AltRider Universal Joint Guard - CAUTION

[Travex]

Still haven't received a response from AltRider after having inquired of their intentions toward addressing the gear damage caused by their defective guard.

Perhaps they're taking advantage of a longer holiday weekend and having a good ride. I'll give it a little more time to see if they're interested in playing nice.

 

[Kelvininin]

https://www.facebook.com/erik.seymour

Try Erik,

I have had nothing but excellent service from Altrider.

 

[patrickg450]

I have that guard as, wonder if there was a manufacture date that started the flaw. I have zero problems as well, hope it works out for you.

 

[Travex]

Kelvininin: I appreciate that and may if this isn't handled well, but for now the current rep will do.

patrickg450: Thanks. The only thing I can ascertain about a date is going by what they told me on the 17th; "This is an issue that has come to our attention in the last week."

 

[Kelvininin]

Kelvininin: I appreciate that and may if this isn't handled well, but for now the current rep will do.

Are you working directly with Altrider? Or a third party? The responsiveness of a third party will likely not reflect the actual quality of Altrider's customer service.

 

[Travex]

Good point. Yes, I'm in contact with them directly. Matt, an administrative assistant.

 

[Salmon Sam]

Is it really a defect, or a design flaw that is just being realized: very sharp cut outs? Do you feel the burrs that they are talking about? The cutouts themselves are very sharp and could conceivably be a problem if there is a lot of interaction between a boot and/or pant leg during - say - standing and using the legs more on off-road riding. I may see this on my inexpensive Tourmaster pants. Not sure, but was thinking of upgrading to KLIM gear. The uncertainty of these guards has me a little concerned. I live in the Seattle area and will go over to ALTrider if there is a strong consensus.

 

[Travex]

Fine points there Sam. I wouldn't necessarily term the unfinished edges as grossly burred, but would agree they're very sharp due to a lack of treatment for same or lack of chamfering. When inserting a finger into any cutout and drawing it outward over the edge you can feel a slight raising, or very small continuous burr. This is an unforgiving razor-like edge and it's punishing anything that comes into contact with it. Even without a burr a perfect undressed 90° cut will be a knife of sorts. As the design, materials and overall manufacture seem to be excellent, I'd have to term it a defect rather than a design flaw. Their "A" branding cutout is also quite prominent in terms of it's abrading qualities. I concur with what AltRider said about these units unfortunately having missed a finishing step. Hopefully the fallout from this problem won't bite them too badly.

To your point of riding posture I think you're right on as I keep my feet in tight while standing.

If you need another .02 regarding KLIM gear... They're the most durable, comfortable, waterproof, efficient, and intelligently featured apparel I've used. In fact, this year I've switched my entire layering system to KLIM, right down to socks, skivvies, and mid-layers.

In all the years I've been riding I don't believe I've ever bought an AltRider product but have always had a good perception of them through others experience and hearsay. That perception was reaffirmed a short while ago when I received their latest reply expressing concern for my gear. They've asked for pictures of the damage which I'll furnish tomorrow. They should be pleasantly surprised that I won't be pursuing the damages on the pants as I've unfortunately been responsible for worse damage since. Sure, I could just send pics of the damage their product caused, but thankfully I'm not wired so poorly. On that, as great as KLIM gear is, it's no match for carelessly discarded serpentine. An expensive finding.

Seems me and sharp things aren't getting along too well lately.

Good for you having them in town. Convenient in any event.

 

[patrickg450]

post up a picture or two............

I was going to check my scooter last night but a pizza party for Madison's soccer team took prescience then a gin a and tonic with the wife...........blah blah blah.



I will check tonight, when I get home.

 

[Travex]

Well that sounds like a great evening. Here you go:

If you look toward the lower right (rear) of the guard, you'll notice a slightly darkened area along the edge. This is where I believe the bulk of the damage occurred.

Their signature "A" would also be a severe wear/abrading point as the remaining inner portion of that character is extremely sharp and pronounced. I believe the pants interacted with this area among others resulting in an approximate 3" area of extreme wear and multiple lacerations right down to the bottom of the pant leg. I mentioned previously that I'm responsible for having further damaged the pants elsewhere (right leg- by someone carelessly discarding serpentine wire), but nonetheless am interested as to whether AltRider will accept responsibility for the initial irrevocable damage that the guard caused rendering them a total loss insofar as warranty and watertight integrity... The very reasons for which they were purchased. Unfortunately, the pants went out with the garbage yesterday and I hadn't taken pictures of them... So that one's on my word. Bad idea and not helpful to either party.

If you were to look (zoom) to the right of the obvious damaged area at about 1:00 you'll see a blown stitch and some wear already beginning above the tandem stitch line.

The damage is obvious as both the surface and seams are badly compromised. Clearly a warranty void.

I think the only positive take-away is that this happened within 100 miles of the guards installation near home and not during a long duration ride. Although duct tape would be a good, quick fix... I wouldn't have known it until greater damage was done as the first day's mileage would have been significantly greater.

Most importantly it seems AltRider has taken a sincere interest in reconciling this unfortunate affair.

 

[patrickg450]

man that sucks. I looked at mine and felt all around looking/feeling for a burr. Notta, not one rough edge, on the backside there is some paint wearing off, I assume from where my boot rubs. I will take a picture and post it up.

I dont think I am having the same issue, I guess I got lucky or they changes the process and you got unlucky. I could be wrong, I have had mine for over a year. Guess I will look real hard at my boots.

Did they say how many others are having the same issue?

 

[Travex]

Yeah, I'm not thrilled by it. With almost absolute certainty I'd say you're in the clear with respect to this problem. Having had it on your bike for over a year would have found your left foot mulched to the bone by now given the degree sharpness. You should have nothing but normal rub shine on your boots.

They hadn't commented on how many defective units got out, but if it were that widespread of an issue there would be many more posts here echoing my grievance, and from what I've seen thus far there are few. This indicates that the problem is as AltRider has said... Recent and few.

Consider posting a pic of your boot for others to see a normal condition.

 

[Travex]

Haven't heard back from AltRider since Tuesday when I replied with pics as they requested. Looking forward to finishing this business and moving forward with the new season.

 

[zoombic]

Add another unhappy camper to the Altrider U-Joint guard crew.

I went and checked mine and sure enough, all of the edges are dead sharp.

In one ride of less than 100 miles my Sidi On Road Gore Tex boot was chewed up. It literally skived a couple of chunks of leather off of the boot.

I too have contacted them to return the part and to see what they plan to do, if anything, with regard to the boot damage.

Glad I caught it before it did even more damage.

I bought mine on 12/30/2013 from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC.

 

[p51super10bombay]

I bought mine on 12/30/2014 from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC.

Clearly the fault is you're as you seem to have purchased the part before it was ever produced.............time travel perhaps? ::025::

 

[Travex]

Sorry to see that zoombic. Doesn't look like it's compromised a seam so you have that going for you. How did your pants fare? Mine was bought from Revzilla in mid February and is covered with duct tape in the interim. They mentioned that the corrected guards will be available shortly. Was considering the ADVMotorrad product but do prefer the AltRider design and upper attachment point.

For AltRider's sake I hope they've been able to get the affected parts out of the channel and are able to contact recent buyers to halt the problem.

 

[krussell]

Ok, one more alternative. Noticed Touratech that had a part that uses only bottom mount like the OEM but is angled in a bit, then turns in at the top. $40. Seems to the trick. It's pretty share on the cuts too. I put tape on my boot, road about 150 miles today, with a fair mount of gravel and standing, tape was pristine when I got home. This one's the keeper for me.

The shot from the top is my best attempt so show how much it angles inward.

http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/3321/PN-046-0640/Heel-Guard-Left-Side-Yamaha-XT1200Z-Super-Tenere

 

[Travex]

Thanks for that Kevin. Nice to know there's another alternative out there. Have to ask if you feel there's a possibility for pants to catch over the top. Don't know if you've ever been bitten by the pant catch on OEM guard, but it's a helpless feeling on that little fall that I really don't want to repeat.

 

[krussell]

I bought the Alt Rider part to fix the pants catch issue I had with the OEM part. When I wear my off road boots, that's not a problem, by riding pants are snug to the outside of the boot, and that's all I've done so far with the Touratech part.

On the street, by road boots leave a lot of room inside the riding pants, and I caught them on the OEM guard, which is much more vertical than the Touratech part. I think the shape and inward angle of the Touratech will do the trick, and I'll let you know if it doesn't.

If you look at the shot from the top, you can see how far in your pant would have to be.

 

[patrickg450]

so I am on time as always..........


looked at mine, there is no real sharp edge on my back side, you can see where the finish has rubbed off. When I felt the inside of the letter A there was a noticeable difference. I did not cut finger or felt like it would but it was sharper.