Anyone ever built a project with Chinese bits?
Discussion
Been watching a few YouTube videos lately about cheap Chinese frames, wheels and components. Got me thinking about maybe starting a little project to build a bike, hopefully cost effective.
Anyone ever done similar? Any ideas or suggestions? Any pitfalls? Is it even worth considering?
Anyone ever done similar? Any ideas or suggestions? Any pitfalls? Is it even worth considering?
I haven’t, but a guy at work has built two road bikes over the last few years, both with carbon frames and a high spec (in a Chinese way).
His most recent frame took a few months longer to arrive, probably a combination of Covid and the UK’s financial suicide.
He enjoys the ‘journey’ of sourcing and buying the parts almost as much as he enjoys building the thing.
If you’re confident with bending spanners etc, go for it. Just don’t be in a hurry.
His most recent frame took a few months longer to arrive, probably a combination of Covid and the UK’s financial suicide.
He enjoys the ‘journey’ of sourcing and buying the parts almost as much as he enjoys building the thing.
If you’re confident with bending spanners etc, go for it. Just don’t be in a hurry.
I've got a cheap (by UK market standards) carbon 29er hardtail that's not killed me yet.
https://chinertown.com/ is good for seeing other peoples experiences.
There's cheap, very light stuff I wouldn't touch with a bargepole. At the other end, companies making really nice stuff, some of which gets picked up by other brands and sold with their name on.
Eyeing up an ICAN P9 next for enduro/bikepark stuff, but will probably wait until I can pick up all the other bits I'd need.
https://chinertown.com/ is good for seeing other peoples experiences.
There's cheap, very light stuff I wouldn't touch with a bargepole. At the other end, companies making really nice stuff, some of which gets picked up by other brands and sold with their name on.
Eyeing up an ICAN P9 next for enduro/bikepark stuff, but will probably wait until I can pick up all the other bits I'd need.
sjg said:
I've got a cheap (by UK market standards) carbon 29er hardtail that's not killed me yet.
https://chinertown.com/ is good for seeing other peoples experiences.
There's cheap, very light stuff I wouldn't touch with a bargepole. At the other end, companies making really nice stuff, some of which gets picked up by other brands and sold with their name on.
Eyeing up an ICAN P9 next for enduro/bikepark stuff, but will probably wait until I can pick up all the other bits I'd need.
The gravel bike on the Ican site actually looks good, the wording of the descriptions doesn’t inspire me with confidence though https://chinertown.com/ is good for seeing other peoples experiences.
There's cheap, very light stuff I wouldn't touch with a bargepole. At the other end, companies making really nice stuff, some of which gets picked up by other brands and sold with their name on.
Eyeing up an ICAN P9 next for enduro/bikepark stuff, but will probably wait until I can pick up all the other bits I'd need.
Not done a bike build yet, but probably will do in the future.
However, all three of my bikes have been running chinese carbon bars for years along with carbon seat posts on two of them. I've also used chinese lightweight stems too.
No issues what so ever. Nicest bars were a rip off of the 3T ergnova bars and they look the best. The lightest are the Hylix ones fitted to my cross bike. They are good brand to look at for finishing kit such as bars, stems, seat posts ect ect.
My next road bike will be built on a Chinese frame as I think the cost of off the shelf bikes is pretty rediculous now thanks to demand generated from Lockdown.
However, all three of my bikes have been running chinese carbon bars for years along with carbon seat posts on two of them. I've also used chinese lightweight stems too.
No issues what so ever. Nicest bars were a rip off of the 3T ergnova bars and they look the best. The lightest are the Hylix ones fitted to my cross bike. They are good brand to look at for finishing kit such as bars, stems, seat posts ect ect.
My next road bike will be built on a Chinese frame as I think the cost of off the shelf bikes is pretty rediculous now thanks to demand generated from Lockdown.
Wouldn't bother me using Chinese bits, end of the day most parts are built in Asia, most frames and componentry - albeit at different levels, but pretty much standard across the board now, industry has changed alot, and manufacturing has really come on leaps and bounds, compared to 10/15 years ago.
Just come across that ICAN P9 model, got me thinking now!
That's a nice looking bike, good to be different on the trails.
I use Chinese cranks and Hollowtech BB's (IXF's) on all my bikes, their so cheap in comparison and had very good reliability with me never had any issues.
Just come across that ICAN P9 model, got me thinking now!
That's a nice looking bike, good to be different on the trails.I use Chinese cranks and Hollowtech BB's (IXF's) on all my bikes, their so cheap in comparison and had very good reliability with me never had any issues.
Interesting stuff. Quite tempted to get a pair of carbon bars and seatpost for my CAAD8, replacing the stock alloy bits would would take a chunk of weight out of it but I don't want to spend loads on branded stuff.
One of my mates has built a bike with a £250 carbon road frame, it's light, stiff, and he hasn't had any issues. Looks quite cool in raw carbon with no stickers on.
Hylix are mentioned above, any others worth looking out for? Where are people getting the bits? Ebay?
One of my mates has built a bike with a £250 carbon road frame, it's light, stiff, and he hasn't had any issues. Looks quite cool in raw carbon with no stickers on.
Hylix are mentioned above, any others worth looking out for? Where are people getting the bits? Ebay?
I've done a lot of miles on a pair of unbranded Chinese carbon wheels - even obtained a new rim for the front and rebuilt it when the first one wore out.
I've also bought carbon wheels from a UK supplier that were made in China and seriously flawed - returning them for replacement was a lot easier that it would've been if I'd bought them direct.
I've also bought carbon wheels from a UK supplier that were made in China and seriously flawed - returning them for replacement was a lot easier that it would've been if I'd bought them direct.
I've rolled the dice with various AliExpress sourced items for a hardtail 29er, such as Speed Safe 1345g carbon wheels, YBB chain, ZTTO cassette, JL ti bars, ti seatpost clamp, Tito ti flat pedals, etc.
"Fingers crossed" (he says, as he launches into the fast-approaching double on Swinley's Red 15).
You would expect the various bearings to fail sooner than normal but can replace them with decent ones when that happens.
"Fingers crossed" (he says, as he launches into the fast-approaching double on Swinley's Red 15).
You would expect the various bearings to fail sooner than normal but can replace them with decent ones when that happens.
Chacun a son gout and all that, but that looks utterly terrifying!Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff