YatesK

LAST WORD. SILVERBACK have kindly agreed to refund the money for the derailleur. Evently (as someone pointed out), the bikes are assembled by the dealers and therefore a chain failing (maybe due to incorrect fitting) is the responsibility of the dealer. In this case, SILVERBACK are taking it upon them selves to make things right. Thank you SILVERBACK, very much appreciated. .

Sorry, no pic's of the chain - anyway, to those of you that offered constructive comment / opinion on this issue, I thank you. to those that offer sarcastic drivel, I suggest you wear a helmet when you go riding, it might protect you brain from further damage next time you land on your head. I have moved on - signing out.

Thanks - the chain did not break completely - If I can explain it, one of the rivets (if that is what you call them) popped on one side (probably not "squashed" enough to keep the link closed) causing the one side of the link to open outwards, this is what hooked on the cage of the derailleur bending it backwards. My daughter was riding up a short steep road so there would have been quite a bit of strain on the chain at the time (she is 24, so not a child)

I did take it up with the bike shop and I believe they did what they could, even gave me discount to soften the blow when Silverback would not help. Actually the new CPA does allow a consumer to sue both the retailer and the manufacturer when things go wrong (in the past it was all on the manufacturers head). In this case I cannot prove what actually happened so would not take if further - for R500 (although looking at the chain it was pretty obvious what happened), but it would have been nice to be given the benefit of the doubt. But cowboys don't cry - we will carry on cycling - although I cannot believe that Silverback owners are (generally) such a sensitive lot, do you think it's an inferiority complex? - mustn't say that, we now have a Silverback owner in the family.

Thanks again for all the input - No, I don't expect SILVERBACKS reputation will suffer at all, they make great bikes, I guess a chain failing so soon is not very common. I just think they missed an opportunity to earn a Noddy badge for "doing the right thing". More than a few years back (about 25 to be exact) I bought a DIAMOND BACK APEX (DEORE DX components) , at that time the APEX was second from the top of the Diamond Back range - anyway, soon after I bought it (I still have it by the way), I broke the rear derailleur when a stick got caught in the chain at Jonkershoek. Although it was entirely my fault, DIAMOND BACK replaced the chain and derailleur at their expense - how great was that? I am still singing their praises - I could have been singing SILVERBACKs praises 25 years from now (if I am still alive) for just doing what is right - well what I think is right. I am really not crying about it - the R500 paid just means a few beers less this month, I will survive - and I apologise to the Silverback owners who got so upset because I had the audacity to say something negative about the brand of bike they ride - you too will survive.

Thanks for all the reply's - the new consumer protection act does not agree - the bike is virtually new with about 100k's on it (was washed and lubricated after each ride) has not even had it's first service - it may not be Silverbacks fault but it was a component supplied by them that broke, they must take responsibility - they can claim back from the chain supplier. A chain braking within 100ks cannot be blamed on "wear and tear" - the chain broke because it was faulty - no other reason. When a chain brakes while riding, you only know when it is too late to stop. For the record, I have been riding (road and off road) for 30 plus years - have completed 19 Argus's, doing sub three hours 25 years ago - not bragging just saying that I know my way around a bike - when a component fails due a quality problem, I can tell. Anyway, thanks again for the thoughts - I am still happy with the bike and I sure my daughter will have plenty of fun on the bike.

I bought my daughter a SILVERBACK STRIDE 10 in November 2013 - believe me, she is no extreme off roader - in fact the worst terrain she has ridden is the KOEBERG NATURE RESERVE (MELKBOS), then riding up from the beach last week (on tar), a link in the chain broke hooking the derailleur and wrapping it around the rear cluster and in the process braking the drop out and bending the derailleur beyond repair. The bike is less than three month old - cause of damage - failure of the chain. Am I being unreasonable believing that this should be covered by the guaranteed?? Well SILVERBACK thinks that I am - the cost of repairs, R507.30, not very much really but obviously it is more than SILVERBACKS reputation is worth.