AM831 competitors? Help knudge me over!

[deucelee]

Hey guys,

I'm super close to pulling the trigger and want to confirm a couple things with you guys.  I've narrowed the frame picking down to the AM831 and want some last min suggestions or alternative suggestions that is a competitor to it.

(1) Are there other reliable trail frames out there that should be considered? i.e. 150mm +/- 10mm rear travel.  If yes, would you still pick the AM831 or that one?

(2) I have a RS Lyrik Ultimate fork that came off a 2020 Hightower so it should be a perfect match for the AM831.  Let me know if I'm off on that.  I also have a 2021 RS Super Deluxe Ultimate that came off a Megatower.  160mm travel, 230mmx57.5mm.  The connectors are 28.5mm for the body side and 19mm for the triangle side.  Any concerns there?

The 11/11/21 sale at Aliexpress is coming up Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything before pulling the trigger on the AM831.  Thx!   

[deucelee]

Crud...looks like based on this: http://www.winowsports.com/product/dual-suspension-150mm-travel-AM-Frame.html

The AM831 can only handle a 210x55 rear shock

Any frames that you're aware of that can handle a 230x27.5mm shock? if not, I'd have to look into selling it and buying one that fits. 

[darius72]

I've completed to build my AM831, light version 12.3 Kg. It's a great bike to ride, fast as XC uphill and good downhill, but I still need to tune the suspensions. Concerning the "problems" being a new frame it had  a lot of small issues that I (and the others) fixed while building the bike; you can read all of them in the big thread here.

[FlaMtnBkr]

I would look at the Carbonda FM1002 as well. I have the AM831 and thinking about trying it as well.

[Eddy-haideli]

http://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,3356.0.html

Welcome to join the groupbuy B order.

Eddy@haidelibicycle.com
Thanks
Eddy

[JJJ]

Any frames that you're aware of that can handle a 230x27.5mm shock? if not, I'd have to look into selling it and buying one that fits.

That is a very specific shock, rather long with a comparatively tiny stroke! Not sure you'll find AM or enduro frames that will take it.

[FullCarbonAlchemist]

I’m pretty sure that’s a typo and he really meant 230x57.5.

I’ve never heard of a 230 shock with less than 50mm stroke.

[deucelee]

Sorry guys, yeah it was 230x57.5.  It was correct in the original post.

Anyway, yeah that shock won't work so I will have to sell and get another one with the correct size.  I pulled the trigger on the AM831 already so it's done.  I was interested in the other two as well but for $200 less shipped and colored, I'll go the AM831 route instead.  Thx

[JJJ]

I pulled the trigger on the AM831 already so it's done.  I was interested in the other two as well but for $200 less shipped and colored, I'll go the AM831 route instead.  Thx

Congrats. So where did you buy it? I got mine from Winow on Aliexpress, missed the group buy deal from Haideli, but a few problems have been reported on the Haideli version, none of which I had with the Winow version... Am I lucky, or is there a quality difference between the various AM831 manufacturers?

[carbonazza]

... the Winow version... Am I lucky, or is there a quality difference between the various AM831 manufacturers?

Luck probably !
Haideli seems to care about their clients.
Hopefully not, but you may have to try later on if Winow do the same 

[RobertRinAustin]

Congrats. So where did you buy it? I got mine from Winow on Aliexpress, missed the group buy deal from Haideli, but a few problems have been reported on the Haideli version, none of which I had with the Winow version... Am I lucky, or is there a quality difference between the various AM831 manufacturers?

None of them will say this, but I'm pretty sure they're all from the same factory. When working on the group buy, I contacted many different vendors about the AM831. Only one of them claimed that they were the manufacturer.  They also said it didn’t matter where I got the frame, it was coming from their factory. 

I figure it's probably true based on all the vendors starting to deliver frames at the same time. We waited a long time and no one had frames.  Then all the sudden, everyone has frames.

[darius72]

None of them will say this, but I'm pretty sure they're all from the same factory. When working on the group buy, I contacted many different vendors about the AM831. Only one of them claimed that they were the manufacturer.  They also said it didn’t matter where I got the frame, it was coming from their factory. 

I figure it's probably true based on all the vendors starting to deliver frames at the same time. We waited a long time and no one had frames.  Then all the sudden, everyone has frames.

That's for sure; consider that a mold for carbon fiber costs in the area of 100.000 USD (maybe less in China) multiplied by 3-4 sizes!!! To pay it back you must sell a certain volume of frames, and then it is unreal that there are three companies making the same frame. They all come from the same factory, hard to say who is the real manufacturer and who is just a reseller.

[TOLM]

I've completed to build my AM831, light version 12.3 Kg. It's a great bike to ride, fast as XC uphill and good downhill, but I still need to tune the suspensions. Concerning the "problems" being a new frame it had  a lot of small issues that I (and the others) fixed while building the bike; you can read all of them in the big thread here.

I know I am retarded but can someone pls point me to the Big Thread? Is this is big group buy thread?

[cybrsrce]

I know I am retarded but can someone pls point me to the Big Thread? Is this is big group buy thread?

All things AM831 from the original group buy:
http://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,3172.0.html

The new/current AM831 group buy thread:
http://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,3356.0.html

[Schumo]

consider that a mold for carbon fiber costs in the area of 100.000 USD (maybe less in China)

Where did you get that number from?