Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

forum
road.cc bike forum

failed carbon fibre steerer tube

by Dr Livingstone
Tue, May 23, 2017 15:20
11

Hi, I ride a 2012 Merckx EMX-1.  On Sunday I had a nasty accident when my carbon steerer tube sheered.  Anybody had this before?  Is it normal for a 4 year old bike with about 6000 miles?

 

Thanks

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

Add new comment

11 comments

Avatar
VeloUSA | 7 years ago
0 likes

Sorry, I didn't see your second post "I have sent an email to Merckx but no reply". I wish you a speedy recovery and hope all goes well with your bike issue.

Avatar
Dr Livingstone | 7 years ago
0 likes

 have tried contacting Merckx but they have not yet responded

 

Avatar
VeloUSA | 7 years ago
0 likes

Are you the first owner of this  frame? Is the frame registered with Merckx? If yes to both, contact Merckx on their lifetime warranty regarding defects in workmanship.

 

Avatar
londoncommute replied to VeloUSA | 7 years ago
0 likes

VeloUSA wrote:

Are you the first owner of this  frame? Is the frame registered with Merckx? If yes to both, contact Merckx on their lifetime warranty regarding defects in workmanship.

 

 

Merckx have the worst warranty I've ever seen as it's so underhand.  It drops away if you don't follow their ludicrous (and expensive rules).  Most of us on here don't need to pay someone else to service our bikes but you're effectively forced to if you want the warrany to continue.

Much better if they were honest and said there is a one year warranty rather than hiding this.  I know warranties aren't everything as things normally fail quite quickly but it doesn't give you a nice fuzzy feeling you're buying something from a brand who will look after you.

 

b. The bicycle must be serviced a minimum of one time per calendar year at an official EMC dealer or at a dealer approved by EMC or one of its affiliated companies for the Strict Lifetime Warranty to remain in effect.

c. After each annual servicing at an official EMC dealer or at a dealer approved by EMC or one of its affiliated companies, this dealer must validate the buyer’s Bike Passport in the space provided on the Bike Passport. In the absence of proof of such maintenance and stamps, the Strict Lifetime Warranty is void.

Avatar
DaSy | 7 years ago
0 likes

Where abouts did the steerer shear (I mean on the fork rather than geographicaly)?

Avatar
Dr Livingstone | 7 years ago
0 likes

cheers guys.  For info, full carbon fork - no ally bits. second it was the steerer shearing that caused the accident, not the other way round.  I have sent an email to Merckx but no reply, bought the bike from Evans and they are much more helpful.  All delayed by the fact that a friend has my bike and my injuries mean that I can't fetch it or take it to Evans!

 

Head has always been adjusted by LBS so torque wrenches all around.

 

 

Avatar
KiwiMike replied to Dr Livingstone | 7 years ago
0 likes

Dr Livingstone wrote:

Head has always been adjusted by LBS so torque wrenches all around

This will depend on how well you know the mechanic who worked on your bike, otherwise you're guessing/hoping. 

 

Avatar
Nick T | 7 years ago
1 like

It's not normal and it shouldn't happen. Trek may have attempted to cover themselves legally with their guidelines but they were basically selling forks that weren't up to standard. 

 

Is your fork fork full carbon or does it have an alloy steerer tube bonded to the carbon legs? These forks are more likely to shear where the materials join. Full carbon should be much less likely to. Either one shouldn't break in normal use, so get on the phone to Merckx and see what they're going to do about it

Avatar
Alex Brown | 7 years ago
0 likes

After a spate of such incidents several years ago, Trek issued guidelines on fitting stems to carbon steerers (see e.g. the story at https://www.bikerumor.com/2010/06/23/broken-trek-carbon-steerer-tubes-re...). I'd have thought these principles apply to any carbon steerer, not just Trek's?

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds | 7 years ago
0 likes

I have a pair of Mizuno 1" full carbon forks on my Raleigh titanium, I've logged about same miles give or take and I'm a hefty lump and they are solid as a rock though the steerer wall thickness is much greater than pretty much any fork i've seen.

Even with some hefty knocks a Cf fork should be fine and there should be no fatigue however there are simply times when the amount of energy going through a certain point is simply too much, as you stated it was a 'nasty' one so unfortunately there's not a lot of comeback to be honest even though the miles are relatively low.

unless you can prove there was some flaw in the design or manufacturing defect you'll just have to take the hand you've being dealt and move on.

Hope you're ok.

Avatar
dottigirl | 7 years ago
0 likes

Firstly, check your forks are not subject to a recall.
Secondly, who's been tightening your headset/stem, and have they been using a torque wrench?
Thirdly, hope you're okay.

Latest Comments