I took the plunge and bought an R872 frame and forks for a self build. There's no denying that it looks very nice. Matt black is not my favourite finish but this looks quite smart. I started out with the purpose of creating a light bike (6.8kg to be exact) and chose Mavic Kyserium Elites, SRAM Force 22 and various 3T components with a super light saddle. But, when building the bike it gives you a chance for a much closer look at the frame and I started to see problems from the start.
There were aluminium shavings snagged in the bottom bracket and the general finish around this area was really poor with the powder coating (or whatever the paint was) very messy. The bottom bracket plate used to access the internal cable housing and drain water had issues with the screw fixings. They simply spun in their holes with no 'bite' at all.
I then noticed the rear wheel was off centre. I removed it and refitted thinking it was just a skewer fit problem but time and again I tried it would not centre. Measured at 3.6mm difference from one side to the other at the brake callipers but the base of the wheel near to the bottom bracket was dead centre!
That aside it does ride well. Quick and very easy on my regular climbs. I chose a 52.5 frame which I was told was ok for a 5'11" but I find it a little stretched but still fine. I think I could easily have come down a size.
But the finish quality of the frame really worries me for it's future and I hope that
Ribble will respond to my emails and give me some kind of decent resolution as I really want to get out and ride it but can't incase it needs to go back.
as they come with the frame. I might move the one under the bottle cage and tape that one, at least when I come to flog it its hidden.
