[ColoColo]

In today's "warranty for life" offerings from other manufacturers, don't you all think that Pinnarello should pump up their warranty as well? A trip to the LBS yesterday revealed a 3 year warranty only... Even the mechanic suggested me to go for the Fuji SST 3.0 (lifetime warranty). What do you guys think?

I'm in the market for a new bike, and always liked the Italian offerings,

 

[Ray_from_SA]

I think it depends on how long you normally keep a bike for. Most of the manufacturers offering a 'lifetime warranty' offer it at the condition that it's only valid while in possession of the original owner. If you're like me and seldom keep a bike longer than 2 years, having a bike with 'only' a 3 year warranty doesn't actually directly effect you.

 

[foofighter]

what Ray said...who keeps a bike for more than 3yrs? we have the economy to help boost!

 

[redmasi]

...... we have the economy to help boost!

Yes indeed... And I'm sure the Italians really appreciate the boost. :thumbsup:

 

[kyrider]

In today's "warranty for life" offerings from other manufacturers, don't you all think that Pinnarello should pump up their warranty as well? A trip to the LBS yesterday revealed a 3 year warranty only... Even the mechanic suggested me to go for the Fuji SST 3.0 (lifetime warranty). What do you guys think?

I'm in the market for a new bike, and always liked the Italian offerings,

I totally agree with you, Pinnarello should offer lifetime warranty to original owner. I have a Prince 2008 model and I got 2y warranty, had to use it once in the first year because the frame cracked. If I were to buy a new bike I would go with Specialized, Cervelo or Trek, just because of the warranty. I have to say the Prince is a super nice ride but like any carbon frame is prone to cracks.

 

[NTA]

I totally agree with you !!!!:thumbsup:

 

[Argentius]

lifetime warranties

are completely out of hand.

I think it's just an escalation thing, in the bike industry.

For racing-level frames, carbon or alloy, 3 to 5 years should be the maximum length of a warranty atmo.

If a frame is going to fail because of a "defect in materials or workmanship," I'd suspect you'd know fairly quickly.

When you get a carbon frame past a few years old, who the heck knows how it failed? It's not like a steel frame when you can see, okay, this one pulled apart at a weld, versus, that one has a big crease in the frame where the damage started.

What is the expected life of a carbon fiber racing frame?

 

[kyrider]

are completely out of hand.

I think it's just an escalation thing, in the bike industry.

For racing-level frames, carbon or alloy, 3 to 5 years should be the maximum length of a warranty atmo.

If a frame is going to fail because of a "defect in materials or workmanship," I'd suspect you'd know fairly quickly.

When you get a carbon frame past a few years old, who the heck knows how it failed? It's not like a steel frame when you can see, okay, this one pulled apart at a weld, versus, that one has a big crease in the frame where the damage started.

What is the expected life of a carbon fiber racing frame?

We are talking here about consumer level life expectancy. If I was a pro I could care less if the frame cracks because I would get a new one w/o problem. IMO, at a consumer level a frame is expected to last at least 4-5 years of daily use. And remember we can't put 4-500Watts every day for 4-5y so the stress is moderate.

If a manufacturer is confident in the quality of the product they can warrant the frame for it's lifetime. The manufacturing defects are easy to spot vs hits from crashing the bike or travel related damages. This is why I believe a well built carbon frame should last a life time. It's also an advertising plus that shows confidence in the product. Just my 2 cents.

 

[smartyiak]

I owned ONE Pinarello.

I know that when I was told that I was the proud owner of a beautiful piece of wall art after my 4yr old aluminum Pinarello cracked, I didn't buy another one. They didn't even have a discount for crash replacement.

I then bought a Cervelo. When a weld on the Soloist cracked, 4yrs and appx 12,000 miles later, Cervelo sent me a brand new frame (and fork). When it comes time to upgrade or by a tri bike, Cervelo will be at the top of my list.

Also, I've probably told 100 or more people about my warranty experience (with both companies)...if even a few of those folks remember that and buy a Cervelo b/c of it...wasn't it totally worth the $$$ of one aluminum frame to them?

-Smarty

 

[ColoColo]

Well, Pinnarellos to me are like smartyiak said: "a work of art", the kind that you'll buy a frame and hang it on the wall type or art. What I don't want is to hang a cracked carbon frame just because I can't use it anymore...

I mean, c'mon stand by your brand for once, will ya?! (I'm talking to Pinnarello).

 

[mango1]

"... always liked the Italian offerings...."

Magnifico! Progettista biciclete classico....Cino Cinelli, Ernesto Colnago, Ugo De Rosa (2-year warranties).

 

[redmasi]

A "Lifetime Warranty" is a sales gimmick to increase sales. If a company's 'bean counters' determine that it is not a money-making gimmick, management will void the warranty. Here's but one example when ABG (litespeed) bought out Merlin Metalworks. Simply stated: Merlin owners who thought they had a Lifetime Warranty on their frame were SOL and at ABG's mercy... they got whatever ABG's "bean counters" felt was a reasonable repair charges or discount on a new frame.

American Bicycle Group purchased Merlin Metalworks in 2000. With immediate effect, ABG will no longer adhere to this policy. ABG will offer an upgrade opportunity for pre-2000 Merlin warranty claims at a discount.

Simply stated, if your pre-2000 Merlin frame has a manufacturer’s defect, we will offer to put the customer on a new Merlin frame at a discount. We will also offer as a service, to repair the pre-ABG Merlin frame for a charge, plus shipping costs. Please contact your local distributor/retailer for further information on terms and conditions. Merlin will continue to honor to the fullest extent the limited lifetime warranties for ABG-manufactured Merlin frames.

 

[Argentius]

I'm glad that you -believe- that a well built carbon frame should last a lifetime.

The second sentence you have here confuses me. It is not consistent with my industry experience, though I am not an engineer.

How can you tell if a head tube or chainstay has cracked due to a defect in materials or workmanship, as opposed to due to misuse or impact?

I am aware that some advanced scanners can more readily tell the difference, but the method I have seen that is effective, involves cutting the tube section in question in half and sending it to a lab.

If a manufacturer is confident in the quality of the product they can warrant the frame for it's lifetime. The manufacturing defects are easy to spot vs hits from crashing the bike or travel related damages. This is why I believe a well built carbon frame should last a life time. It's also an advertising plus that shows confidence in the product. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Argentius]

When a company goes out of business, the company that buys their name often does not purchase the liabilities of that company.

In that case, your complaint is probably more with the way that limited liability and the bankruptcy system work...

A "Lifetime Warranty" is a sales gimmick to increase sales. If a company's 'bean counters' determine that it is not a money-making gimmick, management will void the warranty. Here's but one example when ABG (litespeed) bought out Merlin Metalworks. Simply stated: Merlin owners who thought they had a Lifetime Warranty on their frame were SOL:


American Bicycle Group purchased Merlin Metalworks in 2000. With immediate effect, ABG will no longer adhere to this policy. ABG will offer an upgrade opportunity for pre-2000 Merlin warranty claims at a discount.

Simply stated, if your pre-2000 Merlin frame has a manufacturer’s defect, we will offer to put the customer on a new Merlin frame at a discount. We will also offer as a service, to repair the pre-ABG Merlin frame for a charge, plus shipping costs. Please contact your local distributor/retailer for further information on terms and conditions. Merlin will continue to honor to the fullest extent the limited lifetime warranties for ABG-manufactured Merlin frames.

 

[koyaanisqatsi]

Well ColoColo. It depends on your financial situation. The Pinarello warranty is only 1 year unless they have very recently changed it. Colnago's is the same. I wouldn't let the short warranty period stop me if a Pinarello is what I wanted. But stay on the good roads and avoid crashes...yeah, the obvious things to do. In fact, I recently bought a 2010 Dogma 60.1--too soon to say much about it. I'm fortunate that I'm in a position that, if the frame fails and isn't covered under warranty, I can buy another frame from some manufacturer w/o a problem and move the components over. If a Fuji or Cervelo or Specialized is acceptable to you, go with one of those and don't worry about a Pinarello. I'd recommend a custom-built Lynskey, though.

The main thing to keep in mind i that "life is short" and you may not have another shot at a Pinarello. Then again, you may.

 

[CaliBuddha]

If you have a Litespeed or Merlin and the break comes from a defect in welding or something like that then it will be fixed for free. Sure they will offer you an upgrade but why not? If the frame breaks b/c of you running into a car or something then, no, it won't be fixed for free...

I'm not sure what you're getting at. The Lifetime Warranty replaces frames that are/ were defective from the factory.

 

[koyaanisqatsi]

Pinarello Factory Warranty Extendable to 3 years

If you have a Litespeed or Merlin and the break comes from a defect in welding or something like that then it will be fixed for free. Sure they will offer you an upgrade but why not? If the frame breaks b/c of you running into a car or something then, no, it won't be fixed for free...

I'm not sure what you're getting at. The Lifetime Warranty replaces frames that are/ were defective from the factory.

The point is that, beyond the 2 years warranty period (extendable to 3 years at the Pinarello Web site), Pinarello will not replace the frame regardless of whether the frame was defective from the factory. As I recall, his LBS will back the frame for three years(?). Frames do not always fail within the warranty period, even if the frame is defective from the factory. And even if the frame does fail within that warranty period, it is sometimes not possible to show that the frame was at fault. Moreover, with a two year warranty period, the manufacturer does not show much confidence in the frame.

 

[CaliBuddha]

The point is that, beyond the 2 years warranty period (extendable to 3 years at the Pinarello Web site), Pinarello will not replace the frame regardless of whether the frame was defective from the factory. As I recall, his LBS will back the frame for three years(?). Frames do not always fail within the warranty period, even if the frame is defective from the factory. And even if the frame does fail within that warranty period, it is sometimes not possible to show that the frame was at fault. Moreover, with a two year warranty period, the manufacturer does not show much confidence in the frame.

I was talking to the guy that was talking about ABG.

 

[ColoColo]

I guess that's the price you pay for going top end... Thanks for the input!

Well ColoColo. It depends on your financial situation. The Pinarello warranty is only 1 year unless they have very recently changed it. Colnago's is the same. I wouldn't let the short warranty period stop me if a Pinarello is what I wanted. But stay on the good roads and avoid crashes...yeah, the obvious things to do. In fact, I recently bought a 2010 Dogma 60.1--too soon to say much about it. I'm fortunate that I'm in a position that, if the frame fails and isn't covered under warranty, I can buy another frame from some manufacturer w/o a problem and move the components over. If a Fuji or Cervelo or Specialized is acceptable to you, go with one of those and don't worry about a Pinarello. I'd recommend a custom-built Lynskey, though.

The main thing to keep in mind i that "life is short" and you may not have another shot at a Pinarello. Then again, you may.

 

[koyaanisqatsi]

You probably summed it up.

I was wrong in the post to which to responded. The Pinarello warranty is for 2 years, but can be extended to 3 years when you register at the Pinarello web site.

I guess that's the price you pay for going top end... Thanks for the input!