Well folks ... this is a vent ... but a little alarming.
First - thank you to all the trail workers that keep our trails awesome here in Central Ohio. As a fan/member of the IMBA/Combo effort, I am very grateful.
I am also a Trek brand loyalist, and still ride a 4300 series bike (with some upgrades) which meets my needs on P1 and P2 and a periodic trip to Mohican. Never an issue.
Last year, my business partner took delivery of a Gary Fisher X7 Excalibur that we bought at the Trek Store in Westerville (we actually know the owners, so it pains me to write this, but.... ) our company bought it as a gift to him.
He has ridden the bike on P1 and P2 .. nowhere else, and a few weeks ago on p2 the front wheel buckled and we had to walk it out. I was glad he did not get hurt since it resulted in an ENDO on a downhill. He doesn't jump the bike or do anything radical on it. So for a $900 bike it should be a good entry point for a 29'er on P1 or P2 ...
Trek will not honor the warranty, they claim the single wall rim is not meant to be ridden on a technical trail like P2. I am floored, and he has gone back to the store 2-3 times now since even the web site claims there should be a warranty on the Bontrager parts of the bike which would include the wheel.
The Trek store has maintained the bike, and if you look at it, you would think it was in brand new shape. It has less than 20 riding hours on it.
So my buddy is out a new front wheel and tire ... no warranty. I wonder if the frame would have a defect, if they would honor the Trek lifetime warranty on the frame if he rode it on P2 ....
The Trek web site calls the X-Caliber the type of bike that shreds miles of singletrack ... I guess the warranty department and Trek Store in Westerville don't believe that.
My buddy previously had a Cannondale that never had this issue ... I think it was a defective wheel and Trek/Bontrager should stand behind their product.
In my garage for my family there are no fewer than 4 Trek bikes.... I am now second guessing my brand loyalty a bit since the frame warranty had given me piece of mind.
I do know that wheels and bikes get abused, but in this case we had a picture of the wheel on the trail. I was with my buddy and the bike shows it has been well cared for and never abused (not one jump, we are slowish novices) ... heck the wheel buckled and he fell. He did not fall and bend the wheel.
not worth getting upset, just venting to other MTB folks. Thanks for the bandwidth.
Peace.