spectral:on frame issue

gristle568 · Mar 16, 2025

I bought this bike new in may of 2023, it has 460 miles on it. I was getting it ready to ride yesterday and noticed this on the frame. its right behind the shock clevis but nothing is loose and there is no side to side movement. it looks like the top carbon layer is separating.

I am beyond pissed about it. I don't really ride that aggressive, I mostly just ride trails and hit small jumps and drops but nothing crazy. the bike has never even been crashed that hard. I filed a warranty claim with canyon and am waiting to hear back. anyone had this issue and what was their response?

Winford · Mar 17, 2025

never had a frame issue, but so far they have been stand up when it comes to doing the right thing. My bike was shutting off mid ride, while it was a shimano battery and cable issue, they paid for ever bit f the local shop bill not covered by shimano. ------ for your issue follow their advise. But Id probably strip it down and get better pictures of the damage.

gristle568 · Mar 17, 2025

I didnt wanna go tearing it apart till I talked to them.

Mikerb · Mar 17, 2025

seems a strange place to suffer stress. I wonder if something ( e.g. a stone) got wedged in there on a ride. If so it could also have fallen out again when the suspension was compressed so leaving nothing for you to find but the damage.

gristle568 · Mar 17, 2025

theres no scratches or damage on the inside of the linkage. its like the top carbon layer is coming off. I'm a fair weather rider. if the conditions are not decent I dont ride. I don't even get that crazy riding, I ride mostly for exercise. anybody dealt with canyon warranty as far as a frame issue? I might look into buying another bike if its gonna take a while. even if the frame is still structurally sound it looks like shit and if I ever decide to sell it will decrease what I would be able to get for it significantly.

JP-NZ · Mar 17, 2025

That is very strange, its almost looks as though under a decent amount of sag that the inner part of the black yoke has been rubbing on the frame. Is it just on one side?

All bolts tight in the linkage area on that side?

gristle568 · Mar 17, 2025

well I found the issue. and another problem. I think this is my last carbon bike. the rear axle comes loose almost everytime I ride this bike and all the creaking has driven me nuts since day 1.

Mister cube · Mar 17, 2025

gristle568 said:
well I found the issue. and another problem. I think this is my last carbon bike. the rear axle comes loose almost everytime I ride this bike and all the creaking has driven me nuts since day 1.
View attachment 156346

Loose bolt caused the linkage rub,but that crack,is the rear triangle carbon or alloy?
the extra stress having only one linkage bolt in probably caused the crack,if its alloy,hopefully its just cracked the paint,the carbon can be repaired.
as you said see what canyon do about it first.

JP-NZ · Mar 17, 2025

Gutted! But at least you found the problem.

This is why I always check and recheck tightness before every ride.

gristle568 · Mar 17, 2025

its carbon. shouldn't those bolts be loctited from the factory?

JP-NZ · Mar 17, 2025

gristle568 said:
its carbon. shouldn't those bolts be loctited from the factory?

I thought you said it was the axle that caused the issue? If the linkage bolts were loose you can easily see if they have blue loctite on them.

If you were riding it whilst they were loose and that caused the damage I'd say Canyon don't have much to answer for.

gristle568 · Mar 17, 2025

the axle bolt has been coming loose since I bought it. the missing linkage bolt is what caused all this mess now. shouldn't those be loctited from the factory? I find it hard to believe most people check those before they ride.

JP-NZ · Mar 17, 2025

gristle568 said:
the axle bolt has been coming loose since I bought it. the missing linkage bolt is what caused all this mess now. shouldn't those be loctited from the factory? I find it hard to believe most people check those before they ride.

Ahhh I see now, I had to find a stock pic of your bike to try and ascertain what was missing and where. So the inner linkage bolt has dropped out and caused the rubbing on the frame which has also probably caused the stress crack on the other side of the linkage.

You didn't notice any of this whilst riding? Yes they will have been loctited from factory. I'm sad to say you won't have a leg to stand on in a warranty claim.

gristle568 · Mar 17, 2025

I never noticed it. the last couple times I rode it was just a trail ride. no jumps or crazy down hills. I usually listen to music while I ride so I wouldn't of heard it. you cant move it side to side by hand so I'm guessing it takes me riding it to put it in a bind. im gonna look into buying another bike and either part this one out or if canyon will help sell it after. I've raced motocross most of my life so I'm not a stranger to things like this happening with bikes. shit happens.

Winford · Mar 18, 2025

JP-NZ said:
This is why I always check and recheck tightness before every ride.

You have to. First to go are the little bolts holding the eye shape nuts by your axle, and swing arm nut. Its not Canyons fault if you do not check. I just had a Shimano electronic derailleur nut come loose and caused shifting issues. Lucky I found it before it came out.

Winford · Mar 18, 2025

gristle568 said:
I think this is my last carbon bike.

Carbon is not the problem here

gristle568 · Mar 18, 2025

I realize now this is not canyons fault but this bike has just had little issues the whole time I've owned it and I'm over it. i guess well see what canyon says about this. a bolt like that should not of come loose like it did. I never touched any of those . the creaking and squeaking the frame makes has annoyed me since about the 3rd time I've ridden the bike. I've had the headset apart numerous times to clean and grease and 2 rides later the creaking comes back. I've tried different greases but still the same result. it will also randomly shut off while I'm riding. not sure if I'm doing something wrong but my friends specialized has none of the issues I do and he doesn't do any maintenance. I'm sure all the brands have issues but his bike just seems to be overall better quality.

Mikerb · Mar 18, 2025

Loose nuts or bolts...or axles...is something I have only experienced once in years of owning several bikes. That was the bolt connecting the bottom of the shock to the yoke. Easily spotted when lifting the bike and hearing a little bit of play.
Here is the thing though....a bolt does not come loose for no reason, so it is pointless just tightening it up again. The reason here was that neither the bottom or top bolts securing the shock were locktited from new. I removed the shock, cleaned the bolts and refixed them with blue locktite...the rear bolt was undamaged.... ....and left the bike for 24 hours to allow the locktite to set.
You should check over any bike when cleaning/lubing it after a ride but be careful checking bolts.....if you move a locktited bolt you break the locktite seal.
A bolt that has come really loose on something like a linkage will likely be damaged and need to be replaced.
Rear axle coming loose is likely due to it being dirty and a lack of grease on the shaft and thread.....or seized hub bearings...or inadequate torque. If it comes loose, find out why!!

gristle568 · Mar 18, 2025

i took the wheel off and cleaned the axle and put grease on it. its not like I just ignore problems. still kept doing it. had someone tell me to put blue loctite on it but I find it hard to believe an axle should be loctited. some of these issues shouldn't be happening on a bike that has 450 miles on it. that's all im saying. I'll just get it fixed and move on. its only money, shit like this happens.

Mikerb · Mar 18, 2025

If a headset creaks it is likely that either the bearings or the bearing cups are knackered. Re greasing will stop the creek only until the grease is displaced, so its not a cure.
A rear axle that has come loose is likely to have damaged threads given the loads applied to the rear wheel, especially on an EMTB . Replacement axle is the likely cure.
The damage on your seat tube does not look terminal.........no carbon weave visible. The crack on the seat stay probably means a new one required.
Its good you are being pragmatic about the bike. Get it sorted and keep riding.

gristle568 · Mar 18, 2025

how could the headset bearings be bad? the bike hasn't been ridden that much. it started doing it around the 100 mile mark. the rear axle looks fine with no damage visible. all im saying it this shit should not be happening already. I have friends with bikes that haven't been touched in years with no issues. its not like I'm dropping off 15 foot drops and hitting huge rock gardens. I'm gonna get it fixed and it'll be a backup bike. I'm gonna look into another brand as my main rider. this bike has just rubbed me the wrong way since almost day one.

Mikerb · Mar 18, 2025

gristle568 said:
how could the headset bearings be bad? the bike hasn't been ridden that much. it started doing it around the 100 mile mark. the rear axle looks fine with no damage visible. all im saying it this shit should not be happening already. I have friends with bikes that haven't been touched in years with no issues. its not like I'm dropping off 15 foot drops and hitting huge rock gardens. I'm gonna get it fixed and it'll be a backup bike. I'm gonna look into another brand as my main rider. this bike has just rubbed me the wrong way since almost day one.

you can wreck headset bearings or seats very quickly if the headset is not tightened correctly from the outset. You cannot necessarilly see thread damage (rear axle)........if the pitch is very slightly spread no amount of torque will keep it tight.

I agree with your observation regarding the range of issues on the bike. It suggests it was not very well put together in the first place. I have owned 3 Whyte bikes now over a 5 year period and had zero issues with any of them other than 1 rear shock bolt coming slightly loose on one bike. ...............ps I only buy ally bikes for EMTB!!

edruid · Mar 22, 2025

JP-NZ said:
Gutted! But at least you found the problem.

This is why I always check and recheck tightness before every ride.

Lotta bother though. And you gotta lay out a lot of dough for a torque wrench reliable enough to use every ride, I don’t trust the average ones

irie · Mar 22, 2025

gristle568 said:
View attachment 156346

Don't like the look of that

gristle568 · Mar 22, 2025

I know this is an issue I could of prevented if I would caught it in time but I have friends with other brands of bikes that don't do any maintenance and never have any issues and I've had multiple before I've even worn out a set of tires. I'm not some super mechanic that looks over every inch of the bike but I also try and keep it clean and in good working order.quality just seems to be lower than some of the major brand bikes I've been around, I also know all brands have issues. I already bought another bike with an aluminum frame and Bosch drive. I talked to canyon and they are gonna get back to me. hopefully I'll at least get something. if not I'll throw it in a dumpster and move on with my life.

spectral:on frame issue

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