My carbon racer (price as new: 4000 Euro, 4 years ago) is affected by a frame breakage due to a manufacturer defect on the inner side of the frame (crack), about three centimetres below the bottle cage. The road bike hasn’t made more than 1500 kilometres, i.e. in dry, summer conditions. No race, no winter, no fall, no toppling over. I weigh 71 kg. The manufacturer refuses to acknowledge this manufacturing defect and offers me a Crash Replacement frame at 800 Euro. Why should I pay 800 Euro for a manufacturing defect? I'm the first owner, invoice etc. is available. The bicycle is as from the shop. Can you help me?
Reply by Dirk Zedler, TOUR technology expert and bicycle expert
We cannot state from the photos, whether it’s a manufacturing defect or not. If necessary, you should seek assistance from an experienced expert. In legal terms, both the manufacturer and the bicycle dealer have acted correctly. Your legal rights as a purchaser to a product without defect expire two years after the purchase, i.e. also referred to as warranty rights. After this period of time you can only address a claim to the manufacturer, when you’ve obtained an additional guarantee beyond the statutory two-year-period. If not, you can only hope for goodwill. Your manufacturer has shown goodwill in so far as they have offered you a so-called “Crash Replacement”. Make sure at the moment of purchase already to obtain a comprehensive warranty package including several years – this is an integral part of the overall value of the product.
