Trek Domane frame failure

For discussions about bikes and equipment.
User avatar
TrevA
Posts: 3551
Joined: 1 Jun 2007, 9:12pm
Location: Nottingham

Trek Domane frame failure

Post by TrevA »

had my Trek Domane 2.0 for just over 3 years and I've been extremely happy with it, but towards the end of Saturday's ride it started making a strange creaking noise. I had the chance to look at it last night and the seat tube has cracked. The Domane has a weld on the seat tube about 2 inches below the Isospeed joint and it's at the weld where the frame has cracked. It's had a reasonably hard life, i've probably done 10,000 miles on it in those 3 years, although it gets put away in the winter. I'm a little disappointed that it failed after such a relatively short period of time.

Now to test out Trek's Lifetime frame guarantee.
Sherwood CC and Notts CTC.
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
mig
Posts: 2701
Joined: 19 Oct 2011, 9:39pm

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by mig »

i'm surprised. they are built to last those things.
pwa
Posts: 17366
Joined: 2 Oct 2011, 8:55pm

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by pwa »

I'm sure there have been other reports of those frames failing at that weld.
User avatar
Paulatic
Posts: 7804
Joined: 2 Feb 2014, 1:03pm
Location: 24 Hours from Lands End

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by Paulatic »

There certainly has..it was mine. I recall someone else's on the very same day.
viewtopic.php?t=92411
Trek were good regarding frame replacement, I did upgrade to a CF. and have no regrets.
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life

https://stcleve.wordpress.com/category/lejog/
E2E info
User avatar
TrevA
Posts: 3551
Joined: 1 Jun 2007, 9:12pm
Location: Nottingham

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by TrevA »

Yes, same failure in the same place. Hopefully Trek will just replace it. Did you have to pay to swap the bits over, or did the shop do it for free?

The lesson here is don't buy an Alu Domane!
Sherwood CC and Notts CTC.
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
User avatar
Paulatic
Posts: 7804
Joined: 2 Feb 2014, 1:03pm
Location: 24 Hours from Lands End

Trek Domane frame failure

Post by Paulatic »

TrevA wrote:Yes, same failure in the same place. Hopefully Trek will just replace it. Did you have to pay to swap the bits over, or did the shop do it for free?

The lesson here is don't buy an Alu Domane!


Trek and my dealer were very good I can't complain with the attention I received. As mine was only just over a year old I said there was no way I could put my faith in another alu Domane.
I was offered a Madone as a replacement but the reason I'd chosen the Domane were still very relevant and I had really enjoyed the ride up til that point. I tried for a straight swap to CF which was maybe a bit greedy on my part. [emoji4]. They gave me a price to swap to CF I halved it and we got a deal.
Rebuilding your bike should be free, mine was, after all they make enough out of you when you bought it new. They did sneak the price of a new chain out of it in the rebuild which was fair enough as the old one was knackered.
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life

https://stcleve.wordpress.com/category/lejog/
E2E info
User avatar
TrevA
Posts: 3551
Joined: 1 Jun 2007, 9:12pm
Location: Nottingham

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by TrevA »

Just posting a quick update. Trek did indeed honour their warranty and I now have a new Domane 2 frame with all the bits swapped over FOC by the shop where I bought it. The frame has a different paint job to mine but it's not this year's model (which is red). The replacement frame is silver with some garish rainbow colours on the top tube.

So all in all a good result and good service from both Trek and the LBS (The Bike Shop in Arnold, Nottingham).
Sherwood CC and Notts CTC.
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
User avatar
Paulatic
Posts: 7804
Joined: 2 Feb 2014, 1:03pm
Location: 24 Hours from Lands End

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by Paulatic »

Pleased to hear that.
Are they confident it won't happen again with, I assume, an Alu frame again? Have they changed the construction in anyway?
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life

https://stcleve.wordpress.com/category/lejog/
E2E info
pwa
Posts: 17366
Joined: 2 Oct 2011, 8:55pm

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by pwa »

I wonder if a longer seatpost might help.
fastpedaller
Posts: 3435
Joined: 10 Jul 2014, 1:12pm
Location: Norfolk

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by fastpedaller »

Paulatic wrote:
Rebuilding your bike should be free, mine was, after all they make enough out of you when you bought it new. They did sneak the price of a new chain out of it in the rebuild which was fair enough as the old one was knackered.


I'm not sure they make a great deal out of it - I'd certainly hope Trek pay the shop to carry out the strip and rebuild. 'They did sneak the price of a new chain' isn't a very nice turn of phrase, especially as they've probably reduced the risk of you ruining the freehub as well as the chain!
User avatar
TrevA
Posts: 3551
Joined: 1 Jun 2007, 9:12pm
Location: Nottingham

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by TrevA »

Paulatic wrote:Pleased to hear that.
Are they confident it won't happen again with, I assume, an Alu frame again? Have they changed the construction in anyway?


Yes, I've got the Alu frame again.

The new frame doesn't have the obvious weld that the old one did, but I think that's because they've just smoothed it off.
Sherwood CC and Notts CTC.
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
User avatar
Paulatic
Posts: 7804
Joined: 2 Feb 2014, 1:03pm
Location: 24 Hours from Lands End

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by Paulatic »

fastpedaller wrote:
Paulatic wrote:
Rebuilding your bike should be free, mine was, after all they make enough out of you when you bought it new. They did sneak the price of a new chain out of it in the rebuild which was fair enough as the old one was knackered.


I'm not sure they make a great deal out of it - I'd certainly hope Trek pay the shop to carry out the strip and rebuild. 'They did sneak the price of a new chain' isn't a very nice turn of phrase, especially as they've probably reduced the risk of you ruining the freehub as well as the chain!


Aye you're quite right, the chain was well worn and they did point it out to me. The bit that hurt was it was full retail price [emoji3]
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life

https://stcleve.wordpress.com/category/lejog/
E2E info
pwa
Posts: 17366
Joined: 2 Oct 2011, 8:55pm

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by pwa »

TrevA wrote:
Paulatic wrote:Pleased to hear that.
Are they confident it won't happen again with, I assume, an Alu frame again? Have they changed the construction in anyway?


Yes, I've got the Alu frame again.

The new frame doesn't have the obvious weld that the old one did, but I think that's because they've just smoothed it off.


Would a longer seatpost insert beyond the weld? That might prevent excessive bending forces in that area.
keyboardmonkey
Posts: 1120
Joined: 1 Dec 2009, 5:05pm
Location: Yorkshire

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by keyboardmonkey »

Look on the bright side: if the weld has just been smoothed and the same length seat post used you might get a nicer paint job on the new frame when this one fails.
User avatar
Paulatic
Posts: 7804
Joined: 2 Feb 2014, 1:03pm
Location: 24 Hours from Lands End

Re: Trek Domane frame failure

Post by Paulatic »

Mine was one of the newer smoothed off variety. I don't think a longer seat post will help as from memory there is a large gap between the two tubes at the breaking point. Image
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life

https://stcleve.wordpress.com/category/lejog/
E2E info
Post Reply