Trek 520 rim cracks -no warranty service

[natethegreat]

Dear Bikecentennialers/Adventure cyclists.

I am curious how many Trek 520 owners have experienced cracks in their matrix rims. It seems those who bought bikes in the mid 90's all got rim cracks. Trek, of course pretended there was no problem and would not stand up to their "lifetime warranty", even though most people got around 2K miles out of the rims before failure. I never even wore out the original tires.

Symptoms include tiger stripes on the anodizing coating, spoke pulling rim cracks (especially the rear).

Google Groups: trek rim cracks matrix

http://groups.google.com/groups?hs=FOr&hl=en&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=520%20trek%20rim%20cracks%20matrix&btnG=Search&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wg
E. Cohen, Rockville MD

[RussellSeaton]

I bought a 1991 Trek 520 in January 1992.  $650 plus tax.  Trek Matrix Tour rims.  Rode it many, many, many thousands of miles loaded and unloaded.  Wheels are still in use on the new touring frame.  520 frame was too small.

I did have to replace the front wheel during the inaugral 4,000 mile tour of Europe when I rolled into a sewer grate and fell over.  Bought a hybrid bike front wheel from a local shop in the Czech Republic.  Then bought another Trek Matrix Tour and Deore DX front wheel from the Trek dealer the next year back in the US.

I have no complaints or issues with Trek 520 wheels and the Matrix Tour rims.  Excellent, durable, dependable wheels.

[fredlonas]

I have a trek 520 which I bought in 2001 and in 2004 I was told by the bike shop that my rear rim and spider cracks around the spoke holes and that a new rim was not covered under warranty. At that point I had not started solo touring so had never carried any weight on rear except a small pannier but love my 520 a great touring bike after you do the upgrades for touring.

[DaveB]

I bought my son-in-law a '98 Klein (after the Trek acquisition) that came with Matrix rims.  A friend bought the same bike a few months later and both rear wheels cracked around a drive-side spoke hole at about 10,000 miles.  These were road bikes and never carried anything but their riders, both of whom are reasonably light.  I think this was too early to fail.  The front wheels are still in service.

My '92 Trek 1420 also had Matrix rims and the rear lasted 20,000 miles and failed by cracking through the brake track from brake pad abrasion.  This wasn't a premature failure

[cyclesafe]

Notwithstanding the positive feedback, one participant on the Southern Tier in March 2005 had his 520 rear wheel rim crack as did a participant on the North Star June 2006.

IMHO, the wheels and gearing on the Trek 520 are not suited for touring.  

[ptaylor]

A rim that won't last as long as a Bontrager tire? And Trek, says the rim was not defective? You gotta be kidding me! Sounds like a class action law suit is in order.

Paul

[erniegrillo]

my wife had a 1996 TREK 2300 with matrix rims. This is a lightweight road bike, never carried more than a seat bag. Both rims had to be replaced after a few thousand miles due to cracking around the nipples.

[natethegreat]

Well:

I guess it is encouraging to see I am not alone with these d*mn Matrix  rim cracks. I never did a pannier tour with my 520.

So what are you replacing your rims with if Trek is not helping you?Text

Rhynolite 700C
Mavic A719
Velocity Dyad....any suggestions

Nate

[timber]

I have a 2006 520.  It has Bontrager Maverick rims.  I have alittle over 1000mi on it-some of them loaded.  I hope these are better than the Matrix.  Can anyone comment?
jim

[urbancoyote]

I've got an '05 Trek 520 with a little over 10K miles (most of it day
rides in the San Gabriel Mountains). I recently noticed two small cracks
near one of my spoke nipples. My bike shop guy said the rim was still
safe, but to take a look at it fairly often.

[cyclesafe]

I'd put new wheels on your list for Santa.

[RussellSeaton]

"I've got an '05 Trek 520 with a little over 10K miles (most of it day
rides in the San Gabriel Mountains). I recently noticed two small cracks
near one of my spoke nipples. My bike shop guy said the rim was still
safe, but to take a look at it fairly often."

The mechanic said that because the cracking is in the aesthetic gray surface coating.  A thin anodizing to make people think their rims are hardened and therefore better.  The cracks are kind of like paint cracking.  The aluminum rim, the real structure, is not cracked.

I wonder how many of the people who think their Trek 520 rims cracked were just seeing cracks in the thin aesthetic gray anodizing.  Do people replace the siding on their houses when they see the paint cracking and peeling?  Or do they repaint?  Do people replace their car fenders when they get a scratch in the paint?

[cyclesafe]

I see your point Russell, but paint cracking is one thing and some kind of plating cracking is another.  Maybe these cracks are just some non-functional cosmetic blemish, but since wheels are probably the most vulnerable parts of a touring bike, nobody wants to start a trip with rims that might be bad - if they don't know for certain otherwise.  Anyway, shame on Trek for not having addressed this recurrrent issue.  

[bri]

FYI--  I have a new 2007 Trek 520 with Bontrager Maverick rims.  I have ridden about 1300 miles since August 1, 2006.  About 200 miles of this is loaded touring.  I have not seen any cracks on the rims.  

Brian


 

[edmilkman]

Hi, I'm no expert on wheels - in fact I'm probably one of the most dangerous people to ask - I just built my first rear wheel ! AND I haven't stayed at the Holiday in 9 months, BUT here goes nothing.

Maybe you should check the spoke tension on your wheel? The book I used (by G. Schraner) as my guide recommneds a certain tension  on drive side of rear wheel depending on how strong a rim you have. Too loose and the spokes break especially on the left side, too tight and your rim cracks. Schraner also recommends double butted spokes so the spoke can absorb more of the shock in its thinner middle

I had the spoke breaking problem with my rear wheels pulling a BOB trailer for 4 years. Have not done a tour yet with my new Mavic CXP 33, 32 double butted spoke rim and I don't even know how tough they claim it is, but the web page looked good and the price was right on e-bay !