Good luck for your warranty replacement.kwarwick said:
For some reason, I don't fancy a carbon swingarm on the ets-x, would rather prefer the current aluminium one since I always got the impression that there's quite a huge amount of stress on the pivots (especially the one located in the lower part of the seat-tube) and the swingarm.
Agreed about the stresses, since it is the lower pivot mount that cracked on mine. This will be two frames (2003 and 2005) that have developed cracks around the pivot area within a relatively short amount of riding miles. I can't believe that Rocky seems to be having so much trouble with the ETSX design... 2 warranty frames and counting... for someone who doesn't huck or do any drops to speak of. Hopefully 3rd time will be a charm!Mervyn_b said:
I think it's completely true that the ETSX is an excellent frame but I think it's a matter of effeciency vs. durability as regards to this frame. One of the best precautions to be taken (in my personal opinion) is by using the longest seatpost available cuz that would sort of reinforce the frame from the inside in the area between the pivots (obviously). Will be getting a 410mm 27.2mm Thomson for my frame.kwarwick said:
With the pre-2005 frames most of the failures seem to have been the seat tube cracking and in the worst case snapping completely between the upper and lower pivot mounts. My 2003 frame started to crack on the seat tube where the pivots were welded to the seat tube. I imagine if I hadn't noticed it the eventual outcome would of been a snapped seat tube. Most people seem to agree the problem is the suspension forces are essentially acting to pull the seat tube apart in a vertical direction. I honestly can't see how a longer seat post would be of any value in counteracting that force since the seat post is only clamped at the top. For 2005 Rocky redesigned the pivot mounts to join together the upper to the lower so that the seat tube was no longer carrying this stress by itself... but I think they made the points where the pivots weld to the seat post a little too thin so, at least in my case, this became the weak point and lead to a crack. For 2006 Rocky changed the shock length, moving to a lower activation ratio, which I assume was done at least partially to further reduce the stresses in this area. For 2007 I'm not sure what changes have been made, other than I've been told they made the frames stronger and in particular improved the pivot mounts.Mervyn_b said:
How does the warranty work? Did you need to have a reciept? I'm asking because if I buy a used '04 ETSX and it breaks, am I covered? Also, how long is the warranty? Lifetime?kwarwick said:
All the warranty information is on Rocky's web site:danthesoundman said:
Don't feel too bad, I learned that lesson the hard way a few years ago. I bought a used RM Instinct and it started to crack at the head tube to top tube junction. Rocky wouldn't do a thing for me since I was the 2nd owner. I seriously considered not buying another Rocky after that, but I loved the ride qualities so much and when I saw the 2003 ETSX I just couldn't resist. Of course I bought it from an authorized dealer... and thank god I did... 2 frames later... now waiting for my 3rd.danthesoundman said:
