Well after this experience, I had to phone up TF Tuned this morning to get a price for a new RS Lyric crown/steerer/stanchion asembly.

I was expecting maybe £170ish, based on paying £120 for Fox ones and these being a little bigger.

Three. Hundred. and. Ten. Pounds. £310!!. (although TF will throw fitting in for free. Which is nice of them.)

That’s a REAL shock to the system. I only paid £490 for the entire fork a year ago. Apparently the importers have just stuck a monster price increase on all the spare parts. And all I can do is bend over the table spread ’em and say “take what you want big boy”. Not happy. Not happy at all – especially as the damage wasn’t caused by me – having spoken to Argos they accept it’s probably “their” grit that’s caused the problem, but they aren’t willing to help pay for the damage. Which is pretty much what I expected.

Being a bike addict really sucks at times.

Yeah. That’s why it’s often better to hunt out new forks. Get some OEM ones that’ve been taken off a bike, or go SH.

that is insane.

Small claims court to try and get some wedge out of Argos Cycles?

I’d just run the forks as they are. How thick is the steerer?

Blimey, Lyrics are RRP at over £800 now.

Me, I’d rather buy second hand with a service than shell out well over £5,6,700+ for forks, it is absoluetely insane.

MTBing is without dounbt a middle class pursuit…

sell the old ones on ebay, and get these if you’re really botherd

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/rockshox/lyrik-u-turn-2007-fork-ec001724?style=14043

What about sleeveing the inside of the steerer?

I’m sure a local machine shop could whittle one up and interference fit it in there… unless it is butted.

You have to wonder if the pricing strategy for Rock Shox is some kind of bizarre joke/business death wish.

Has anybody paid the £900ish that they’re asking for a Lyrik now?

And I thought £400 was really expensive for a fork about a year ago!

I guess thats just one problem of living in a country whose currency is going down the toilet.

Riding them as is just not on. I do enough stupid stuff on that bike (and balls it up often enough) that it’s a risk not worth taking. For the same reasons I wouldn’t feel happy with sleeving (and the steerer is internally butted)

I don’t do ebay – largely down to their insistance on having paypal – and I really wouldn’t feel happy selling the current pair to anybody on STW etc.

The Evans link is interesting.

Second hand for all these big single crown forks is a huge risk – they all have issues, and a) it means no warranty and b) if they’re being sold there’s a fair chance that the reason is because they’re still not right. The last thing I’d want to do is blow £300 on some secondhand forks to find they need another £2-300 on parts and service.

I can’t believe you are rolling ovver on Argos being at fault to be honest.

Its not like they are a fly-by-night back street garage that you went to because they were cheap. You sent your frame to the company who consider themselves number 1 for bicycle re-sprays/renovations and they are the company that many big names choose to send their bikes to for special paint jobs etc.

Perhaps if it were a road frame they had left filled with shot and a lovely set of carbon forks they might have been more willing to splash the cash on making good their mistake.

definately worth leaning on Argos, and let them know its going to be 310 quid to fix their mistake. As s&j said its not as if they aren’t a specialist company setup to spray bike frames

Even if they don’t cover it 100% they might go halves

Rockshox pricing is now very scary, but I think people need to start getting used to top end kit being very pricey for at least the rest of this year.

Bad luck Jon, I’m sure you’re gutted. When I was looking for some replacement forks earlier in the year it quickly became clear that anything worth buying is now well out of my reach. Luckily I got my forks fixed, but it was a clear casting problem rather then the result of a third party not doing their job properly.

What’s your next move? I’d say get them fixed and mortgage a body part. Why buy new forks, even if they’re reduced, if it’s going to cost you more?

they aren’t willing to help pay for the damage.

I’m sure they’re not if they can get away with it. ISTM they are at least partially liable though – lean on them.

apparently the new spares come in a pack which include a ball gag.

Lube as well or do they just intend to take folk dry?

It’s feeling like it’ll be the dry option at the mo.

“squeal like a pig, boy”

I think I’ll look up my local Citizens Advice Bureau – see what they have to say regarding Argos’ level of responsibility.