DRZRM
02-03-2016, 06:41 PM
Just wanted to share a good experience that I had with the folks at Surly. I picked up a Moonlander fat bike frame here on the forum before last winter in MA and loved the bike. I had a great time with my new puppy in Arnold Arboretum, and we never would have gone out nearly as much in all that snow without a dedicated fat bike, it made for a great winter for both of us.
I brought it here to Albuquerque after considering selling it (snowbike in the desert?) and I was delighted I did. It is great to ride with the dog and or my kids (now 5 & 7 and ripping around on their own little fat bikes, Specialized RipRocks). It is a bit heavy and slow, but that actually makes it better to ride with kids and dogs, I can get a decent workout without feeling like I'm waiting all the time. We've even had some snow, and it is also great in the sand.
So about a week ago, I'm riding around an athletic field near home with the pack, and I hear that terrible repeating clunk. When I stop to look at what happened, I see the DS chain stay has snapped clean through right on the edge of the weld next to the drop out. No rust, no trauma, I figure it likely was overheated when it was welded. Nonetheless, I'm a second owner and it is just a few weeks out of warranty anyway. The break is so close to the rear drop out that a very reputable builder took a look and said it was not really worth trying to repair. There was not enough material on the drop out side to get a strong weld. I figured I was screwed...ah well the risks of buying used bikes.
Anyway, both the original owner and I sent emails to Surly, and while they couldn't/wouldn't warranty it, they are replacing the frame through a local dealer pretty close to their cost. Frankly, it was cool of them to do anything at all. I'm very pleased with the company, and I can't wait to get it rebuilt.
Thanks too all the folks at Surly.
I brought it here to Albuquerque after considering selling it (snowbike in the desert?) and I was delighted I did. It is great to ride with the dog and or my kids (now 5 & 7 and ripping around on their own little fat bikes, Specialized RipRocks). It is a bit heavy and slow, but that actually makes it better to ride with kids and dogs, I can get a decent workout without feeling like I'm waiting all the time. We've even had some snow, and it is also great in the sand.
So about a week ago, I'm riding around an athletic field near home with the pack, and I hear that terrible repeating clunk. When I stop to look at what happened, I see the DS chain stay has snapped clean through right on the edge of the weld next to the drop out. No rust, no trauma, I figure it likely was overheated when it was welded. Nonetheless, I'm a second owner and it is just a few weeks out of warranty anyway. The break is so close to the rear drop out that a very reputable builder took a look and said it was not really worth trying to repair. There was not enough material on the drop out side to get a strong weld. I figured I was screwed...ah well the risks of buying used bikes.
Anyway, both the original owner and I sent emails to Surly, and while they couldn't/wouldn't warranty it, they are replacing the frame through a local dealer pretty close to their cost. Frankly, it was cool of them to do anything at all. I'm very pleased with the company, and I can't wait to get it rebuilt.
Thanks too all the folks at Surly.