Vivalo Fork Failures
 

Just a quick public service announcement. It seems there was quite some discussion about Vivalo losing their NJS certification due to an issue with forks (or A fork) failing. Wish I had seen this before I bought my frame! The headset always felt a bit wonky and at one stage I even took it in to get looked at and the mechanic changed the headset which worked for a while.

Then about a month ago, I was riding to the station and it felt really loose. But it was only a short trip and I was late. On the way home, at very low speed thankfully, the fork separated from the tube and I fell over forwards. Luckily the wheel was standing upright and I bashed my face on the wheel rather than the pavement. Anyway, fork is cashed. My face escaped with only 3 stitches and a few hours in the ER. Here's the evidence:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357783http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357784http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357785http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357786http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357787http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357788

I'm sure most people riding Vivalo's are safe, but if you think your frame might be from the batch where the defects were found, then can't hurt to check!

Glad you are alright.

How in the hell did the mechanic not notice a cracked fork crown when swapping crown races for the new headset?! Good to see you didn't get too injured.

Would it be possible to get a close up of the steer tube and crown?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=1#post5483593
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...5&d=1192803596http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...6&d=1192803607

Ask and ye shall receive...
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357818
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357819
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357820
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357821
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357822

At a size larger than 120x120 px ?

Those Vivalos didn't have cracked fork crowns. The steerer tubes simply separated from the fork crowns due to improper brazing.

Sorry. Maybe this is better...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357826http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357827http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357828http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357829http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=357830

I can't seem to make them appear larger, however, if you click on each image you get a better view.

glad you're alright.

stuff like that is always in the back of my mind when I'm going down hills.

Looks like there was nothing but "good karma" holding the steer tube in place all along! Glad you weren't injured more seriously...

Glad to see you're still in one piece to post up this piece!

man, you are lucky. that looks like it was press fit! bad brazing for sure. i'm going to weld the end of any steel fork from now on!
That is a nightmare

Thanks for the sympathy, guys. Just hope no one else suffers the same fate!

I'm glad my Vivalo is drilled for a brake. That should at least keep the steer-tube connected when the joint fails :)

That was a bad braze job for sure. The rust on the joint surface is a sure sign. When the person made that they should have noticed the alloy was not wicking into the joint. Brazing is not a bad process as millions and millions of brazed forks will attest to. However, this fork was not done well. I am glad to hear you will be OK.

Ride Safe,

Joe

Oh hell, that scary as @#$%^! hope you alright, OP!

Did you ride during rain alot? rust everywhere at the joint

Old thread is old.

NJS bikes are commonly stored outside in their native country of origin, especially once they're past their prime.

It is very common for a second hand NJS frameset to have some sort of rust.

The scary thing is these framesets are still out there with no specific indications that their fork brazing pasts muster without a framebuilder's/ brazer's approving eye.

I recently acquired a well-(ab)used Vivalo, but I have swapped the fork for one that is drilled for brakes since I'll be using it for commuting duty.