So i got one of these DMR speed guides to replace my current shimano chain guide, mainly because of 2 reasons...
1 - the outside plate of the guide is meant to flip up, so changing chain/crank etc can be done without adjusting the guide
2 - the quick link storage seemed cool.
However, it's rubbish for 3 reasons..
1 - it doesn't flip up - you have to loosen the bolt to flip it up. You may as well jsut loosen the bolt and move the whole thing out the way.
2 - as you can imagine - there's 10 quid's worth of powerlink spaffed somewhere around the local countryside...sigh...
3 - it doesn't actually work as a chainguide - the guide part is FAR too wide, and the chain can bounce off the teeth and down the side!!
It's not 'broken' per se, it's jsut such a crap design and construction, that it's as good as broken!
Can i send it back under this complaint???
DrP
I'd say they would want it complete, in the box and unused if its not faulty. Lets face it though, it can't hurt to ask?
I think its at their discretion end of the day though.
I'd speak to the retailer but also let the importer know......
If they are anything like a previously well regarded tent manufacturer. they will never admit they designed crap , blame your use of it, then completely rubber you.
I'd be sending it back under Not Fit For Purpose. It has a job to do, but doesn't do it.
Maybe contact DMR/Upgrade in the first instance, let them know about your experience and see if they can suggest a solution?
i made the mistake of buying something like that from superstar* once, it only ticked one box in the cheap/light/strong trinity.
* I didn't install it with a rock..
Doesn't sound good. Give it a go. The main reason would be because it can't retain the chain.
Re top guides. A couple of weeks ago I broke a mrp one. The backing plate snapped at the bolts. Now on a nukeproof one, but only did one ride a week ago on it - no dropped chain. Seems ok so far.
If the retailer won't help I'd get in touch with DMR. They're a UK company and have a phone number on their website.
If you're looking to replace it then I'd recommend the OneUp Guide. I've used it on three bikes over the last 3 or so years and it's been faultless.
cheers all.. I've actually just stuck the Shimano one back on there..
Will see what the retailer says!
DrP
This thread reminds me of the absolute worst bike component I ever bought. Yes, it's the original Speedguide.
Noisy, flexible, fragile. It was possible to set it to perfection but it would only stay there as long as you didn't ride the bike.
I was living on pocket money as well in those days so it was a real stinger.
You still got it? Maybe we could both take them back with a "you tried your best" card for Upgrade?!
DrP
If it was me, I'd just return it as "faulty". The reason - the quicklink retaining part seems to be defective (if I understand then it's a cavity with a magnet in it).
You never know, maybe it is from a duff batch that has too weak a magnet... but I doubt anyone is going to start measuring the strength of the magnet on your returned item.
This gives them options to:
1) Acknowledge it is/might be faulty and just process the return (easy for everyone; you all get on with your lives).
2) State that there's nothing wrong with the magnet... thereby implicitly acknowledging that the product is not fit for purpose.
Sort of Catch-22 for them.
Unless, of course, they're running with Catch-33 and go for:
3) Claim you must have installed it with a rock (other Superstar customer service tropes are available)
My usual approach would be to sell it on to some unsuspecting sap via the ebay platform.
This thread reminds me of the absolute worst bike component I ever bought. Yes, it’s the original Speedguide.
That's not the original.
The original was alloy and rigid and quite good.
The steel one (that like you I bought) was flexible shite that did nothing other than make putting the chain back on impossible without tools
You still got it? Maybe we could both take them back with a “you tried your best” card for Upgrade?!
Fortunately not. This was late 90's before I bought my first full new bike.
That’s not the original.
The original was alloy and rigid and quite good.
Do you mean this one?
I can't remember that one being available when I bought mine. I thought that was the later, improved version.
The steel one (that like you I bought) was flexible shite that did nothing other than make putting the chain back on impossible without tools
Oh I know. I vividly remember.
The originals actually had a great plastic roller with a jockey wheel inside. Noisy as ****.
The later improved ones had the orange roller.
Let me go look
This style of roller. Oh look the ubiquitous FSA power pro crank of doom.
Had those too.
Infact I had that trailstar MK1 frame as well....with z1 bams ....
The originals actually had a great plastic roller with a jockey wheel inside. Noisy as ****.
The later improved ones had the orange roller.
Yes!! I think that's what I had. Running the chain over it reminded me of rewinding a cassette with a pencil. It's hard to find a picture of a really old one. Mine didn't have the graphics on the top plate either, it just had the old logo.
Infact I had that trailstar MK1 frame as well….with z1 bams ….
Absolute dream bike. I was about to buy one from a mate (blue with orange Bomber's) but he ripped the head tube clean off while having 'one last ride'. That was a rare lucky escape for me.
Sorry OP, we've derailed your thread!
Bams? Suits you sir
You're a chain device and a stem into building the world's worst West Sussex based bike...
Sorry OP, we’ve derailed your thread!
No worries! It's more fun!
Also..
You’re a chain device and a stem into building the world’s worst West Sussex based bike…
Don't forget my Hunt wheels made of cheese....
So...so far we've got:
USE Vyce stem (still for sale actually..)....
DMR chain 'device'
Hunt Failwide wheelset..
TBH, though I'm a proper fanboi, I reckon I've a rattly Exposure light I could throw in the mix...
DrP
EDIT - how about the Lezyne "valves away" pumps...
I was living on pocket money as well in those days so it was a real stinger.
Ironically, the Blackspire Stinger was about the best of that type of guide, though likely not available back then.
Don’t forget the rattling DMR pedals
Any well-known Youtubers you can send it on to for "review"?
I'm pretty sure that you can return something as 'faulty' if it doesn't perform the function that it was sold for. It's not really the consumer's problem to work out whether it's a faulty design or faulty manufacture etc. If it doesn't work then you should be entitled to a refund.
I guess the complication here might be that they could claim that e.g. the part works, just not on your particular bike geometry, or that you installed it badly. I think within 6 months of purchase the onus is on them to prove that it's not faulty though. So if the design really permits a within-spec chain to fall off within it then that seems like a tough case for them to make...