Any experience with this?

I bought online and I'm currently going through a warranty claim with my bike creaking abit when pedalling and also dropper post hasn't worked since day one. I bought from chain reaction. Although bike is ridable and fine to do so I want it to be right and while in the first 30 days put in a claim. They've said to take it to a bike shop and if it costs under £30 to fix they will pay for it or I can return it. Obviously this has got my back up a bit and have said I want to return it now for a new one as still in 30 days. As I'm sure any bike shop is going to charge more than £30 to even look at motor and dropper post. And it will cost me time in gertlltting it there. So now waiting to hear back from them again seeing how I return or swap. If this was a bike shop I bought it from I'm sure they would have just said bring it back and we'll have it sorted for you and that would be that. I would actually prefer to just keep the bike and them just say take to LBS and then see what they say and we'll pay for it. It's still within 30 days of purchase.

Problem is it's online and the shop is in Ireland so what do I do. If this was a LBS you could just walk in and say I want to exchange or get it fixed ASAP but here is waiting 3 days for each email to be replied to and then getting offers £30 in warranty :/. Any ideas?

Where are you based?

R120 said:

Where are you based?

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Pontefract in West yorkshire.

I suspect the dropper is either a squashed or loose cable and a very easy fix.

The noise could be a number of things, including the dropper post itself. Have you checked all bolts are tight?

Take them up on their offer of £30, then bite down and pay the diff to the bike shop to get it fixed locally. I know you shouldn’t have to do this, but you will be back up and riding quicker, make a friend at you LBS and you will still be well up on the total cost of your purchase vs the equivalent model bought from your LBS.

Just my opinion, probably won’t be popular!

Been through this. The cost for a shop mechanic to dismantle the motor from the frame, package it and deal with Madison and CRC along with shipping costs/hassle and then refitting/testing make it really unattractive proposition to any bricks and mortar bike shop. not to mention pricy AF.
Unless you're very friendly with your LBS owner I'd say it's a no go.

CRC can be a nightmare to deal with as a customer when it comes to anything technical (as opposed to straightforward returns etc.) so I can see why bike shops would prefer not to too.

Because I'm still in 30 days and the item does not work as should is it not just a case of theybhave to replace or give money back if worst comes to worst?

To be honest the creak isn't terrible....hardly noticed it on my ride tonight but it isnthere. And the dropper post just doesn't work. It could be a simple fix but I personally still wouldn't know where to start which means a new bike I would have to pay for it to be fixed as it came faulty

My concern is that there isn’t really anything wrong with the bike that someone with better mechanical knowledge couldn’t sort quickly.

By that I mean you may end up sending the bike back which is a major hassle over something that could be sorted by a bike shop in no time.

I am sure someone on the forum can recommend a local shop to you, who can have a quick look and also help you out.

R120 said:

My concern is that there isn’t really anything wrong with the bike that someone with better mechanical knowledge couldn’t sort quickly.

By that I mean you may end up sending the bike back which is a major hassle over something that could be sorted by a bike shop in no time.

I am sure someone on the forum can recommend a local shop to you, who can have a quick look and also help you out.

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I agree and this is my worry too. Don't want to spend 2 weeks mucking around shipping bikes when it could be done in 15 minutes. I guess it would worry me on what if something big actually happened to the motor again with it being online purchase would it be a super PITA to get warranty for....also if anyone can recommend a local friendly bike shop that won't look at me like I'm daft because I'm just getting into this would be great ??

another concern is that the creak may just be the crank pinch bolts or the spider lockring not tight enough. Both of which will cause you more grief if you continue to ride the bike with movement between the splines.
Both of which strictly speaking would be the owners fault for not keeping the bike maintained or taking it to someone who knows what they're doing.

Removing the dropper post and uncliping the hose to check actuation really is an easy job.
As is checking the crank/chainring/lockring for correct adjustment.
DIY the post and take it to a shop (who has experience of Shimano motors) to locate your creak.
£30 should cover the hour labour charge

The North West Mountain Bike Centre Ltd

Andy Kyfin (if he's still there) is a great mechanic, Ex WC mechanic to Steve Peat. and won't treat you like you're daft.

Gary said:

The North West Mountain Bike Centre Ltd

Andy Kyfin (if he's still there) is a great mechanic, Ex WC mechanic to Steve Peat. and won't treat you like you're daft.

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Thanks Gary. From me that's still about 1 hour and 20 mins away so not really local but appreciate it. Going to try somewhere called cycle technology in Wakefield (if anyone's heard of them) and see what they say. Apparently the do full e bike go overs and set ups for £100 on there website. Can probably ride there from my house too.

Have you checked the seat post clamp is not too tight? If you over tighten it the post wont work?

What happens when you sit on the bike and depress the dropper remote? Does the saddle go down?

Saddle goes down but not back up.

Hey up dude what bike have you got and what dropper post is it ?

It might be worth checking the distance selling rules as technically you should be able to return the bike for a refund. It may however be very difficult to prove it was broken on arrival, especially as you have used the bike since (although other issues might still classify the goods as faulty).

Krisj said:

Hey up dude what bike have you got and what dropper post is it ?

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E sentier and a brand X dropper post I believe.