Chinese Carbon Frames

[Judderz]

Hi Guys (and Girls of course),

I'm looking to go this route in the not so distant future, and been looking on ebay at the Chinese Carbon Frames, has anyone had dealings with the ebay option, or have they gone direct, if the ebay otion, which seller did you use and is there any to avoid (bad service/ripped off etc)

Saw a 12k weave 58cm frame, fork, seatpost and headset, with 68mm BB for £275 (inc postage)

This one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270766510274&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

If I do go this route, expect a lot of questions regarding the building of it as never built one from scratch before.

Thanks

 

[Globalti]

If you do go down that route a lot of us will be wanting to hear about the experience, the quality and how it rides etc.

I can't help thinking it must be a frustrated export order that didn't get painted for the client. It might be something really fancy! I know my own industry is awash with unwanted stock, frustrated orders, out-of-spec stuff that's otherwise perfectly good, all kinds of stuff that you can snap up for a bargain if you know what you're looking for and I'm sure the cycle industry is no different.

 

[TheDoctor]

Makes my £350 carbon frame and forks look a bit pricy, that.
Bargain!!!

 

[Herzog]

I've only heard good things about cheap Chinese carbon frames. For the money they're great and if you crash and write one off, it's not the end of the world.

 

[Sonofpear]

Have a look in the bikes kit and accessories forum. A few pages down there is a post on there about cheap Chinese carbon wheels. Check it out, the guy bought a frame too and tells of the experiences he had getting it. Which seem good by all accounts. Maybe ask him a few questions. Hope this is of some help.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Wonder why the seller changed their username in August 2008? Although TBH all their negative and neutral FB seems to be for bike parts all purchased from them under their current username.

I'd avoid but then again I'd avoid anything on ebay from the far east but that's done to previous experience, (not bike related though).

Contact gb155 on here, he's built a chinese carbon frame up, so he'll be the best source of info for you at the moment.

 

[Ibbots]

I bought a cheap carbon seat post of this seller, looked a lot like a copy of the Specialized post I am quite fond of. No problem with the service but quality not up to much. Clamp bolt about as tough as cheese with a creaking clamp it did not stay on the bike long. When I took if off the bike I noticed I have crushed the tube which could have been due to my over tightening but I have not done that to any other carbon post. It was very cheap and I thought worth the gamble because at the time as I was toying with the idea of buying a cheap pair of forks from him but I am not going to bother now.

 

[abo]

Wonder why the seller changed their username in August 2008? Although TBH all their negative and neutral FB seems to be for bike parts all purchased from them under their current username.

Might have just changed their name to something bike related? My colleague changed his ebay name from whatever it was to 'intercoolers', guess what he sells

 

[Xiorell]

I was looking at this last night, it is certainly tempting to build a full carbon cycle based on this, it's just somehow, even though I've had other chinese products (not bike stuff) and they've been genuinely great, this seems very Mick.E Mouse to me.

 

[fossyant]

I helped GB155 put his Chinese stealthy frame together - good quality, and certainly stiff enough. Can't see any issue with them as there are probably more out there than you realise - Ribbles, Planet-X.

Yeh, probably not as well finished as a big brand quality frame, but they are perfectly fine.

 

[Xiorell]

I helped GB155 put his Chinese stealthy frame together - good quality, and certainly stiff enough. Can't see any issue with them as there are probably more out there than you realise - Ribbles, Planet-X.

Yeh, probably not as well finished as a big brand quality frame, but they are perfectly fine.

Did he paint it? I like the idea of all the weave showing

 

[Andrew_P]

Take this with a pinch of salt..

I have spent the last ten years importing products from the far east, in volume.

If I do not have on site QC I normally (not always) have problems. They will cut corners on finish or raw material to increase their margins. they will quote too low to get the order and look at ways of improving the profit.

These two examples were nothing to do with me, but a Chinese brand of Baby milk wanted to make more profit rather than increase the price someone decided to add melamine powder to the mix as it is dense and cheap (and very toxic), a few years later the same was done with pet food ingredients and treats, this last one affected the whole world, and some massive corps with huge resources & QC missed it. Killed or made huge amounts of pets ill. There are others like false CE certifcates.

Now I fully understand that these frames could have been designed and destined for a major bike brand. But these brands would be on site, and would randomly test the material and punish a sample till destruction.

I think my feeling is heavily skewed by what I have had happen and read about, and the fact I would be on it. If anything happened to my current Carbon I have UK based brands and retailer to go after and UK law behind me.

On the flip side I would imagine the internet would be a wash with people moaning about split frames etc if it was rampant and consistent rip off, also I can well imagine that a £285 frame could easily re-appear over here painted and branded and up for sale with low groupset for £1400+ So it could well be a bargain.

The fact you are on a forum asking does suggest their is an element of doubt and "its too good to be true"

 

[Andrew_P]

okay massive thread here, and to be fair it looks like very few issues and when there is an issue it could be deemed minor.


Take look http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=241785&page=77

 

[Judderz]

I appreciate the comments guys.

@ LOCO...main reason I asked is because I have seen posted a few times that people have bought these frames from China, so just wanted to know their experiences, be it good or bad, and you're right, there is a slight doubt and buying UK I do have the law on my side, but just wanted to get others opinions, if they have been ripped off, then I'd steer well clear, but if the stories are good, then it's a serious consideration

 

[Banjo]

Flying down a hill or rumbling over a cattle grid the lack of any quality control would worry me.

I am sure plenty of people have had good ones but its not a route I would go down.