Argh.......... broken Charge Knife

[fossyant]

Nooooooooooo

Just noticed a big crack in the base of my Charge Knife Titanium saddle - goes from the side edge to just past the middle, bang slap in the centre (fore aft) of the saddle...... tell tale sign was a slight 'kink' in the 'leather' at the side.

It's just over 12 months old so have emailed Charge to see what they say........... and no my a$$ isn't that big

'Cracking' saddle though..................

 

[fossyant]

The man from del monte Wiggle, he says Yes.

16 month old saddle, has 2 year warranty, return for a new one. Excellent service as usual......

 

[fossyant]

Wiggle have the returned item and are sending a new one - awesome. Charge got back to me and said the saddle only has 12 month warranty, but would do a 'cheap' replacement and would like photo's of the damage - Wiggle turned out top trumps as usual !!!

 

[fossyant]

Bugger, the replacement Knife has cracked now - not as bad, but opposite side.

Have emailed Charge again, and will wait a day or two before posting back to Wiggle to await Charge's reply.

Right - off to put that spare saddle on !

 

[fossyant]

Pic attached.

 

[dan_bo]

Do you always talk to yourself foss? 10 months!

 

[Cyclist33]

Top Tip: dont get another Knife?!

Stu

 

[Cyclist33]

Out of interest, how did you discover the crack(s)? Did you feel the saddle responding differently?

 

[fossyant]

Noticed a sharp edge on the underside as you put pressure on the saddle - I tend to check this second saddle every so often. The saddle didn't respond differently when you sat on it, but sitting on a new one you noticed. I've sent the photo to Charge as this is the second to do that. You'll see a 'nic' in the middle channel - this is beacuse the saddle must have sagged enough to catch the saddle bolt at some point. When the saddle isn't cracked, the bolt head is too far away to come in contact.

Put a standard Selle Italia XR saddle on - same shape as the charge, but has a cut out. Had to drop the post by 2mm though.

 

[amaferanga]

Could it be that the saddle is bottoming out on the seatpost bolt (maybe when you go over BIG bumps) that's the cause of this? Seems odd that you should have two very similar failures when I've never heard of this problem before with the Knife. FWIW I've been using one for a couple of years and (touch wood) have had no problems. Even if mine did break I'd still buy another one.

 

[potsy]

Mine has just done the same, cracked exactly like the pic of yours
Noticed a bit of 'flex' the other day and have checked it out and is cracked.

Funnily enough I ordered a Charge Spoon for the hybrid the other day, looks like I'll have to put it on the Secteur for now. Will E-mail Wiggle later.

Edit- Ordered from Tredz not Wiggle, 14 months old wonder if I'll get fobbed off with the '12 month' warranty excuse?

 

[fossyant]

I got a 12 month only from Charge, but Wiggle said 2 years. They've issued a return note, but hoping I get a replacement as this one is 9 months old, but it's nearly just over 2 years from original order.

Email Charge as well - you may at least get a discount, or they will acknowledge there is a fault. The Spoon has a heavier base, but more padding, the knife is lighter due to a light flexible base and less padding.

Fed up really as they are great saddles. Other option is asking for a Spoon Ti as a replacement.

 

[potsy]

Have e-mailed Tredz and Charge, awaiting replies

 

[potsy]

E-mail back from Tredz. Nothing doing as it is out of the 12 month warranty
Expected as much tbh, not a big fan of Tredz any more, though they have said if I send it back they will pass it on the the UK distributor for inspection, don't know if that is worth doing as it's more expense for no benefit to me.

Nothing from Charge themselves yet, still using the saddle as my Spoon still hasn't been sent by Wiggle, have e-mailed them to asking where it is up to.

 

[fossyant]

Don't bother buying a Charge Knife folks.

Got an email from Charge and blah blah about them having to make the base more flexible as there is less padding and weight, otherwise it wasn't comfy enough.

Yes and design in the fact these saddles don't last 12 months. They have left me to sort it out with Wiggle - I think I'll ask for a Spoon Ti.

So - don't buy a charge Knife, they don't last on a regularly used bike. Given the fact thet are now quite expensive. I only paid £31 with discount.