[dgr123]

Hi All
I have a Cannondale 2011 Scalpel. The frame has snapped three times since Dec 2010.
The break occurs at the base of the seat stay on the disc brake side and has broken on same ride, at same place on ride, every month since December 2010. Cannonodale have been brilliant and have replaced the frame each time but I am worried this will happen on a stage race.No one can explain?? is there anyone out there with same issue?? Or can anyone advise? No pics as frame is once again with Cannondale.

 

[Phil335]

Wow! Thats weird. I haven't heard of anything of the sort. Actually I hear nothing but good things about the Scalpel. What model do you have?

I must say you are lucky you aren't waiting forever for a replacement frame.

 

[1993gsxr907]

oh that sucks

 

[sergio_pt]

switch to a proper frame. I wouldn't trust those frames again if they broke once, but you still ride that frame after it brakes 3 times? you are brave!

 

[WR304]

Did the seatstay seperate completely from the drop out?

Is it a carbon fibre or aluminium 2011 Scalpel?

How much do you weigh?

What were the particular circumstances on the ride that caused it to break three times each time you rode there? Jumps?

The drop outs on the 2011 Scalpel do look quite fragile. They're very thin and appear to be tubes bonded together. When you look at it in pictures you can see that the seat stay tube is quite distinct from the drop out. There's going to be a lot of force exerted on this dropout by the pivotless suspension flexing the seat stays and chain stays when the suspension compresses.

If that was my bike and the frame kept snapping it would be gone. Once could be bad luck, twice is unfortunate but three times is a clear signal that either the frame design or construction method is flawed, or you require a more durable bike for the terrain you ride.

Pictured below: a close up of the 2011 Cannondale Scalpel Ultimate drop outs. You can see how it could possibly seperate along the seatstay/ dropout line.

 

[ZXFT]

I assume youre using the standard 160mm rotor?

 

[XgreygOOse]

Guys, I'm pretty sure it BS, Especially that people have been waiting months and months for this bike. No way he could get a replacement (three) frames that quick. Check out the Cannondale forum, where it posted the same thing. http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=689865

 

[ZXFT]

Good point. But if this is just BS then whats the purpose of it? Just some kid trying to be funny?

 

[WR304]

Hi Guys

This is not a made up story and am Im only trying to gather info on wether this has happend to other 2011 Scalpel ULT owners.

The break occurs when negotiating a tight 90 deg. bend with a small dropp off of about 300mm , im on the back brakes to slow down and the frame snaps in the same place each time.
.Im a 38 year old mature rider with a weight of 83 kg and have been assured by Can. that they will carry on replacing frames .

This thread has a few duplicates.

This is the one started in the Cannondale forum.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=689865

This post by dgr123 answers some of the questions.

- The bike is a 2011 Cannondale Scalpel Ultimate

- Rider Weight is 83kg + riding gear (187lbs+ approx)

- The situation where the frame breaks is landing from a 30cm drop off whilst turning sharply downhill (right turn?) and simultaneously braking hard at the same time.

You can see why the seat stay might break in those cirumstances. There's presumably a large amount of both horizontal and vertical force on the drop out at the same time.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the Weight Weenies version of this thread:

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=83472

"I've seen a different bike break there. Its due to disc brake forces and the combined suspension force (since there is no pivot there).

I will bet that it is cracking when you are braking then hit a sizable bump." Nitropowered

"I've seen this one time with a 2009/2010 Ultimate frame. There was no apparent impact...not sure what the cause was. Cannondale was good about replacing the frame. I just ordered my 2011 Scalpel; hopefully, if I have this issue, Cannondale will continue to be good about frame replacement." ckyle

 

[92gli]

- The situation where the frame breaks is landing from a 30cm drop off whilst turning sharply downhill (right turn?) and simultaneously braking hard at the same time.

You can see why the seat stay might break in those cirumstances. There's presumably a large amount of both horizontal and vertical force on the drop out at the same time.

Regardless of the level of truth in the story the idea that a "world cup level" race bike can't handle a 12" drop off without breaking is absurd.

All well and good for the factory racers who can have as many as they need for free. Too bad for the retail buyers.