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[Closed] Reasonable life expectancy of a frame?

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I know this is difficult to answer without a me divulging a huge amount of information but how long would you expect one of [i]your[/i] frames to last.

Specifically an aluminium full suss of the 140-150mm variety.


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 12:09 pm
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10+ years.


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 12:10 pm
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5 years?
Specialized Warranty 5 years
others vary, if it's out of warranty - about that long


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 12:10 pm
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Depends how often i was using it and on what terrain. If I was mincing round here every other weekend then 10+ years. If I was riding it hard every day in the Alps and racing on it, then maybe a season or two at best.


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 12:13 pm
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Just had an email, issue resolved. 5 years BTW.


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 12:13 pm
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Depends how often you use it. Every day riding hard - maybe a couple of years. Ever weekend riding easily - wouldnt expect it to break before i did.


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 12:13 pm
 LoCo
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Ali mtb frames I don't keep for longer than 3 years,(although I have a 15 year of specialized fs frame too) steel frames forever


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 12:22 pm
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I have a Koga Miyata X-Racer which is now about 6 years old which has been riden pretty hard all over the place 1 or twice a week and is now definitley not in a good way. Lots of flex, creaking etc.
It's now relegated to a light weight fast pub/gym/shopping bike.
Wouldn't fancy talking down afan etc like I used to although having said that with only 80mm at the front it was always pretty tough any way!


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 1:00 pm
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Just had an email, issue resolved. 5 years BTW.

Untill it breaks? How long's your piece of string?

I usualy keep them untill something get's beyond what I feel comfortable riding. Measuring in years would be pointless, my XC bike probably gets more hours in a month than my Pitch gets in a year. But I'd still expect the Pitch to fail first because I'll probably crash the downtube into a rock or something. Assuming it dies of old age, maybe 1000 hours/10000miles I'd not feel ripped off, double that and I'd be impressed?


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 1:28 pm
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About 20 years for a hardtail, or until a new wheel size fashion rolls round, whichever comes sooner.


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 1:30 pm
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in terms of "lifetime" warranty's such as Cannondale's your frame life is no more than 2 years and less if you abuse it


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 1:37 pm
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munrobiker - Member
About 20 years for a hardtail, or until a new wheel size fashion rolls round, whichever comes sooner.

Next week then?


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 1:38 pm
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Its not the age its the milage


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 1:41 pm
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14 years now and still going strong. Only ridden a few times a year now, but I'm not gentle with it http://andrewhowett.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/transvesubienne-race.html and one for the welsh speakers http://andrewhowett.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/tybed-os-gall-unrhyw-un-ddarllen-hwn.html


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 1:42 pm
 Keva
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I've got a 15yr old GT Alu frame that I'm thinking about getting sprayed up for a rebuild. Should look good in fire orange. I rode it loads from between 1998-2003. Then it became a second bike for a few years between 2005-2008 and since then it's been hanging up in my mates garage until last week when he gave it back to me.


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 3:08 pm
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This was a warranty, sale of goods act question.

My frame cracked, I was told it was out of its warranty, I said it wasn't happy as I would expect more than x years out of a frame and so it was not fit for purpose.

I was preparing for a long battle with a bike shop and manufacturer after a disagreement but I was only dealing with one of the lads that worked there so he was fairly helpless beyond it having a note that £x was owed

Got an email today saying they will warranty as they would expect 5 years, happy days.

Will pop in tonight to pick it up and thank them.


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 3:25 pm
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Not a bad result, who made the frame? I generally factor the warranty into a purchase decision these days and would not bank on the frame outlasting the warranty (for costing purposes)


 
Posted : 31/05/2013 3:27 pm