Got a brand new '04 Diamond Back XTS Moto frame and thought it looked very good. Solid tubes, good looking welds, looked to be a well made over seas frame. Then I took the paint off...
What I found on the drive side of the chain stay made me a little shocked. There was a patch about the size of a silver dollar, made of some sort of filler. Hard, grey, putty of some sort. Kinda looked like JB Weld or something. Tougher than standard body filler, but not metal for sure. I didn't remove it to see how thick it was, but I would never have known it was there if I would have left it painted.
I called DB and they had never heard of such a thing. I just sent it to them and am waiting for the replacement part (sans filler). They said they had no idea what I was talking about and would look into it and get back to me on it.
Who knows if it would have held up to abuse or not, but I wasn't going to find out. I know they are pimping this new line as being a sweet freeride bike and the price point is about as good as you can get considering the Saint group and Super T. But it makes me wonder if they cut quality (like patching rather than replacing) to keep the price on the low down.
I hope to post some pictures when I get 'em back and stuff. Has anyone else ever heard of such a thing?
What I found on the drive side of the chain stay made me a little shocked. There was a patch about the size of a silver dollar, made of some sort of filler. Hard, grey, putty of some sort. Kinda looked like JB Weld or something. Tougher than standard body filler, but not metal for sure. I didn't remove it to see how thick it was, but I would never have known it was there if I would have left it painted.
I called DB and they had never heard of such a thing. I just sent it to them and am waiting for the replacement part (sans filler). They said they had no idea what I was talking about and would look into it and get back to me on it.
Who knows if it would have held up to abuse or not, but I wasn't going to find out. I know they are pimping this new line as being a sweet freeride bike and the price point is about as good as you can get considering the Saint group and Super T. But it makes me wonder if they cut quality (like patching rather than replacing) to keep the price on the low down.
I hope to post some pictures when I get 'em back and stuff. Has anyone else ever heard of such a thing?