[Closed] Tell me about chinese carbon frames.....

I had one of the MTBs, bought direct from the Chinese eBay sellers. Was good, lighter than claimed, didn't break. Sold it on to a friend who continued to ride it. Did eventually break (along with the forks and his face) when he rode it into a flight of (ascending) steps.

I'd have another one. Just check the geometry, top tube was short on mine. Was pretty well dead on 20lbs with XTR, SIDs and Roval Controle SLs:

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I've got one of the Hongfu road bikes which has internal cable routing. All of it is fine except the exit point for the front mech cable which seems too far forward along the bottom bracket so it fouls the front mech spring

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Had to extend the cable securing bolt outwards to avoid it and now all is fine

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How did you buy your hongfu frame michael?there's no option to buy on their website?

I emailed Jane at hongfu- janejian@hongfu-bikes.cn

Payment is via PayPal, about $50 delivered to UK. Was a bit of a leap of faith sending the money but after 5 weeks (took longer as specified the paint) it turned up. They send you tracking details. Have since ordered bottle cages and mech hangers and all have come through fine.

Bought this via ebay from flyxii -
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Built it up without any issues.
Only ridden it once so far. Felt fine, got the KOM I wanted, and didn't snap.
Sorry, only got a rubbish photo-
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Have a look on aliexpress too. there's an escrow type system which.in theory should make it safer.

Can I ask how much michael? Again, couldn't see any price info on the website or is it price on application depending on options?

Can I ask how much michael? Again, couldn't see any price info on the website or is it price on application depending on options?

This is a "show us your Chinese carbon framed" bike thread from the Swedish version of this place. It runs to 50 odd pages, but there are loads if pics and links:
http://happymtb.org/forum/read.php/1/1267323

I paid $795 for frame, fork, headset, seat post, seat clamp, handlebars and stem plus paint and delivery which at the time was £550.

Nice looking bike Michael.

Hey Swedish Chef, that just puts fuel on the fire 😉

Check out velobuild forums + the shopping page.

http://www.velobuild.com

Whats putting you off the Planet X frames?. I've had my 456 for over a year and have had no issues with that and it rides really well. I've heard the same from the road frames too. The way I look at it is the Planet-X stuff is cheap carbon with the reassurance of a 2 year warranty and hopefully a higher level of quality control than some of the Chinese eBay stuff.

You gotta wonder how many Hard Eddies Intense expect to sell at 1800 quid frame only.

Michael did you get whacked for VAT and import duty etc on top?

Got mine from Carbonal. It's been well and truly ridden. Excellent frame. My mate has just got a Spesh Stumpjumper S-Works carbon frame in the same matt finish and I would say the quality is up to the same standard as the Spesh. Mine is lighter too... 😀

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8519603600_8ef303dbde.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8519603600_8ef303dbde.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/76572317@N08/8519603600/ ]Brighton and Hove-20121216-00273[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/76572317@N08/ ]Kevaroo[/url], on Flickr

Got my from Carbonal last year. So easy to deal with. Mine was dispatched on the Wednesday, arrived the following Tuesday! Finish is superb and the build had no issues. Everything is straight and faced. I've had a lot wonkier On Ones...

Its got a Lefty on the front now however.

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@fibre - Nothing at all is putting me off the Planet-X frames, there indeed may be some future negotiations to be had with another STWer on that front ;-)....Plus I've had a carbon456 before now and it was like a tank but without the weight....so definitely still considering....

But there's just a bit of query on the sizing of the PX frames, as the geometry is different to what I've previously ridden so I still can't quite figure which size would be best.

Some of the chinese options look to have geometry more in line with what I've ridden before.

Various things are keeping me indoors a little too much at the moment - winter, kids, work....so in the meantime I'm just planning a 'new' build to keep me sane....

Chunky - the finish on the Carbonal looks absolutely mint!

Chunky we need a whole bike shot please.

Have no more at the moment. Been a bit busy at work - 6 Nations 😮

Might take some on Sunday.

There all good frames I've had them off ebay Flyxii and x-goods.com have a few mates on them aswell all have been fine and they ride as good as anything.

Direct from China, basically a Dirty Disco

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How would something like this [url= http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/frames-frames-road-ribble-evo-pro-carbon-white-road-frame/ribbfrar932 ]Ribble Evo Pro[/url] compare?

who did you get the "dirty disco" from chunky?

Isn't there just a massive opportunity to import these with some good QC and a guarantee? The latter seeming to be what's holding many people back from purchasing?

Though I guess that it Planet X et al...

Got to say the carbonal is looking great, has anyone tried the carbon wheels, I'm fancying the clincher wheels

OH has a roadie it took over duties from a planet x spotlight which was smaller than small. It's done a winter and with some de rosa stickers looks pretty good. A guy I ride with followed suit and bought one on full pina dogma make up it looks the mutts and is going strong and given he's a big lad. It shows they are decently built.

[url= http://www.aliexpress.com/ ]Aliexpress[/url] is a very good place for carbon frames. I have order plenty of stuff from there without issue. Just make sure the seller you are buying from is well "rated" and you should ok.

Anyone know if any of these places do a proper SS 29er frame, with either track ends or EBB? I know you can get EBB converters for BB30 but I'm a bit wary

Sorry, not that I know of, as that was what I really wanted too.
In the end I couldn't justify the cost of an Intense, don't really trust EBBs and decided that if you're going to fit a singulator you might as well just put the gears back on.

Its not chinese (well it may be originally 😉 )...but has anyone tried or got a Ribble Pro Evo Carbon:

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My road bike, which is the lightest on that thread apart from the ridiculously expensive exotica is based on a Pedalforce frame - which is effectively a taiwanese carbon frame, and the same sort of price, but run as a US company, hence there's a bit more in the way of support there, though I would still have to ship back to the US for any warranty issues. Still worth it for the saving.

Definitely worth considering a Ribble though if you can cope with the stickers - they are also effectively the same thing - the carbon Sportive is exactly the same frame as one Pedalforce used to sell.

Anyone know if any of these places do a proper SS 29er frame, with either track ends or EBB?

Hey ChunkyMTB,
Some nice bikes there! Running the hard tail with no front chain device? Any issues with the chain coming off?
That dirty disco replica looks lovely as well.

Given the Chinese factory that I am going to start importing rims from make the De Rosa 838 (not a copy the real thing) I'd say there are good chinese carbon frame makers. There are those that also do copies. If you can buy direct from a factory. You can tell them apart from resellers and the factories website is normally crap.

Yep, logos on the Ribble are my main problem with it!

Neilsonwheels - what are the risks (other than product quality) with ordering from aliexpress?

I've seen one or two that look like what I'm after and have a good number of orders/feedback.

If I use creditcard am I protected if the goods don't turn up?

Or even any recommendations for specific sellers on there?

mtbtomo

I have bought 3 frames from Hong Fu, great service and communication on every purchase. FM001 & FM066 road frames and a FM016 MTB frame.

http://www.hongfu-bikes.com/

Fogliettaz, I meant on Aliexpress but the Hongfu FM066 looks ace - think I'll send them an email....

yetitony - Member

Hey ChunkyMTB,
Some nice bikes there! Running the hard tail with no front chain device? Any issues with the chain coming off?
That dirty disco replica looks lovely as well.

That pic was taken just as it was built, MRP arrived a couple of days later. Dirty Disco isn't mine, its one on the huge Chinese carbon thread on a dutch website. Was just highlighting what you can get direct.

Latest pics, now with some squidgy up front.

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Nice that Chunky

No pics of your CX yet hounsy...

Another bum shot

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Given the Chinese factory that I am going to start importing rims from make the De Rosa 838 (not a copy the real thing) I'd say there are good chinese carbon frame makers. There are those that also do copies. If you can buy direct from a factory. You can tell them apart from resellers and the factories website is normally crap

that's interesting which rims exactly

Stop stalking me 😯

Anyways I need to mail you, no reason other than not spoken to you in soooo long

It's been a chilled week 😮

Back in camp tomorrow though 🙁

ChunkyMTB - that looks really nice with the lefty.
One of the cleanest looking bikes I've seen with the internal cable routing.
Good job fella...

Cheers tony. It rides superbly.

A quick question for those of you with the Carbonal,Flyxii or Hongfu mtb frames. What BB do they take. I've looked on their various sites and they seem to list a few types. They all look very good and am quite tempted.

My Hongfu takes a 'normal' threaded external HTII style bb, but you can specify that or BB30 when you order.

cheers for the reply. I'd much rather get a normal threaded type.