[eurorider]

Hi all, I'm looking for some advice here.

Here's a pic of my rear Bontrager skewer that failed resulting in a pretty bad crash.

https://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g266/eurorider91/P6200814.jpg

Besides a nasty gouge in my tibia from my pedal, I now have a two dents on my downtube.

Although the warranty is over, I consider this something that should never have happened. I am lucky that I wasn't seriously injured.

I think Trek should be liable here regardless of the warranty being expired. Am I being unreasonable in expecting that Trek should replace the skewer and offer me the value of my frame? The frame is from another company (non-Trek/Fisher/Klein) and cost me just over $1000 CAD.

My Trek dealer is in contact with the distributor but it sounds like they would like to brush me off.

 

[revmonkey]

well what were you doing? did you huck it off a cliff or were you just riding around on the road?

i think it wouldn't be too unreasonable asking for a replacement skewer, but for your frame, i think definetely not. **** happens. i think as a gesture of good will, will probably help you out with the skewer, but as far as your frame's concerned, it's not their problem.

it looks like you overtigtened your skewer :S thats the only way that i can think of that would cause that failure.

 

[eurorider]

I'm only 158 lb and ride purely XC. I like to keep my wheels on the ground and do not abuse my bike.

The skewer was not overtightened. I've opened and closed quick releases enough times over the years. I just think the skewer was defective.

 

[noslogan]

Amazing, I say!

I'm only 158 lb and ride purely XC. I like to keep my wheels on the ground and do not abuse my bike.

The skewer was not overtightened. I've opened and closed quick releases enough times over the years. I just think the skewer was defective.

I am kinda amazed that you even found the lever. You could have made hundreds of yards/meters if you keep your wheels on the ground.
I have about eight sets of Bonty skewers. A few sets have 5000 miles on them maybe? Some are ti. Some are even ti road skewers. A pair of those are on my 4 inch Palomino that has seen many a crash and lots of air for an XC guy.
I am really surprised that you found the lever!

 

[eurorider]

I think it's amazing. I've never had anything like that ever happen.

My friend found the lever. It wasn't that far back - maybe 20 m.

 

[eurorider]

Should I be seeking some legal advice?

Warranty or no warranty, I am taking what happened very seriously. This isn't corroded bearings. The skewer failed resulting in personal injury and damage to my property. Trek should be held liable and at the minimum, I should receive compensation for the value of my frame.

 

[MikeDee]

Should I be seeking some legal advice?

Warranty or no warranty, I am taking what happened very seriously. This isn't corroded bearings. The skewer failed resulting in personal injury and damage to my property. Trek should be held liable and at the minimum, I should receive compensation for the value of my frame.

Check out the Shimano website. They have a recall on their skewers. Skewers can fail due to design/manufacturing defects.

 

[noslogan]

Tough call. Mountain biking is a dangerous sport. Some call it extreme.

Did the skewer come from your Trek/Klein/Fisher? Was the skewer used? Of course it was. Did you properly torque the lever to specifications. The lawyers will ask where/how you became in possesion of the skewer, did you are your friend tighten it, are you a profesional bike mechanic, why was the skewer on the wrong bike. Blah, blah, blah.

Go back to the shop you purchased the original part/bike from and see if you can have the owner of that shop do some work for you. That means keep his bike shop out of the lawsuit and his employees who sold you the part from being sued.

Some times parts fail. Sometimes it costs too much to be compensated for it. It may cost you 2 grand to get your 1 grand bike back. You wil have to miss work sometimes to meet with the lawyer. Maybe Trek will give you a great deal on one of there bikes? Who knows?

I say do not seek legal advice. Just plead your case again and again to Trek. Mention that your bike was only $1000 CD and you would like to have one of their frames to compensate. Maybe you can get a $1000 frame?

Do lawyers make lots of money like doctors do in Canada? It really may not be worth it.

Currently I am throwing about 5 or 8,000 dollars into a lawsuit hopeing to get a judgement on getting my (big money) back! I know I will win the judgement. I doubt I see any money.

Sure wish I could write in some sort of order that makes sence.

 

[filthyrob]

I also broke the front skewer on my Gary Fisher, same as the one in your picture. I broke it while tightening it, I say it broke very easily!

I also broke the bontrager seat clamp while tightening it. It also broke quite easily.

Good luck with the lawsuit. I suspect you'll find out right away that you get nowhere.

 

[noslogan]

Ahh Ha!!!

I also broke the front skewer on my Gary Fisher, same as the one in your picture. I broke it while tightening it, I say it broke very easily!

I also broke the bontrager seat clamp while tightening it. It also broke quite easily.

Good luck with the lawsuit. I suspect you'll find out right away that you get nowhere.

Now we know what the problem is. It is the brute strength of the Kanuckistani men. I am never gettin in a thumb fight with a Canadian.

 

[bikeboyjeff]

It's a shame that we live in such a litigious society. It's a mountain bike part. Stuff breaks all the time, and you weren't seriously hurt. Get over it, replace the skewer, and keep riding.