trek frame crack warranty

Trek/Bontrager/Electra/Diamant Limited Warranty

We've Got You Covered We provide a warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for all original equipment and aftermarket products, as specified below. First Things First Contact an authorized retailer or distributor to initiate a warranty claim. Proof of purchase is required. Click here to find a retailer near you. Lifetime Framesets (frame and rigid fork), main frame, and full suspension swing arms for the lifetime of the original owner Bontrager wheels with carbon rims 2 Years Apparel Parts and accessories Rear suspension linkage components, including bearings, rocker link, and accompanying hardware and components Bontrager wheels with alloy rims Paint and decals Subsequent Ownership Subsequent owners (second or later) are entitled to a 3 year warranty from the date of purchase from the retailer on the Trek frame and Trek fork. This does not include items such as wheels, suspension forks, drive train components, etc. Proof of original purchase is required. This Warranty Does Not Cover Normal wear and tear Improper assembly Corrosion Improper maintenance Installation of components, parts, or accessories not originally intended for or compatible with the bicycle as sold Damage or failure due to accident, misuse, abuse, or neglect Labor charges for part replacement or changeover Non-proprietary products (any other original part or component) covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty Cosmetic scratches or non-structural blemishes on Bontrager carbon rims or wheels This warranty applies to: • All model year 2020 and newer bicycles • Parts and accessories purchased after August 1, 2019. Any products not specifically included above are omitted, but may be included in the 2012-2019 Trek Care Limited Warranty. Click here for details . This warranty is void in its entirety by any modification of the frame, fork, or components. This warranty is expressly limited to the repair or replacement of a defective item at the manufacturer’s discretion. This warranty extends from the original date of purchase. Trek and Electra are not responsible for incidental or consequential damages unless prohibited by state law. Claims made outside the country of original purchase may be subject to fees and additional restrictions. Warranty duration and detail may vary by country. The English version of the warranty shall prevail.

Trek Care/Bontrager Limited Warranty 2012-2019

Lifetime Frames for the lifetime of the original owner (see exceptions below)

5 years Swing arms on all full suspension bicycles (except the Session, Scratch, and Slash swing arms)

3 years Session, Scratch, Slash and Ticket aluminum frames and swing arms

2 years Brakes, baskets, computers, fenders, handlebars, locks, pumps, rear racks, repair stands, rigid forks, saddles, seatposts, stems, tools, water bottle cages and wheels. Session and Slash carbon frames and swing arms All rear suspension linkage components, including bearings, rocker link, and hardware electric bike motor, controller, and battery pack (2 years or 600 charges, whichever comes first) All original Bontrager forks, parts, and components (except consumables such as tires and tubes)

1 year Apparel, bags, bar tape, gloves, grips, helmets, lights (excluding bulbs and batteries), rims, shoes, tires and tubes. Paint and decals

THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER: Normal wear and tear Improper assembly Improper follow-up maintenance Installation of components, parts, or accessories not originally intended for or compatible with the bicycle as sold Damage or failure due to accident, misuse, abuse, or neglect Labor charges for part replacement or changeover Bikes used for commercial activities, including those in rental, demo, or security fleets

This warranty applies to 2012-2019 model bicycles and covers only Trek and Bontrager branded products. Any other original part or component shall be covered by the stated warranty of the original manufacturer. Any products not specifically included above are hereby omitted.

For a 2011 or older model bicycle, please consult your owner’s manual or contact us or an authorized dealer for the applicable warranty.

This warranty is void in its entirety by any modification of the frame, fork, or components. This warranty is expressly limited to the repair or replacement of a defective item, and said repair or replacement is the sole remedy of the warranty. This warranty extends from the date of purchase, is offered only to the original retail purchaser, and is not transferable. This warranty applies only to Trek bicycles purchased through an authorized dealer or distributor. Trek Bicycle Corporation is not responsible for incidental or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so the above exclusion may not apply to you. Any claim against this warranty must be made through an authorized dealer or distributor. Proof of purchase is required. A bicycle must be registered with Trek Bicycle Corporation before a warranty claim may be processed. Claims made outside the country of purchase may be subject to fees and additional restrictions. Warranty duration and detail may differ by frame type and/or by country. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and those rights may vary from place to place. This warranty does not affect your statutory rights. The English version of the warranty shall prevail.

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TREK Supercaliber frame crack

Cool Features

trek frame warranties are they worth the paper

YeehaaMcgee wrote: Not sure about other scenarios, but to be fair, it's very rare that damage due to crashing would be covered under a warranty. They can't warranty against rider error.

italianshoppingbike wrote: In an update trek have said that i can at my expense send the frame to them in canberra which from brisbane is a lot, so they can inspect it and then stick to their crash damage theory!

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• This topic has 11 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 13 years ago by rewski .
• How does the Trek frame warranty work?

Just put a large crack on my 9.9ssl frame :cry:

Bang in the middle of the racing season, so not good.

So what happens next?

I’ll take the frame to the dealers tomorrow, (in Sweden not the UK), and they’ll do/should do what?

I suspect the each countries importer is going to have different procedures, so not sure many here will know

I mean, you can’t quite imagine the same timescales/efficiency in – say – Italy and Germany can you? :)

Please enable JavaScript

From my experience (uk dealers) things happen pretty quick. I broke my old liquid frame, took it to dealer and they contacted trek. Didn’t have a new replacement frame in stock but sent me an ex -press frame until one came. Only took 2 weeks for new frame to come in the end. Great warranty and customer service.

Only through dealer. In my case they first sent a photo to trek, who then requested to have frame sent to them before authorizing replacement. Took a while for me as no UK stock.

if it were the UK, it works as follows, i have had the misfortune to need to rely on it once.

Go to Shop, helps if you have proof of purchase, the warranty is for the purchaser after all Shop will contact Trek frame gets sent to them. They say yes or no to warranty. They might offer a crash replacement if the damage is user inflicted, i looked into this on my Top Fuel when i dented it but due to the time involved ( this was the year Trek never released a Top Fuel) and the fact i trashed all the components i just bought a new one instead. New frame arrives.

In my case the Lemond frame was no longer made, there was no similar steel frame imported into the UK, so Trek through the shop gave me a choice of 6 colours and then sprayed a frame and fork and shipped it from the states. The fact the original frame was 525 and the new one True Temper Platinum OX, suited me just fine.

Took 8 weeks in all i seem to remember. Which from the day i noticed the crack to having a nice new frame and fork to play with. As yours is more recent and not so unusual i would hope that Trek carries a warranty frame in stock.

Thanks, one of the reasons I bought the frame was the reputation Trek had with their warranty, even for those who race.

I’ll report back tomorrow.

My experience was cracked fork, took it to shop, shop called a week later with a new fork.

The fork was 9 years old…

Excellent customer service.

Frame broke Thursday last week.

I dropped the frame off at the dealers on the Friday with original paper work and photo evidence.

Dealer contacted Trek Europe then Trek USA

Supplied more photo’s

Heard nothing

Out of the blue a new 2011 frame arrived at the dealers yesterday and they are even being reimbursed by Trek to built it for me. http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/cross_country/9_series/elite_9_9_ssl/#

Hopefully I’ll pick it up built next Wednesday.

Fantastic customer service. Very pleased I’ve recommended Trek to three friends who’ve gone on and bought them.

Result, good service that.

Good service…………..

I think someone should have a word,

particularly in Gary Fisher’s ear,

and tell them that it’d be rather better if their bikes didn’t break

I’m going through the same experience with trek, fortunately Evans are sorting it, they needed proof of purchase and photo of the break, trek are replacing with another frame and paying for mechanics costs, it’s taken 3 weeks so far, still no sign of frame from trek, this is the third time the frame as broken.

The topic ‘How does the Trek frame warranty work?’ is closed to new replies.

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Cracked frame 2016 Trek Emonda

• Thread starter RichoBrisbane
• Start date 7 Apr 2019

RichoBrisbane

Bought this 2016 Emonda in mid 2017. There were no marks, scuffs, anything (it looked brand new), when I bought it 2nd hand. In late March 2019 I noticed cracks in frame (pictured) under seat pole, on both sides of frame. I'm perplexed how this has happened. No drops, no accidents, treated well etc. Has anyone else seen similar cracks on other Trek bikes? I found out later that the lifetime frame warranty only applies to 1st owner. Trek Australia have said they're not willing to do anything under warranty. They also refuse to assist in any other way such as providing store credit of any amount on purchase of new bike. Is this acceptable that a 3 year old frame has cracked when there are no signs of damage to bike (apart from cracks)? I have had this bike serviced several times at Trek previously. I've been told on each occasion that the bike is in good condition. Finally, if the original owner did something that has now caused the cracks, would it take 2 years to be noticeable?  

Attachments

Yellow Saddle

Itching to get back on my bike's

Surely that should have been noticed when being serviced ? Or have they only just appeared ? How much seat post is in the frame ? Not good news either way if they are cracks ?  

Legendary Member

As far as I know, lifetime warranty only applies to original owner whoever the manufacturer (at least the big global mainstream ones) so Trek are stating policy One of the downsides of second hand (although in sone cases, the saving would possibly cover a new frame in the unusual event of failure)  

I've bought old frames where the paint has completely crazed. Nothing wrong with the metal underneath.  

Deleted member 1258

Yellow Saddle said: Those are just paint cracks. Very common. Keep on riding. Drink an ice cold Fosters. Click to expand...

biggs682 said: Surely that should have been noticed when being serviced ? Or have they only just appeared ? How much seat post is in the frame ? Not good news either way if they are cracks ? Click to expand...

vickster said: As far as I know, lifetime warranty only applies to original owner whoever the manufacturer (at least the big global mainstream ones) so Trek are stating policy One of the downsides of second hand (although in sone cases, the saving would possibly cover a new frame in the unusual event of failure) Click to expand...

Seat post too short would be my guess.  

Silencing his legs regularly

I concur, paint damage and nothing more. My Viner has a few similar marks. But still going strong after eleven years and something in the region of 15-20,000 miles (lost count).  

RichoBrisbane said: Only noticed 2 weeks ago Click to expand...

RichoBrisbane said: Yeah .I posted to get opinions on frame only lasting 3 years. Obvs I don't know if anything happened in original owners hands. Im ready to move on and buy a new bike NOT A TREK. I may ask carbon fiber repairer if they are only paint cracks as suggested by other posters Click to expand...

RichoBrisbane said: Don't know how far seat post is down. Adjusted by Trek shop 2 years ago. Click to expand...

vickster said: Why do you need a whole new bike even if the frame is damaged? New compatible frameset, transfer all the components across Click to expand...

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Warranty: sometimes things break – why you should check out your bike's warranty, what's covered, what's not + tips for making a claim

First Published Jun 7, 2020

Chances are that warranty isn't top of your list of considerations when buying a new bike because, well, it's not the most fun thing ever – but it could be crucial if an issue develops. Here's what is and what isn't likely to be covered by the warranty, how they vary between brands, and some tips for handling a claim.

What's covered?

Have you ever read the warranty covering any bike you've ever bought? A few hands have gone up, but most people are staring at their shoes! Brands always publish warranties on their websites and you'll probably have got a copy with your bike but, let's be honest, they never make exciting reading. Most of us only check out the warranty if an issue comes to light, but that could be a mistake.

Specialized's current warranty says, "We stand behind our frames — forever. This means we offer a lifetime warranty to the original owner against structural defects in material or workmanship on ALL models of Specialized-branded frames and forks." 

We'll come back to warranty duration later . Warranties usually apply only to the original owner although with Specialized, if you're not the first owner you're eligible for a two-year warranty from the date of the initial purchase. Whether you're the first or a subsequent owner, you're going to need the original proof of purchase to begin any warranty claim.

You'll always find something in the warranty along the lines of Specialized's "structural defects in material or workmanship" phrase. In other words, the bike brand is only going to be accountable for problems that are its own fault, not surprisingly. 

What's covered by a road bike warranty is usually pretty straightforward but things can sometimes be more complicated with mountain bikes. 

With Cannondale , for example, most frames are warrantied "for the lifetime of the original owner" but "frames of Gravity, Freeride, Downhill, Dirt Jump and other ASTM Category Five Bicycles" (covering extreme jumping or downhill grades on rough trails at speeds in excess of 25 mph) have a three-year warranty. Then swing arms, chainstays, seatstays, and shock links of full suspension frames have a five-year warranty.

If you're buying a bike that falls into that sort of category, check the small print first to make sure you're getting what you expect.

Most road bikes have a fork from the same brand as the frame that's included in the warranty, although occasionally for a shorter period. Merida frames have a lifetime warranty , for instance, while it's limited to five years for rigid forks. However, if a mountain bike's suspension fork comes from a third-party brand it won't be covered by the same warranty ( more on component warranties in a mo ). 

If the bike brand specs in-house components on its bike, you'll usually get some details about these in the warranty. Giant, for example, offers a lifetime warranty on most frames and all rigid forks, but the warranty is limited to a year for Giant-branded parts.

What isn't covered?

Do some more reading and you'll find details of what's not covered by the warranty. In Specialized's case this includes damage caused by "crash, neglect, improper repair, improper maintenance, or other abnormal, excessive, or improper use".

Crash damage – like this to the bike of paralympic cyclist Simon Richardson, who was knocked off during a training ride – obviously isn't a warranty issue

Some of those are pretty clear. If you're involved in a crash, the brand won't pick up the tab. Crack your road bike's frame jumping a set of doubles and that's improper use; you're not going to argue your way out of that one.

Other things are less black and white. 'Excessive use', for example, is open to interpretation.

You'll often find something in the warranty saying that the paint finish and decals are covered for about a year, but that doesn't include scratches.

Speaking of paint, Pinarello's warranty explicitly excludes "products that have been even partially repainted" so you might want to check your own bike's warranty before you book it in for an expensive custom finish.

Wear and tear isn't covered by the warranty – that's just life!

Many warranties give a long list of parts that are prone to gradual damage as a result of normal riding, and this isn't covered by the warranty: bearings, brake pads and the like.

Cracked frame

What about a crack in the frame?

"It’s difficult to say for certain, but there are a few identifiers to tell whether a crack is a genuine warranty claim caused by fatigue over time or another issue," says Giant's warranty manager Russell Davies.

"For example, carbon almost never cracks straight unless via impact, because the crack will take the path of least resistance. That is a key identifier. Also, the general condition of the bike is taken into account, as poorly maintained parts can lead to frame issues and this can cause a problem. Even if people think they were ‘just riding along’, their negligence on maintenance can actually be doing damage without them knowing. 

"Over time our warranty team’s knowledge helps us understand where the ‘common’ fault areas are on different models and the most common places for cracks to occur – perhaps where the carbon layup is slightly thinner. That can help to diagnose a genuine manufacturing crack versus a crash which can be in unnatural areas where there is less load on the frame.

"The number one rule is to keep your bike clean and well tightened/oiled/greased. Replacing wear and tear parts frequently is not only good practice, it will definitely help a warranty claim if a problem should occur down the line."

Turbo trainers

Another thing to bear in mind is that a few brands explicitly state that you shouldn't use certain bikes on a turbo trainer.

Seven Cycles, for example, says, "All frames with carbon seatstays are optimised for normal road riding conditions and not designed for fixed stationary trainers. Use of a stationary trainer with any clamping mechanism will void the frame’s warranty."

Is it okay to use your bike on a turbo trainer?  

Canyon used to say something similar but it now provides a list of models approved for use on turbo trainers , including the Aeroad, Ultimate, and Endurace road bikes. 

Warranty duration can vary considerably. Brands such as Specialized and Trek offer a lifetime warranty on their frames, while five years is common too. 

British bike brand Ribble offers a five-year warranty on its steel and titanium bikes and three years on carbon and aluminium.  BMC gives you a warranty of three years which it will extend to five if you register your purchase online within 30 days. Other brands do something similar, so make sure you take the time to fill in your details or you could be kicking yourself later on. 

"We offer a two-year warranty period from the date of delivery, and then an additional four year guarantee," says  Canyon's sales and customer service manager Aaron Budd. "The explanation of these is clearly defined on our website ."

"We actually see a  minimal rate of warranty or guarantee cases, and this is due to our extensive product testing and quality control carried out at our HQ in Germany. For example, every single carbon fork, cockpit, seatpost or handlebar we produce is CT scanned to check the quality at our facility in Koblenz, and are have a unique QR code should we ever need to review this in future. Our frames are scanned in the same way, but in batches, ensuring we offer the best product without extending production times."

Does the length of the warranty indicate a brand's confidence in its own products? Bianchi 's Andrew Griffin says that's not necessarily the case.

"It's misleading to look solely at a lifetime warranty as a mark of quality," says Andrew. "Most manufacturers have to work to the same quality standards and a number of them, ourselves included, work to a standard that is twice that required. 

"The main consideration is length of ownership. A particular brand may have an average length of ownership of three years, whereas Bianchi's is seven years. It's fairly safe to offer a lifetime warranty when your average customer has sold the bike after three years."

Most issues covered by the warranty come to light much sooner than that.

"It is very rare for a manufacturing defect to appear after the initial year or so," says Giant's Russell Davies. "However, it does occur and we will always honour anything that is a genuine fault.

"We have had limited lifetime warranty on frames available since 2012. Prior to that we had 10 years, and prior to that five years. If a consumer finds an issue, Giant will of course look at this under the terms and conditions of the warranty agreement and we have on occasion replaced a frame up to 10 years old. The current policy has not been running for longer than 10 years, but if in the event we have an issue beyond that time we will of course look at the frame."

Third party components

As mentioned above, bike warranties don't cover components from third parties like Shimano or SRAM, for instance.

The groupset manufacturer's warranty doesn't cover the gradual wearing of you chain, chainrings and sprockets but you might turn to it if, say, your shifter just stops working six months down the line.

We won't go into component warranty in much depth here but Shimano, for example, warrants that its products are "free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal conditions and reasonable use" for two years in most cases, and gives a three-year warranty on top-level Dura-Ace road and XTR mountain bike products. All the usual type of caveats apply: the product mustn't have been modified, used for rental purposes, damaged in an accident, and so on.

"Despite the number of branded components on bikes, it's not always down to that bike brand to support the component warranty," says Bianchi's Andrew Griffin. "If there's no UK support from the particular brand then we'll happily cover it, but most component brands we use have UK distribution and they are best placed to handle the warranty."

What if you've bought your bike direct from the brand?

"Like any local bike shop, we also facilitate warranty or service on all the components supplied as stock specification on our bikes," says Canyon's Aaron Budd. "The warranty terms vary between manufacturers, but our technical service team are here to handle all enquiries promptly and confirm the options available.

"We handle this in the UK, and once your request is registered, we provide the relevant return instructions and references to get the component(s) back to the UK Service Centre so we can process this on your behalf."

Starting a warranty claim 

If you think you have a warranty issue, you should first contact the dealer from whom you bought the bike, rather than the brand.

"Any warranty claim has to start at the dealer and the consumer should have their proof of purchase with them," says Bianchi's Andrew Griffin. 

"The issue is discussed and, if deemed a warranty by the dealer, the bike is photographed and the photos forwarded to us. We make an initial appraisal, but if we're not certain if it is a warranty we ask for the bike to be returned to us and we'll do a physical inspection. 

"If we still can't determine whether it's warranty or not we'll send it to [Bianchi's HQ in] Italy for inspection and suggestion of resolution. In some cases where we've determined it's not a warranty, the consumer can insist the bike is sent to Italy but it would be at their cost. If Italy then determines it is a warranty, the carriage is refunded. That's happened so rarely I can't remember the last time. 

"In most warranty cases – and we don't have that many, thank heavens! – we resolve the issue quickly and everyone is happy. In some cases we have to offer an alternative frame (if the warranty frame is no longer available or the colour has changed) and that can take a little longer."

Bear in mind that not buying from a local dealer could make things more difficult in the event of a warranty issue. Your contract is with the dealer who sold you the bike. Any authorised dealer could handle the warranty process but they're at liberty to charge for their work. In these days of internet shopping, it can be a point of friction when consumers who have bought on price from a dealer some distance away find they have to take a trip back, or ship the bike at their own cost. The warranty doesn't cover this.

Here's something that could be even more problematic. In some cases, a grey import – all perfectly legal, but not through a bike brand's official distribution network – is already technically secondhand, so no warranty applies. Then it comes down to whether that grey importer is willing to cover any perceived warranty. 

If you bought your bike direct from the brand – as is the case with Canyon , for example – then your contract is obviously with that brand. 

"What might come as a surprise to some customers is that we have a dedicated technical service team here in the UK to handle all after-sales queries including warranty and guarantee," says Canyon's Aaron Budd.

"We appreciate customers can’t pop in to their local bike shop to enquire about warranty with Canyon, but we have a specific contact form to get in touch with the team, as well as our live chat service which enables the customer to talk to us in real time.

"All warranty and guarantee cases are handled exclusively here in the UK. This means we can easily get the bike here for inspection should this be required, either by courier at our expense, or the customer can drop it into our UK Service Centre. If you are sending your bike back to us, we include some useful re-boxing videos on our website to help get it to us safely."

Giant's guidelines for warranty claim

We asked Giant if there were guidelines that cyclists should follow to make sure a warranty claim goes as smoothly as possible, and what we should avoid doing. They put together these suggestions (with reference to Giant, obviously, but the same will hold true elsewhere):

1. Contact your Giant retailer and arrange for them to view your bicycle. Ideally deal with the original retailer but you can deal with your local retailer. This way they will be expecting you and will have made time for you.

2. Take your complete bicycle. Giant will not accept a warranty claim without the complete bicycle in store as we require images of the complete bicycle

3. Take proof of purchase. Unless you have proof of purchase and are the first owner of the bicycle, Giant will not look at your bicycle under the terms and conditions of the warranty agreement

4. Tell the truth. At Giant we have over 60 years of experience in our after-sales department. We know!

5. Be nice! We all love bikes and having an issue with our bike or being without one is very frustrating but it’s not the retailer's fault and it is not the guy on the end of the phone's fault. The reason we offer a limited lifetime warranty is to get you back on your bicycle as soon as possible and we’ll endeavour to do that, but shouting doesn’t help!.   What not to do

1. Don't walk in to your bike shop with your bike without arranging a consultation. Without a pre-arranged appointment your retailer may not have time to deal with you or may be in conversation with another consumer. This can quite often lead to friction, exasperation and, on occasion, an unwillingness to help from the retailer.

2. Don't contact Giant direct for a warranty claim. While we are happy to discuss any issue you have and/or any technical questions, it’s impossible to call a warranty over the phone. We need it in with a retailer with a mechanic's eyes on it to start the process.

3. There's no point chasing your warranty claim through Giant UK. Again, while we are happy to talk, in our experience (which is quite a bit) this never goes well and quite often causes delays, confusion or miscommunication. Talk to your retailer. Giant will only confirm the details of the warranty with the retailer.

4. Please don't make demands. You should read your warranty agreement and know what it covers. It doesn’t cover loss of earnings, travel costs, injury claims... The warranty is not a personal insurance policy, it covers the bicycle.

Crash and out of warranty replacement programmes

If damage to your bike isn't covered by the warranty – it falls outside the time limit, for example, or it occurs as a result of a crash – many brands offer replacement parts at reduced prices.

"We offer a crash replacement service ," says Canyon's Aaron Budd. "We appreciate accidental damage can happen, whether it’s on or off road, and offer reduced pricing replacement frames or selected Canyon components if you’re the original owner and it’s within three years of purchase.

Pinarello's 'Crash Replacement Program' applies for five years from initial registration, and Cube has a Crash Replacement Service that applies specifically to carbon frames and forks. Specialized has an 'Assisted Replacement Program' too.

Not all brands publicise similar schemes so it's worth asking about one if your warranty claim is turned down.

Consumer Rights Act

Whatever the warranty on your bike, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 says that goods must be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality (it came into force on 1st October 2015; the Sale of Goods Act  covers products bought before that time). You're entitled to a complete refund for 30 days after purchase on anything that's not up to standard. 

From 30 days to six months after purchase you're entitled to ask that a faulty product is repaired or replaced. 

The Consumer Rights Act says that goods should last a reasonable length of time, and you could be entitled to some money back on faulty goods for up to six years. If a repair fails and you want a refund, the seller is allowed to deduct some money to account for wear and tear.

Bike brand warranties

Here are brief overviews of the current warranties offered by some of the larger bike brands. Older bikes from these brands are in some cases subject to different terms. These terms apply to the original owner except where stated, and require proof of purchase.

These bullet points aren't exhaustive and aren't intended as a substitute for reading the full warranty of any bike you're considering. Click on the brand name to go to the full warranty.

BMC  • Frame: 3 years • Paint: 2 years • Other BMC products: 2 years • Buyers of a bicycle from Model Year 2011 onwards have the option of registering their frames within 30 days after purchase with a BMC retailer on the BMC website, which will extend the warranty period for the frame from 3 to 5 years. 

Boardman   • Frame and forks: lifetime  • Parts, components and accessories: 1 year 

Brompton   • Frame: 5 years • Other parts: 2 years

Cannondale   • Most frames: lifetime • Frames of Gravity, Freeride, Downhill, Dirt Jump and other ASTM Category Five Bicycles: 3 years  • Paint and decals: 1 year • Cannondale branded components: 1 year

Canyon   • Frame: 2 years (independent of owner) • Frame is also guaranteed for 6 years for the first owner only

Cervelo   • Frame: lifetime

Colnago   Frame: 2 years (if not registered within 10 days of purchase) Frame: 3 years (if registered)

Cube • Aluminium frame: 6 years • Carbon frame: 3 years • Dirt bike frames: 2 years

Genesis   • Aluminium frame: 5 years • Carbon frame: 3 years • "The warranty... will only be granted if an inspection is carried out demonstrably once a year at an authorised Genesis dealer."

Giant/ Liv   • Most frames: lifetime • Rigid fork: lifetime • Downhill MTB frame: 3 years • Paint and decals: 1 year • Other Giant-branded parts: 1 year

Merida   • Frames: lifetime (rider weight limit 120kg) • Rigid forks: 5 years • Rear suspension components: 2 years • Merida-branded components, including paint and finish: 1 year • "All bikes must be serviced by an authorised Merida dealer within 6 months of purchase. Suspension systems must be serviced annually by an authorised dealer."

Pinarello   • Frames: 5 years (if registered within 10 days of purchase)

Ribble   • Most frames and forks: 3 years • Steel and titanium frames and forks: 5 years

Scott   • Most frames: 5 years (reduced to 3 years if annual maintenance is not carried out) • Forks: 2 years • Products must be registered within 10 days of purchase

Specialized    • Frames and forks: lifetime • Roval wheels: lifetime • Specialized-branded products, frame paint and graphics: 2 years • Specialized-branded apparel: 1 year • Second or later owner of Specialized or Roval products are eligible for a two-year warranty from date of original purchase

Trek   • Frames: lifetime • Session, Scratch,Slashand Ticket aluminium frames: 3 years • Session and Slash carbon frames: 2 years • Bontrager forks, parts and components (except 'consumables' like tyres and tubes): 1 year • Paint and transfers: 1 year

Vitus   • Frame and forks: 5 years • Vitus components: 2 years

Wilier   • Frame: 5 years (if registered within 10 days of purchase) • Frame: 2 years (if not registered)

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Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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23 comments.

The Cannondale Lifetime Warranty can be taken with a huge pinch of salt, based on the response I received from them via the retailer r.e. my 7 year old bike, which was as follows: " Unfortunately, I have some bad news as I expected. Cannondale have come back to me confirming this does not qualify for a warranty claim as it is not deemed a manufacturing defect. Like all materials, carbon has a limited lifetime which is five years and that's what Cannondale cover,  so as it is a couple of years further down the line they will not warrant the damage ." Curiously none of their marketing material suggests you should depreciate your bike over 5 years. Also, they don't stock the part I need to fix the bike. Imagine if a car supplier, for example, said it could not supply parts for a seven year old car. 

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I had some notions about aluminium frames which I have now abandoned after riding one. The other notion, which may or may not be correct, which has prevented me from 'risking' a plastic (carbon) frame is that it just breaks and someone states 'you must have crashed it or it wouldn't have broken'. I am rather impressed by the Cannondale and Specialized warranties, which suggest to me that modern aluminium frames are a good bet. I have 55 years of bike experience now, and 2 frames have broken: one was a glued Raleigh Special Products steel frame which surprised me by breaking a chainstay as a result of internal corrosion after 25 years of varied and careless use in all conditions by me- I was quite happy with that performance. Another was a bespoke Reynolds steel frame which cracked on the seat tube about 10 years after it was made, and the tube was replaced free by the shop. That touring bike is still going, but has largely been superseded by the steel trailer-towing Vitus gravel with the amazing disc-brakes!

*cough* Ultegra cranks *cough*

They'd be fine if they'd just make them L shaped. No idea why it's never been thoguht of.

IanGlasgow wrote: They'd be fine if they'd just make them L shaped. No idea why it's never been thoguht of.

Well, I was initially upset when my crank formed an impromptu L-shape, but as luck would have it, Road.cc had decided to run a brand new article on the many advantages of L-shaped cranks. I'd share a link to it, but I can't seem to find it and worry that its knowledge is forever lost to us.

Let me tell you the story of my experience with Giant. I have a Giant TCR Advanced SL that I bought in November 2019.In August 2020, I noticed a crack in the left chainstay. I never had a fall or any kind of accident with the bike. I contacted my dealer directly and they were very helpful, they sent my frameset to GIANT Deutschland promptly to analyze the problem. Almost a month later, I received the reply where I was told that the chainstay fracture happened because of an external impact without ever justifying or presenting any plausible evidence and without even being interested in guaranteeing the customer a viable solution to the problem. With that said, what I can tell you is that Giant customer service is very unsatisfactory and I don’t recommend it at all. Run away from this brand

Interesting article which I am sure is of interest to many cyclists

Can anyone clarify why most manufacturers warranties are only for original owner. I mean they are warrantying their product for 5 years, what does it matter if ownership has moved to someone else

unfortunately my lawyer wasn't with me but got an interesting off the cuff remark in a specialized dealer......had taken the rear wheel off mrs antigee's new ruby in to have the cassette removed (it was so tight I bent my chainwhip failing to slacken it!) the mechanic asked "why are taking it off".... answer "to put a 36 on"  to which she responded with "that's outside the spec' so it will invalidate your warranty"  I didn't quake in my shoes as not that bothered...but should articles like:

https://road.cc/content/feature/213519-struggling-hills-if-you-need-lowe...

"The very latest versions of Shimano's Ultegra and 105 GS rear derailleurs will actually handle an 11-40 cassette, which opens up a range of possibilities for gravel bikes, touring bikes and any other situation where you're not in a hurry."

carry a warranty warning ? or just another dealer happy to tell me they don't really bother to put any effort into warranty claims?

antigee wrote: unfortunately my lawyer wasn't with me but got an interesting off the cuff remark in a specialized dealer......had taken the rear wheel off mrs antigee's new ruby in to have the cassette removed (it was so tight I bent my chainwhip failing to slacken it!) the mechanic asked "why are taking it off".... answer "to put a 36 on"  to which she responded with "that's outside the spec' so it will invalidate your warranty"  I didn't quake in my shoes as not that bothered...but should articles like: https://road.cc/content/feature/213519-struggling-hills-if-you-need-lowe... "The very latest versions of Shimano's Ultegra and 105 GS rear derailleurs will actually handle an 11-40 cassette, which opens up a range of possibilities for gravel bikes, touring bikes and any other situation where you're not in a hurry." carry a warranty warning ? or just another dealer happy to tell me they don't really bother to put any effort into warranty claims?'

Frame warranty is not affected by changing components providing that all the components work together and are a reasonable fit for the use of the bike.

So putting triple clamp suspension forks onto an XC bike WILL invalidate the warranty. Bodging disc brakes onto a rim brake only frame will also kill any warranty. Even things like fitting a rack to a frame without rack mounts (which you can do using P-clips) will probably void the warranty becasue you're adding extra load to the frame which it wasn't designed to withstand.

But changing the gear ratios will be fine - providing that the larger cassette clears the spokes on the rear wheel and the correct rear mech is fitted to accommodate that larger cassette and it's all set up correctly. None of that is related to the frame so won't affect the warranty in any way.

antigee wrote: ) the mechanic asked "why are taking it off"....         '

To give a thorough clean?  Or how about... What is the relavence? 

I had completely forgotten about Specialized's lifetime warranty for their frames when I walked back in my local bike shop (the lovely Fudges in Chiswick) asking them about a repair and/or new bike to my old Sirrus hybrid. It had done a few thousand miles when the frame cracked randomly. Sheared off near the bottom bracket.

I'd bought the bike there and they checked the warranty terms, emailed a few pictures to Specialized warranty team as described above.

As my bike model was no longer made I was offered two choices.  1. A new frame free of charge, but I'd have to pay for fitting my accessories to it and pay for accessories which didn't fit the new frame 2. A completely new bike at cost(ish)/half price, up to the value of the bike I'd bought before

I chose the latter and felt very good about both my LBS and Specialized. Top service from them both. 

Same happened to my old Specialised. Frame cracked on the top tube and Specialised replaced it with their latest equivalent. 

I had an aluminium framed Giant Revolt that suffered a crack on one of the seatstays, near to the bridge. Few emails and pics sent back and forth with shop, and Giant agreed to refund the cost of the complete bike. Was very happy with the result. I have a TCR too, I'm very happy with their frame warranty based on my own experience.

Sorry @ragtag but something doesn't add up about that story. Partly it's the classic "anecdata" - Giant wouldn't warranty my frame therefore their warranty is shit" - and partly because if the head tube really was welded out of line (extremely unlikely given the automated manufacturing and quality control) it would show up immediately as atrocious handling. I can bet that the conversation the retailer had with Giant was very different to the one they had with you...

@Natrix: replacements will be whatever the company has in stock at the time that's equivalent or better. Doesn't have to be the same and in the case of a model that's discontinued, there's uually no other option but to give the next best thing. Counter to that, I remember a guy bringing in a very old beautiful carbon-tubed Specialized (one of their early ventures into carbon with lugs and carbon tubes) and one of the tubes had become un-bonded from the metal lug. Specialized gave him a brand new full-carbon Tarmac frame as the only current "equivalent" (it wasn't equivalent, it was WAY better!) They didn't have to do that at all, the guy's frame was about 10 years old but he was decent and very upset by it and actually came in just looking to buy a new bike but being a nice helpful sort of shop we phoned Specialized and asked them the question. Their warranty dept was always awesome.

As @JohnStevenson says, I've seen/heard most variations on a theme of "I was just riding along..." and some really quite extraordinarily broken frames over the years. Being honest and decent about it will get you far more than outrageous claims or hostility or the classic "I'm an engineer and..."

We had a funny one with Kona where the guy was adamant that he'd just been riding along... so for a laugh we sent Kona the frame (which was sort of folded in half from what was obviously a bad landing off a big jump) and Kona sent the guy one of those devastatingly sarcastic-rude but very funny letters basically telling him to get stuffed.

crazy-legs wrote: @Natrix: replacements will be whatever the company has in stock at the time that's equivalent or better.

What is equivalent IN THEIR OPINION.  In my opinion, a far heavier, cheaper, scratched steel frame wasn't equivalent to a titanium frame and they did have titanium framed bikes in their range at the time but they handled the whole thing very poorly.  Initially I was told to take the bike to the local raleigh dealer, who then tried to charge me for stripping it down to the frame.  I said that I could strip it down  so they actually rebuilt it just so that I had to strip it down!! 

There was then a delay of several months before the steel frame turned up.  They steadfastly refused to upgrade it in any way, even though it was scratched.  It needed a different seat tube and front mech as the originals wouldn't fit which was another load of hassle. 

Very disapointed with the whole experience, especially as it was a mechanic at the raleigh dealers who broke the frame in the first place.............

Natrix wrote: Very disapointed with the whole experience, especially as it was a mechanic at the raleigh dealers who broke the frame in the first place.............

That's not warranty then, it's a shop error and the shop need to rectify it to essentially give you exactly what you had before (or better) even if it costs them.

Although I'd be curious as to exactly what the shop mechanic was doing to break the frame...?!

Natrix wrote: crazy-legs wrote: @Natrix: replacements will be whatever the company has in stock at the time that's equivalent or better.

I agree with crazy-legs - if the shop broke it, then it's not a warranty replacement and the shop has to make good the situation. If you're unhappy with it, you can just sue the shop for the cost of a replacement frame.

My carbon fibre Genesis frame got smashed accidentally by my LBS (something fell from a height onto the cross-bar), so they got an identical new frame shipped in (they're Genesis dealers) and built it up with the bits from my bike. As it was a new frame, the warranty for the frame was then reset.

crazy-legs wrote: Sorry @ragtag but something doesn't add up about that story. Partly it's the classic "anecdata" - Giant wouldn't warranty my frame therefore their warranty is shit" - and partly because if the head tube really was welded out of line (extremely unlikely given the automated manufacturing and quality control) it would show up immediately as atrocious handling. I can bet that the conversation the retailer had with Giant was very different to the one they had with you...

I know the shop very well, they were dissappointed and are still chasing Giant. They said they have had a number of issues with Giant when it comes to aluminum frames. You can think what you like but you add nothing, just a bunch of "I bets".

I had the frame inspected by a specialist to look at the issue, he noticed the welds and that it wasn't straight. But hey, from your view at your mum's home you must know better. 

I aways takein the warrenty the manufature offers when buying a new bike.  When your spending over 2000$ plus on a new bike it does play a part in what brand you purchace. 

Great writeup, Mat.  One other thing we've seen from a few manufacturers of carbon frames is the response to a warranty claim for a crack in the frame: "Our frames don't just spontaniously crack. You must hve crashed it." The rather unhappy rider then contacts us to evaluate the frame and write a letter to the manufacturer.  If we can access the inside of the frame with a borescope, we look for wrinkles in the carbon that often show up directly under the crack.  If we can't access the inside, we can cut the frame open and quickly see a wrinkle or other manufacturing flaw that would cause such a premature cracking.  Those photos often result in a new frame being shipped to the customer as well as a payment for our inspection service.

Shame Natrix, back in '97 they replaced my glued Ti mtb (Raleigh Special Products Division) with a welded Ti frame, the 850, which is still my good bike.

Raleighs frame warranty is pretty poor as well.  They replaced my broken titanium frame with a far heavier steel one, there's nothing in their warranty that says the replacement has to be of the same quality................

Giant's warranty counts for nothing. My daughter has a frame that buckled after using it in a local park. It's a TCX and the top tube caved in on the underside in one place. The retailer said that it shouldn't happen. Giant said that it was due to improper use, without every seeing the bike first hand or asking anything about it. She's 50 odd kilos, and not into getting air on any bike, let alone a 'cross bike. She rode up and down banking, dismounting, mounting and general cx type things, on very tame ground. We go there often. 

If you look at the current Giant Bicycles Instagram you will find a picture of someone on the same model bike bunny hopping a log. She didn't bunny hop anything and didn't crash it. 

A specialist we consulted produced a report and identified the head tube was welded on incorrectly (the tube wasn't straight) and the weld had gone through the metal of the head tube. This may or may not have been a reason for the damage, regardless, this is not manufactured well enough for a bike which costs £2000.  

Latest Comments

I've not been over that one...yet! Sounds like another great day! Keep on keepin' on.

Racists or anti-Islamism or lack of empathy? You seem a little confused. 

Can't see it happening; certainly not under this government with it's commitment to active travel and green policies. An increase in cycling is key...

I've heard back - basically the same email as reported here....

I went the other way and threw 3 transfers at it. Got the winner but other 2 were wasted. 

I have owned a pair of Fulcrum 3s. They won't let you down and are a good choice.

I have a Marin Nicasio 2 that I bought to use as a commute bike along "smooth" gravel paths, some dodgy roads and some great roads. Running 32mm...

Well that me laugh, a lot.......!...

Yes, but why spoil a good pun?

That's a great tip. I also have a set of the Ortleib packing cubes which are specifically made for these panniers and they work fantastically for...

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Trek Warranty/Customer Service Experience?

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What's you guys experience with Trek when it comes to warranty stuff? I ask because I am really struggling to stay on board the Trek train. I bought a ProCal and within 300 miles the rear wheel bearings were shot. I was wanting carbon wheels anyways so I took it as a good opportunity to buy a set of Kovee 23 wheels. That was November 8th. Since then the original stock wheel has been at the shop. Trek first sent the wrong bearings. Then the shop discovered the end cap was damaged as well. Trek has sent 3 different end caps, all of them were the wrong one and did not fit. I STILL don't have a stock rear wheel. Now, I broke the rear Kovee hoop 2 weeks ago. I go to my Trek shop and he calls them up. They are going to warranty it for the 200$ replacement fee listed in their wheel protection agreement. Since I don't have the Kovee OR the stock wheel, the rep said they would just ship a new Kovee and new stock wheel (since they can't figure out what parts to ship for the original one) at the same time. He was on speaker, so I heard with my own ears they were shipping out last Monday, January 15th. Fast forward to today. It has been 3+ months with no stock wheel and 2 weeks with no replacement carbon wheel. Does Trek always suck this bad? Or am I just this unlucky?:madman:  

I have had only very good experiences with Trek warranties. I have had three warranties issues on an old '12 OCLV Superfly 100 frame: 1. delamination in the seat tube--replaced front triangle in about a week. 2. creaked chainstay right behind the chain wheel (this happened twice)--both times replaced in about a week. That frame was notorious for problems. But it did ride well! It could be your shop's relationship with Trek. Perhaps they have an outstanding balance owed to Trek for bikes and/or parts. Bike manufactures don't like to continue supporting bike shops that owe them money. (It is important to note, that I don't know you or your shop and this is pure speculation on my part.) Maybe it is time to see if your bike shop can contact the Trek outside rep. They often have more information and can get things moving along, that is if the relationship between the rep, the shop, and Trek are all in good standing. The last option is to take the whole mess to a different Trek bike shop and see if they can do something to get you back on your bike asap. Even if that other shop is in a different town nearby, it could be worth the effort. Another option is to call Trek customer service directly yourself. Know that this is not normally received well by your LBS. It undermines that relationship. Trek is one of the largest bike manufacturers in the world. Because of their scale, sometimes things fall through the cracks. That is part of the reason it is so important to have a good relationship with your LBS and they in turn have a good relationship with their suppliers. Trek generally has a good staff working, both in house as well as representing their line as outside reps. Good luck and in the future, consider some different wheels made by someone other that Trek! Haha!  

beastmaster said: Good luck and in the future, consider some different wheels made by someone other that Trek! Haha! Click to expand...

It sounds like the issue is not Trek, but your local shop. I’ve had nothing but good experience with Trek, and have heard numerous stories of Trek replacing wheels and frames when in marginal circumstances. ANY Trek authorized dealer can handle warranties. Sometimes a larger column shop has more pull. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk  

Slowtalker said: It sounds like the issue is not Trek, but your local shop. Click to expand...

202cycle said: Definitly a shop issue. Click to expand...

I had my 9.8 frame replaced with an upgraded 9.9 frame/ shock after discovering a few small cracks around the seat/top tube junction. Trek, along with my LBS were excellent. I had an answer within a few hours and my new frame at the shop and built up all within about 4 days. I’ll forever stay with Trek because of my experience and I can be confident spending my money on their brand. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk  

I have to say that my warranty experiences with Trek have been excellent. The issues involved blown shocks, bad wheel bearings, and bad pivot bearings on two different bikes. Sorry you're running into obstacles.  

Definitly a shop issue. This is not typical of Trek Warranty. I process a number of warranties through Trek every year (for the last 18 years) and have never had a situation like this. I tend to stay on top of my claims though, and call Trek if things aren't happening fast enough for my liking. I also double check through the tech site to make sure I'm getting the right parts.  

A little birdy tells me your wheels are out for delivery today. I would follow up with your shop if you have not already.  

Birdie was right! Mounted and ready to ride tomorrow!  

My experience with Trek across 3 bikes, Superfly FS, Fuel Ex and Remedy has been nothing short of exemplary.. they usually decide quickly and get the new item to the LBS in short order. My only delays have been waiting for 9.9 frame parts to be made, painted and sent to the LBS. All fitting has been at their expense and comms have been good. I had a problem with a set of Line Pro 30 wheels and they replaced them too... It's been a factor for me on MTB's so getting warranty items resolved makes a difference. The LBS relationship makes a difference in my view....  

I work P/T in a trek shop. I have seen them cover stuff that was at best questionable and at worst an outright lie. They have the best coverage in the business in my opinion. They are usually faster than this though. We at our shop will keep the customer informed on issues like this.  

Only one frame issue in 31 years of riding Treks. Painless exchange. I will only buy new Treks. Local shop stands behind anything. Not cheap but worth it.  

2016 Farley 9.6 was my first Trek, I love the bike but the freehub has failed 3x. The pawls blow. I've had the bike 1.5 years and they just warrantied the hub again. So, shitty hub but awesome of Trek to stand behind it. They also warrantied the frame, with a matching fork.  

I have had a couple warrant claims with frames and components over the years and Trek has been fantastic. My local bike shop West Michigan Bike & Fitness has been amazing in helping me and I think this is the key to getting things done quickly with any manufacturer when you have an issue.  

Local shop and Trek came through for me when I cracked the frame on my '16 Fuel EX 9.8. Trek gave me a couple of options, and I went with a credit value of above blue book on the 9.8 toward a '18 Trek. I went down two notches in the model line, so the credit will cover a whole new bike plus a couple of upgrades. Bike is on the way as we speak. Whole process took less than two weeks. With service like this I'm sticking with Trek as long as they keep making bikes I like. FWIW Trek would have replaced the frame with an '18 9.8, but there were many compatibility issues. They said they would cover the cost of new parts, but I would have ended up with a mix of old and new parts. The bike was old enough that some of the older wear items I would be keeping were due for replacement or service. New bike with all new warranties at no out of pocket expense sounder better to me.  

Hey all - wanted to resurrect this thread and get some advice - I hit up against some rocks and put 2 cracks in my '17 Slash. I submitted for crash replacement through LBS and was offered 20% off MSRP for a new frame + I would have to pay shipping, a LBS handling fee and tax (I'm assuming this is taxed although I didn't explicitly ask - and tax her is 8.5%), so I would have to pay over $3300 to crash replace a $3600 a frame that is a year old! I wasn't expecting a free frame or anything, but 20% off full retail + fees does not really seem to be taking care of your customers. I could just wait for a demo day or sale and get a much better deal. Researching the interwebz, it seems like many Trek crash replacements and especially other bike companies have taken care of their customers much better than this - I see a lot of 20% off dealer cost (which I believe is 20% off $2500, a much more generous crash replacement that is actually taking care of a customer). How do I get these more generous crash replacements? Do I bypass the LBS and contact Trek directly? Also, I do have a couple industry contacts, but I hate calling in favors and giving them more work to do on my behalf unless it would make a huge difference, which may be worth it in this situation. Thanks for your advice!  

skyno said: Hey all - wanted to resurrect this thread and get some advice - I hit up against some rocks and put 2 cracks in my '17 Slash. I submitted for crash replacement through LBS and was offered 20% off MSRP for a new frame + I would have to pay shipping, a LBS handling fee and tax (I'm assuming this is taxed although I didn't explicitly ask - and tax her is 8.5%), so I would have to pay over $3300 to crash replace a $3600 a frame that is a year old! I wasn't expecting a free frame or anything, but 20% off full retail + fees does not really seem to be taking care of your customers. I could just wait for a demo day or sale and get a much better deal. Researching the interwebz, it seems like many Trek crash replacements and especially other bike companies have taken care of their customers much better than this - I see a lot of 20% off dealer cost (which I believe is 20% off $2500, a much more generous crash replacement that is actually taking care of a customer). How do I get these more generous crash replacements? Do I bypass the LBS and contact Trek directly? Also, I do have a couple industry contacts, but I hate calling in favors and giving them more work to do on my behalf unless it would make a huge difference, which may be worth it in this situation. Thanks for your advice! Click to expand...

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Trek/Bontrager/Electra/Diamant Limited Warranty

We've Got You Covered We provide a warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for all original equipment and aftermarket products, as specified below. First Things First Contact an authorised retailer or distributor to initiate a warranty claim. Proof of purchase is required. Click here to find a retailer near you. Lifetime Frame sets (frame and rigid fork), main frame and full suspension swing arms for the lifetime of the original owner Bontrager wheels with carbon rims 2 Years Clothing Parts and accessories Rear suspension linkage components, including bearings, rocker link and accompanying hardware and components Bontrager wheels with alloy rims Paint and transfers Subsequent Ownership Subsequent owners (second or later) are entitled to a 3-year warranty from the date of purchase from the retailer on the Trek frame and Trek fork. This does not include items such as wheels, suspension forks, drive train components etc. Proof of original purchase is required. This Warranty Does Not Cover Normal wear and tear Improper assembly Corrosion Improper maintenance Installation of components, parts, or accessories not originally intended for or compatible with the bicycle as sold Damage or failure due to accident, misuse, abuse, or neglect Labour charges for part replacement or changeover Non-proprietary products (any other original part or component) covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty Cosmetic scratches or non-structural blemishes on Bontrager carbon rims or wheels This warranty applies to: • All model year 2020 and newer bicycles • Parts and accessories purchased after 1 August 2019. Any products not specifically included above are omitted, but may be included in the 2012-2019 Trek Care Limited Warranty. Click here for details . This warranty is void in its entirety by any modification of the frame, fork, or components. This warranty is expressly limited to the repair or replacement of a defective item at the manufacturer’s discretion. This warranty extends from the original date of purchase. Trek and Electra are not responsible for incidental or consequential damages unless prohibited by local laws. Claims made outside the country of original purchase may be subject to fees and additional restrictions. Warranty duration and detail may vary by country. The English version of the warranty shall prevail.

Trek Carbon Care Sometimes accidents happen. We know how much you love your Trek bike, and understand the burden of having to replace a non-warranty damaged bike frame or part. That's why we provide the Trek Carbon Care Programme . This programme can be used to obtain a discount on a replacement frame or component in the case of non-warranty damage. Contact your local authorised retailer or distributor to get started.

Trek Care/Bontrager Limited Warranty 2012-2019

Lifetime Frames for the lifetime of the original owner (see exceptions below)

5 years Swing arms on all full suspension bicycles (except the Session, Scratch and Slash swing arms)

3 years Session, Scratch, Slash and Ticket aluminium frames and swing arms

2 years Brakes, baskets, computers, mudguards, handlebars, locks, pumps, rear racks, repair stands, rigid forks, saddles, seat posts, stems, tools, water bottle cages and wheels. Session and Slash carbon frames and swing arms All rear suspension linkage components, including bearings, rocker link and hardware electric bike motor, controller and battery pack (2 years or 600 charges, whichever comes first) All original Bontrager forks, parts and components (except consumables such as tyres and tubes)

1 year Clothing, bags, bar tape, gloves, grips, helmets, lights (excluding bulbs and batteries), rims, shoes, tyres and tubes. Paint and transfers

THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER: Normal wear and tear Improper assembly Improper follow-up maintenance Installation of components, parts, or accessories not originally intended for or compatible with the bicycle as sold Damage or failure due to accident, misuse, abuse, or neglect Labour charges for part replacement or changeover Bikes used for commercial activities, including those in rental, demo or security fleets

This warranty applies to 2012-2019 model bicycles and covers only Trek and Bontrager branded products. Any other original part or component shall be covered by the stated warranty of the original manufacturer. Any products not specifically included above are hereby omitted.

For a 2011 or older model bicycle, please consult your owner's manual or contact us or an authorised dealer for the applicable warranty.

This warranty is void in its entirety by any modification of the frame, fork, or components. This warranty is expressly limited to the repair or replacement of a defective item, and said repair or replacement is the sole remedy of the warranty. This warranty extends from the date of purchase, is offered only to the original retail purchaser and is not transferable. This warranty applies only to Trek bicycles purchased through an authorised dealer or distributor. Trek Bicycle Corporation is not responsible for incidental or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so the above exclusion may not apply to you. Any claim against this warranty must be made through an authorised dealer or distributor. Proof of purchase is required. A bicycle must be registered with Trek Bicycle Corporation before a warranty claim may be processed. Claims made outside the country of purchase may be subject to fees and additional restrictions. Warranty duration and detail may differ by frame type and/or by country. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and those rights may vary from place to place. This warranty does not affect your statutory rights. The English version of the warranty shall prevail.

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Trek Domane frame crack voids warranty: "abnormal riding"

aclinjury said: A few month ago a rider on a ride dropped the chain on a climb. The chain hit the right chainstay and cracked that sucker. Frame was total of course. Despite what anyone says about how tough carbon fiber is, how resilient it is, steel is still real when it comes to durability! Click to expand...

DaveWC said: All of the carbon bashing just gets tiring. Now even in a thread where the OP hasn't said the frame was carbon, it becomes a carbon bashing thread. Trek bashing too. Oh lordy, and here I am riding a carbon Trek. Click to expand...

nOOky said: The frame cracked from the chain merely hitting the chainstay? I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or not, because that ain't near enough impact to crack the frame unless it was already damaged or stressed somehow. Click to expand...

DaveWC said: Yeah, cus steel never cracks... http://forums.roadbikereview.com/bikes-frames-forks/steel-frame-crack-downtube-now-what-219002.html http://forums.roadbikereview.com/bikes-frames-forks/cracked-casati-steel-frame-can-fixed-262925.html Worth fixing minor crack in steel frame? Deep DT crack -Steel frame commuter - I keep breaking my road frames - why? - Bicycles Stack Exchange Click to expand...

nOOky said: I've had 2 Trek frame warranties in the past, each one was examined by the dealer I did not have to send the frames in. Both were replaced with equal or newer versions of the frame, and I never had any trouble with Trek's warranty. In fact I jokingly recommend people buy Treks with the lifetime warranty "if you want a new frame every few years" Click to expand...

crossracer said: I agree, this poster even though he is new, doesn't sound fishy. I have seen this posted here before about them seizing frames. Lots if times people don't post until they are angry. A troll would have just kept saying that trek stole his frame. This guy isn't. It used to be warranty frames were rare. Now it seems a common problem as these bikes are pushing the weight envelope. Bill Click to expand...

Absolutely there are many people who would ride or resale a frame and put the issue onto someone else. And yes steel fails. But not from scratches. Bill  

sturmeytrek said: Trek says it is not safe to ride, and will not send it back. My dealer bought a new one for me, expecting to get a refund when the warranty went through. Trek won't refund the dealer's money, so I am expected to pay the dealer. We're both screwed. Click to expand...

sturmeytrek said: My Trek Domane showed cracks on the down-tube around the front derailleur after six months of riding with zero crashes. The dealer and his Trek rep both looked at it and agreed that it was a valid warranty claim, with no doubts whatsoever. We sent the frame back to Trek, and Trek denied the claim saying the cracks were due to "abnormal riding". The head of warranty service at Trek told me that I had thrown the chain, evidenced by a small paint mark on the sprocket, and this was possibly what caused the cracks. He said it was not a Trek issue, but due to my "abnormal riding", which he could not define, reiterating that he was not positive that the "chain event" caused the cracks. I asked him to define normal riding, and/or abnormal riding, but got nowhere. Pretty fragile frame, I'd say, as I only weigh 150 lbs. From this experience I presume that Trek's warranty is worthless. A thrown chain five months previous to the cracks showing up "maybe" caused a "total failure" (Trek's words) of the frame, and they would not send my frame back to me. The cost of a new frame is on me. This is my fifteenth Trek bike including kid's and wife's bikes. It's also my last. Click to expand...

put the story on trek's faceback page so the hole world knows  

Pics or GTFO. What model of Domane?  

champamoore

I think mtnroadie was joking, dude.  

froze said: This is a sad situation for a company that use to pride themselves on making great bikes and standing behind them. I was at an LBS in town today that sells Trek, a customer had the same issue as you, the employee in charge of warranty repairs said he should get a free frame based on the fact that the frame had not been in a crash...like you Trek denied the claim. I didn't hear what caused the cracks so can't say if Trek used the same excuse as they did with yours but it could be a pat answer. This isn't (edit, forgot the ending two letters!) the first time this has happened with Trek, unfortunately due to the fragility of CF, especially those made in China , a lot of manufactures are coming up with excuses not to pay the warranty claims. After buying 15 Treks I doubt seriously if Trek cares if you don't buy another, they made their money off of you, plus their so large what's a few dozen mad customers a year matter to them? When they were a small family run business they cared, not any more. Try a Lynskey titanium bike next time, they ride better than CF, you will never have to worry about cracks or the possibility of the chain creating some sort of damage, or worry about abnormal riding damage. Click to expand...

ph0enix said: I suppose you have evidence to support the claim that CF bikes made in China are more fragile than the ones made in the U.S. If so, I would love to see it. Click to expand...

crossracer said: I agree, this poster even though he is new, doesn't sound fishy. I have seen this posted here before about them seizing frames. Lots if times people don't post until they are angry. It used to be warranty frames were rare. Now it seems a common problem as these bikes are pushing the weight envelope. Bill Click to expand...

JacksonDodge

HurdyGurdy said: In my case the frame cracked after hitting a probably irregular speed bump which meant the bike got a bit of a jolt so I shot up and hit the top bar sliding off the saddle and this caused the top bar to crack. Click to expand...

HurdyGurdy said: In my case the frame cracked after hitting a probably irregular speed bump which meant the bike got a bit of a jolt so I shot up and hit the top bar sliding off the saddle and this caused the top bar to crack. TREK claimed irregular riding Click to expand...

Amazing, a steel or titanium bike would have laughed at that stunt, not carbon fiber.  

froze said: Amazing, a steel or titanium bike would have laughed at that stunt, not carbon fiber. Click to expand...

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