Steve_sr

Yes, my Litespeed road bike. It didn't really like the rail trail sections but survived.

Steve_sr

They stopped responding once I reported that the bike was basically unrideable due to the seat tube defect. THe new folks didn't recognize that this was a problem and likely had no idea how to fix it.

Mackers

Thanks for clarifying, makes more sense now.

(re. fork and seat tube situation)

smd4

I didn't mean a response filtered through you. To paraphrase Rick H., it's not that I don't trust what you say--I just don't trust anyone. I'd rather hear their side of the story from their point of view, but that's not likely to happen.

I'm not sure why you just don't unload this turd? There are so many other bikes/builders to choose from.

Atlas Shrugged

SUPERGRIP™ CARBON AND ALLOY ASSEMBLY COMPOUND

I assume by alloy they mean including aluminum. Many of us have had slipping seat posts from time to time and have solved the problem with friction paste, can't see why it can't be used across different materials. Better than hanging the bike on a wall and not riding it as from what you describe that is the only reason the bike can not be ridden.

I can understand that the purchasing experience has not been wonderful but from what you describe efforts have been made to mitigate your disappointment. Good luck and hope you find enjoyment with the bike eventually.

smd4

I wouldn't wait for that eventuality. I'd just sell it and move on. This is becoming melodramatic.

Life's too short.

shelbyfv

It could be worse. Remember this? Beware of the Desperado and here more and here mtbr and here rbr

smd4

Those were all before my time here. But startingly similar! $14,000? Ouch.

awac

You mention chargeback. In the UK we have a thing called section 75 if you have paid with a credit card, and it makes the credit card responsible for defective goods. I have no idea if you have this in the US or maybe something else similar?

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org....-bought-credit

This lets you raise a claim against your bank or lender for a breach of contract or misrepresentation by the supplier of goods or services for such things as;

• I’m unhappy with what I was told about the goods or services before I bought them
• goods I paid for are of poor quality or defective
• the services I paid for weren’t carried out with reasonable care and skill
• I bought something that turned out to be unfit for its intended purpose
• the item I paid for never turned up, or the service I was expecting was cancelled and I didn’t get refunded
• I’m unhappy with how the supplier tried to put things right
• my purchase was cancelled or disrupted because of the Covid-19 pandemic

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/section75-protect-your-purchases/
Section 75 means that if you pay for something costing over £100 and less than £30,000 on credit, the lender's equally liable (along with the retailer) if something goes wrong.

squirtdad

FWIW, the instructions that came with my custom Kirk (steel) said specifically to use this type of product, weather aluminum or carbon seatposts. explanation was (not exact words) was that as carbon frames are not as precise sizing wise as a milled metal frame, seat posts are gettin produced slightly undersized to deal with the impreciseness. Not every seatpost I would guess and maybe more carbon posts than aluminum, but it was enough of an observed concern that is was very clearly called out

bit of surprise to me who as always used grease

smd4

My guess is that after two years, that ship has sailed.

Sell the bike!

Steve_sr

I don't think that any friction compound would be effective in this situation as there is so much slop in the tube that the post will rock side-to-side and work its way down.

BTW, the Litespeed has the same titanium tube with an aluminum shim regular clamp has gone almost 100K miles with no seat tube issues. No friction paste required.

I don't see how you can call this disaster a "disappointment". Once notified that they left a customer with a defective and unrideable bike they cut off all communication!

icemilkcoffee 

From the other thread:

There is no 'other side of the story'. The frame builder plain screwed up and is now playing possum.

As to selling the frame- exactly who would buy an unuseable frame with a problem like this?

smd4

Is this a rhetorical question??

So...from here on out, all we have to look forward to from the OP is threads *****ing and moaning about this terrible bike? He doesn't want to be out there riding? He'd rather just complain? After two years of this?

awac

But do you have a section 75 in the US, it might help someone else. I am trying to find a cut off date on section 75, not found it yet.

smd4

Here, it's probably at the discretion of each credit card company.

EDIT: A Google search says "120 days if you have a complaint about the quality of goods or services." (Experian--a credit rating agency). Like I said...that ship is well over the horizon. Might be docking at Southampton by now!

awac

Check it out. It is not a well known or publicised thing here…..I always pay with credit card now if it is over £100.

icemilkcoffee 

He dropped $7000 on this bike. I'd say he is perfectly within his right to complain. Also- the point is this thread is to warn other people about this company. A public service in other words.

Atlas Shrugged

My understanding is these frames came with an aluminum sleeve. In this case, the sleeve is not installed and not sure why. The purchaser did not use a sleeve, or the manufacturer assembled the bike without a sleeve. I doubt that the manufacturer shipped the bike with the post installed, so that is on the person assembling the bike. Perhaps the post is the wrong size? My recent new steel adventure bike, which I had built required a sleeve to fit a standard 27.2 post, this sleeve came with the bike. Something just doesn't seem right about all this.

smd4

I consider myself warned. So I guess we don't have to see any more threads on this particular bike frame?

Black wallnut 

Folks don't seem to check references anymore. Thus we have rants on internet forums. My thoughts are you roll the dice and take your chances. If you can afford a $7k bike build then perhaps you should also be able to afford an out of town lawsuit. OP's side of things sound compelling to me but as others have said it is just one side. Sounds like shoddy workmanship. However a chain, $30. Did you ride on the fork? If so then it is used and the builder loses money on that part. Oversize seat tube you could have one custom manufactured by a local machine shop if the size isn't available elsewhere. No matter what a distasteful and expensive proposition. I can understand the desire to soil a reputation.

unterhausen

You have to look at the thread in framebuilding to understand how truly awful this frame is. Person who put the shim in at the builder's probably said "can't see it from my house" and laughed.

icemilkcoffee 

This is the one and only thread which named the builder. In any event, feel free to ignore thread if you've already been warned.

smd4

Maybe so. Maybe it was welded together with hot glue. Absolutely none of this matters at this point. The time has passed to get a chargeback from the CC company. I don't know the laws in the OP's state, but it's likely the statute of limitations has passed to allow him to seek legal redress. The way I see it, these are the options:

1). Continue looking for ways to make the bike rideable; and live with what he's got. Consider it a $7,000 lesson. The time for crying is over with.

2). Try to sell the frame to an informed buyer, and take the proceeds and buy a new dream bike. Consider it a $7,000 lesson. The time for crying is over.

3). Do either of the above, and make a BBB complaint, just for s's and grins.

Merlin/DEAN/Janus continues on their merry way, until adverse reputation starts to eat away at business. The threads posted here may help in that regard...at least among the folks who frequent this place. The manufacturer is clearly finished responding to the OP--for reasons we may not even know about.

Bald Paul

I'm still trying to figure out if the bike was $7000, or the frame was. If it was the complete bike, strip it of all the components and buy another frameset. Sure, it may cost the OP money again, but it's far better than hanging a useless $7K piece of wall art.