Hi all,
Just had a new bike delivered (carbon frame) and noticed pretty deep damage around the rear brake area while setting it up. Paint is completely gone and it looks like the carbon underneath might be affected. This part of the frame is quite thin, so I’m a bit worried about cracks developing over time.
I’ve already contacted the shop that sold it to me and Giant directly to ask about safety and warranty, but I’m curious what people here think.
Would you ride this?
Do you think it’s safe?
If a crack developed later, would this normally still be covered under warranty?
Photos attached. Cheers 👍
Just a quick edit: Bike came pre-build in the box as it's a UK's Cycle to Work scheme via online retailer. Bikes come pre-built in the box, all you’re supposed to do is fit the pedals and straighten the handlebars.
by ChapeL79
41 Comments
I’d replace it under the warranty, no need to stress yourself
It’s certainly rideable, but if it’s a brand new bike, you need to get this dealt with now. It’s definitely a warranty issue, and you’re probably be really annoyed for ever if you don’t deal with it now. Just my opinion.
Return for replacement or refund
It’s probably okay but if that’s a brand new bike, I’m not accepting it unless they take off at least $500 with the warranty intact.
That looks terrible. That is a highly stressed area and I would not use that bike.
That really sucks. I hope you get it sorted out. Problem is, when you do get your new frame (if that is what happens here), you are probably going to run into the same issue when you go to put your wheel on. My bike is a pain in the ass to reinstall the rear wheel. Disc rotor wants to do exactly what happened here. It’s a steel bike so it doesn’t cause any major problems besides some scraped up paint. Taking the chain off helps but there’s just no way around scraping the frame at least a little bit.
“Slight damage”. That is completely unacceptable. Replace or refund.
This is a brand new bike? The bolt in the back doesn’t match the one on the front of the caliper. Makes me wonder if it’s installed incorrectly and over torqued.
Match the paint w some nail polish and ride your bike. Def a bummer since it’s new. Curious to hear if the shop or Giant do anything.
That looks like one of my frames (albeit mine is alu not carbon) after I (repeatedly) made a mess of getting the rear wheel into the frame – the edges of the disc rotor took the paint off.
Mine was entirely my own fault, if yours has come like that from the shop I’d be having a word with them.
Send that back.
Structurally it’s likely fine. Looks like paint damage from inserting the wheel and the disc rotor chips the paint off. If it was already my bike I’d ride that without a second thought. It’s safe.
That said, there’s no way I’d accept that on a new bike. It’s a sign of poor workmanship and I’d worry about what other parts they screwed up or damage during assembly. The bolts are different, and the brake adaptor bolt thy used (little black bolt underneath) isn’t even the correct bolt. It should be flush. All of which says the person who assembled the bike was incompetent and/or didn’t care about doing a good job. Return it.
It’s safe to ride, but it’s a botched build with cosmetic damage using parts on hand from someone’s bin. I would return it.
I would not accept this, on a new bike, no matter what material. If it is only cosmetic, I would either return it, or request big discount (but probably the first, it is ugly).
Thanks everyone, this pretty much confirms what I was already thinking. I’m quite upset with this to be honest, especially as I only took delivery on Monday and was planning to apply frame protection today.
I’ll be insisting on a replacement. As one of you said, this would annoy me forever otherwise.
Thanks again for all the input, really appreciate it 👍
Safe but hell no am I keeping that.
that damage is not slight. Do not ride. Return immediately
That’s not slight damage. It’s rideable yeah but completely unacceptable on a new bike. Also are those bolts mismatched? Lmao they fucked up
This hurts my soul
Is it possible that the frame cracked because it was overtorqued during assembly? If that’s the case, it would be considered user negligence, which usually isn’t covered by the manufacturer’s warranty
Return, no acceptable
What is the deal with the mismatched bolts and the odd brake adapter setup? Is that something you did?
Brand new bike I can accept a nick about 3mm at most. This is ridiculous especially for a carbon bike. You can’t see a carbon frame’s structual integrity until it fails catastrophically so unless I’m the one who did the damage to it I won’t know how hard of a hit the frame took to get that.
It’s a bike. It was going to get scratched eventually. There’s absolutely nothing structurally wrong with it. Invest in some matching nail polish to fix future scratches too.
Shitty bike brand that didn’t face the bolt holes surfaces and over torqued the bolt to crack everything.
Do not ride this shit and get a replacement (or a refund. I’d buy something else…..)
Do not keep. Return. How does this even happen lol
Send it back. Need to buy from another shop after that workmanship.
I have two giant bikes and and have had a terrible time with Giant worming out of warranty support, which is why I recommend returning while you can. Giant are great value and decent bikes but I see that saving as losing out on “above and beyond” warranty support. As a home mechanic, I’m happy with that trade.
DO NOT let them try to convince you that is acceptable. I’ve dealt with my own bike issues the last few months, and the gas lighting can genuinley be insane.
That’s not normal, probably could lead to serious safety concerns, and it’s A NEW BIKE!?!? I don’t want to see a nick on a new bike.
That will buff out.
Rotor damage?
Totally unacceptable whether it’s safe or not.
If that came out of box at the Trek shop I manage I’d have them send you a new frame with some free kit (helmet, bibs, jersey). We’d process the warranty at no charge. We’ve had project 1 bikes come out of the box with broke seat stays and crunched top tubes. Usually it’s a shipping issue and not a direct from factory issue but things slip QC sometimes. Sorry for your bad time homie.
this isn’t slight this makes the frame unrideable. you need to initiate a warranty return
It looks like a scratch made by a brake disc
“Slight”!?!?! That doesn’t look slight
Definitely a replacement job.
I’m sure it will get sorted don’t worry, especially as it’s a cycle2work scheme.
get it replaced….doing damage yourself is one thing, but it coming new like that is not on
I’d get warranty replacement just on principle, but that should have no effect on safety that I can tell. Even if that piece somehow disintegrated, you still have the other brake caliper bolt holding it on. You would know if it failed by hearing your brake rub or something.
Reputably manufactured carbon (ie not knock off stuff) is really strong and resilient. I rode a cracked specialized frame for weeks without realizing it – it was a narrow 3 inch crack on the top tube after a crash that was perfectly hidden across a paint line. The two lessons I learned were, carbon is strong and examine your bike closely after crashes.
OP would have done that damage within a few “wheel removal cycles” anyway. I bet half our bikes have that same mark. Just ride it.
hell naw I wouldn’t ride that as a new bike
Try something made from Reynolds or Columbus