Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Freewheeling => Folders => Topic started by: Nelson Longflap on 23 August, 2017, 10:42:37 pm
-
My son's 9 year old 2 speed Brompton with all the titanium bits was discovered to have a cracked fork end. The fork end seems to be created by using a press to squash and shape the fork blades rather than welding in a casting.
The odd thing is that when compared with a 2017 Brompton titanium fork end, the 2017 version is about twice as thick. Which makes me wonder if the reason for the increased thickness is a history of failures in the thinner titanium fork ends. What is the collective knowledge on the matter? Has anybody seem anything similar?
TIA
-
Yikes, that sucks. I also have a ti/superlight. Can you give me some insight on hos this bike was used?
Rider weight, curb jumper?, cobblestone roads, etc. I'm trying to see if I can avoid the same fate. Any
possibility the factory will warranty?
My 6 speed titanium is from 2013; seems ok so far. Over 200 pounds, don't jump berms/curbs, ride in
pothole riddled streets. But I tend to avoid big holes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNuuT-nRer4&index=37&list=UUHyRS8bRu6zPoymgKaIoDLA
-
https://brompton.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000554605
Apparently 5 years for frame parts.
I've not heard of a Brompton Ti fork failing in this manner before now.
-
Thought I should draw this thread to a conclusion (with apologies for the delay - I've been busy on holiday) ... Brompton's customer service was excellent and provided a replacement titanium fork foc, despite the bike being out of warranty :thumbsup: The new fork ends are indeed thicker than the original ones.
One thing I learned talking to somebody who knows about metallurgy is that titanium, while inherently a strong material, is more brittle than steel. I wonder if this explains why some titanium parts crack due to minor flaws that steel would be able to tolerate?
-
Cynical old me thinks the reason most Ti manufacturers offer a 'lifetime' warranty on a frame is because they know it's going to break. Working on the assumption that around 5 - 10% of customers will keep the frame for ever, they keep their warranty returns at an acceptable level.
-
Did you get to keep the old fork?
-
Did you get to keep the old fork?
No.
-
Not seen a crack at that end, but a friend here in .nl with a titanium fork had a big crack down the middle of the stearer tube.
J
-
Cynical old me thinks the reason most Ti manufacturers offer a 'lifetime' warranty on a frame is because they know it's going to break. Working on the assumption that around 5 - 10% of customers will keep the frame for ever, they keep their warranty returns at an acceptable level.
Very hard to weld successfully.
-
Not seen a crack at that end, but a friend here in .nl with a titanium fork had a big crack down the middle of the stearer tube.
J
That's far nastier.