[Closed] Broken Hustler

I think Cove have a crash replacement scheme where they may give the original owner a near cost price replacement for non warranty claims.

my mates hustler broke there, he had it welded up & a reinforcing gusset added by a local engineering firm, not heat treated but still holding up 14 months later

I've seen 4 go in the same place (2 for the same guy). Silverfish/Cove (sorry Richie) were as about as much use as a chocolate tea pot.

Had a mate who had his crack too within warranty.

They did warranty the first frame, but refused the second one which went (also within the original warranty).

Hope you manage to get something out of them - from what I've heard they weren't especially great at dealing with warranty issues - certainly put me off ever buying a Cove.

Just had a look on their web site (as i am sure you have) and cant see their warranty anywhere or on Silverfish site.
I would be interested to see how this goes, will you post any further info?
There seems to be a fair bit of discussion recently on frame damage and warranty or the lack of it. I think its something that should be included with the details of a bike review in a magazine etc..........

Funny enough my hustler snapped in exactly the same spot 2 weeks ago. Out of warranty and despite asking around I decided not to try getting it welded.

2 year warranty and the quantity of reported snapped frames put me off buying another.

Yep, mine too. I thought it may have been due to using a shim on gravity dropper, putting extra force on the joint.
After a lot of research I discovered this wonderful chap...

http://www.vernonbarkercycles.co.uk/other%20services.htm

He advertises ally repairs and it was Argos frame builders who told me to try him. He added a gusset and resprayed it. 12 months on and no problems at all.

Yep mine snapped there too, well out of warranty so just bought another secondhand one.
When my Stiffee snapped on the chainstay Silverfish did offer a crash damage replacement at trade price, might be worth calling them

Polisher- thanks for that. I'll see what happens when the retailer has spoken with Silverfish. At the end of the day, normal consumer law has to apply, the goods must be 'fit for purpose' and last for a reasonable time; I'd argue that use on average 6-10 times a year for four years is not reasonable. I checked my seat post overlap into the seat tube; there's enough length in the 400mm RF XY that it easily passes the lowest part of the weld at full height, so it shouldn't be leverage causing the problem. Simply put and hearing comments above, it looks like the lack of a gusset or brace pipe here is a weakness in the design of the Hustler. Funnily enough, the G-spot has one. In every other way, it's been a great bike, ideally suited to big days out in proper hills. I'm too old for the big air and mega thrashing that younger and better riders might dish out.
This newly broken frame is already a replacement. Back in 2004 when the Hustler first appeared, I got hold of a 4" travel pre-production frame, which snapped its seat tube at the weld where the rocker bearing mount is attached. That one was confirmed as a manufacturing defect where over-zealous welding had almost cut through the seat tube, so persevered with a second frame. Maybe I should just buy a Kona or an Orange.

Any chance of some pictures? Mine was making creaky noises last week, I put it down to post Dyfi whinging by the frame but perhaps a closer inspection tonight. Would be gutted if mine had snapped I always thought the Hustler was pretty well bomb proof.

It happened to one of the guys I went to the Mega with last year, top tube sheared off the seat tube.

[IMG] [/IMG]

I snapped my Hustler too. Not there though, right through the seat tube just above the shock mounts. It had a hard life. The cause was determined to be shock bottoming out and transfering force into the seat tube. I spoke to Silverfish who were fantastic with a (non-warrenty) crash replacement.

FWIW I now have a GSpot and love it. Climbs better than the Hustler and going down... well like a (comment removed in spirit of self censorship).

Doug, is it possible to fit a front mech to a G-spot and if so how? is it an e-type BB fit? The pictures of frames that I've seen look like there's little or no room on the seat tube. I might be tempted to go in that direction instead of getting an Orange 5 or Alpine 160; most of my hustler build will happily go across onto an older G.

Pezzers, it's a simple, slightly jagged circular break the whole way around the top tube, in some places just touching the seat tube weld and in others about half an inch forward of it. The frame was creaking slightly the last time it was out, back in March (Invercauld, Sluggain and StrathGairn by Ben Avon, for Scots trail afficionados).

Highlandman

Doug has a new model Gspot. 2010 plus.

With the old one, it is a normal front mech if your running a air shock. It's real tight with a coil and does not work on the smaller frames, maybe would on a large. You can fit a BB mounted chain guide with a fitment for 'E' type (Stinger). I run 1x9 on mine, so no problems but with a coil, on mine it wont work with a front mech, just no room.

Have got a hustler and a G Spot (new style), the g spot blows the arse out of the hustler, better in pretty much every way. Sadly you pay the premium for it though.
The hustler is going to be sold, hopefully to a mate for cheap

Sorry I didn't see this post, pretty busy at the moment! I have the older newer G-Spot! I.e. the one with the 30mm seatpost but the new dual link suspension. Silverfish still have those in stock I think. There's space for a front mech, a 2x10 one I think. I actually have been running the wrong one (idiot!) and my lbs noticed it was touching the chainstay and marking it. They've ordered me the right one, I think it's the 2x10 which has a shorter cage if that makes sense?

Comming from a Hustler the GSpot is fantastic. Still has that fun feeling but is a lot faster DH and is far, far more efficient climbing. I still love it!