Carbonda fm936 Thoughts

[brex]

Grease only with a press fit bottom bracket. Any locker of any kind will cause headaches down the road. Guaranteed.
I'd bet the creaking is coming from the stem, handlebar or seatpost

[Schoobang]

Grease only with a press fit bottom bracket. Any locker of any kind will cause headaches down the road. Guaranteed.
I'd bet the creaking is coming from the stem, handlebar or seatpost

Yeah, makes sense.

Creaking is still there even if I stand up pedaling or when I don’t hold the handlebar (not at the same time!). I was also suspecting linkage but I can’t force creaking without putting pressure on the cranks.

[carbonazza]

I agree - get a paint job with the frame and make it beautiful. That being said, how does the process go for selecting a paint colour, cost, addition to timeline to get frame, etc? Any insights to share what I should expect. Looking to order my frame in the fall (Sept) and build it up over the winter. Thanks again!

Around 10-15 days more depending on their current load.

[theirishrider]

Yeah, makes sense.

Creaking is still there even if I stand up pedaling or when I don’t hold the handlebar (not at the same time!). I was also suspecting linkage but I can’t force creaking without putting pressure on the cranks.

I expect that it's the bb creaking. check hambini's videos for more details about why BBs creak. basically its oval bb's where the bearings go in. The engineering reasons why they creak can be a few different ones but they can be mostly solved with a one-piece bb.

https://www.hambini.com/product/bb92-to-shimano-mtb-black-bottom-bracket/

Scroll down the page to the FAQs
essentially, the screw together provides a circular fit for the bearing and distributes the force more uniformly.  I'm an engineer but I've not actually seen a bb92 or this one piece bb in person ever.

something like this might be cheaper than a hambini:

https://wheelsmfg.com/bb86-92-outboard-angular-contact-bb-for-24mm-shimano-cranks-black.html
https://www.bikeinn.com/bike/wheels-manufacturing-press-fit-bb86-92-shimano-24-mm-bottom-bracket/137541473/p
https://www.bikeinn.com/bike/wheels-manufacturing-press-fit-bb86-92-shimano-24-mm-bottom-bracket/137541473/p
https://www.c-bear.com/en/products/bottom-bracket/pressfit-86-92-shimano-fsa-race-face-rotor

You can see here how the cup holds the bearings now rather than the frame.
https://wheelsmfg.com/bb86-92-tech

Hope that helps?

[Zdrenka89]

I am in the process of ordering a frame and I disliked the idea of another possible press-fit dissaster so i asked if BSA 73mm is a posibility and apparently it is!

I was curious as to how this was possible because the original shell is 92mm wide, but it looks like they are able to shorten the flanges of the original shell to 73mm with aluminium threaded inserts.

I asked about weight differences but he said 'no difference' which i interpret as negligeble.

Adam sent me these photos.




Fullsize:
https://i.imgur.com/89yycxl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0IIiMBJ.jpg

[Pharaohollie]

I am in the process of ordering a frame and I disliked the idea of another possible press-fit dissaster so i asked if BSA 73mm is a posibility and apparently it is!

I was curious as to how this was possible because the original shell is 92mm wide, but it looks like they are able to shorten the flanges of the original shell to 73mm with aluminium threaded inserts.

I asked about weight differences but he said 'no difference' which i interpret as negligeble.

Adam sent me these photos.

Well that's news to me! I'd have ordered my frame with BSA if I knew that's an option.

[Zdrenka89]

I thought i was being cheeky by asking to be honest.

Under 'Bottom bracket' on their website it does say 'to order' which pushed me to ask.

Long live BSA! 

[Schoobang]

Yeah, makes sense.

Creaking is still there even if I stand up pedaling or when I don’t hold the handlebar (not at the same time!). I was also suspecting linkage but I can’t force creaking without putting pressure on the cranks.

I expect that it's the bb creaking. check hambini's videos for more details about why BBs creak. basically its oval bb's where the bearings go in. The engineering reasons why they creak can be a few different ones but they can be mostly solved with a one-piece bb.

https://www.hambini.com/product/bb92-to-shimano-mtb-black-bottom-bracket/

Scroll down the page to the FAQs
essentially, the screw together provides a circular fit for the bearing and distributes the force more uniformly.  I'm an engineer but I've not actually seen a bb92 or this one piece bb in person ever.

something like this might be cheaper than a hambini:

https://wheelsmfg.com/bb86-92-outboard-angular-contact-bb-for-24mm-shimano-cranks-black.html
https://www.bikeinn.com/bike/wheels-manufacturing-press-fit-bb86-92-shimano-24-mm-bottom-bracket/137541473/p
https://www.bikeinn.com/bike/wheels-manufacturing-press-fit-bb86-92-shimano-24-mm-bottom-bracket/137541473/p
https://www.c-bear.com/en/products/bottom-bracket/pressfit-86-92-shimano-fsa-race-face-rotor

You can see here how the cup holds the bearings now rather than the frame.
https://wheelsmfg.com/bb86-92-tech

Hope that helps?

Problem is that this kind of bb doesn’t exist for my dub cranks, or at least I can’t find it. So I would need to buy new cranks as well.

Really wish I knew you could get it threaded from factory before...

[sync1]

When I asked about BSA73 BB they answered me: "We only have BB92 in stock now , If you want other bottom bracket ,You need to order at least 10.".

[theirishrider]

Problem is that this kind of bb doesn’t exist for my dub cranks, or at least I can’t find it. So I would need to buy new cranks as well.

Really wish I knew you could get it threaded from factory before...

sorry I dont want to beat a dead horse but I think C-bear stock them https://www.c-bear.com/en/products/sram-dub

[ChinaCruz]

I may have to pass on this frame. The attraction of these no brand frames is the low price. They're quoting me $1200 shipped for a painted superlight frame. With shock that will be $1500-$1600. That is steep for a frame with zero resale value when name brand companies are selling their previous year model frames for around $2000.

[zilcho]

I may have to pass on this frame. The attraction of these no brand frames is the low price. They're quoting me $1200 shipped for a painted superlight frame. With shock that will be $1500-$1600. That is steep for a frame with zero resale value when name brand companies are selling their previous year model frames for around $2000.

You do you, but to claim this frame isn't a deal is just silly.  You chose the SL model, $150 for 150 grams saved isn't exactly a bargain on any component, but it's nice that they offer the option.  Don't know what you chose for paint but good luck finding that price quote state side or wherever you are.  Their shipping cost is higher right now b/c only EMS is making it through customs with the pandemic, not like they're pocketing the difference.  Name a branded frame that you can get with custom painting, and this modern XC geo, for $1200 shipped.

[Zdrenka89]

You do you, but to claim this frame isn't a deal is just silly.  You chose the SL model, $150 for 150 grams saved isn't exactly a bargain on any component, but it's nice that they offer the option.  Don't know what you chose for paint but good luck finding that price quote state side or wherever you are.  Their shipping cost is higher right now b/c only EMS is making it through customs with the pandemic, not like they're pocketing the difference.  Name a branded frame that you can get with custom painting, and this modern XC geo, for $1200 shipped.

I'd have to agree. Brand name carbon frames will often loose $1200 or more in value as soon as 'the new' model comes out.

I think the beauty in chinese frames is that you dont have to baby them that much because realisticly its not going to make much of a difference whether there is ekstra paint scratches. Who knows, it might even make you ride harder 

[Pharaohollie]

I may have to pass on this frame. The attraction of these no brand frames is the low price. They're quoting me $1200 shipped for a painted superlight frame. With shock that will be $1500-$1600. That is steep for a frame with zero resale value when name brand companies are selling their previous year model frames for around $2000.

You certainly have a point and it is something I thought about before I pulled the trigger on the Carbonda, with some big caveats.
 
You can find some fantastic name brand frames with similar specs to the FM936 discounted to around +- $2000 like this Yeti SB100 https://www.competitivecyclist.com/yeti-cycles-sb100-turq-beti-mountain-bike-frame. That's still a $900 (plus shipping cost) difference between what I just paid for the Carbonda, including the cost of a (nearly new) Fox DPS shock (via eBay) AND the currently extremely expensive (but fast) DHL shipping option. I opted for no paint, but if I chose the most expensive paint option that would have made the price difference about $800+. Still significant!

Sure, good deals come up all the time, but to find a good deal with the criteria I want, in my frame size, in a color I like I'd have to be very patient which I usually am as I have several other bikes to ride while I work on new build projects...but patience has limits! Or...accept certain compromises. With the factory direct frame, the main compromise is, of course, the resale value.

This will be my first Chiner frame. I have a Cannondale Scalpel Si 3, a Felt gravel bike and an Argon 18 road bike and they're all fantastic. The Carbonda frame would allow me to build up a bike to specs I want without needing to spend a silly amount of time hunting for deals or a silly amount of money for a frame meeting my criteria. Resale value is certainly never the primary concern when it comes to buying a Chiner frame.

[theirishrider]

It's still a big increase from the original $630 plus shipping