Comments on: Snap! (Crackle, Pop) Goes the Xtracycle

By: Jacob Thompson

Jacob Thompson — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:14:19 +0000

Xtracycle is currently in the preproduction design/testing phase of aptly named Heavy Duty Freeradical and I am currently testing it down here in the Peruvian Andes..

Check out photos and mini-review:

http://www.ridingthespine.com/Journey/product-reviews/brand-new-shiny-super-burly-xtracycle

By: Tim K

Tim K — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:04:36 +0000

I’m glad they got you taken care of. Mine is still sitting in a box in my basement. I better get it shipped out soon!

And interesting on the tongue — so they never went ahead with the “spy photo” design aaron posted above (http://www.rideyourbike.com/images/xtracycle/newxtracycletounge.jpg)?

By: Clancy

Clancy — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:46:24 +0000

A little late, but my X cracked back in July. Xtracycle warranteed the frame but I had to wait for the slow boat from China(1 month and a half). It is the new frame with the new Freeloader strap attachment points. But they never redesigned the tongue. I probably will reinforce that area, if a problem arises.

By: Tim K

Tim K — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:28:19 +0000

Indeed. They are taking care of me. It’s just that I have a “spare” (who doesn’t, right?) so I have been lazy about sending it back. I’ll get one with the beefed up tongue and it should be good to go!

Thanks for the comment, Jacob!
-Tim

By: Jacob Thompson

Jacob Thompson — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:09:26 +0000

Hmmm..didn´t get to read the whole post and comments.. but…. YES do send back to Xtracycle…they have amazing customer service and will certainly fix it up for you.

If you can´t wait…you could find just about any welder will be able to fix it for you…maybe add some extra beefy plates to reinforce it.

I hear Xtracycle is working on a stronger model for people who use theirs often. We are using a modified version with rienforcements that have been pretty bomber….somewhere in our blog posts we have pictures of the modified versions.

I think for the most part the Xtracycles are designed for serious commuters, car free living, and are designed with that in mind…so going off curbs and offroad, etc. can take it´s toll on them.

Anyways….hope you get that all worked out.

jacob

0000000000000
http://www.ridingthespine.com/main.html

By: Tim K

Tim K — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:55:12 +0000

Hey Sue — I think the xtracycles with the beefed up tongue should be in soon. If that is your problem, that’s always an option. However, the downtime could be a problem. I wonder if they’d be willing to do a swap like tech hardware companies often do: You give them a credit card and they send out the frame. If you don’t send the frame back in 30 days, they charge you for it. Something like that.

On the other hand, if you have a capable welder that might be the way to go — especially if you can get the X folks saying that they OK the repair and it won’t void a future warranty claim (they did this for me when I had a problem w/ my derailleur hanger alignment. They said I could grind it and not void the warranty.

One other point — I’ve had two other creaks that I’ve been able to silence with lube. One was the T-nuts or whatever they are called — where the X mounts to the donor bike dropouts.

The other was my brooks saddle — the tension bolt of all things.

Good luck!

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:54:54 +0000

I don’t consider myself a hard rider, but my 3 year old X is doing a lot of creaking that my bike mechanic hasn’t been able to solve… I’ll check it out. Do you recommend a welder or a bike mechanic to beef up the bike? I’m not into crashes and my bike is watched all over town – I want it to shine! I promote cycling in the City of Peterborough, Ontario

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:49:41 +0000

I’m a mommy who carries kids, groceries, ironing boards and sewing machines (sometimes all), and I’m uninterested in my X or bike ever breaking. However I’ve enjoyed reading this discussion a lot. I’m glad to hear about this 350 unofficial “safe” upper limit, too. Now what I really want to figure out is how best to protect three of us from the very very long and very very wet rainy season to come (last year I had kiddos in a trailer which kept them dry).

Yes, yes, I know, humble concerns from a practical pedaler.

Thanks for the great comments!

By: Laughter

Laughter — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:50:29 +0000

Yes com padres!
Be proud of your creeks and FreeRad cracks.
Your hard riding is setting folks free
When they see what can be done without the car.
Knowing what is being done with the car
Val’s weld have held
Give thanks and 150.00
So you don’t need that sissy truck!!
Fare well and good luck!
Laughter

By: Aaron Goss

Aaron Goss — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:58:56 +0000

Here are the pics I promised:

http://www.rideyourbike.com/images/xtracycle/toungereinforcement.jpg

http://www.rideyourbike.com/images/xtracycle/valsmod.jpg

You can see Val’s Rolling Jackass centerstand in the second pic.