I have a 10ish yr old Allez and have just noticed the frame is cracked around the headset – it’s about 2 inches long hairline (I can just about push a fingernail in at the widest point).

I bought the bike second hand (shop soiled but built up by a bike shop employee on the side so essentially new but not officially sold by the shop).

What do you think my chances are for any kind of support from Specialzed or is it time to dig into the pockets?

Under those circumstances I think you’re ****. Otherwise they are excellent.

i got a new cannondalr tourer, paid for by specialized, when i snapped my sirius.
i got a new rear wheel, when i sheared the hub on my enduro.

email spesh uk direct.

unless you have a receipt that backs up the story, i’d have to agree with scotroutes and it’ll just be treated as a second hand frame

Seeing it’s second hand ( not purchased from an authorised dealer ) I can’t see you getting very far unless you have or can get a proof of purchase of some sort. Might be worth a visit to your local Spesh dealer anyway as you never know

Yeah been to the dealer and they say that without an original receipt there isn’t much I can do.

You’re buggered after posting the story on here. I’ll call Specialized on Monday and let them know not to warranty any 10 year old Allez with a cracked head tube…..

So – as I have a 60 mile charity ride tomorrow (and not wanting to attempt it on my single speed or mountain bike) does anyone think it should see me through if I brace it with a heavy duty cable tie?

But why should the nature of the purchase matter anyway? It’s still broken, and buying it second hand didn’t break it.

Warranty only applies to the original owner

But I am the original owner but just ‘off the books’ via a mechanic rather than the shop till. Not going to help me here though is it…

Sounding more dodgy by the minute 🙂

I’ll call Specialized on Monday and let them know not to warranty any 10 year old Allez with a cracked head tube…..

Srsly? 🙄

OP you didn’t buy from a retailer, you’re not the original owner. Doesn’t matter how theoretically new it was, thems the rules. Shame, Spesh are very good indeed, and it may be worth firing them an email direct, you never know.

It’s 10 years old and you got it second hand-ish.

I think you’ve had your moneys worth.

Warranty is 5 years anyway regardless of shady purchase

Nope, lifetime. Did used to be less on alu frames, but longer ago than that iirc.

Lifetime of the product not the owner, which is 5 years

….. wot he said 🙂

And the length of the warranty is irrelevant if you don’t have one in the first place 😉

Your first mistake is asking on here and getting loads of contradictory advice!

Take it to a Specialized dealer. They’ll speak to Spesh UK. In my experience they’re very good. Much better than average.

He’s already done that, they told him to poke it

Just curious. But did you buy it from the mechanic or the shop , who took the money ?

Lifetime of the product not the owner, which is 5 years

Nope, that was a Cannondale trick. Spesh have no retarded stipulations. I’ve seen 15 year old frames warrantied.

I don’t think they’d warranty it in that situation, particularly with the new warranty guy that started a couple of years ago. Warranties with them have become much harder work.

Yes, they’re much more ‘by the book’ since the epic warranty debacle of 2014! They used to be amazing, just very good now!

Call their Chessington HQ and ask what they can do. Might get a new (as in 2014+) frame for a decent price under their CRW. You’ll still need to get it rebuilt yourself.

Nope, that was a Cannondale trick. Spesh have no retarded stipulations. I’ve seen 15 year old frames warrantied

You may well have done but it’s generally regarded as lifetime of the frame, not owner these days.

PeterPoddy – Member
You’re buggered after posting the story on here. I’ll call Specialized on Monday and let them know not to warranty any 10 year old Allez with a cracked head tube…

You’re even more of a **** that you first appear aren’t you.

You’re even more of a **** that you first appear aren’t you.

Was thinking much the same!

Orangeboy – I bought it directly from the mechanic but went to the shop to collect and gave him £££s as a private sale . I was never mislead on that, I knew what I was doing.

Sorry, can somebody please explain how “the lifetime of the frame” makes sense? I mean, it seems possible that it could break in a week….which would make the lifetime exactly 6 days 23 hours and 59 minutes!

Odd.

Nope, that was a Cannondale trick. Spesh have no retarded stipulations. I’ve seen 15 year old frames warrantied.

I have a 2004 manual that says lifetime is 5 years couple of years later things like chain stays dropped to 1 year… The 06 manual will still be only with the warranty terms in it.

10 year old frames are not ‘warrantied’. they are dealt with at the good will of the company. That does not mean that good will extends to anyone else or will continue for ever. Warranties are commercial arrangements. Companies are not obliged to offer them or, beyond the letter of their limitations, honour them. I’d be amazed if they honour ‘warranty’ against a 10 year old frame. Not a reason to not try your luck, by all accounts where Specialised are concerned you might get something, but go into it with a reasonable sense of what the outcome is likely to be. Any expectations that a frame should last more than 10 yeas is unreasonable, so if you get any consideration at all you’ll be very lucky.

https://media.specialized.com/support/0000023116/0000023116_ENG_AS_NZS_R1.pdf
See page 42 – Nothing lasts forever…

Sorry, can somebody please explain how “the lifetime of the frame” makes sense? I mean, it seems possible that it could break in a week….which would make the lifetime exactly 6 days 23 hours and 59 minutes!
Odd.

The lifetime of aluminium or carbon in the form of a frame is expected to last 5 years of use before fatigue could cause it to fail.

Nothing lasts forever

I’ll call Specialized on Monday and let them know not to warranty any 10 year old Allez with a cracked head tube…

It’s quite an achievement to elevate ones self above the Olympic class bellendery that exists on here, chapeau!

Maybe he was kidding?

😐

@wiggles

If that’s how most people read it then I don’t see a problem. Personally I think another word would be more appropriate, perhaps just “5 Years Warranty” but OK I get the drift.

gofasterstripes – Member
Maybe he was kidding?

Of course he was. Humour sometimes doesn’t translate well on the typed page.

The lifetime of aluminium or carbon in the form of a frame is expected to last 5 years of use before fatigue could cause it to fail.

Not really the point here.

The T’s and C’s will usually state that the warranty is against manufacturing defects, not that the item will last until the end of time.

After 5 years it’s safe to say that it was made perfectly, as it has lasted that long. Not that it will never need to be replaced, ever.