Carbon Fork Crack... Ok or Not? (Pics)

jvanv8 · Feb 23, 2008

After just 200 miles my Scott CR1 Pro developed what looks to be a crack near the brake hole. Yes I'm looking into getting a warranty replacement but just out of curiosity, how dangerous is this. Can you ride a carbon fork with a tiny crack. Keep in mind these photos are taken in super-macro mode with the flash so it looks more dramatic than it actually is.

David Kirk · Feb 23, 2008

Call me a reactionist but I wouldn't ride that or let a loved one ride it.

I have NOTHING against carbon forks in general. But when you have a cracked fork it's a different deal.

There are a few things on a bike that can and will hurt or kill you.......forks, stems, and handlebars. I never take chances with these.

Dave

icamp · Feb 23, 2008

I wouldn't ride on it. As you ride, the crack will just keep growing.

jvanv8 · Feb 23, 2008

pretty much what I thought... strange though as I've never heard anything about CR1 forks cracking, especially after just 3 rides.

Kestreljr · Feb 24, 2008

jvanv8 said:
pretty much what I thought... strange though as I've never heard anything about CR1 forks cracking, especially after just 3 rides.

Were the brake calipers torqued too much? I am no mechanic, but it looks to be in the right place for such a concern.

LookDave · Feb 24, 2008

Kestreljr said:
Were the brake calipers torqued too much? I am no mechanic, but it looks to be in the right place for such a concern.

I was wondering the same thing.

CleavesF · Feb 24, 2008

it looks like a scratch to me, not a crack.

Play with the brake bolt and see if it moves.

Sojourneyman · Feb 24, 2008

CleavesF said:
it looks like a scratch to me, not a crack.

Play with the brake bolt and see if it moves.

I agree. Take it to a bike shop and ask for their input. If your uneasy about it, take it on some short easy spins for a while and see if it changes.

Kestreljr · Feb 24, 2008

Sojourneyman said:
I agree. Take it to a bike shop and ask for their input. If your uneasy about it, take it on some short easy spins for a while and see if it changes.

What?? this is the funniest thing I have ever heard.... lol

"Yeah, just ride it out, dude. See how it handles if you just use it, if it doesn't brake then its not broken. You will get a 5 second notice before it cracks anyway."

How much I love internet advice!! Dude, take the thing to a shop. Don't ride it unless you don't mind if you have to get one of these pins...

David Kirk · Feb 24, 2008

Darwinism.

If the fork is OK you'll be fine. If it's not it will snap in two very quickly (Scott's are made with unidirectional fibers that give little to no warning) and put your face on the pavement. If you've never had this happen to you let me assure you it should be low on your list of things to experience.

You can obviously do anything you want. It's your fork and your well being. But you asked so I'm telling you that I personally feel it's foolish to ride that thing.

All the best,

Dave

cyclust · Feb 24, 2008

It could just be a paint crack, but as others have said, it's not worth it. If the bike only has 200 miles, then I'm sure it will get covered by scott. It makes me shudder to think of the rammifications of a fork failing in a high speed decent in a hairpin curve. Maybe you could sell it to Johnny Knoxville. He'd probably ride it, but not me.

Richard · Feb 24, 2008

Take it back to the dealer. NOW!

zero85ZEN · Feb 24, 2008

Looks to be only a scratch...but...

BUT, you don't want to fool around with your fork possibly being compromised.

Being hyper-cautious will only save you from possible serious injury at the cost of a few rides on the bike for a short bit of time. (A broken face/head/jaw/shoulder/etc could cost you a LOT of future rides on the bike. Or worse case scenario, you'd never ride or do anything else ever again.)

Get it checked out ASAP.

Jim Nazium · Feb 24, 2008

One more vote for NOT riding on that.

cmg · Feb 24, 2008

if it's under warranty then you have nothing to lose to take it in. if it fails you can sue for pain and suffering.

Mr. Versatile · Feb 25, 2008

Yikes!!!

Forrest Root · Feb 25, 2008

I, too, think it only looks like a scratch. Nothing, though, can be decided from internet pics or postings. What's the history of the fork? If it took a big whack, then you might have reason to be concerned. If the "crack" just suddenly appeared and all you've been doing is JRA, then a "crack" seems unlikely.

Go to your LBS and let 'em look at it. Cracks don't just happen.

sharkey · Feb 25, 2008

I sent a fork back for warranty with a "scratch"

Don't ride that thing . . . send it back for a replacement. I recently sent my fork back, because after 3 years, I noticed some "scratches" on the inside of the fork leg (near the top of the crown). They weren't deep at all. Just enough to catch your fingernail. I thought they might be from getting mud or grit on the edges of the tire -- I thought the grit on the tire might scrape against the inside of the fork, causing the marks. I decided that I'd rather be safe than sorry and sent it off for warranty inspection. 3 weeks later the fork manufacturers confirmed that they were stress fractures and sent me a new fork.

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened to me if I'd just said "It looks like a scratch . . . I'm sure it's fine".

Tom Kunich · Feb 25, 2008

That is NOT a scratch. It's a crack. What's more, I wouldn't ride that for love nor money.

Forrest Root · Feb 26, 2008

Tom Kunich said:
That is NOT a scratch. It's a crack. What's more, I wouldn't ride that for love nor money.

Oh, pray tell, how do you know what it is from an internet picture, eh? You're able to do in depth analysis from your computer screen. You know, there's prolly big money in havin' a skill like that.

Carbon Fork Crack... Ok or Not? (Pics)

jvanv8

David Kirk

icamp

jvanv8

Kestreljr

LookDave

CleavesF

Sojourneyman

Kestreljr

David Kirk

cyclust

Richard

zero85ZEN

Jim Nazium

cmg

Mr. Versatile

Forrest Root

sharkey

Tom Kunich

Forrest Root

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