Advice required re cracked titanium Van Nicholas Blaze Frame

van nic

Not sure what to do with my cracked Van Nicholas Blaze frame. I was unfortunate enough to get a crack on my Van Nicholas Amazon last year due to this I checked the Blaze frame too and was shocked to find it had 2 separate cracks in the frame. These are in critical positions where failure would cause serious injury. Please see photos below.

I have found a ti Welder who has told me he can fix the cracks but im worried they might develop in another location. Van Nicholas have refused to honour the (Original) life time frame warranty (for Blaze)so my choices are either 1. Sell it with the problem 2. Get it fixed and hope it doesn’t develop in another location 3. Put it on the wall for decoration

Has anyone had the same or similar problems? Any help or advice greatly appreciated.



crack just starting under frame







Amazon crack

mr_evil

What excuse did they give for not honouring the warranty? Both cracks look quite clearly due to bad welds.

majormantra

+1, I'd be interested to know too.

van nic

They honoured the Amazon frame but i had fat birds bike shop to thank for that (Fatbirds were great excellent service and communication) It took a while though due to Van nicholas delaying.

They refused to honour the Blaze as they said i was the second owner even though i bought it new it was from someone who had it as a warranty replacement due to a fault on another blaze. Id had it a couple of years with no problems great bike etc until this crack. I was aware of the warranty restrictions but thought id be honest after a few emails i give up. I could have lied or returned it to the original owner for return but i thought honesty best policy etc

I hope its not going to be a common fault on these bikes as someone will get badly injured. Im sure other people arent aware that titanium can crack like this and wouldnt specifically look for these problems.

bendertherobot

Twitter and Facebook.

Ask them on there why they are not honouring the warranty.

Iamnot Wiggins

Will this pan out the same as that thread about the Merlin warranties I wonder?!

borisface

So much for Ti lasting a lifetime, VN are obviously a bit weasily if they are trying to wriggle out of it. That would make me think more than twice before buying.

It looks like, to my completely untrained eye, that as the cracks are near welds that they may have overheated the tubes during manufacture causing a weakness.

This guy had a ti frame repaired:-
http://audaxing.wordpress.com/2011/12/2 ... -dead-but/

imposter2.0

borisface wrote:

So much for Ti lasting a lifetime, VN are obviously a bit weasily if they are trying to wriggle out of it. That would make me think more than twice before buying.

Agree with the sentiment, but in principle VN are right as the warranty belongs to the original buyer and is not transferable. It still sucks though...

van nic

Iamnot Wiggins wrote:

Will this pan out the same as that thread about the Merlin warranties I wonder?!

Cannot find the Merlin thread did they have a similar problem??

van nic

Imposter wrote:

borisface wrote:

So much for Ti lasting a lifetime, VN are obviously a bit weasily if they are trying to wriggle out of it. That would make me think more than twice before buying.

Agree with the sentiment, but in principle VN are right as the warranty belongs to the original buyer and is not transferable. It still sucks though...

Your right but they also said the bikes were made in Holland on the site but every frame/bike ive had off them has made in china under the frame. (Think they ve removed this claim now)

imposter2.0

van nic wrote:

Imposter wrote:

borisface wrote:

So much for Ti lasting a lifetime, VN are obviously a bit weasily if they are trying to wriggle out of it. That would make me think more than twice before buying.

Agree with the sentiment, but in principle VN are right as the warranty belongs to the original buyer and is not transferable. It still sucks though...

Your right but they also said the bikes were made in Holland on the site but every frame/bike ive had off them has made in china under the frame. (Think they ve removed this claim now)

I think the frames have always been made in China - but the complete bikes are 'assembled' in Holland, which means they can get away with claims like that. Everyone does it, unfortunately.

stealf

Blimey !! They do look rather nasty. ( I too have an untrained eye) I would not be riding them at all like that. Just imagine..... on second thoughts don't!!!
Defo checking my Sabbath September tonight. I have been hammering the miles on some late evening rides, unable to see pot holes so have clacked into them.
Wish you good luck with VN, A bit of social media pressure can work wonders. If no joy there, spread the word - then try a Sabbath,

Iamnot Wiggins

van nic wrote:

Iamnot Wiggins wrote:

Will this pan out the same as that thread about the Merlin warranties I wonder?!

Cannot find the Merlin thread did they have a similar problem??

It doesn't exist anymore but this will shed some light on the issue, just make sure you've got a comfy seat!

viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12744969

majormantra

Imposter wrote:

borisface wrote:

So much for Ti lasting a lifetime, VN are obviously a bit weasily if they are trying to wriggle out of it. That would make me think more than twice before buying.

Agree with the sentiment, but in principle VN are right as the warranty belongs to the original buyer and is not transferable. It still sucks though...

Quoted for truth. I sympathise with the OP, but it's not really fair to say they aren't honouring their warranty - you have no contract with them.

sub55

Advice required re cracked titanium Van Nicholas Blaze Frame

Nationwide are offering a 12 month fee-free overdraft on up to £2500

sloppyschleckonds

sub55 wrote:

Advice required re cracked titanium Van Nicholas Blaze Frame

Nationwide are offering a 12 month fee-free overdraft on up to £2500

vorsprung

borisface wrote:

So much for Ti lasting a lifetime, VN are obviously a bit weasily if they are trying to wriggle out of it. That would make me think more than twice before buying.

It looks like, to my completely untrained eye, that as the cracks are near welds that they may have overheated the tubes during manufacture causing a weakness.

This guy had a ti frame repaired:-
http://audaxing.wordpress.com/2011/12/2 ... -dead-but/

I am the guy that had the frame repaired

It's been 2 years since it was fixed and it still seems fine

The OP's damage seems much worse than mine had. The cracks in the Setavento frame I had were barely visible with the naked eye and they were only in one area of the frame

If I was the OP I would weigh in the frame for scrap

The bad news for people thinking about getting a Ti frame this week is that the best UK maker, Burls, get all their frame building done in Russia.

hypster

I've broken two VN Zephyrs and two VN Chinooks. Both Zephyrs and one of the Chinooks went at the seat tube weld with the BB. My latest Chinook went underneath the down tube at the weld with the head tube just like your Amazon picture. I switched to the Chinook after the second Zephyr failed as suggested by VN that it might be a stiffer frame. I agreed on the basis that I could switch back to the more expensive Zephyr if the Chinook didn't work out

All have been replaced under warranty as I was the original owner of the first Zephyr (purchased direct from VN). I am currently awaiting another Zephyr that I intend to sell on as new when it arrives. Van Nicholas have always been okay with me but I have had enough with listening for that creaking sound which heralds another failure!

van nic

MajorMantra wrote:

Imposter wrote:

borisface wrote:

So much for Ti lasting a lifetime, VN are obviously a bit weasily if they are trying to wriggle out of it. That would make me think more than twice before buying.

Agree with the sentiment, but in principle VN are right as the warranty belongs to the original buyer and is not transferable. It still sucks though...

Quoted for truth. I sympathise with the OP, but it's not really fair to say they aren't honouring their warranty - you have no contract with them.

Your right! Badly worded by me so ive stuck in the word original.

van nic

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

sub55 wrote:

Advice required re cracked titanium Van Nicholas Blaze Frame

Nationwide are offering a 12 month fee-free overdraft on up to £2500

Brillant!

van nic

Thanks for the comments and advice (vorsprung and hypster)

de_sisti

I had a similar crack on the bottom bracket/seat tube area of one of the xacd.com titanium frames I bought
(in 2007). Because it was so cheap I decided to bin it and bought a steel spa frame to replace it. I have another
xacd.com titanium frame which is still going strong. I'm almost wanting it to crack so that I can go out and buy
a Canyon Ultimate CF SL to replace it.

van nic

De Sisti wrote:

I had a similar crack on the bottom bracket/seat tube area of one of the xacd.com titanium frames I bought
(in 2007). Because it was so cheap I decided to bin it and bought a steel spa frame to replace it. I have another
xacd.com titanium frame which is still going strong. I'm almost wanting it to crack so that I can go out and buy
a Canyon Ultimate CF SL to replace it.

Looking at the prices of xacd.com titanium frame it may be worth using the Blaze as wall art and buying a cheap Chinese frame. Probably the same factory where the Blaze came from.

Stedman

I have had four different titanium frames from Omega/Enigma and none of them have cracked. The only thing that has failed is that I did manage to strip the thread of a rack mounting eye in the Himalayas and that was quickly fixed on a lifetime warranty five years later with no questions asked.

van nic

Iamnot Wiggins wrote:

van nic wrote:

Iamnot Wiggins wrote:

Will this pan out the same as that thread about the Merlin warranties I wonder?!

Cannot find the Merlin thread did they have a similar problem??

It doesn't exist anymore but this will shed some light on the issue, just make sure you've got a comfy seat!

viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12744969

That was some read.

horizon

Van Nicholas was sold some while ago to Koga. The founder Jan-Willem left in June of last year and the company under new management appears to have largely stagnated since then. Their website has seen little alteration and Facebook questions and complaints go unanswered. I have an Amazon and have been largely pleased with it, once all the teething issues from a poor build by Van Nicholas were resolved. I think small brands such as Enigma, Genesis and Kinesis now offer equal or better product and are much more approachable.

Warranty is transferrable to another owner, but the frame has to be shipped back to VN to be checked and a fee paid first, so I doubt anyone bothers.

HellsCyclist

Mr Evil wrote:

What excuse did they give for not honouring the warranty? Both cracks look quite clearly due to bad welds.

This. Definitely sounds like a warranty issue to me. Frames dont just crack up under normal use. If they are refusing to honour their warranty then I would be seeing a lawyer or someone. This is something that would irritate me beyond words.

imposter2.0

HellsCyclist wrote:

Mr Evil wrote:

What excuse did they give for not honouring the warranty? Both cracks look quite clearly due to bad welds.

This. Definitely sounds like a warranty issue to me. Frames dont just crack up under normal use. If they are refusing to honour their warranty then I would be seeing a lawyer or someone. This is something that would irritate me beyond words.

They do if they are defective. The warranty issue has already been covered. Unless the frame was re-warranted (see above), then the new owner has no right of claim to the maufacturer.

bikergirl17

What did you end up doing? My litespeed just developed an identical crack as your last photo. Imy bike shop said too dangerous to ride -- did you stop as well? I'm gutted as my bike isn't made any more nor are there similar frames. I spoke to a shop that said they could replace the entire down tube. But I'm worried that will change the ride.

kingstonian

hypster wrote:

I've broken two VN Zephyrs and two VN Chinooks. Both Zephyrs and one of the Chinooks went at the seat tube weld with the BB. My latest Chinook went underneath the down tube at the weld with the head tube just like your Amazon picture. I switched to the Chinook after the second Zephyr failed as suggested by VN that it might be a stiffer frame. I agreed on the basis that I could switch back to the more expensive Zephyr if the Chinook didn't work out

All have been replaced under warranty as I was the original owner of the first Zephyr (purchased direct from VN). I am currently awaiting another Zephyr that I intend to sell on as new when it arrives. Van Nicholas have always been okay with me but I have had enough with listening for that creaking sound which heralds another failure!

Jeez, reading that makes me avoid VN like the plague. Makes a mockery of the "Ti is for life" statement.

milleman

All this is a bit worrying!, I have a VN Zephyr that I have owned for five years covering about 15000 miles and love it to bits. Thinking of another Ti bike late this year or early next, probably will not be a VN when I see pictures like that and hear of warranty issues....

Enigma here I come!