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Bought a Dekerf ST off here and loving it. An old boy (ex engineer) admired it recently but suggested that, by nature of the design (ie no pivot at the b/b), the b/b - chain stay weld / join would inevitably fail.
Anyone got any experience of ST longevity? I emailed Chris Dekerf and he replied, naturally enough, saying that the design and testing is pretty rigorous, so it's longevity should be fine. He did point out, that the skill (or lack of) of the builder, as much as the design or materials that often determines breakages.
FWIW, my Dekerf has a semi-circle plate positioned in the b/b and chain stay, I guess to strengthen the area?
Depends on which one you get.
My old Stumpy 04' dies within 2 years (bearings replaced twice) and main pivot got too loose.
Marin MV had for 2 years was fine but didn't get on with it
08' Orange Five still on its original bearings 🙂 and still going strong 🙂
Err, OP's asking about softtails, not full sus bikes aren't they? Always fancied a Dekerf ST when they came out, can't justify another bike now though. Any pictures of it Aus?
crispedwheel - you asked! Everything bought off STW
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You don't hear of many of them breaking, though there are not that many around.
guy in my club has a trek stp (from 2000 i think? anyone?) he puts plenty of miles in and its still going.
Not sure if they would be any more prone to breaking. What about leaf springs in motor vehicles - usually off roaders? - and they can take a real battering.
edit: scrub that, you're on about the weld. I don't know.
Oh, very nice, I like that! 1x9'd as well.
are the chainstays rigid (i.e. the only movement is due to the frame bending), whilst the seatstays are connected seatpost via a shock?
If so, surely there's a strong case for failure about the weld between the BB and chainstay? Unless they made it from warm cheddar cheese..
That is a magnificent looking bike, whoever sold you that needs his head examining! Glad you're still enjoying it! You know it'll be fine, ride and enjoy.
Not sure if they would be any more prone to breaking. What about leaf springs in motor vehicles - usually off roaders? - and they can take a real battering.
And made out of an appropriate material - I guess chainstays may not be...Castellano used flat plate for his ti adn alu softails (his own and Ibis')
Having a weld at the point of highest leverage, the chainstay to BB area, is always going to be a weak point.
Unless, of course, the chainstays are tapered diameter and tapered wall thickness to spread the load along their length. I wonder if the manufacturers have thought of that. 😉
Dunno, but I've never heard of a Moots breaking.. and I think you'd hear the wail around the world if one did.
Are those DeKerfs currently avaialbe? I fancy a softtail when my main susser breaks.
brassneck - Member
Dunno, but I've never heard of a Moots breaking.. and I think you'd hear the wail around the world if one did.
Frames break all the time and you don't hear about it. Why would Moots be any different?
On the basis that someone would have paid a goodly amount for it and the bitching would be a sight to behold - their 'bike for life' frame breaking.
Guaranteed forum thread action something pricey breaking.
[i]chain stay weld / join would inevitably fail. [/i]
eventually I suppose, but it depends on the material. Probably be OK for the lifetime that you'll own it...
Litespeed Unicoi here. Best bike I've ever owned.
It's fast. Proper fast. But comfortable in a odd flat tyre kinda way.
Everytime I ride it it surprises me how good it really is.
Got a Turer Flux as well but the Unicoi is better for everyday riding on the SDW and the Flux takes up away day duties. Saying that the SS is getting the most use at present.
tim
Actually Aus, I can tell from looking at that picture that it's just about to snap - probably when you're JRA down to the shops. I'll be a good samaritan and take it off your hands, save you from a nasty injury 😉
😯 Just checked the price of Moots' frames. They're lovely looking things, but FFS!
Aus, You're running a rear disc! Any pics of the mount?
Apparently the very earliest ti stayed STs were prone to breaking at the ti/ steel joint, thanks to a "dodgy" batch of adhesive. These were fixed under warranty by Dekerf, and it was quite common to have a disc mount fitted at the same time. Once fixed, they stayed fixed!
Any pics of the "semi-circle" too?
What travel forks are those?
reub.
My Dekerf is full steel, not the Ti chainstay version. I got Roberts cycles to braze on a mount (and add a brace) and then crudely painted it black - ugh, but budget didn't allow a respray. Roberts didn't advise to removing brake mounts as the steel is pretty thin.
The forks are RC36's, with theoretically 100mm travel, but realistically 90mm! Fork English sorted them recently and they do work pretty well.
Interested in any views on the b/b - chainstay arrangement ...
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Nice simple little strengtheners. It'll be fine!
I had a Sunn Total comp for about 7 years and now my mate has it for his kids. No sign of any stress.
Great frame, just a bit too long for my short arms.
Why would someone sell that frame?