Chinese Carbon Road Bikes > Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components

VB-R-168 Build- A sceptic's experience

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cscottride:
Hello all.

I am located in USA so all of the links below may not work for you. This is just an overview of my experience and what I found while building the new bike. I purchased a VB-R-168 frame, integrated bars, VB-60 carbon wheels, and the rest of the components needed to make it a rolling machine :D. Before I start, I wanted to say I was very sceptical of this purchase and worried that it would not turn out as good as it did. Chris from VB is very helpful and responsive. I have read of negative experiences relating to VB, but mine was thankfully a pleasant one.

Parts ordered
- VB-R-168 frame (size 58- matte black)- Velobuild
http://www.velobuild.com/products/-171
- VB integrated bars (440 mm width- matte black)- came with frame/forks/seatpost/spacers
- VB-RC-60 carbon disc wheels (matte black) - Velobuild
http://www.velobuild.com/products/-57
- Continental GP5000 25mm tires- Amazon-
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RNVPQY3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Inner tube- Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XMJFJ5L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Carbon assembly paste- Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012RIEM6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Park tool grease- Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NORVHI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Foam cable covering (to stop noisy cables)- Hardware store that sells everything
https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/2029n11
- Shimano 105 groupset/ disc brakes/ press fit BB- Aliexpress- 007Bike Store
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32943199402.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.4cdd4c4dIxdtcS
- Bleed kit- Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWN4LSD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Shimano Ultegra center lock discs (160mm front 140mm rear)-
- Fizik saddle- Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PDLTTNN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Sram bar tape- Amazon- I would not do this again. terrible feel
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00142FFCG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Inner cable set (2) - Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JLWSF82/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The good-
The frame, bars, and forks came within two weeks (to USA). The wheels took longer because I requested 350 straight pull hubs. Everything went together nicely (I definitely recommend using carbon paste and torque wrench). Getting the cables through the frame and bars was reasonably difficult, but not too bad. The bike is all together and I have a few rides under my belt. Great bike, stiff, fast. Definitely a great bike for the price. I hate when my bikes are noisy from cable rattle, etc... so I made sure I took all necessary precautions when building this one. The end result is pretty great considering the price point.

The not so great-
The seat post has slipped on me (it may not do this if you are smaller. I am 220 lbs-100 kg). I found adding more carbon paste and upping the torque setting slightly definitely helps. The wheels took a bit longer due to covid and my customizations which isn't the end of the world. The aero bars may be too aero for some. I purchased the VB separate stem and bar combo to replace the integrated bars- that hasn't arrived yet. I left the steerer tube slightly long to add spacers later on.

I have added some pictures of the bike fully built. Feel free to ask any questions if you have.

Thanks for reading/viewing.

Irideslowly:
Great post!
Bike is beautiful.

Do you mind sharing the total cost?

cscottride:
Thank you!

No, not a problem. However, that is somewhat varying depending on what you include as "necessary to build." I purchased things like socket kits in order to make the build a little easier. See below for the breakdown (all USD, all including shipping).

- VB frame, forks, bars, and wheels: Cost $1,358.63 (includes additional $260 for 350 straight pull hubs)
- Shimano 105 Groupset/ disc brakes: $1,208.19
- Shimano Ultegra discs- bought domestically: $160.05
- Internal cables and allen key socket set: $54.04
- Grease, carbon paste, tubes: $79.59
- GP5000 tires- $132.80
- Bar tape: $17.11
- Fizik saddle: $72.47

All of that totals $3,082.88 USD

*I already had the bike stand, torque wrench, BB press, and other tools to build the bike, which I haven't included in above costs.

kbike:
How'd you decide to run cables?  I ran them through handlebars first.  I ran  cable from the rear forward. So I could feed the shifter and brake housing back through their holes.  I removed the brake and front derailleur ferrules to feed easier. 

Getting the fork, ring, handlebar, and spacer not to bind on the cables was irritating difficult.

cscottride:
My brake calipers were already connected to the hoses, so I didn't want to disconnect those. I ran my rear brake from back to front (afterwards I realized that the brakes were pre-bled so I am glad I did it that way) and slid the foam tubing on from the front of the frame down the downtube. *By pre-bled I mean that they already had fluid in them, so when I cut them to size and inserted the fitting, I didn't need to bleed the brakes.
The front brake hose I sent up from the bottom and added electrical tape around the steerer to keep that in place.
The rear derailleur I ran from the back to front as well (and slid the foam tube on after).
The front derailleur was the most difficult. Had to run that down the downtube and get it to seat into the frame mount for the cable housing down by the bottom bracket. It was difficult to get that lined up without seeing it.
Once all of those were in place and poking out where the bars connect, I slid all of the spacer rings over the hoses/cables, ran the hoses and cables through the bars, cut to size, connected, and was done (I realize that probably sounds like it went smoothly...I did have to redo it once I realized I forgot the headset spacers the first time ::) ).

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