Forget small claims...
Strip the frame of it's parts.
Go the the seller's house and stand next to his car.
With an "axe swinging motion" while holding the head tube over your strongest shoulder,
plant that piece of s**t frame into his car's windshield, seat stays first.

WHACK!
It should now be standing on it's own!
Now split and admit nothing...

Someone earlier said that Specialized warrantied a frame for the non-original buyer. Assuming the blow-off stands why don't you give that a try? The worst that happens is you get told "no." Hell, I hear that from my kids all the time. Doesn't hurt a bit.

Then it's time to go the Nasbar route.

Best case is you end up with a new frame and after a convoluted route you got a nice deal for the $350.

I definitely join the chorus about not riding it unless you go the TIG weld repair. I have no idea how that compares to the Nashbar frame monetarily.

Good luck.

I've never seen an impact cause that type of damage. A carbon fork will usually break before the headtube (usually one of the thicker tubes on a bike of this quality) fails.

In my opinion, a more likely scenario is that this happened way back at the factory, when the cups were pressed in. Either a slightly out of spec tube, or slightly crooked cup can do it. Steel will stretch, but al can't as much, so a crack starts.

Generally, bike companies know the types of failures their products experience. We aren't a Felt dealer, but when I noticed a customer with a Felt had a clear (to me) warranty issue with a malformed right rear dropout, I called Felt, told them up front that this guy was not the original owner, sent them a few pics, and they sent a new frame. This was because they understood the defect was factory-born. Such is the case with this, in all probability. As their rep put it: "this should never have left the factory, no matter who owns it now".

If your bike has been crashed, there would almost certainly be evidence of it on other components, the saddle, the tape, etc.

I think your best bet is to try to have someone at Specialized look at a photo of this. They are technically off the hook since you are not the original owner, but they may decide to help you.

This is one of the many issues that can happen when buying used bikes. Used anythings, for that matter. Sometimes, saving up front is a net loss in the end.

I thought i should give you guys an update after i took your advice.

Tried as i might, the guy who i bought the bike off blew me off completely, so i decided to try and get the shop it was bought at to warranty it for me even though i was the second owner, my hopes weren't high, but they agreed to try for me. Specialized took thier sweet time deciding, but eventually they decided to help me out and warranty it for me.

Fast forward a week and i get a call telling me my replacement frame was in, initially i was supposed to get an 05 allez sport frame, no fork. What came in was quite a surprise.



An 07 Allez Elite frame with carbon stays and a full carbon fork including steerer.

Im elated!!!!

Patron that shop forever. Congratulations.

SWEEEEEEEEEEET!! Thats a great looking frame......
Let's hear one for the Under dog.....

Now slap that baby together and get yer' a$$ on the road...

Judging from the close-up photos you provided this doesn't look like a bike with only 500 miles . . . seems to have too many scratches and rust areas. Maybe it's just because you provided really close-up photos. My suggestion by the way would be to drill a small hole at the end of the crack like several others have mentioned. I've heard of Corvette owners doing that if the fiberglass body gets a crack. In fact, I'd drill the hole and fill the crack with JB Weld as others said. I'm not an expert in frame fatique/damage, but I don't think you're in danger as long as you keep an eye on it.

that is some incredible fortune. i'm impressed by Specialized. enjoy it.

Good things come to those who wait!

NICE! Now all we need is for the scum bag seller to break his leg and karma will have completed its circle. =) Congrats!

definitely a sweet outcome. Karma will come around and get that seller, just as it has come around and brought you a sweet frame.

I love happy endings.

Aluminum is easy enough to weld for those qualified to do so. This looks like a through wall crack and welding it would entail complete removal and rewelding. This will affect the inner bore and unless you are prepared to deal with refit problems it won't be worth it. I am a former aluminum welder and currently a metallurgical, welding and pressure vessel inspector. You were fortunate to have such a great LBS and Specialized stood by their product. Chunk it.

Thanks for the update, I've been kinda curious what happened...I had assumed you had been screwed

That's a great outcome, it took some time but what a friggin bargain in the end!!

$350 for that new frame and all the components you got with busted frame...wow....giving me some shady ideas...

Congrats!

Hey, that's awesome. Go Specialized.

+1

Thanks guys. I feel terrible putting the old components on such a nice frame, so im in the process of scouring ebay for some nicer gear. I have to right?

Goes to show that if you try and do right by people when you can, karma will eventually pay you back

My mtn bike is specialized but i never had any real loyalty to them, but with this turn of events they just made themselves a life long customer.

I'll bet dollars to donuts that someone at Specialized reads BikeForums.

This is an example of a company doing it right! Congrats you hit the jackpot!

Added : I hope you realize there is another baby on the way?

I couldn't agree more. Good advice to anyone reading this.

I didn't see this thread earlier - I am shocked by some of the earlier suggestions - drill a hole, clamp, glue, stickers, chewing gum, hold fork with teeth etc ....

+1, especially if it's not in the guy's usual course of business to sell bikes.

BTW, that's a sweet frame you got from Specialized. Congratulations!

Great outcome. Kudos to Specialized for stepping up when they didn't have to.

Wow, that's a niiiice looking frame. I was already a Specialized fanboy, but now even more so!

Congrats!

+1 Specialized