|   Cracked my Giant XTC NRS frame | Bulldozer
Oct 21, 2003 7:28 AM | | I have a 2000 model XTC NRS frame that cracked on me this weekend. I was 7.5 miles into a 45 mile ride. While pedaling uphill, I began to hear my chain start to skip a little on the cassette. I made a mental note to stop at the top of the climb to adjust the RD. The bike didn't make it that far. On the next switchback the chain popped off and the rear brake was stopping the wheel from spinning. I spent a couple of minutes with the chain and brake before I realized the frame was cracked.
It cracked on the drive side dropout just in front of the derailleur. The crack ran vertical from the top almost all the way through the bottom. Since it cracked almost all the way through, I was forced to walk the 7.5 miles back. Riding it would have finished the job and forced me to carry the bike. I don't recommend walking that distance in your Sidi's.
Now for the good news. I walked into my LBS and they said I'd be getting a new frame. No questions asked. My only issue is that I don't get to pick the color of the new one. '03 had a really nice matte black that I'd love but I could end up with blue, red or silver. I'm only out the labor for the swap which amounts to $100. So, if anyone knows Steve the Giant Rep in Colorado, call him and tell him I want black.
I'm now concerned about this happening again. As far as I can tell, Giant has redesigned the area of the crack three times in the last three years. The LBS only mentioned one other person bringing in the same frame with problems. Anyone else have any problems with it? I'm only 170lbs and don't do any freeriding on it. However, I do fly down the roughest trails that CO and Moab have to offer. |
| re: Cracked my Giant XTC NRS frame | dan K
Oct 21, 2003 7:56 AM | | I had a 2000 Team NRS frame that I sold to my 200 pound friend. He cracked it. Giant warrantied it without question but he went from the cool matte black to the red/yellow/silver Ronald McDonald color scheme.
It's been about a year or so and he's had no problems. |
| re: Cracked my Giant XTC NRS frame | Pedalfaraway
Oct 21, 2003 8:55 AM | | I bought a 02 NRS 2 about a year ago. The frame broke, and Giant sent me a 03 Air (Blue). I had it about 6 months and it broke. Giant sent another blue NRS. The 3rd frame gave me nothing but trouble with chainsuck, and was warrantied because the rear end was out of alignment. Giant was going to send another NRS but I asked for a VT since the NRS's are all crap. I got a VT1, and it was a excellent bike. I rode it for a couple months, and then sold it because it was too heavy to race. If you don't want to race I think the VT is a much better bike than the NRS. I was sad to see mine go. So if I were you I would ask for a VT. The 04 NRS's look pretty nice though. They have a Fox AVA in the back, and a less dramatic Horst link. In conclusion I would like to say that you should sell whatever Giant you get to one of your friends that never rides. Buy a bike that is made out of something better than recycled Bud Light cans, and by someone better than starving kids in Taiwain that are working for loaves of bread. Giant Sucks |
| re: Cracked my Giant XTC NRS frame | I'm Going Hungry
Oct 21, 2003 9:09 AM | | "and by someone better than starving kids in Taiwain that are working for loaves of bread."
Yeesh, aside from the quality of Giant bikes, have you even been to Taiwan? (or should I say have you been anywhere out side the country you're posting from). It's hardly some 3rd world banana republic. I've been to tons of places in the US that are more "3rd world" than Taiwan is (try the inner cities of Detroit if you want an example).
Kripe, probably 3/4 of the parts in the computer you posted your message from were made in Taiwan. From the hands of dirty, starving, ill educated street waifs?....I highly doubt it. |
| re: Cracked my Giant XTC NRS frame | Pedalfaraway
Oct 21, 2003 11:15 AM | | 3 Frames + 3 warranties = Quality?
I was attempting to share my dissatisaction and frustration relating to my experience with giant bicycles. No I have never been to Taiwan, and I did not mean to offend anyone with my facetious statement regarding the bread. I agree with the other posters about paying for the bike build. My LBS has been great and never charged me for 3 builds, relating to the warranty. Sorry for trying to make you laugh. |
| and the little assholes can keep the bread too! | Anti-Giant
Oct 21, 2003 3:25 PM | | Let the starving kids keep the bread in Taiwan. I live here, the break sucks. For some odd reason these boneheads don't like rye, corn bread, sour dough, or anything else that tastes good. All their bread is on the "sweet" side and it all tastes the same.
Giant does not make all the bikes out there. There are some factories that make some pretty nice bikes-much nicer and better quality than Giant. Many of these bikes are not sold in the US which is unfortunate. |
| No bias from you, eh? | pimpbot
Oct 22, 2003 10:20 AM | | Why does this sound more like the rantings of somebody who doesn't get out much than unbiased usable info?
Giant makes dyamite bikes, IMO. All bikes crack eventually if you beat them hard enough. |
| re: i hate ignorant people! | Phat Head
Oct 21, 2003 9:21 AM | | how's life in the bubble?
if you are riding a bike other than handmade frame, there is a good chance it was produced by giant. |
| re: you're getting robbed! | Phat Head
Oct 21, 2003 9:16 AM | | did you buy the bike from your LBS?
if you did, then it is bs that your lbs is gonna charge you $100 for labor on a warranty issue. |
| I don't agree | pimpbot
Oct 22, 2003 10:25 AM | | Most LBSs I've seen charge for the labor of swapping your parts over. $100 is not out of line at all for a couple hours of work. If you don't wanna pay it, offer to do the work yourself. At least if you have the LBS do the work, you have an ass to put your foot in if they goof it up in any way. |
| re: Cracked my Giant XTC NRS frame | bikefiend
Oct 21, 2003 10:40 AM | | just a couple things, the vt is a better trail frame, its burly and fairly light. my vt frame weighed the same as my 03 s-works enduro. if you are not racing i would definitly choose the vt. my oppinion though. also i work at a shop and we sell giant. they are great bikes but the point is that you should not have to pay labor to build your new frame. giant pays the shop for their time to build the bike. unless you mail ordered it then you should not have to pay warrenty for labor, only new parts like cables or housing, etc. |
| re: Cracked my Giant XTC NRS frame | Bulldozer
Oct 21, 2003 2:02 PM | | I asked the shop after reading your reply and they stated that Giant does not reimburse them for the labor. They say that it is the consumer's responsibility and they also mentioned that this is included in the Giant warranty literature. I bought the frame from this shop. If Giant isn't paying them for their time, someone has to. He also mentioned that if you could tell him who you're talking to at Giant, he'd love to talk to them about getting the bling...
P.S. - looks like I'll be getting the '04 NRS in Team Blue. |
| re: Cracked my Giant XTC NRS frame | bikefiend
Oct 21, 2003 5:10 PM | | interesting, that is the policy as far as i knew it to be. as far as i recalled or was told by the shop manager, giant would credit our shop account. if that is not the case then i agree it is the customers responsibility. now im a bit curious so i will do some asking and see what the mgr says or perhaps our rep. i dont want to give out false info. btw the team blue is super sexy, it looks like it glows. |
| re: Cracked my Giant XTC NRS frame | Poseur
Oct 22, 2003 9:51 AM | | so i asked areound at the shop and here is what i found. it is rare that giant will reimburse a shop for their labor. typically it is only in extreme cases. i thaught it was a norm and i was mistaken. good luck and enjoy your new frame. |
| 200Lbs and still going here.. | MRfire - 1
Oct 21, 2003 11:05 AM | | on a 2001, and I'm by no means "easy" on it either. In fact, it's seen 3 feet of air before with no problems. We'll see how long it lasts though....
MF (waiting for excuse to buy new bike) |
| Taiwan is a 3rd World Country and Giant Sucks | Anti-Giant
Oct 21, 2003 3:19 PM | | First off, I'm an American. I've lived/worked in Taiwan for the past seven years. I've traveled throuhout the world and this place is definately 3rd world and extremely corrupt. Poor sanitation, environmental polution out of control, and a generally fucked up superstitious culture that is ass-backwards as logic and reason seem to be absent from this god-for-saken place. On record, it is said that over 80% of the business done in Taiwan is illegal. Then again, I get paid well... due to the working conditions (read above). Now about bikes...
I've owned one Giant-broke it, and only recommend them to people I don't like. That said, their hard tail frames are usually fine because they have copied someone else's design. Alot of kids use them or other cheap Kmart/Costco bikes as commuters to/from school. The crappy paint choices are because the Taiwanese designers over here have no idea what the rest of the world likes. I could give you Anthony's phone number. He is the president of the Giant bike company. Wouldn't do you much good though. According to his office, Giant is not responsible for what their LBS's do - good or bad. So if your LBS says you can't choose the color, you have no one to complain to. Makes you wish you woulda bought a Santa Cruz or a Klein doesn't it?
If your local Giant dealer does you right it is because they are Americans helping another American (or Canadian helping Canadians) - according to the President of Giant, they are not responsible for good service.
If you get any Giant frame back, consider yourself lucky. I never got mine back. Found out months later the LBS sent my frame back to the factory in Taichung Taiwan but not before parting out my rear shock to one of their riding buddies. I've never saw my rear shock or frame again. Thank you Giant, you have such excellent customer service. |
| aluminum: not just for chaise lounges & screen doors anymore nm | club
Oct 21, 2003 3:43 PM | | |
| You'll get the TEAM BLUE NRS bike frame | Polaris009
Oct 21, 2003 4:47 PM | | My LBS warrantied a NRS that cracked (different spot) and Giant sent them us a TEAM Blue NRS as the replacement, I suspect you will receive the same one.. you can only get the team blue on the 03'NRS Air, as well as the limited edition NRS 3 Team Blue.... it's a beautiful bike! |
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