I bought a 19” boost M9007 frame from Pro-Mance with ultralight T800/T1000 construction. Trailside weight of my build is just under 21 lbs. I am very impressed by the character and handling of the bike, not to mention the weight.
This mold was opened and licensed to three companies (marketed as Pro-Mance M9007/M7007, Hongfu HF-FM258, and TanTan FM078). Some additional adjustments were made to the mold: Hongfu modified the top-tube/seat-tube junction to resemble the Scott Spark while Pro-Mance introduced a boost option. Additionally, Pro-Mance is able to custom manufacture an ultralight T800/T1000 carbon fiber version of this frame (about 150g lighter). Of any XC 29er open mold, this frame looks to be the most aggressive, with the geometry being remarkably similar to the Scott Spark and the weight being the lowest of any chiner FS frame to date. That is, until the new Workswell frame hits the market later this summer.
CONSTRUCTION & FEATURES
The T800/T1000 ultralight M9007 boost frame from Pro-Mance is claimed to be 1850g for a 19”, though my frame (with derailleur hanger, cable routing ports, and shock mounting hardware) weighed 2020g. I did have it painted, but the weight is still heavier than anticipated.
The suspension linkage is carbon. Frame hardware is alloy. There is no squeaking or creaking through suspension compressions, an issue I have had with ICAN frames where plastic hardware was used. The shock hardware provided with the frame is a non-standard size that doesn’t fit Fox hardware, but I was able to find bolts to match Fox kits at the hardware store. The rear axle is heavy, I recommend an upgrade.
The internal routing is easy to set up, thanks to an accessible and thoughtful layout of the ports. The rear brake and derailleur cable are routed underneath the bottom bracket where they are susceptible to damage on impact. The rear brake caliper is mounted on the seat stay, while the cable routing port is on the inside of the chainstay and quite close to the axle, making for an awkward routing situation.
A single bottle mount on the downtube fits medium and small bottles. The frame is dropper compatible and should fit long travel posts. The bottom-bracket shell is press-fit.
I went with the boost M9007 frame to be certain I can ride 27.5x3.0 tires in addition to my 29x2.25 pair. There is probably not enough clearance for a knobbier or wider tire in the rear. The chainring clearance is also quite limited, I don’t think a 38T would fit, and I haven’t tested a 36T, but that would be tight as well. No chainstay protector mechanism is built into the frame, so you’ll want to find your own solution for that.
GEOMETRY
The M9007’s geometry falls into the aggressive XC category, with numbers very similar to the Scott Spark, though not identical.
BUILD KIT
Following proper weight weenie protocol, I gram-counted everything. However, I bored of this attitude and shifted towards putting together a smashing race-ready build. The trailside weight is just under 21 pounds. Sub-20 certainly was possible.
Suspension
The suspension is Fox Factory, with a boost Float 32 SC up front and a Float 6.5”x1.5” DPS shock in the rear. Neither have remote lockout.
Drivetrain
The drivetrain includes a RaceFace Next SL G4 crankset with OneUp boost 32T round/oval Switch chainring, SRAM XG-1195 cassette, and Shimano XTR 1x11 derailleur/shifter.
Brakes
Brakes are XTR Race with Ashima AI2 rotors. The power is not great, but enough for my Midwest XC riding.
Cockpit
The cockpit is the popular padded carbon saddle from Aliexpress (absolutely recommend), a Chiner 720mm flat carbon handlebar (tried 7 models, this is the only one stiff enough for me), Kalloy Uno 60mm -7o stem, silicone grips (orange are on the way), and a Chiner carbon seatpost.
Wheelset
A 1280g wheelset from Speedsafe helped keep things light and affordable. Boost DT Swiss 350 hubs were laced to monocoque 310g 24mm-wide 29er carbon rims with Pillar Xtra-Aero spokes and Pillar alloy nipples. Wheels were excellently tensioned and trued and shipped within 2 weeks. Tubeless setup required an air compressor due to hookless sidewalls. Order from Aliexpress. Speedsafe knows their stuff, I highly recommend them. I’ll write a separate review on the Speedsafe wheels after a thousand miles. At present they feel featherweight and I love the stiffness. I am mainly interested in the rim durability long-term.
Tires
Tires are Maxxis Ikon 29x2.25 3C/EXO Skinwall, and I’ll ride them till they break and then get something different—maybe an Ardent in the front and an Aspen in the rear. Traction is not as anticipated. Tubeless setup.
Other parts
Lots of little details also shave weight. Some Ti bolts, Syntace rear axle, carbon seatpost clamp, lightweight shift cable housing, stingy amounts of sealant, XTR pedals, carbon bottle cage, etc.
RIDE IMPRESSIONS
I have just 30 miles of Michigan singletrack on this bike so far, but I am incredibly pleased with the feel. A friend of mine also bought a Spark RC Pro bike, and I’ve got to say the bikes would feel identical except that my bike is 3 pounds lighter. We both come from hardtails, so we are absolutely shredding the gnar and loving every mile. At 6’2” the 19” frame size is working well for me, although I might go for a 21” if it becomes an option.
I think you can read any Spark review and apply the characteristics and handling of the ride to this frame. At 21 pounds, acceleration on my build is almost effortless--it climbs like a goat and descends like a beast. It shines most in the technical climbs, there just isn’t a bike built any better for these sections than a lightweight FS with a steep HTA.
AVAILABILITY & LOGISTICS
Hongfu, Tantan, and Pro-Mance are all stocking this frame in 15”, 17”, and 19” sizes. If you want boost, go with Pro-Mance, if you want a Spark-esque seat tube/top tube junction, go with Hongfu. I was personally very happy with the customer service that Al Zhu at Pro-Mance provided. He was always fast to reply, transparent about how things were going, and handled my special requests patiently. I recommend negotiating on the price. Hongfu has a special pre-order offer at the moment, but chances are Pro-Mance can match that price.
I waited 4 months to get my frame. I ordered something that was not in stock, needed custom-cut paint decals, and I ordered right before 3 weeks of Chinese New Year holidays. But I also got a good price. I recommend avoiding my mistakes to help speed things up for you. You can get frames that are in stock in as quickly as two weeks.
