Problem with a Cube Pro Ltd 2012 MTB
Discussion
I'm looking for some advice regarding a MTB bike I bought 4 months ago
I had a GT Avalanche 3.0 (£350) that I used for commuting to work for a couple of months at the start of the rear. Was a good bike, but a bit heavy. After getting into it, I decided to upgrade and get a "better" bike and sold the GT.
After much deliberation, I bought a 2012 Cube Pro Ltd for £950 from a reputable online retailer (a bike shop down in England).
Since getting the new bike, I've had a few problems, that I'm trying to figure out the best way to resolve.
The bike always made a creaking noise when pedaling, this annoyed me, but I put up with it because I was happy with the rest of the bike and needed it to get to work.
About 4 weeks later, the chain snapped. I bought another chain and got it fitted at my local cube dealer. The new chain then lasted another 10 weeks and snapped again.
I then sent the bike back to the online retailer. They have informed me that the bottom bracket and headset bearings are rough. The say I also need a new rear cassette to match the new chain (they are saying they could fit one starting at £45). They cannot investigate the creaking noise until a new chain and matching cassette.
I'm feeling pretty pissed that I've got to splash out at least £45 on a new cassette, probably more, because I don't want to fit cheap crap components to the bike.
In the 4 months I've had the bike, I've done 634 miles. I was expecting a good 2000-3000 miles, before needing to replace drive train components.
If I pay for the new cassette, how much will I have to shell out for a new bottom bracket and possibly crank to fix the creaking? £200-£400? I thought it would have a warranty, only being 4 months old.
Do you think it would be reasonable to reject the bike as not fit for purpose, as it's only lasted 600 miles?
So far this has cost me:
£950 for the bike
£40 for a new chain
£50 to courier the bike back to the supplier
Plus £200 for a second hand specialized hard rock, to get me to work and back
At this rate, I'd be cheaper driving my car to work!
Any advice would be great
I had a GT Avalanche 3.0 (£350) that I used for commuting to work for a couple of months at the start of the rear. Was a good bike, but a bit heavy. After getting into it, I decided to upgrade and get a "better" bike and sold the GT.
After much deliberation, I bought a 2012 Cube Pro Ltd for £950 from a reputable online retailer (a bike shop down in England).
Since getting the new bike, I've had a few problems, that I'm trying to figure out the best way to resolve.
The bike always made a creaking noise when pedaling, this annoyed me, but I put up with it because I was happy with the rest of the bike and needed it to get to work.
About 4 weeks later, the chain snapped. I bought another chain and got it fitted at my local cube dealer. The new chain then lasted another 10 weeks and snapped again.
I then sent the bike back to the online retailer. They have informed me that the bottom bracket and headset bearings are rough. The say I also need a new rear cassette to match the new chain (they are saying they could fit one starting at £45). They cannot investigate the creaking noise until a new chain and matching cassette.
I'm feeling pretty pissed that I've got to splash out at least £45 on a new cassette, probably more, because I don't want to fit cheap crap components to the bike.
In the 4 months I've had the bike, I've done 634 miles. I was expecting a good 2000-3000 miles, before needing to replace drive train components.
If I pay for the new cassette, how much will I have to shell out for a new bottom bracket and possibly crank to fix the creaking? £200-£400? I thought it would have a warranty, only being 4 months old.
Do you think it would be reasonable to reject the bike as not fit for purpose, as it's only lasted 600 miles?
So far this has cost me:
£950 for the bike
£40 for a new chain
£50 to courier the bike back to the supplier
Plus £200 for a second hand specialized hard rock, to get me to work and back
At this rate, I'd be cheaper driving my car to work!
Any advice would be great
Edited by rossmc88 on Friday 23 November 13:29
Edited by rossmc88 on Friday 23 November 13:29
chains break becuase you are shifting under pressure, I dont ride with much grace or finesse and I havent snapped one yet so personally, i dont think this is an issue the shop should deal with. unless you ahve put some serious miles on the bike in the 4 months you have had it, you dont need a new cassette either, and by serious miles I mean a lot more than 634!
as for the bb and headset, unless you have adjusted these yourself (unlikely regarding the bb) and they are too tight, then that IS their problem. a new bb would be £20 for the unit and £20 fitting at your local shop.
personally, i'd get it back off the shop and ask them to return it with a new headset and bb. if the bearings are rough they dont need a new cassette and chain to fix it and its sad that they have said this.
however, have you given it a good blast with a pressure washer? water may have got into to either/both component and caused the issue if they werent tight when you started riding it... yes they should come tight from the shop but a 5 minute spanner check before riding it is your responsibility if it came boxed.
as for the bb and headset, unless you have adjusted these yourself (unlikely regarding the bb) and they are too tight, then that IS their problem. a new bb would be £20 for the unit and £20 fitting at your local shop.
personally, i'd get it back off the shop and ask them to return it with a new headset and bb. if the bearings are rough they dont need a new cassette and chain to fix it and its sad that they have said this.
however, have you given it a good blast with a pressure washer? water may have got into to either/both component and caused the issue if they werent tight when you started riding it... yes they should come tight from the shop but a 5 minute spanner check before riding it is your responsibility if it came boxed.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 23 November 14:00
I would let the retailer know that you will not shoulder the courrier bills for returning the bike. Let them know you will take it to your local cube dealer for BB repair and creak investigation / fix. With those works completed, you expect to be re-paid for the the costs on production of an itemised bill. Better still tell them to contact your local Cube dealer to arrange repair.
I think you are on your own with the chain and cassette. While I agree 634 miles is too little for a cassette and chain, the wear and tear of these items is down to you. I would examine your technique if you are breaking chains like this it is more likely you are changing gear under load and the next thing to go will be the mech and hanger.
I think you are on your own with the chain and cassette. While I agree 634 miles is too little for a cassette and chain, the wear and tear of these items is down to you. I would examine your technique if you are breaking chains like this it is more likely you are changing gear under load and the next thing to go will be the mech and hanger.
Creaking could be anything - BB, headset, seat rails... Shouldn't be too much of an issue for a mechanic to track down.
No need for a new cassette. The new chain should be so near the old one (which was pretty new) that they will fit nicely. Snapping sounds like it could be down to you more than the bike though...
BB and headset I would be back to the seller with - no way anything should be wrong with those after such low mileages. Unless you've been tinkering?
Nice bikes by the way. My wife has a 2011 LTD Race.
No need for a new cassette. The new chain should be so near the old one (which was pretty new) that they will fit nicely. Snapping sounds like it could be down to you more than the bike though...
BB and headset I would be back to the seller with - no way anything should be wrong with those after such low mileages. Unless you've been tinkering?
Nice bikes by the way. My wife has a 2011 LTD Race.
Edited by Gren on Friday 23 November 14:57
Nah I've not been tinkering, I'm not good with gears/drivetrain on bikes, I leave that to the pro's. I can do tyres and brakes, but that's as complicated as I want to get.
The dealer are now saying that drivetrain isn't covered by the cube warranty!
It looks like the shop are passing everything onto cube, can they do that?
The dealer are now saying that drivetrain isn't covered by the cube warranty!
It looks like the shop are passing everything onto cube, can they do that?
Cant see you would a new cassette after that short amount of miles......and even heavy gear changes should not realy snap chains,as for the bb and headset this is never right,think someone is taking the micky go in and have it out with the retailer.....you will have 12 months warranty on the components.
Thought I would update this.
I sent the bike back and they fitted a new cassette and chain, problem solved
Since then, my headset failed, so I bought and fitted a new superstar integrato one with sealed bearings and the difference was unbelievable. Why they fit crappy caged bearing to a £950 bike I don't know, considering it was only £20 for a better one.
The smooth gears never lasted very long and I'm considering changing everything to SRAM X9 and going 9 speed. Crankset, shifters, cassette, front rear mech, the whole lot
I sent the bike back and they fitted a new cassette and chain, problem solved
Since then, my headset failed, so I bought and fitted a new superstar integrato one with sealed bearings and the difference was unbelievable. Why they fit crappy caged bearing to a £950 bike I don't know, considering it was only £20 for a better one.
The smooth gears never lasted very long and I'm considering changing everything to SRAM X9 and going 9 speed. Crankset, shifters, cassette, front rear mech, the whole lot
Gear cables often stretch a little in the first few weeks (never had it myself) and your shifts get worse. That's why a lot of bike shops offer a 6 week service.
Also try cleaning the cables (sliding the outers back) - this often helps, especially this time of year. My wife Cube LTD Race has been fine and not needed more than a wash and a lube in the 18 months she's had it.
If you want a change why go 9 speed? A 'downgrade' and you'll have to change a whole lot more. If you want Sram, just stick with 10 and change the shifters and mechs.
Also try cleaning the cables (sliding the outers back) - this often helps, especially this time of year. My wife Cube LTD Race has been fine and not needed more than a wash and a lube in the 18 months she's had it.
If you want a change why go 9 speed? A 'downgrade' and you'll have to change a whole lot more. If you want Sram, just stick with 10 and change the shifters and mechs.
rossmc88 said:
I was going to go with 9 speed in an effort to make it simpler and then hopefully increase reliability?
No no no no no.Just get a tune up.
This is a high performance bike and will need tinkering with the maintain the shift quality but an initial bedding in period is usual.
Sounds like it may have been built badly; misalignment (has the shifting always been poor), probably not greased stuff like crank bolts, etc, etc.
You'd be surprised how badly some new bikes are put together - doesn't really help but something is fundamentally wrong unless you happen to have legs like Chris Hoy and weigh 20 stone or more.
You'd be surprised how badly some new bikes are put together - doesn't really help but something is fundamentally wrong unless you happen to have legs like Chris Hoy and weigh 20 stone or more.
My cube peleton for £1079 has given me problems from the word go 
1Saddle fell apart after 200 miles
2 brake bolts rusted and did not work great from the word go
3 paint is really thin and chips so easliy
4 wheels are with dealer as we speak....new free hub,and rear bearings.
have bought
new saddle
new rear cassette
new calipers
think new wheels will be the next thing
1Saddle fell apart after 200 miles
2 brake bolts rusted and did not work great from the word go
3 paint is really thin and chips so easliy
4 wheels are with dealer as we speak....new free hub,and rear bearings.
have bought
new saddle
new rear cassette
new calipers
think new wheels will be the next thing
Cycle Surgery buying decisions are made by the central buying function, the store will be supplied what they are to sell.
They will have preferences based on their experiences.
It is human nature to back something they feel confident with - they don't want unhappy customers coming back in.
On a previous point, the warranty is with the manufacturer or more accurately the national distributor of the relevant branded component.
The retailer acts on behalf of the distributor to provide a service for the consumer liaising with the distributor and acting as the eyes and ears.
It is one of the reasons for buying from a local bike shop as you get all of that support when you need it.
They will have preferences based on their experiences.
It is human nature to back something they feel confident with - they don't want unhappy customers coming back in.
On a previous point, the warranty is with the manufacturer or more accurately the national distributor of the relevant branded component.
The retailer acts on behalf of the distributor to provide a service for the consumer liaising with the distributor and acting as the eyes and ears.
It is one of the reasons for buying from a local bike shop as you get all of that support when you need it.
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