Hi, For the past six years I have had a Norco Six One; a fantastic bike that I've put through hell with no complaints from the bike. Three weeks ago I bought a Norco Range 1. I only had chance for two one-hour rides before I set out for a good ride to put the bike through its paces. Whilst hammering down a hill (not true 'downhill'; no drops or steps, just a fast incline with a few water bars) I heard a 'pop' as I went over a water bar and stacked the front end on a second bump. I was pitched over the bars and when I went to pick the bike up, it was broken at the head tube/down tube, the seat tube had snapped and the top tube was z-shaped. I took the bike back to Evans and after visual inspection only they have decided the damage is not from normal riding. This is what I think happened: there's a fault in the weld at the head tube - the pop I heard was the down tube and head tube separating and the damage to the top tube is a result of stacking the front end on the second bump. I was going fast. This is what Evans think: I had the bike on top of the car and drove into a height barrier; or, I reversed the car into the bike. (I carry my bikes in the car, not on it.) The two big points, as far as I'm concerned, are: 1) there's no damage to the front or rear of the bike - there is obviously no impact from a barrier or anything else, head-on it still looks like new; 2) everyone who has seen the bike has said 'I've never seen anything like it before'. This, to me, makes it a special case. Evans' manager has no experience of failure in alloys, and has based his opinion on visual inspection only. So; has anyone seen any such thing before? I can't see that the top tube would be in that state if the down tube and head tube weren't already separated. I can't understand Evans' absurd view of the damage, but I'd be happy to hear if anyone would back up their story. I've posted some pics from my phone on the site (http://highpeakrider.pinkbike.com). They're not great, but I'll get the bike back soon and post some better ones. Thank you all
The people who work at 'Evans' are clearly idiots. It pretty easy to tell whether a bike has been abused or not. The story sound possible- and initial crack destroys the integrity of the frame. The following hit can easily split the bike in two or crush it inwards..like a front wheel case on the second bump.
How the hell could someone back into a bike without it twisting out of the way? Even if it was held in place, the wheels would twist away before the frame snapped. No damage to the bars, or controls? Automatically rule out hitting some sort of a height barrier. The only way I could see that sort of folding happening was if someone drove under something just barely taller than the car itself? Like what could that be?
If I was you, I would have let them know technically inept they are, then taken the bike to any other authorized Norco retailer. I'm not completely sure, but any bike shop carrying Norco should be able to process warranties.
The outcome was (eventually) positive. I got in touch with Norco Canada, and it seems as though the bike shop (Evans) hadn't told them how the damage occurred. When Norco heard the full story, and the evidence I had to back it up, they accepted my version of events and the bike was shipped back to Canada for testing - by someone who knows what they're talking about. Evans seemed to have acted to protect their sale only, and I'll never be going back there. I have no problem with Norco, and was sorry that I couldn't accept their offer of a replacement frame. The Range is an awesome bike; I just think I got a bad one. Norco basically told Evans to give me a refund. I've now got an Orange Five AM. Thanks, all.
sounds like a rough state, ive had a chance to ride the same bike and thought it was a blast, great bike imo.
norcos frames come with lifetime warranty, and you cracked your frame within the first weeks of owning it. where i work, we are one of if not the largest authorized norco dealers in the province and we would of handled a claim like that almost without question, other then the obvious. its rather easy to tell if it was ran over or anything of the sort or if its from riding. glad you got in touch with norco directly, the shop seems like they just didnt want to deal with a warranty claim which is ridiculous.
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