Giant Defy Advanced 1 Seatpost Cracked
I have had my Giant Defy Advanced 1 for about 18 months and it has been superb. I regularly travel abroad and box the bike for travel, so it has been taken apart and reassembled a few times without any issues.
Recently I heard a creaking from the seatpost and on closer inspection noticed a crack in the post at the point where the clamp holds it. I always use a 5nm torque key, so overtightening wasn't the issue. I took the bike to my Giant dealer and they ordered another seat post, which they fitted in their workshop using a professional torque key and carbon paste. Two miles down the road it starts creaking, so back to the shop and this one has cracked in exactly the same place! The dealer is as confused as me and checks the inside of the down tube and the clamp but finds nothing. They fit a workshop spare seatpost to keep me on the road and within a few miles that has cracked as well! Three seat posts destroyed in a week :shock:
What on earth is causing this? I'm now paranoid about fitting a new seat post.
Recently I heard a creaking from the seatpost and on closer inspection noticed a crack in the post at the point where the clamp holds it. I always use a 5nm torque key, so overtightening wasn't the issue. I took the bike to my Giant dealer and they ordered another seat post, which they fitted in their workshop using a professional torque key and carbon paste. Two miles down the road it starts creaking, so back to the shop and this one has cracked in exactly the same place! The dealer is as confused as me and checks the inside of the down tube and the clamp but finds nothing. They fit a workshop spare seatpost to keep me on the road and within a few miles that has cracked as well! Three seat posts destroyed in a week :shock:
What on earth is causing this? I'm now paranoid about fitting a new seat post.
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Comments
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I think this is one for Giants frame warranty. I don't think the seat post is the issue but rather a defect in the frame (perhaps uneven tube diameter) that may cause increase of stress on the seat post. Till then you'd be best advised to use a cheap alloy seat post and make sure the saddle is well centered and clamped on the rails.
keep us updated and stay cool with the shop as they've already done most they could!0 -
Unfortunately I can't use another seat post as the Defy Advanced has a proprietary Giant vector seat post, so nothing else will fit:
I am very happy with the shop and they couldn't be more helpful: http://www.bikeproracing.net/
They are currently investigating the down tube and clamp, as it has to be one of these causing the problem?0 -
I work in a Giant dealer and can say that we've never had this issue. As chrisvanderkaap suggests, it might be the frame, although it seems strange that it's now happening very frequently after 18 months of happy riding.0
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An update on the seat post issue. The dealer sent the frame back to Giant and they have accepted their is a defect in the frame, which was causing the seat posts to crack. They are replacing the frame under the lifetime warranty guarantee with a 2012 model. Why the defect should only become apparent after 18 months of cycling, I have no idea, but full marks to Giant for replacing it free of charge.0
