Will a frame repair void the warranty?
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An accredited carbon frame repair restores your frame to its original safety specification, and the repair facility warranties its own work. A professionally performed composite repair uses a perfectly matched carbon layup combined with the highest grade of resins to retain the structural rigidity and the dampening qualities of the original frame.
The caveat worth knowing: the facility cannot guarantee that your bike’s manufacturer will keep its own warranty in force. Unlike the automotive industry, where a manufacturer must accept repairs performed by ASE-certified mechanics, the cycling industry is unregulated.
How strong is a professionally repaired carbon frame?
A professional composite repair brings the frame back to its original safety specification. The perfectly matched carbon layup and highest grade of resins retain the structural rigidity and dampening qualities of the original frame, and the work is undetectable by the naked eye, thermographic imaging, and ultrasound. How a carbon frame is assessed for repair or replacement in the first place is covered in how a damaged frame is handled.
What are my warranty rights after a repair?
Your rights as a consumer are strong, so educate yourself on the nuances of the warranty contract from your bike’s manufacturer. Many bike manufacturers perform similar repairs in-house, some recognize repairs performed by accredited repair facilities and even outsource their repairs to them, and others do not. Many major manufacturers have stated that they would not honor a warranty claim for the repaired area, however, they would honor a warranty claim for the remainder of the frame. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says it is illegal for a dealer to deny your warranty coverage simply because repairs were performed by someone else, and the burden of proof that the failure resulted from a previous repair lies on them.
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