Safety testing on MCR-01 frame

Frame and Wheel obtained safety certification information about the MCR-01 frame from More Choice. This is good news because Frame and Wheel needs this information to obtain insurance. Any bicycle or frame sold into the United States or Europe must meet basic safety standards and Frame and Wheel is pleased that More Choice does these testing and is willing to provide it to customers. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission sets safety standards for frames, forks and fully built-up bicycles sold in the United States. The European Committee for Standardization (Comite European de Normalisation or CEN) sets safety standards for frames, forks and fully-built-up bicycles sold in the European Union. European standards are more comprehensive and scientific than their counterparts in the United States and are known as "EN Standards". EN Standard 14781 is the one that covers bicycles. Bicycle manufacturers usually deliver their frames and forks to safety testing organizations that then put the frames and forks through the tests set out by the regulatory agencies. Here is a video of a frame test and a video of a front fork test. If a frame or a fork can pass EN Standards, then it usually meets U.S. safety standards. Below is a table of the tests conducted on the MCR-01 frame.

No.	Description	Test	Standard	Result
1 of 9
2 of 9
3 of 9	Frame H/T compress testing	300 kg compress 15mm/min	Non En	Pass
4 of 9	Frame S/T compress testing	350 kg compress 15 mm/min	Non EN	Pass
5 of 9
6 of 9	Frame S/T fatigue testing	150 kg 2Hz / 100,000 cycles	Non EN	Pass
7.1 of 9	Frame BB Torsion Test	165 kg / 2Hz / 100,000 cycles	Non EN	Pass
7.2 of 9	Frame BB Torsion Test	1100 N / 100,000 cycles	EN 14781 4.8.4	Pass
8 of 9	Completed frame fatigue	Loading 89 kg / 4Hz / 20,000 cycles	Non EN	Pass
9.1 of 9	Frame H/T impact testing	22.5 kg / 180 mm / 3  times	Non EN	Pass
9.2 of 9	Frame H/T impact testing	22.5 kg / 360 mm / 3 times	Non EN	Pass
9.3 of 9	Frame H/T impact testing	22.5 kg / 212 mm / 1 times	EN 14781 4.8.2	Pass

 

More Choice provided Frame and Wheel with a series of documents showing images of the MCR-01 being tested, the test that was conducted and the result of the test. More Choice conducted nine tests on the frame. Test 7.2 (Frame Bottom Bracket Torsion Test) and 9.3 (Frame Head Tube Impact Test) are tests specifically set out in EN 14781. The other tests, although clearly very rigorous, are tests that are not set out in the EN standards. Additionally, the page numbers suggest that some of the tests didn't make it into the Frame and Wheel inbox, and Frame and Wheel noticed that none of the tests conducted are on the front fork. This is important given that Frame and Wheel has heard of and experienced two recalls on front forks (the infamous Wolf fork on Cervelos and the aluminum front fork on Redlines). On that topic, a bicycle dealer opined to Frame and Wheel that the reason for front fork recalls was a result of high production volumes,a t the expense of product safety, and riders who are too heavy for their bicycles. Perhaps there is an element of truth in both observations.

The outstanding EN Standard tests for the MCR-01 frame are shown below. Frame and Wheel plans on obtaining the results of these tests from More Choice. If they are unable to do so, Frame and Wheel will have to have the EN Standard tests carried out by a testing facility in the United States. This is an additional cost and usually means that two or three frames are sacrificed on the hydraulic testing machines. Nevertheless, Frame and Wheel believes that its worth it: there is nothing more damaging to the brand and consumer confidence or expensive and stressful than a product recall. If the frames fail badly under this second scenario, Frame and Wheel will have to find another model or factory. But it is worth noting that the MCR-01 frame is used by other companies such as Ritte Racing and Champion System and there have been no recalls reported so far.

No.	Description	Test	Standard	Result
	Front fork static bending test	1,200 N for 1 min	EN 14781 4.9.4
	Front fork rearward impact test	22.5 kg / 640 mm	EN 14781 4.9.5
	Front fork bending fatigue test	+ / - 620 N / 25Hz 100,000 cycles	EN 14781 4.9.6
	Horizontal frame fatigue	+ / - 600 N / 100,000 cycles	EN 14781 4.8.5
	Frame drop impact test	70 kg / 75mm	EN 14781 4.8.3

Below is a table that summarizes safety requirements for frames and forks from the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission.  Frame and Wheel needs to find out if the non-EN tests conducted on the frame comply with these standards.

Test
Front fork	Clamp the front fork in the test  fixture so it does not move and apply force until the fork bends 2.5 inches. The fork shall have no evidence of fracture. The deflection at a force of 350-in-lbs shall be no  greater than 2.5 inches
Frame and fork	When the fork is mounted on the bicycle frame, the fork and frame assembly must withstand a steady force of 200 lbf or an impact force of 350 in-lbs, whichever is more severe,  without breaking, or bending in a manner that would significantly limit the steering angle over which the wheel can turn.