Broken frame

Phil_D

I have a 2004 Specialized Allez Triple. I went up some hills with me and another 10kg on the back. I have noticed a crack on the left hand side of the head tube going from top, about 1.5 cm long. It expands when I use the front brakes.

I am the sort of person who would put a jubilee clip around it and hope for the best, but my head has already had one nasty meeting with the road whilst using a bike and I don't really fancy another.

Spesh frames have a lifetime warranty but I have to be the original owner, which I am not. So I am left with the choice of finding the same frame somewhere or buying a new one.

If I buy a new one, I am aware that the sizes of things have changed since 2004, but I do not know which ones. The seatpost is a definite but other than that, can anybody offer some advice?

ugo.santalucia

Doesn't need to be the same frame... as long as parts fit... check out:

seatpost diameter (probably 27.2 mm)

Braze on/ no braze on (probably not)

Fork size (probably 1 and 1/8")

BB (surely british thread)

then go on E-bay and allow yourself and upgrade... there's planty of carbon frames, which are real bargains

Personally I wouldn't buy second hand aluminium alloy, as they all fail by fatigue in the long term

balthazar

It may be worth contacting Specialized politely. They're pretty helpful on warranty matters: when I used to deal with them (in trade, working for a large Spec. retailer) they often went above and beyond. At least, they might make a nice deal on a replacement frame.

Phil_D

balthazar wrote:

It may be worth contacting Specialized politely. They're pretty helpful on warranty matters: when I used to deal with them (in trade, working for a large Spec. retailer) they often went above and beyond. At least, they might make a nice deal on a replacement frame.

The shop that it came from said that I need to be the original owner. Are you saying Specialized may waive that requirement if I'm nice?

Monty Dog

I know a few of the Specialized guys - certainly worth talking to them. What colour is the frame? - the blue Allez of that era was notorious for cracking and everyone I know who had one had it replaced under the lifetime warranty.