time, then building time. And you have to wait for the rep to get to that shop, and they typically handle multiple states. And if the rep says no...then you are still in the same boat. Because it will depend on the condition of the frame.

C'mon...what's more important? A wedding or a new bike? ;)

You're gonna need a good story to get it through warranty, IMO.

Believe me, if the rep's been around for a while, they could write a book...

A couple of times a week I try to talk her into elloping(sp?) It wont work. :(

Actually, you're wrong about this. The owner of the LBS said that they just take a digital pic of the bike and where it broke and it is email to the company. Then they say yay or na to a warranty deal.

I just got off the phone with with LBS and Trek is giving me a new 2200 OLVC frame with a carbon fork! This is definitely a step up from my early 90's 2000. I'm very excited!

Lucky man. & Bravo to Trek. Talk about customer service. What a class move. You owe a big thanks to the Trek LBS. Be sure to take their crew a case of brew this Friday evening. Heck, you might evein invite them to the wedding. I wish you equally as good luck with your future bride as you have had with this bike. Bob

Ride her for a few years, break her and get a new, better one on warranty? :p :lol:

Trek's got more money than it knows what to do with. Congrats on the bike. Be more careful from now on, K?

Thanks guys! I will definitely take good care of this one. The funny thing is, I dont really even care for trek. I really want a cannondale synapse. But I'm not complaining about the new frame.

Frank - not cool, man.

Bob - I might take them a case of brew, but they are the competition to my LBS. :)

Second owners are not entitled to warranty claims by Trek, only original owners. My LBS records the serial number of every frame they sell, even print it on your purchase receipt, so you may well be out of luck anyway if Trek has record of the origianl owner. My advice is get it fixed or replace it.

I thought the warranty only covered the original owner...?

WOW, you are really getting a new frame that you deserve in no way, shape or form? And you are going to accept it? You bought a used bike that had been altered, broke it, and expect the manufacturer to replace it? This is one of the reasons that manufacturers have to charge so much for their products. What you have done is fraudulent unless you gave Trek all the details, second owner or more, altered seat post mounted too high in frame, etc. I hope you are pleased with your new frame.

I gave them all the info that they asked for. So yeah, I will enjoy my new frame. You're just jealous. ;)

Not jealous, just honest. I have bought four Trek bikes brand new since 1984. Broke a downtube shifter mount on one in the 80's. Trek did replace my frame for me under warranty. I am upset that I have to pay higher prices for goods due to fraud. You did not buy the bike from Trek, you broke it with a modified part and you were dishonest in making a warranty claim for both of those reasons.