Author Topic: Anyone crashed their carbon's??? (Read 6264 times)

Carbon_Kiwi · « **on:** March 24, 2003, 01:03:10 pm »

share yr stories - i was just wondering how durable these sucker's are

GET · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2003, 01:11:16 pm »

I'm sure you'll get great responses here. Personally, while I haven't done some the the north shore drops, but I have not pampered my carbon. It has been one of, if not the, most durable bike in my midwest ozark hills clan. I have dropped it off hillsides and into trees, fallen on railroad rails, and generally jumped it, bashed it, and roused it about. Nooooo signs of breaking or wear. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Carbon_Kiwi · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2003, 01:15:35 pm »

awesome! great feedback there GET

i'm not hard on my gear and don't have many off's so it sounds [so far] like i'll have no problems.
i am after all a xc rider and tend 2 keep my wheels on the ground as much as possible...

epac · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2003, 02:00:45 pm »

thats the way i am too. but captainamerica is generally a nutcase when he's in the saddle and he's put his down hard several times with no bad outcomes. everyone says that they are pretty much bullet proof and you don't here about too many getting broke (i know grimjack

)

.............peace [smiley=nod.gif]

IFO · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2003, 02:29:16 pm »

dave will surely post up a real good story about how he "wrinkled" up his Oz real good..

not really cracked but compression wrinkled... it looked neat, cuz carbon usually splinters, but Daves ended up "wrinkled" like a old lady's skin....

Daves got real bad luck with bike frames/parts... god forbid he ever launchs a 10' drop, his bike will prolyl give off a thermo-nuclear reaction... [smiley=bomb.gif] [smiley=dead.gif]

epac · « **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2003, 02:37:31 pm »

and i called you the madman [smiley=laughing.gif]

............peace [smiley=nod.gif]

IFO · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2003, 04:48:41 pm »

yeah i always seem to break myself instead...

[smiley=furious.gif]

suks actualyl cuz its not my choice...

GET · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2003, 09:51:45 pm »

BTW, the outside shell of the Oz frame is actually a thermoplastic. Inside is a flat carbon fiber "backbone". The frame is a 3-piece clamshell kind of assembly. So it is not surprising that the outer skin would "wrinkle". I guess its possible to break just about anything.

Old Proflexer · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2003, 12:35:55 am »

a couple of years ago now, i was riding my favorite single trak down in a canyon behind my neighborhood. it was thorn and thistle season but i had my mr. tuffies in the tubes and was feeling confident.

this trail crosses the sometimes rapid running stream and in a particular spot, has a 55-75 degree drop into the bottom. i usually ride up to it, check it out, back up a ways then make a run at it for the ten foot drop or so to the bottom.

this time however i'd been there a couple of days before so the everchanging drop was familiar 'cept this time i hit it going slow for some reason and the front wheel dropped quicker than expected and hit a newly exposed tree root about half way down instead of rolling neatly into the stream bottom. the crosslink compressed and i went headover launching the carbon to what i would considered for the time, a world record 18 feet 9 inches from the spot of my personal impact, and across/onto the bank on the other side, crashing against some large boulders and trees.

i remember thinking, "GODFREY DANIEL MOTHER OF PEARl !" (to quote one of the fabulous furry freak brothers from the 70's) in the instant i did my best to separate myself from my ride. i landed on my back on my waterpack, which saved my hide, my helmet was thoroughly trashed and my left shoulder wasn't functional - but i was alive and that was a good thing.

staring up at the canopy of trees and after i caught my breath and senses and being glad only my legs were laying in the water, i maneuvered my left arm back to near it's original position and held down the clavacle by cinching down the water pack straps.

back to the bike, i waded over bike to find minor scratches that could easily be buffed out and a front tire that seemed to have only 10-15 pounds max of pressure in it - mr. tuffy missed a thorn and my front tire collapsed and stuck on the rut instead of bouncing off and rolling over it. (this analysis was supplied to me by kiwi at the time) did my best to ride home one armed.

i buffed out the surface scratches in the bike in the weeks to come, the deep gouges still remain as a reminder - shoulder still bothers me when i try to sleep.

an aluminum bike would have pretzel'd.

OP

Scott · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2003, 02:19:48 am »

Ouch to that OP! I haven't had any diggers of that caliber but numerous offs here and there without a problem. Some were in rock gardens, and having been a Kestrel owner I expected the worse but the Oz has held up fine everytime..

Oz-SUB · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2003, 03:56:07 am »

southern kiwi

just go check out the reviews on 4500c, 5500c & Oz-M reviews on mtbreview.com

Most of those folks say the frame is bomb proof, and they won't be looking for another frame for life, period!

I can't see me selling mine......ever. That's not to say I would never get a stable mate to keep her company in the garage.

Oz-SUB

Carbon_Angus · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2003, 05:33:19 am »

i have had to lay her down a few times

, but nothing extraordinary or worth repeatiing. she has a few scrathes on her swingarm, and QR's, but the frame is still fine.

Carbon_Kiwi · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2003, 06:47:44 am »

OP - that's a very vivid picture you painted - thanks for sharing it with us

i'm feeling very confident with all the feedback so far...

however, i've decided i REALLY need to move somewhere where i have good trails in my neighbourhood [rather than having to drive to get to them]...

IFO · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2003, 09:30:57 am »

heheh i feel your pain OP...

my (broken clavical) side bothers me when i try to sleep on it to...

im guessing its never gunna go away.... [smiley=dead.gif]

broken bones should be illegal....

Scott · « **Reply #14 on:** March 25, 2003, 11:33:14 am »

OP and IFO- don't worry re: clavicle pain. Mine was a compound butterfly fracture and within 4 years pain free. I know that sounds like 4 ever but hang in there...

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Author Topic: Anyone crashed their carbon's??? (Read 6264 times)