[Closed] Kinesis Decade Virsa Frame Cracked

Which seat post? Overtightened clamp? How much post sticking out? I had that happen on one frame after a couple of years and couldn't attribute it to any of these, so random failure is possible.

Hmmm, that's annoying. I think I'll check mine in the morning then.

Yep!

I got one of those - no obvious explanation!

Ridden the bike loads with and since noticing it.

I plan to chop it off and get it re slotted when and if it eventually go's.

27.2 / 400 seatpost. 28.6 Hope q/r seat clamp so not overtightened. About 1/3 of the post in the frame - well above the min mark. All this should be ok?

I know 2 people with those frames, both cracked (although not sure where), sounds like there has been a problem somewhere along the line! At least it is still under warranty.

what are Kinesis like on warranty - am i going to be bikeless for weeks?

I'd imagine all these small producers need to be pretty swift on warranty

I'd imagine all these [b]small producers[/b] need to be pretty swift on warranty

But still, we should be hoping for a positive response from them.

Dom at Decade is a top bloke so would imagine it will get sorted quickly for you.

Good luck

fingers crossed that Decade will come good then.

It's predecessor the DMR Switchback suffered the same problem. Still riding mine, cracks & all.

I looked at the Decade Virsa and someone on here pointed out that a 27.2mm post with a 28.6 clamp leaves a very thin walled tube. As a heavier ride I gave it a miss. My Pipedream Sirius takes a 27.2mm post but needs a 29.8/30mm clamp which would be the same as the other 2 steel frames I've ridden. May not have anything to do with it though.

I have a feeling it might be a feature of frames with dropped top tubes (lots of seat tube above the top tube join) and front-facing slots. I've had the same thing happen on a similarly designed frame, with tones of post in the frame and no abuse. I think it is why Brant puts the slots on the back on Ragleys.

Having looked a bit closer and checking the seatpost tube on my Singular Gryphon frame i think they have reamed out too much metal on the Virsa seatpost tube. 27.2 Easton seat post nice interference fit on the Gryphon but a couple of thou of play on the Virsa so see-sawing on the top of the seatpost tube by the clamp hence the cracking.

I think that the fore and arft movement on the long, front-slotted tube might cause them to stretch and then crack, rather than be the wrong diameter to start with.

seems to be play all the way down, past the slot, below the point at which the top tube joins the seat post tube!

new frame received within the week from Upgrade. New version of the versa out soon apparently with beefed up seat tube.

Not cracked mine (runs off to check). Mines an early one stickered up virtue. is a very thin walled seat tube.

I've just built one of these up. Think I might invest in a double bolt seat clamp to spread the load a bit. Anyone tried this already?

Further to PJay's comments. I have an earlier, badged a Virtue, model. The seat tube is very thin wall. I spoke to the guys at Kenesis about getting a QR seat clamp as I found that their standard type for this diameter seat tube actually grips the seatpost before it clamps the frame. Kenesis machine out their QR seat clamps specially to suit this frame alone and they tell me that no other will suit, due to clamping the seat post etc.
I am running a Thompsen 27.2 seat post and it fits like a finger in a bum (MOD engineering term for limits and fits, does not appear in your Zues book).

I spoke to early my seat tube slot just split 🙁 back to kinessis it goes then.

parksie, you might be able to get one of the new beefed up versions by now.

Will see what happens will post up the outcome. Already got an itch to look for a new frame in the mean time 🙂

mine's just cracked too: two splits either side of the slot, about an inch in length. Plus a 2" crack further down the seat tube on one side only, going past the top tube weld: just thought it was a crack in paint until I removed the post and saw daylight. Is it just a one year warranty on these? pity, its a great ride!

New frame is on its way 🙂

It's a 3 year warranty according to the Kinesis site (I assume this applies to the Decade range) and it does sound likes it's a design issue so I'd get in touch.

My lbs sent my frame back last week a replacement is on its way under warranty big thanks to the guys at east street cycles.

Another cracked frame by seat tube slot. Spotted today. Frame 18 months old. Already spoken to LBS and will be dropping off frame at the weekend. Hope the replacement is the beefed up version. This frame has been used mostly for commuting and has been off-road less than 20 times.

Yes, mine too. I'm on the second one now and have just ten minutes ago stripped the frame down stuck it in a box and am sending it to upgrade bikes tomorrow. Apparently they have just taken a delivery of rectified Decades with a thicker seat tube so hopefully all sorted. Apart from this its been very good. The pain in the arse is having to do without it for a week and also getting the damn headset out. I was wondering when someone would pipe up with this post.

Got my replacement frame has disc brake tabs semi integrated headset and amazingly a thicker gauge seat tube 🙂
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Just built my replacement frame up today. Went for a black one this time. All looks good so far, although I had to obtain a headset shim from the LBS as they forgot too send one out with the integrated headset. Nice thick seat tube now though, and the disc brake slots seem to make a difference now as I can get the wheel off without taking the brake off and I have now done away with some washers that were spacing the caliper.
Just need to get it out for a thrashing now.

Picked up my replacement frame yesterday. No green ones left so plumped for black rather then wait 6 weeks. Didn't realise that the new head tube was oversized. There goes another £60 for the headset!

picked my new warranty replacement frame up today: very nice-looks beefier especially that oversized headtube(out with the old hope-in with the new cane creek!)and that new disc brake tab much better.
Thanks to blazing saddles for sorting that out-running a p7 as a singlespped whilst waiting was a right pain in the...anyone want a dmr chain tensioner, hardly used? p7 frame, used more?

anyway, just need to build and ride

Seat-tube is very thin indeed, I bought the specially designed 'decade' quick release when I got the frame, seems there was a dodgy batch as it gripped the seatpost before the tube.

Phoned upgrade and they went and checked if their stock of the special 'decade'qr's would fit a 27.2 post and they found it wouldn't, They reamed a qr to fit and sent it out for free.

The modified qr has a really narrow lip [the bit sits at top of seat-tube] so it seems that it's not just that its a thin seat-tube that's the problem, it's also the issue of getting a qr that will clamp up tight enough before touching the seatpost.

Replacement frame rebuilt as a bit of a frankenbike.
Best bis that the wife built it 🙂

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Same happened to me, got new frame through within a week.

Great service and looking at the changes made to the frame it would seem that they have really taken on board the feedback from version 1.

Well done to Kinesis I say.

I've had the exact same problem, a crack around the top of the seat tube. But I've had a pretty woeful experience since returning the frame. It's been 4 months and the bike shop have done very little about it other than give me the contact details for their supplier (Dirtworks). Apparently it's beyond them to deal with themselves.

Dirtworks are dealing with Upgrade in the UK. It's taken 3 weeks even to get an email response and still there's no resolution in sight. Dirtworks have even tried getting in contact with the factory in Taiwan. Is Australia a continent too far or something?

Email the three names on this link [url= http://kinesisdecade.co.uk/contact.php ]http://kinesisdecade.co.uk/contact.php[/url] at Upgrade in the UK - I'm sure they'll be able to help you out.

Does seem odd that your local importer can't get it sorted though.

Thanks mate. I'll try those contacts. I've now learned that Dirt Works Australia, though liaising with Upgrade, have actually been sourcing frames direct from the manufacturer in Taiwan so I'm not sure how much Upgrade will be able to help as it's the factory that's proving unresponsive.

Whenever I talk to the guy at Dirt Works about what's happening the whole thing sounds confusing. Ultimately the responsibility rests with the bike shop I originally bought the frame from and I'm sad to say it's starting to look like I may have to tell them to give me my money back and buy a new frame from someone else. This is a real shame because up until the crack developed, I found the frame was ideal.

My replacement frame has finally come through after over four months. This seems to be thanks to intervention on the part of Upgrade themselves. The factory in Taiwan just don't seem to care much about communicating with Dirt Works, their client in Australia. Weird.

Dirt Works (via my lbs) are giving me one they had in stock. Apparently they wouldn't act until the factory acknowledged the warranty. I'm pretty sure this is in contravention of consumer law here in Oz but I'm only learning this now so there's not much I can do about it.

I'm disappointed I'm getting the exact same frame. The tech at Dirt Works told me today that 3 out of 20 of these frames have been returned but that's not enough to issue a recall. He doesn't reckon the seat tube problem is to do with the gauge of the bore at the top of the tube but also didn't sound completely confident the same seat tube crack wont occur again in about 12 months time. If that happens I may have to get my money back and try a brand that's better supported here. It appears international trade is a small world in some respects and impenetrably divided in others.

Holy thread resurection Batman!!!!

Has anyone actually tried cutting and reslotting one of these frames?

Mine has gone but I bought it secondhand and I'm sure its over 3 years old.

Lots of frame builders would do a less destructive repair for fairly cheap

Try Upgrade as its a common problem. On my third frame in just over 2 years at the moment.

I'm on my third but the new frame seems to be strong in all the right places now. Only gripe is that I'm sure the geometry is slightly changed as I swapped over all the parts from the old one but it definitely rides differently now. Have got used to it but I preffered the old one.... Still a nice bike though.