wthensler 

I’m in the market for a nice endurance bike and reached out to a Cervelo dealer, inquiring about a C3. Here’s what I got back via email.....

Hi. due to quality issues we've pulled away from selling Cervelo.

Please don’t shoot me, I’m just looking for a bike. Can anyone enlighten me further?

canklecat

I noticed one local Trek dealer has few, maybe no, Cervelos in stock anymore. They used to really promote those but something happened.

Seems to coincide with the scattered internet complaints about quality control. Hambini has been particularly critical of Cervelo. While I wouldn't say he's *the* authority on the subject (I'd defer to Raoul Luescher on that subject), Hambini does carry a certain amount of social media clout for his often brutal and profane critiques of carbon fiber frame making and bearings (in which he has a vested interest).

If I was in the market for a new carbon fiber bike I'd probably go with Trek. Mostly for the warranty and customer support, based on my LBS which is very good. They treat me as well as any customer when I show up with my 1993 Trek 5900 for service. I tend to ride bikes forever and rarely upgrade, so long term stuff is important.

Specialized is probably good, but there's no dealer near me and I have no experience with their bikes or customer support.

Bah Humbug

I'd find a Covid-related supply chain issue much more believable than that blowhard burying a brand. Good lord. Whatever BB issues they have are far less than the Madone recalls, and Trek is doing fine.

slowgo

Love my R3. Put almost 500 miles on it last month. Can’t complain. Love it. F Hambini. Click baiter, IMO.

WhyFi

That was the entirety of the email? Or did they suggest an alternative that they now sell? Bashing the competition is a pretty common and lazy tactic among poor salesmen.

InvertedMP 

That is really odd...

base2 

I refuse to click on Hambini. Youtube does not reward useful content. He's clickfarm generated garbage tailored to the requirements of the algorithm. IMO.

That being said: After 5000 miles in 364 days of a 1 year warrenty and many a trip where I put my 2016 R5 over my shoulder to hike to an observation tower or actual summit on top of a long climb, (Mission Ridge, Hurricane Ridge, Mount St. Helens, etc...) the riv-nut in the downtube water bottle boss loosened up.

A blob of epoxy would've fixed it.

They replaced the whole frame no questions asked. All I had to do was pay shop labor. The shop used an old seat post collar & the post kept slipping. I took it back & they dug out the new seat post collar that was still in the box the replacement frame came in. No issues since.

I run Easton EC90 bars now with Redshift aerobars & dual position seatpost, Rotor Qarbon Q-ring/AbsoluteBlack oval chainrings, Edco Monoblock Cassette on Enve 7.8 Powertap wheels & Continental GP5000TL tires. So insane, I actually save the bike for special occasions. I use my other less efficient bikes to get strong with.

7000 miles (5000 old, 2000 new) so far on an R5 & I've never had to touch the bottom bracket, headset, or do any maintenance besides the usual brake pads, chain, & tubes/tires, cables, etc...that all bikes get.

I'm not impressed with the front derailleur mechanical shifting action, but it's sharp, crisp, decisive. I prefer a smooth linear "sweep" but that's just me. Di2 would fix that, if I was concerned.

Oh! And I bent a derailleur hanger once. Another cyclist rear ended me at a stop. $30 fixed it.

So, all-in-all, the one & only issue I ever had with the frameset was most likely caused by me, likely superficial, easily fixed & replaced no questions asked.



I'm not sure what to make of "quality issues." For the price I would like to have seen carbon handlebars & compressionless brake housing. The OEM wheels were well enough. Aluminum, but as these things go, they could've been a lot worse. (I built up a 20 pound vintage bike with them.)

I feel it's a lot like buying a Lamborghini & being irritated the windshield washer doesn't spray even enough. Look close enough, & you can invent a fault with anything.

guadzilla

I have an R5 and it is literally THE nicest bike i have ever ridden - smooth without being boring, super-responsive, stiffer than a double shot of Viagra and just a lot of fun to ride.

wthensler 

they did recommend other brands.......

At this point, I don’t know what to think. Wouldn’t mind hearing from other satisfied owners.

aplcr0331

Do an experiment;

1. Search for "negative" comments on [bike brand name], take those with a grain of salt.
2. Search for "positive" comments on [bike brand name], take those with grain of salt.

Buy the bike that makes you want to ride it. The name on the side is practically meaningless, get the best bike with the best group set you can afford and some decent wheels (same thing applies to group-sets and wheels as does bike brands) and set about riding your bike like a mother****er.

The rest is flapdoodle.

phrantic09

I’ve had an R3 for just under a month and about 500 miles. It’s a joy to ride.

bampilot06

I love my C2. Super smooth and responsive.

InvertedMP 

I have been considering an R3, and I am still heavily considering an R3. Cervelo doesn't seem to be any more or less prone to issues than any other manufacturer. But the last thing you want to do is buy a brand from a shop that won't support it. Issues happen, and if your LBS is already apprehensive about fixing potential issues, go somewhere else.

WhyFi

Oh, I like my Cervelo just fine. No, it's not as cushy as my Domane, but it's definitely comfortable enough for long rides. It's also significantly lighter and the handling is more lively. Just a superb all-arounder.

znomit

Thats secret code for "They dropped us because we suck at being a bike dealer"

wthensler 

Exactly what I’m looking for - a more lively bike that’s lighter with a stiffer frame for the mountain riding. I like the Cervelo frame dimensions, which is why I’m eyeing them up.

The Domane will be for a different type of riding - long, flatter rides.....

WhyFi

Do you have a Domane? If so, I'd be looking at an R or S rather than a C.

My R3 isn't that far off of my Domane in terms of stack and reach - about 1cm lower and 1cm longer (both size 56), but the rest of the geometry changes make for a different feel. That said, the R3 is still comfy enough that I can't justify holding on to the Domane, not for my two to four 100 mile rides per year (and really, the R3 hasn't been at all uncomfortable for the handful of 3+ hour rides that I've put on it in the couple months that I've had it on the road). The C-series strikes me as an even closer match to the Domane with its more relaxed geo and larger tire clearance, so I personally wouldn't go that route if you want to keep both and have some differentiation between the two.

motorthings

i loved my R3 and R5, and have am currently building up a C3. i wanted the added comfort over the R3, and ability to run wider tires when i want.

DrIsotope

My 2017 R3:




Miles on it, 12,287. Age, 2.5 years. Problems, zero. I put in a Wheels Mfg. BB to combat creaking at about 8k miles, and that's it.

aplcr0331

Great taste in seats and rear lights.

Bike's not too shabby either...

bampilot06

Ive since leveled the bars since this picture was taken.

mgopack42 

HUH?
Maybe it is my keen scientific eye and training, but I count ONE problem! (and that is only what DrIsotope will admit to in a public forum.)

DrIsotope

No idea, man. Is this an anti-aerobar thing?

guadzilla

BB creak is an issue with many Cervelo's BBs (although by no means limited to just them) - and paying $90 for a 1-piece BB is the solution.

Unlike Hambini's nonsense where everything QC-related about a bike begins and ends with BB specs, that BB, along with the tubing of the bike, contributes to the most amazing stiffness and responsiveness of any bike i have ridden. It's like pushing off a wall. So I'll happily pay $90 if if occurs and enjoy the other benefits of that bike's tubing and design.

I plan to buy an Aspero soon: even though my preference would be for a different brand, just for variety, the amazing ride quality of the R5 has me hooked.

phrantic09

Every road bike I’ve ever owned had until my Cervélo had a BB30 that sounded like a bag of rocks at one point.