I bought a 3-year-old Madone. Raced on it for a year. Won five crits on it. Doing hills one day, I felt some play in the cranks.

"Crap. My cranks are loose."

"Holy ~*@%!!! The BB is busted out of the frame!"

It turns out that I somehow broke the BB shell free from the frame just by pedaling it. I thought they were made for that.

Of course, Trek will have nothing to do with a warranty because I'm a 2nd owner. Even though it's clearly a quality issue (nothing I could do from the outside to bust that loose). They built it poorly and won't stand behind it, just because they were lucky enough to have the bike change hands once before it broke.

They are offering a crash replacement of 20% off. Yippie. I think anyone that can't manage 20% off MSRP on new kit probably isn't trying hard enough.

I went through the shop warranty channel. Denied.

I went through the web warranty channel. Crickets.

I called and spoke with their support staff, and got transferred to our district rep. I told him about how I've put Trek on the podium a bunch of times and want to continue. I told him how I have a team buy coming up where I can inexpensively start putting another brand up on the podium.

"No warranty. Sorry, you're not the original owner."

"No, we won't repair it either -- we don't repair broken BB shells."

"Ok, so you're telling me I can either turn this poorly built $3500 frame in for a crash replacement or throw it in the trash?"

"Correct."

Ouch.

I guess if you're going to buy used, make sure it's a really killer deal. Otherwise you could be left holding the bag when things go wrong.

Sorry for your break.

Put yourself in the mfg's shoes. If they were to warranty for life every frame they've ever made, how long could they stay in business? Materials break. Lifetime warranties exist for the benefit of original owners (probably to make initial purchase a bit easier, and then to maintain customer loyalty so the customer will continue buying said product).

I bought an 8-year-old Dean Ti bike last year. Dean offers a lifetime warranty to the original owner. If it broke this year, I surely wouldn't expect Dean to replace it for nothing. I'd pay them for repair (if the cost were reasonable).

Now the new Lynskey R330 I bought a few weeks ago is another matter. I would take full advantage of their lifetime warranty. :-)

If you like Trek, you might be better off finding a new (even a new closeout) Madone rather than do the crash replacement deal ... just to have the benefit of the lifetime warranty. (Will Trek replace a frame twice, or is the warranty good for one replacement? I don't know -- just thinking out loud.)

No offense, but thems the breaks. Part of the purchase price of a new bike subsidizes the company's product support costs. If you didn't pay those costs, they shouldn't pay for the replacement.

RE: The competition, if you were good enough to deserve a new bike, they would have given you one before you broke it.

Business, son!

That would never have happened if you bought a used Cervelo.
Or a Giant.
Just sayin'

no-name ebay carbon fiber frame for about $400...thats what I'd do for a cf frame if I wanted one

Yeah, you won't hear any different from any other OEM.

Warranty only for original owner. It sucks, but what can you do. they are specific on the warranty...now if you can contact the original owner...

Cervelo and Giant stand behind their bikes.
Even if you're not the original owner.

stop bragging

Irrelevant to the OPs dilemma.

Incorrect, at least as far as Giant goes. Don't know about Cervelo.

Hell, I wouldn't consider a NEW Trek.

WR...since 20% is a drop relative to big discounts for an almost new frameset on ebay...consider picking up a newish TCR frameset on ebay would be my suggestion if you are gonna race. Also you can ebay your Madone frame with full disclosure and somebody will give you something for it.

That sucks. I'd think about driving to Wisconsin and throwing the frame through their window.

You're in Texas. Go have a talk with the Lance (but before he runs for governer).

I hear he has some pull with them Trek fellas...

I've actually had a bit of luck with Giant.... a piece of my frame broke off (nothing as significant as WRs problem), but I took the bike to a local dealer to have it looked at - they took the frame and had it sent out to Giant for evaluation, Giant repaired the frame free of charge.
I was told by the dealer if it was unrepairable Giant would've replaced the 07 frame with an 09.

I reckon that sucks the fat one mate.

to be honest though it was only a matter of time. I have never seen so many frames break so often from one company as much as these madones, the new ones are even worse. Just the amount of guys that race around here that are either waiting for a new frame or riding a test/loan bike as well as waiting is just unreal.

big guys that can make a bit of power need something more for sure. While they do ride nice, they are just too fragile. I have no idea how the warranty thing works and consumer rights blah blah in th usa so won't comment. Sorry.

Only thing I can say, is next frame get a team deal you all seem to talk about or look for a new frame from the previous season, it should still have new bike warranty and when it breaks you get the most current bike.

My mate and I both got LOOK frames at a real great discount, I went with the 595 and he the 586 or whatever the monoque frame is, he broke his after 8 months (same thing big guy, fragile frame) and they gave him a red/white 2010 595 instead. 5 year warranty.

How can they tell you're not the original owner? Besides the honor code, that is.

I think he admitted to them he wasn't the original owner.
True story, the Giant dealer I worked my repair through didn't even ask, although I had the paperwork proving I was the original owner, they sent it off with the bike.

The owner of my team bought an old mid-90's Giant CFR (early carbon race bike). He's lent the bike out to dozens of people over the years. Last year the non-replaceable RD hanger broke off. He talked to Giant, they sent my shop a brand new 2008 TCR carbon frameset, and we gave him that.

or





if you think Trek was on the BF bashing block before......it's about to get ugly

I thought the Madone was right up there with the Caad9 in terms of BF love.

I rode last years 6.9 and also this years 2010 model 6.9. Both really good bikes and the new one is just brilliant. They just seem to break so easy.

I really wanted to get the 6.9 madone with duraace, I'd really say it's the best majour bike company complete bike you can buy, but it is not an inexpensive bike. The price jump over the ultegra version is crazy.

honestly, I'd have thought the local rep or someone who have helped a bit more. Maybe sick of the issue by now?

I'll never understand why people are so eager to side with the point of view of the manufacturer as if I should care or give a chit as to how they do business, make money, fund research and development, etc. You buy a product, overpriced as it may be, and you should expect the manufacturer to stand behind the product sold. Technicalities of who bought it, how many hands has it gone though, time limitations, etc. are simply ways to get away from standing behind the product they so proudly and loudly had no issues in selling.

I never liked Treks. I consider them the Walmart of bikes, but that is simply me. Yes, I've had one before too, and it lasted me 10 years of good use with no issues either. Just my opinion, so no need for anyone to take it as an insult.

If I was you, no only would I not get another Trek ever, but I would relay my experience with them to anyone that has an ear from here forth. Just me.............