[Closed] Commencal frame failure....! 🙁

'new' frame, swap bits. Check out classifieds and end-of-year bargains.

Did you buy the bike new? Have you spoken to Commencal or Madison (the importer) about it?

I hate to say it, but a bit of [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/commencal-cracking-frames-which-was-the-dodgy-year ]google fu[/url] reveals this is hardly an isolated incident. I suspect it's time to get looking for a new bike / frame, i'm afraid. Second hand Konas are always cheap, and they're all but bombproof.

I cried when my Meta 5.5 cracked. A new frame is your only realistic option. I got offered a discounted front triangle when I approached commencal - they were very helpful.

Thanks for the replies guys!

I'm afraid the bike was secondhand (fairly recent purchase) and I probably jumped in a bit naively...!

It is fitted out with decent gear (main reason for purchase) Fox forks, mavic crossmax slr tubeless wheels, carbon handlebars...etc, etc, etc.

I haven't approached Commencal yet, as we are on holiday in the Isle of Man at the moment, but as it was a secondhand purchase, I wouldn't think they would be interested 🙁

I am wondering if it is worth investing anymore money into a 26" bike as everyone is going 29'er or 650b...!

Cheers, Dave.

Agreed, new frame

Either buy a new full complete bike with huge savings from one of the big online retailers or scroll thro the classifieds and buy a second hand one.

I know which one I'd do,

Commencals of that era were very prone to cracking - I had three fail on me. Good luck with the warranty but pretty sure it'll be original owner only(and iirc only three years anyway)

As others have mentioned bargain around at the moment with sales/older models being sold off cheap...

I am wondering if it is worth investing anymore money into a 26" bike as everyone is going 29'er or 650b...!

If you did go 27" you'd need new forks, wheels and tyres as well as a frame, suppose it comes down to economics and what you can afford. Personaly I'd be looking for a 26" that you could swap everything onto, very little performance advantage to be had by going 27" and probably a good few 26" bargains about if you look around IMO.

I am wondering if it is worth investing anymore money into a 26" bike as everyone is going 29'er or 650b...!

given youve got already got 26" wheels, forks etc I'd be looking at as getting a bargain 26"er now everyone is changing for bigger wheels.

Agreed. 26" stuff has crashed in price, since everyone is moving onto the other wheel sizes. Your good quality 26" kit will remain good quality, so i'd keep it.

I recommend getting a second hand 26" frame and moving your other kit over.

If the components are not very recent and don't have good resale then pick up a 2nd hand or cheap old stock 26" wheel frame and put all the stuff on. Best to use good stuff you have than try and sell and buy other bits. Then switch later on. Especially if your son is still growing.

I was the proud owner of 2009 Super4 which cracked in exactly the same place after a year. It was replaced under warranty with no hassle and I had 4 years of enjoyable riding out of it. However earlier this year the swinging arm snapped, luckily while on a really innocuous track but it left me with an interesting trip back to the car! So like you I was left with a pile of decent bits but no frame and very few options to buy a 26" one. I went down the 29er route buying new frame, wheels and forks but spending far more than I intended and ending up with a bike I am not sure I like. So , if I was doing this again, I would be a lot more patient and buy a discounted complete bike, which you could at least test ride and avoid buying loads of things you didn't originally budget for which always happens with a new frame.

I cracked 2 super4 frames. In the end I swapped the bits out for a meta frame, luckily mine was in warranty though.

http://www.commencal-store.co.uk/Mobile/MBSCProduct.asp?pdtid=12500260

Is that any use to you?

This Forum is BRILLIANT...!!!

Thanks for the replies and advice guys 😀

I think I will look at a secondhand frame for the time being as we spent all of our budget (and a bit more!) on the Commencal when we bought it 🙁

This is a bit of an open question, but is there anything we need to AVOID? I really don't want to be in this position again. Mathew (the boy) will be doing some fairly gnarly riding (like 16yr olds do!) a mixture of XC and downhill ...all types of riding really.

Cheers, Dave.

I'm surprised many 09 frames are still around tbh! I had three varients under warranty: but tbf the seattube only went on the original.

The other problem area is the original swingarm/ chainstays.

Get as late a one as possible. Basically - that's the overall advice: avoid the 09 models. To help identify the year: the toptube / seattube join is noticably different after '09. In '10 the swingarm was no longer asymmetrical. The latest version went back to asymmetrical (and afaik was only available in matt black).

Doesn't necessarily need to be a Commencal 😉 I am actually rather wary of them now so would rather go for another make ...!!!

Cheers, Dave.

How about a Saracen? There are some excellent deals on the Ariel 14X frames which are 26". Longer-travel than your Super 4 mind so may require new forks depending on what you have.

I had a super4 of that vintage. I bloody loved it, but it only lasted 18 months, swingarm went on mine. They pretty much all broke either there or like yours, at the seat tube.

I now have a Giant AnthemX which is also ace and not known for breaking and most of your stuff would swap over. 26er frame would be a few years old now but should be available secondhand as they were pretty popular.

Commonfail seems like a more apt name, id check the classified adds on here and put your bits on what ever you get, i personally have always had what i consider good buys on here, i would not get a bike i have broken again.

As a heads up whoever said Madison import them needs to go back to 2010, as that would be when he was last correct 😉

Get him a hardtail and utter the following words out of the side of your mouth:

"Time to be a man, son".

Seriously, though. Well done for getting him into mountain biking and good luck getting a replacement.

Cheers guys!

Looking at a Trek Fuel EX frame. I have a 2009 bike (from new) and it has been bomb proof!

I just hope the bits off the Commencal will fit? I think they should???

Rare to find everything that will fit a new frame. Depends on bottom bracket types, headset types, brake mounts, seatpost etc etc.

Expensive things to worry about are headset stack, is the headstock on frame taller so your forks won't fit.
Are brake lines routed same or will they need trimming and or replacing. Etc.

http://www.decade-europe.com

These guys are slow to reply to emails

I may well be wrong, but isnt the Fuel EX a 120mm fork bike? Standard for the Super4 was 100mm so that would change the geometry a bit.

I am not sure what the standard forks were on the Super 4, but none of this bike is standard! The forks I have to put on are Fox rlc32 with 120mm of travel

Cheers, Dave

Decade are also no longer the distributor for Commencal. The Madison link is relevant as they would have been the distributor when the frame was new. Neither company, as ex-distributors, are likely to be all that interested in a second-hand frame from 2009, although both are generally helpful and good companies to work with.

Commencal are now selling direct from Europe and it may be worth getting in touch with them directly, although as above, the frame is probably outside its warranty period and no longer owned by the original buyer anyway.

Depends on the age of the Trek frame, assuming it comes with a shock and is a headset included?

Is it a bigger frame with a longer headtube, will the fork steerer be long enough?

Check the BB, should be threaded, and rear axle, either QR or bolted.

Front mech could have the same mounting and you may need a seatpost but they are cheap enough if you do need them.

IMO the frame is scrap, latter models were overbuilt to compensate and are generally on the heavy side. You could get a bit of money back selling the swing arm and shock if they are in decent condition.

According to the website Decade are still distributing Commencal, better than that deal direct with Commencal!

This is a bit of an open question, but is there anything we need to AVOID? I really don't want to be in this position again. Mathew (the boy) will be doing some fairly gnarly riding (like 16yr olds do!) a mixture of XC and downhill ...all types of riding really.

The only way to guarantee that you don't end up in this position again is to buy a new bike with a warranty from one of the big manufacturers who have a reputation for backing up their warranty . Costs you more initially but your old parts have value , other than the frame , and you get a lot of new bike for your money these days .

The only way to guarantee that you don't end up in this position again is to buy a new bike with a warranty from one of the big manufacturers who have a reputation for backing up their warranty . Costs you more initially but your old parts have value , other than the frame , and you get a lot of new bike for your money these days .

Cheers mate, I know the best option would be a new bike, trouble is I can't afford to go new (especially after having spent quite a bit on the Commencal)

I think I am pretty fixed on a Trek Fuel frame that has come up, I just need to budget for any bits I will need to make our components fit...!

Cheers, Dave.