The quality of Lynskey frames...

[seanstokley]

Considering buying a Salsa Fargo Titanium version manufactured by Lynskey & I'm wondering the reputation and quality I'd be receiving in such a frame. Anybody have experiences they'd be willing to share? Any info would be much appreciated. Take care

sean

[donmeredith74]

Lots of people love their Lynskey frames but I had serious issues. I had a 2009 Ridgeline that was a headache from day one. In short, it had an absurd amount of flex in the rear end to the point that my single speed would drop chains and the tire rubbed the inside of the chain stays. Obviously, all of the flex led to tons of popping and squeaking during the ride. Lynskey customer service spent significant time trying to convince me that I had a loose seatpost clamp, cranks, pedals, etc. This included making videos with sound to prove that I'd gone through the entire bike. I was asked to take the slider assembly completely apart every 3-5 rides to add graphite lube between the frame and the sliders to prevent the noise. Wait, what?! Eventually, the frame broke at the head tube and down tube junction and also had a crack in the dropouts near the clover leaf cut out. After much bickering over cutting the downtube out and welding a new one in Lynskey finally did the right thing and sent me a new frame. In fact, they upgraded me to the Pro29 frame from the Ridgeline that I purchased. After they discovered that I was selling it as a new & unused frame on Craigslist I was contacted by their sales department and informed that they never would have upgraded me if they knew I was 'just going to sell it off'. In the end, they did the right thing I suppose but in my book, they get demerits for poor style the whole way through.

As always, your individual experience may differ and going through Salsa may be a much different experience but i would be very careful. Take a look at the MTBR forums on Lynskey's ti frames... there are lots of broken frame stories (more than most builders seem to generate). Feel free to contact me directly if you'd like more detail on the whole experience.

DM

[nick]

if you are a bigger rider check this killer deal!
http://www.strongframes.com/frames_&_pricing/proshop/
service is absolutely exceptional

[JF-mtnbiker]

Lynskey started Litespeed way back. He sold the company and then started making the Lynskey brand. I can tell you that I have 3 old Lynskey built Ti Litespeeds that are still going strong. The hardtail 26er has been punished since 1992 and still is one of my favorite riding frames. I trained all winter in freezing Wyoming on that bike for the tour divide.

I rode the Tour Divide on a Lynskey 29er Ti hardtail. I still backpack with that bike and it is also a solid climbing, hard tail single track ripper.

I think Salsa is making some really good stuff and I'm looking hard at one of their rigs right now. But as for the Lynskey, I have ridden my bikes hard and I just update components and they still rock.  I have sold off some of my bikes (mostly carbon stuff) but haven't been able to part with any of those Ti frames.

[pcoady]

I've got a Lynskey ridge line 26 ss. Back is too flexy - deflects under heavy torque, chain gets very loose and is then prone to coming off. Very frustrating in a race. You can stand on 1 pedal, hold onto wall and brake and see chain sag greatly. Im only 160 lbs.

Mine was also like 0.5 lbs above published weight and seat tube is just slightly too big for seatpost. Had to make a shim with beer can to stop post from slipping.

All in all, not too happy with it.

Maybe they've improved the design for salsa.

[mangoman]

I'm riding a Lynskey-welded ti' Fatback. Finished the build in April and have been pounding it around since. No complaints.

[JerryW]

I've got a Ti Fargo. Admittedly it's fairly new, so obviously I can't comment on long term durability, but the build quality is top notch. I also have to say that all the hype over Ti frames really is true - the ride is noticeably smoother than steel or aluminum. Couple that with lighter weight and no corrosion issues and it's a winner for me.


Jerry

[seanstokley]

Been riding my TI Fargo for about two months now and has been absolutely a dream for me. I love this rig. Longevity and durability will be answered over the course of time as this steed will not be leaving my stable....just udated and upgraded.

sean

[gdillon]

Just discovered a crack in the downtube of my Pro 29. Sad day.

[raybum]

gdillon, can you post a picture of the crack you found in your Lynskey?

[gdillon]

Here you go

[gdillon]

BTW its on the down tube a couple inches from headtube weld

[raybum]

Thanks...that's pretty interesting...looks almost like the crack initiated at one of the grooves created by the polished surface where the principle stress direction was perpendicular to the surface scratches.  Too bad they don't shotpeen or change the direction of the surface finishing.
How old was the frame?  Lynskey going to warranty it, right?
btw, interesting to me since I own a Ridgeline that has cracked once (not at same spot, but now fixed) and I used to design titanium airfoils for turbine engines... always specified direction of hand-finish lines and subsequent shot peening to improve fatigue life.

[gdillon]

I think the frame is 2007 or so, 31.6 seatpost.  I've done some reading and it seems Lynskey has made changes to a 27.2 post.  Just sent in photos, but I am not the original owner, so no warranty. 

Depending on cost, I will have the crack repaired.  However, I'm a little worried about overall integrity.  How has your frame faired after repairs?

[raybum]

Mine has done very well.  The crack was down on the chain stay, at the weld between the little brace between the DS and NDS chainstay.  Appeared to be a weld occlusion (like a blister).  Can't even tell it was fixed now.  Mine is 2010 and also has a 31.6 seatpost. 
Too bad they (Lynskey) doesn't do some basic failure analysis...if they pulled apart that crack, they could see where it initiated and infer the failure mode.  Like I said, it wouldn't surprise me that it initiated at a surface defect due to finishing. (someone got too heavy handed with the sandpaper).
Best of luck with the repair!

[zzxxyy]

very interested in more feedback with Lynskey frames and their customer support. I am particularly interested in their Backroad models if anyone has any experience with them. Thanks.

[gdillon]

Well, I was offered a generous price on a replacement m390 and the frame seems a good design for bike packing purposes.I've looked around on the internet for reviews and it seems there a lot of unhappy Lynskey owners out there that have broken frames.

I'm still in decision mode but definitely don't want to ride anything questionable for being out in the middle of nowhere.

As of now, good customer service but not confident of the product.

[Chad B]

I had a frame brake in 2007.

[fat bob]

I had an '07 Pro 29 with the curved top tube, rear end would flex to the point of the tire rubbing on the seat stays. I've been tempted to give the newer stuff a try, but it seems like every time I want to pull the trigger, the CS or overall used car sales approach turns me away. FWIW I had a '95 Litespeed Obed, it was much better.

Bottom line, if I were to buy another Lynskey product it would be re-badged by a bigger company with better customer care... I think the folks @ Salsa will take good care of you. They're aces

[zzxxyy]

Thanks for the feedback. I was seriously considering one. I am sure they are alright now, but given limited budget, I would rather be safe.