bargin frame or wast of money

[phil-b]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/29er-MTB-...hash=item3f55efa2a1:m:m0S-peAOePIW7QsOzUMNs0A

lots of stuff like this on ebay but is ot a good start for a bike build

 

[vickster]

Do some research on carbon frames out of China before even considering. Carbon mountain bikes seem a crazy idea to me if on a budget, especially one fron China with no warranty or back up service

I'd buy an older model 29er from Pauls cycles if I were you

 

[screenman]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/29er-MTB-...hash=item3f55efa2a1:m:m0S-peAOePIW7QsOzUMNs0A

lots of stuff like this on ebay but is ot a good start for a bike build

There was TV program a while back you may have missed. Worth checking out I would suggest.

 

[jowwy]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/29er-MTB-...hash=item3f55efa2a1:m:m0S-peAOePIW7QsOzUMNs0A

lots of stuff like this on ebay but is ot a good start for a bike build

Looks ok to me, they have good feedback. Its not really that cheap a frame tbh....buy the time you buy groupset, wheels, finishing kit. It will exactly like it came from ribble, planet x, dolan etc etc

To much scaremongering when it comes to chinese frames.......most frames come from the far east

 

[jowwy]

There was TV program a while back you may have missed. Worth checking out I would suggest.

That prgramme was about fake fsa products coming out of china.........i got a chinese frame direct from ican cycles in china, its mint fair play

 

[outlash]

TBH You can buy a half-decent hardtail for not much more in the sales atm.

 

[vickster]

That prgramme was about fake fsa products coming out of china.........i got a chinese frame direct from ican cycles in china, its mint fair play

That's why you need to do research, not just pick the cheapest at random from fleabay

 

[screenman]

That prgramme was about fake fsa products coming out of china.........i got a chinese frame direct from ican cycles in china, its mint fair play

We have some great chinese bits here, I was just saying the program was worth watching.

 

[phil-b]

the small amount I reading so far on them has seems positive from people who have used such frames. but without a brand name reputation they seem to be treated with caution by most. it is not a super cheap budget frame but it is hard to judge the quality.

I am looking into building a bike to suit my needs and a carbon frame would not be my first choice but at this price range it did spike my curiosity. I could also save myself a lot of hassle and buy a complete bike (but where is the fun in that and even then you through half of it away as you upgrade)

I am at the very early stage and open to a lot of options including a complete bike Marin bikes have also caught my eye I am not in a rush to get a new bike as the one I have is ok but it is getting a little tired and it would be nice to upgrade to higher quality components

 

[vickster]

Perhaps look at Planet X?

http://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/frames/mountain-bike-frames

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

I know someone that had a Chinese copy frame and fork. He went down a hill, the fork snapped clean and he ended up with some serious injuries, so make sure you are happy with the product you are buying.

 

[phil-b]

I know someone that had a Chinese copy frame and fork. He went down a hill, the fork snapped clean and he ended up with some serious injuries, so make sure you are happy with the product you are buying.

I guess that's the crux of the matter. If you by a camera and it breaks you have lost your money but if this fails as you are sat on it doing 30+ mph it is a different story

 

[phil-b]

well there is a lot of info and advice on the web, The problem for a beginner is not all of it is good advice and sifting through it all is not always easy. There is also a danger you can sift through different opinions and only pick up on the ones that agree with your own preconceived ideas that may or may not be quite right.

well after searching through youtube I did find some good videos. The two videos channels that impressed me were more road bike orientated than MTB but it still seemed sound advice that would apply to both. They said stay away from carbon unless your a racing as it can be easily broken and not easily repaired with the light weight advantage not really being worth while until you get into competitive situations and even then it is a marginal advantage. where as metal components are more robust and sometimes can be repaired when damaged and will last for years and cost a lot less.

It also occurred that a big weight saving in bike terms is still only 2 or 3 kg on a whole bike. As a 15 stone guy I could loose that much weight from my body in less than a month so any weight saving on a bike will not really be noticed by me

 

[Ticktockmy]

Remember when buy items from another country, you may need to pay VAT or Import duty, and depending on which courier handles it at this end a service charge all of which can add a considerable amount to the total cost. https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

 

[screenman]

Carbon fibre is repairable, and not that expensive either. I would look at buying a complete bike as they will often be better value than trying to put one together yourself, I have done it both ways on many occasions.