New bike - advice

[jimbut]

Hi, like some advice from old hands if possible.
I have a brand new ( 3 weeks old ) Cannondale Supersix. This bike cost a small fortune. There is a creaky / clicky noise coming from roughly the fork race area especially when bike under load ( out of the seat on a hill ) .. integrated headset. LBS say probably just needs regreased and they`ll do this when I leave it in for run-in service in the next few weeks ( about 350K on the clock at the moment )... Any advice re this ? Should you expect a few initial niggles ? Should I expect perfection ? What to do if LBS do their stuff and problem persists ?

 

[mickle]

If it persists simply take it back to the shop.

 

[Crankarm]

The shop should have checked the whole bike in first place so it was free from minor defects and glitches. As previous poster said take it back for them to sort out. Simply delaying this isn't any good and will only pee you off further as it gets worse.

 

[gbb]

You have the full carbon fork on that Jim ?

My full carbon fork developed a cracking kind of noise after about 6 months Quite scary when you think what woulld happen if it failed. Took it to the LBS and they did what i'd already tried...tighten the top cap bolt up very tight.
There's (on the Bianchi anyway) an aluminium 'core' to support the carbon in the steerer. Mine just wasnt tight enough. No problems since.

 

[jimbut]

Yeah, as far as I know fork is FULL carbon .. ie carbon steerer as well ( might be wrong but think this is the case ). My run-in service is due in perhaps another few weeks. After that service I will pick my bike up wearing my gear and ride it for a couple of miles. If I still have the noise problem after that, feel I have the right to demand a replacement. Only possible issue with that is my bike was the last in the shop ( 2008 Supersix ). The 2009 Supersix is about £400 more expensive than the list price of a 2008 ( plus I got the bike at a "sale" price of £2,300 .. RRP price for 2008 being £2,700 ). I suppose tho that is a problem to be sorted between my LBS and Cannondale should the need arise ??

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Bir early to think about changing it. Most bikes will develop the odd click or squeak at some early stage. The LBS should have no bother sorting it. My Synapse SL clicked under load the first couple of hundred miles, but is now silky smooth.

 

[jimbut]

You are in all probability right Gerry. I do and will give my LBS the benefit of the doubt. I will hand the bike over to them to do their best and leave it with them for a few days. Only making the point that if that does not sort things then there probably is a major issue tho I still wonder how this could ever be the case on a brand new, high end bike.

 

[jimbut]

They all lived happily ever after. LBS sorted headset. Stripped down and re-greased. Quiet as a little mouse.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Glad everything turned out ok.

 

[jimbut]

Further update ..... 4th ride out since "fix" and noise started again from h/set fork race area. Bike once again with LBS. Losing the will to live. Have decided to be very, very patient. Will give LBS 3 attempts. After that I tink it`s a warranty issue.

 

[Radius]

Could be handlebar creak as well, my bike developed that after a while, just tightened it a bit. The LBS should just sort it for you.