Fisher Sugar 1-cracked rear triangle

[Crash and Burn]

I just noticed I've developed a crack in the rear triangle right through the hollowed out cylinder near the BB pivot point. This is the second time this has happened to my 2001 frame, first at the end of last season, they waranteed the rear triangle only, and now again after less than a season of riding.

I was told by the shop that this has happened before, but has anyone out there experienced this and what can I expect from Gary Fisher for a warantee this time. Is a brand new 2003 team frame too much to ask?

[Zog]

Apparently this problem has plagued Fisher for a while, (from one of my buds who works in a shop that sells Fishers.) Since the frame has a lifetime warantee It will be replaced with out hassle.

[Crash and Burn]

I couldn't see the pic you attached, but if its anything like these two picture links, I feel the pain. These aren't of my bike, but goes to show you can't drop fishers. They need to come up with a freeride frame fast so I can warantee for that.

http://www.bikerag.com/images/PICTURES/crash/stillsfrommpg/Sugardowntube.jpg

http://www.bikerag.com/images/PICTURES/crash/stillsfrommpg/sugarSeattube.jpg

[Crash and Burn]

I swear someone posted something before my last message, with a picture attached, that seems to have disappeared

[Mt.A TODD]

It's me messing with JPGs, anyway;

Sugars are nice "cross country" bikes, but it sounds like you need a trendy "freeriding" bike! Sugar below was broke on a 3ft wheelie drop!

[Crash and Burn]

Yup, that's right where mine is cracked. All bikes should be built to take at least a 3 foot drop. Do any framebuilders out there need an engineer like myself to design frames, cause I'm sure that would be mch more exciting htan my current job.

[Mt.A TODD]

The "before" picture of the above Sugar. A mountain bike should be able to handle this. Maybe there was a crack already started.

[Crash and Burn]

Great news from customer service at Gary Fisher....again. They are giving me a frame upgrade from the 2001 Sugar 1 to a 2003 Sugar 2!! This frame is adjustable from 2.8" to 4.1" rear travel and will hopefully take more abuse. Time will only tell. I know the Sugar's aren't built for drops and such, so I'm thinking of picking up something else a bit stronger. I'd like to hear your opinions on this or suggestions for a good 4"-5" travle bike.

I really can't say enough good things about Fisher though. Here's my story... I started with an old Joshua that I got for 500 bucks back in college, rode it for 2 years till the chainstay separated at a weld, so they gave me the Sugar 1 since the Joshua was out of production, a $1200 value. Now after cracking the rear triangle twice, which were both replaced fre of charge, they're upgrading me to the 2003. Never has it taken more than a few weeks for the replacements and this time the bike shop is doing the whole changeover for free. Damn, that's good!

So a big thank you goes out to Gary Fisher and Benidorm Bikes and Boards in Canton, CT for providing customer service like no other that makes it impossible to shop anywhere else.

[AA]

I guess you cant complain about the customer service with Fisher and your LBS.

If you are looking to get a bike that is a good all around machine (trail riding, mild abuse like 2-3 ft drops) look at the Santacruz Heckler, its basically a beefed up superlight. If you are going to be really abusive look into a real freeride bike (not my area of expertise)

AA

[Crash and Burn]

That's exactly the bike I was looking at. Need an all around bike, good for a little hucking, but something for long rides with a weight that won't kill you. DO you know how much it weighs??

[AA]

The Heckler was the predecessor to the Superlight and when they originally offered the SL I believe it was 1.5 lbs lighter. My guess is that the new version of the Heckler will be somewhere in the 6 lb range (not too bad).

Couch is the SC veteran he probably knows all the exact stats

AA

[CouchingTiger]

I'd disagree that the Fisher pictured (with bonded carbon rear) was designed for or should be able to handle the kind of abuse it was put to (I know the owner and what he is capable of and what he did to it). That is an XC race bike (read lightweight) and is designed for XC. 3' drops are NOT XC.

If most folks were to ride up to a solid 3' drop on the trail, their sphencter would pucker and they would walk it. 3' is WAY bigger than most people think, especially when you are on top of it. Most folks version of a perceived "3' drop" is actually more like slightly under 2'. A solid 5' drop looks like a cliff and if you ever step much beyond that toward the 10' range it's just wrong.

-Couch

[Crash and Burn]

I agree with couch, sugars aren't built for that, but in my case I was basically given the bike so I just take the drops with what I've got. And I never want to be close to jumping 10' or even have a bike that coould take it which may possibly convince me to try, Its just insane....My bro took a 10 foot cliff at the nam on his Norco, but I feared for his life which is enough to keep me away from that crap. Maybe 5' someday. The Heckler could take that right?

[AGENTGRAPE]

ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAD A 2001 SUGAR3 THE FRAME CRACKED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE WELD ABOVE THE BOTTOM BRACKET. FISHER SENT HIM A 2003 SUGAR 1 XL FRAME WITHIN 2 WEEKS FULLY WARANTEED.