Owner's Manual

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Warranty

The warranty on a Franco Bicycles frame and fork is extended exclusively to the original owner for a period of three years beginning on the date the bike was sold. The warranty is not transferrable. The warranty is limited to original manufacturing defects and does not cover:

• Normal wear and tear,
• Improper assembly,
• Improper maintenance,
• Installation of components, parts, or accessories not originally intended/or compatible with our bicycle,
• Damage or failure due to accident, misuse, abuse, or neglect, or
• Labor charges for disassembly, part replacement, or changeover.

Frames and forks submitted and accepted for warranty due to manufacturing defects will be serviced or replaced with current standard in line models. Any freight charges are the responsibility of the owner.

This warranty is void in its entirety by any modification of the frame, fork, or components. This warranty is expressly limited to the repair or replacement of a defective item, and said repair or replacement is the sole remedy of the warranty. This warranty applies only to Franco Bicycles purchased exclusively from Franco Bicycles. Franco Bicycles is not responsible for incidental or consequential damages. Any claim against this warranty must be made by contacting Franco Bicycles at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Crash Replacement

We understand that when you push performance to the limit, accidents may occur. Unfortunately, when carbon fiber is impacted, the stress in the area of impact is not always visible. We want owners of Franco Bicycles to continue to ride safely; so if your bicycle experiences an impact, we strongly encourage you to stop riding it, and replace the part, even if there is no visible indication of damage.

That said, we want you to continue to ride a Franco Bicycle and appreciate that the financial investment required to replace a damaged bike frame or part not covered under warranty can sometimes be a challenge for the owner. That’s why we offer our customers our Crash Replacement Program.

Damage that occurs to a frame, fork, or other component, from a crash, or any other incident that is not covered by our warranty, may qualify for a crash replacement discount. Items must be returned to us for inspection and are subject to replacement approval.* Items determined to qualify for a crash replacement will receive a 30% discount. Crash replacement frames will be replaced with same or similar current model year frames based on availability.

*Charges that may be incurred from disassembly and shipping are the responsibility of the owner.

Trade-in / Upgrade

Coming Soon

Carbon Care

Carbon fiber is the ultimate material to manufacture a high performance bicycle. The strength to weight ratio of carbon fiber is unmatched by metals. Tests have shown a 400 gram carbon fork can be significantly stronger than a steel fork weighing twice as much. Unfortunately, when carbon fiber is impacted, the stress in the area of impact is not always visible. In addition, just like a rider can surpass the strength of a metal frame, fork, or other part, a rider can also surpass the strength of a carbon part. The difference is that when a carbon part is damaged, it may be impossible to detect.

We want owners of Franco Bicycles to continue to ride safely; so if your bicycle experiences an impact, stop riding it immediately, and replace the part, even if there is no visible indication of damage. Even if your carbon fiber bicycle has not experienced an impact, all carbon fiber parts should be inspected regularly.

Use the following procedures to inspect carbon parts:

• Check for deep scratches, gouges, or other surface problems (especially if they go all the way through the paint)
• Check the part for loss of rigidity
• Check the part for delamination
• Listen for unusual creaking or clicking noises

The following tests may not be conclusive, and they are difficult to describe, so if you have any doubts about the integrity of a part, DO NOT ride the bicycle. If you suspect a problem, ALWAYS replace it. Carbon fiber parts we make may be covered by our Crash Replacement Policy.

To perform a visual inspecton of parts for surface problems:

• Clean the part thoroughly with a damp cloth.
• Look closely for problems: - deep scratches - gouges - cracks - loose fibers (which will appear like thin hairs) - other surface flaws.

If any surface problems are evident, replace the part. To check a part for loss of rigidity, use the part in a normal manner (without actually riding) while someone watches carefully for unexpected movement. As an example, if you suspect a composite seatpost has been damaged, sit gently on the saddle while someone watches to see if the seatpost flexes. If the helper sees the part flex unexpectedly, or if the part feels less rigid than it should be (compare it to a new version of the same part), replace the part.

To check a part for delamination:

• Clean the part thoroughly with a damp cloth.
• With a nickel or other coin, tap the part near any possible damage and places where the part is known to be in good condition (or use a similar part).
• Listen carefully for variations in sound, especially a hollow sound, “dead” tone, or any sound indicating that the part is not solid. If the part makes any noise other than a hard, solid tap sound, replace the part.

The vast majority of cracks on carbon fiber are merely paint cracks or paint chips which do not affect the integrity of the carbon fiber part. Here’s how to determine if you are looking at a paint crack:

• Paint cracks are usually on areas where the surface under the paint goes through some transition. Usually, this means the fork’s crown, mold lines or bond lines.- Bond lines circle the tube, are straight, and are found at the junction of the lug, tube, or dropout.- Mold lines are vertical and may be found where the carbon parts have been molded together.

Paint is affected by exposure to many environmental factors, including temperature, sunlight, moisture, chemicals or cleaners, and ozone (from exhaust, pollution, or electric motors). These factors are out of our control, which is why paint is only covered by our warranty for one year.

If you have any doubts about the integrity of any carbon part, REPLACE IT. See the Crash Replacement Policy and Warranty for additional information.

WARNING: A damaged carbon fiber part can fail suddenly, causing serious injury or death. Carbon fiber can conceal damage from an impact or crash. If a bicycle has been impacted or crashed, or there is any reason to think a carbon part might be damaged, immediately stop riding the bicycle.