Orbea 'experience'

[Graham]

Just thought I would spread my experience of buying an Orbea bike on the cyclescheme - I may have posted it in the wrong section, but commuting is my 'thing'!

I bought an Orbea San Remo from my LBS in August last year, which was eventually delivered at the end of September. I wanted to buy something which was at least made somewhere near the UK rather than in the far east and the Orbea 'co-operative' appealed (although I now understand that Orbea's low end(!) bikes are made in China - never mind).

I've used it almost exclusively for commuting around 10 miles a day. Almost immediately it developed a 'ticking'/'creaking' noise coming from the bottom bracket. The bike went back and the LBS 'fixed' it.

When I got the bike back it developed the same problem almost immediately. Again, the LBS 'fixed' it.

I took it back a third time and I understand they completely removed and refitted the bottom bracket.

The noise then returned. This time, it went back to the LBS for the 4th time and Orbea (or whoever) eventually (after some chasing by me and the LBS) supplied a new bottom bracket.

The noise is still there and I have never had a bike which is fault free. Given that I have taken the bike back four times (wasting quite a lot of time and having to leave work early arrive late), I have decided not to take it back again - I think I have made enough effort to get this bike sorted - It is time for Orbea step up to the plate and put some effort in to resolving this issue. I e-mailed them and they replied saying they could not do anything about it and I would have to take it back to the LBS. This is rubbish in my opinion - they could quite easily sort it out i.e. supply me with a new bike, they just can't be bothered.

I don't blame the LBS - They have tried very hard to sort the bike out. It just doesn't seem to be a problem they can fix.

All in all, a bit of a sorry tale I would say and I couldn't recommend an Orbea to anyone. Next time I will buy a Trek or Specialized.

Any opinions gratefully received.

 

[upsidedown]

I think i'd be quoting the Sale of Goods Act at them and asking for a refund or replacement. The fact that it's a C2W bike shouldn't make any difference.

 

[MichaelM]

Sounds a bit strange, but I wonder what the lbs did on first two occasions before removing and refitting the bb on the third occasion?

Was it in fact fixed after these occaisions?

I doubt you'll manage to get a refund over a clicking noise, but here's what I'd do now if it's still clicking with a new bb.

How often does the click occur? Check the crank isn't touching the front mech cage as it turns.

I'd then replace the external bb/cranks with a cartridge type and cranks and see if it's still clicking, I can't see how the frame could be the cause; but I'm not saying it isn't. I'd be trying to eliminate all other possibilities first though.

 

[Trevrev]

Bottom brackets, even on most bottom end bikes are sealed units.
I'm not really sure what a bike shop could do with one to repair it.
Even if they did replace the unit with a new one, i'm sure you wouldn't get the same noise.
When i've had bottom brackets fail, they've made more than a few clicks !!
Maybe the problem does lay elsewhere, but i would have thought the bike shop would have picked this up.

 

[redjedi]

Do you get the noise only when you're sat down or when you're standing up as well?

Try removing and re-greasing your seatpost.

A creaking seatpost will sound as if it's coming from the bottom bracket due to the hollow tubes.

If you find you get the noise when you're putting a lot of power down then it could be down to flxing in the crank or frame causing the chainring to rub on the from mech.

 

[fossyant]

Personally, I'd get yourself upto speed on bike maintenance. Creaks like that can be loose pedals, BB's, chainring bolts (or chainrings needing re-seating) saddles, seat posts, stems, dodgy freewheel etc.

Noise travels on a bike, but start with striping, cleaning, regreasing and re-building the drive chain. If a BB cartridge isn't in tight, or not lubed, they can creak.

Unfortunately, it can be a process of elimination

 

[PatrickPending]

sheldon to the rescue.......

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html

 

[Norm]

It is time for Orbea step up to the plate and put some effort in to resolving this issue. I e-mailed them and they replied saying they could not do anything about it and I would have to take it back to the LBS. This is rubbish in my opinion - they could quite easily sort it out i.e. supply me with a new bike, they just can't be bothered.

I don't blame the LBS - They have tried very hard to sort the bike out. It just doesn't seem to be a problem they can fix.

If we initially leave aside the C2W issue, whether you consider it "rubbish" or not, Orbea are correct in what they say. If you had bought the bike, your contract is with your LBS, not Orbea. Whatever is wrong, it is down to the LBS to resolve.

If you want to reject the goods, as they are not fit for purpose, that is with the LBS.

I think i'd be quoting the Sale of Goods Act at them and asking for a refund or replacement. The fact that it's a C2W bike shouldn't make any difference.

The C2W thing might make a huge difference on the nature of the contract.

Your employer owns the bike and you are "just" renting it from your employer. In legal terms, your employer has the responsibility to provide you with a working bike. If they want to delegate this to you, and you accept this responsibility, that's fine.

If your employer uses a company like Cyclescheme, then you need to contact them to say that the bike is not fit for purpose, which could make it even easier for you.

All of which is a bit complicated. To summarise, you are renting the bike from your employer, they are responsible for providing a bike that works. If your employer bought the bike directly from your LBS, then tell them to write and reject the bike. If your employer uses a middleman to provide vouchers, then your employer needs to write to the middleman rejecting the bike.

Whatever, in legal terms, no-one but the LBS has rights to seek redress directly from Orbea.

 

[Bear on a bike]

My 2009 Orbea Aqua, which had I had upgraded with a Tiagra compact chainset and bb before purchasing this July (2010), suffered exactly the same symptoms. It has been back to the reputable lightweight specialist shop I purchased it from 3 times (re-adjustment of bb, re-assembly of bb, replacement of bb) and still the same clicking/creaking noises. The clicking is in time with pedal revs and the noise increases over time. The work done at the shop solved the problem for 5-10 miles on each occasion and then it first becomes apparent again when there is more pressure on the pedals(new) e.g. when climbing and gradually become general under all pedalling circumstances. There is no looseness/play apparent in the fitting of the bb or any detectable lateral crank movement, even when it's at its noisiest. I honestly can't work out what the problem is. The only time I experienced such noises with cartridge bbs were when they were worn and on their way out. Nothing is catching on anything. I am planning to try a cartridge bottom brack for next year (which will unfortunately mean ditching the compact chainset) to see that makes any difference (but why should I have to!). If it doesn't solve the problem I will approach the shop to see they could negotiate getting a replacement frame out of Orbea. A disappointing experience - I expect a bike to run silently, especially a new one. Will let you all know how things work out. Apart from the clicking bb, the machine is splendid and a pleasure to ride.

 

[gaz]

If we initially leave aside the C2W issue, whether you consider it "rubbish" or not, Orbea are correct in what they say. If you had bought the bike, your contract is with your LBS, not Orbea. Whatever is wrong, it is down to the LBS to resolve.

If you want to reject the goods, as they are not fit for purpose, that is with the LBS.


The C2W thing might make a huge difference on the nature of the contract.

Your employer owns the bike and you are "just" renting it from your employer. In legal terms, your employer has the responsibility to provide you with a working bike. If they want to delegate this to you, and you accept this responsibility, that's fine.

If your employer uses a company like Cyclescheme, then you need to contact them to say that the bike is not fit for purpose, which could make it even easier for you.

All of which is a bit complicated. To summarise, you are renting the bike from your employer, they are responsible for providing a bike that works. If your employer bought the bike directly from your LBS, then tell them to write and reject the bike. If your employer uses a middleman to provide vouchers, then your employer needs to write to the middleman rejecting the bike.

Whatever, in legal terms, no-one but the LBS has rights to seek redress directly from Orbea.

100% correct. Do what norm said!