Author Topic: Flyxii FE-02 Build  (Read 6231 times)

00Garza

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #30 on: April 13, 2023, 10:37:10 PM »
Update. I’m being sent a new shifter. Just needed to pay $10 shipping. I’m ok with that. Bummed I’ll have to wait a while til it shows up.
Looks like Ltwoo official store is making sure other vendors provide after sales service.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2023, 06:55:39 AM by 00Garza »

00Garza

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #31 on: May 02, 2023, 01:47:26 PM »
Bike is finally built up and will take it for its first ride this weekend. Lots spacers til I get the fit dialed in. I’ll replace the pedals with some SPD pedals. The saddle came with an obnoxiously long bolt that extended up frighteningly close to the cutout so I had it trimmed down a bit.
As you can see the clearance between derailleur and frame is a bit tight in certain gearing, but should be ok. 

00Garza

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #32 on: May 05, 2023, 01:48:45 PM »
First ride report.

Took it out for a quick spin this morning. Mix of paved road, rough tarmac, washboard farm roads, and a rocky little descent.
I’ve only been riding my 30 something pound trail bike do this thing feels super light! I also miss suspension.

Bike does handle well and I see the benefits of the flared bars.

Only issue is some flex in the rear. I can hear the brakes  rubbing slightly when climbing out of the saddle. Mostly flat where I live so not a huge annoyance, but an annoyance nonetheless.

00Garza

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #33 on: May 23, 2023, 11:37:06 AM »
100 mile update.

Frame hasn't exploded yet.
Ltwoo GR9 group is not bad. Might upgrade shift cable to something more premium to see if it makes shifting better.
Senicx GR3 crankset has been solid. Used a shimano bb instead of the stock one. No creaking and runs smooth.
Replaced Toseek stem for a shorter one I had laying around to adjust fit. Might order a "nicer" one soon.
Mixed saddle is comfy enough. I've taken some serious hits on bumpy roads and its held up well.
Toseek seatpost gets the job done. Not much to write home about. Not the lightest since it uses metal fittings instead of carbon, but I prefer sturdiness over some grams saved.
45mm WTB Riddlers are ideal for my terrain. Not overly aggressive, but just the right balance of grip and rolling resistance.

My two gripes so far:
1. Rear does have flex when pedaling standing up. Not much to do about it really. For the price of the frame, I should've expected some flaws.
2. Thru axles use an 8mm allen wrench/hex key. Why?? None of my current multi tools have an 8mm so I either have to find one with an 8mm or carry another allen wrench. Also, the allen wrench can't go in beyond maybe 10mm or so. So all the torque is on a very small part of the shaft. May not be an issue, but just a bad design choice imo.

TidyDinosaur

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #34 on: May 24, 2023, 01:39:10 AM »
My two gripes so far:
1. Rear does have flex when pedaling standing up. Not much to do about it really. For the price of the frame, I should've expected some flaws.
2. Thru axles use an 8mm allen wrench/hex key. Why?? None of my current multi tools have an 8mm so I either have to find one with an 8mm or carry another allen wrench. Also, the allen wrench can't go in beyond maybe 10mm or so. So all the torque is on a very small part of the shaft. May not be an issue, but just a bad design choice imo.

You could replace the axle with one that has a lever? I have them on my gravel bike because I want to be able to easily change wheelsets and they work great....

kbernstein

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #35 on: May 24, 2023, 05:36:48 AM »
The ZTTO axles on alix have a 6mm hex if you want. But I think the metal is a little soft and easy to strip

00Garza

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #36 on: May 24, 2023, 12:15:35 PM »
I'm looking into replacing for sure. They seem to have strange dimensions. How exact do thru axle measurements need to be? Are some measurements more important than others?

Can't find anything that matches perfectly.
Axle specs:
Front- 120L M12 P1.5 L14
Rear- 173L M12 p1.5 L15
 

TidyDinosaur

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #37 on: May 25, 2023, 01:57:31 AM »
I'm looking into replacing for sure. They seem to have strange dimensions. How exact do thru axle measurements need to be? Are some measurements more important than others?

Can't find anything that matches perfectly.
Axle specs:
Front- 120L M12 P1.5 L14
Rear- 173L M12 p1.5 L15

The first number is the length. Depending on how the axles fit now, you could deviate a little but that is for you to decide...
The rest is the thread. I guess the last number is the length of the thread, so you could go for more or less thread depending on the length of the axle... If you go for a slightly longer axle (few mm's) you will need longer thread of else the thread will run out before the axle is tight...
Here you have suitable axles with a lever like I've got: https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005002555449083.html?srcSns=com.pushbullet.android&spreadType=socialShare&bizType=ProductDetail&social_params=20975338116&aff_fcid=8d92cb73f14a4bb7be70f951f483cf1b-1684997815249-01821-_mLtxhEy&tt=MG&aff_fsk=_mLtxhEy&aff_platform=default&sk=_mLtxhEy&aff_trace_key=8d92cb73f14a4bb7be70f951f483cf1b-1684997815249-01821-_mLtxhEy&shareId=20975338116&businessType=ProductDetail&platform=AE&terminal_id=e6a6ad9f252046b3968015305bc14eaf&afSmartRedirect=y

00Garza

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #38 on: May 25, 2023, 09:31:11 AM »
The first number is the length. Depending on how the axles fit now, you could deviate a little but that is for you to decide...
The rest is the thread. I guess the last number is the length of the thread, so you could go for more or less thread depending on the length of the axle... If you go for a slightly longer axle (few mm's) you will need longer thread of else the thread will run out before the axle is tight...
Here you have suitable axles with a lever like I've got: https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005002555449083.html?srcSns=com.pushbullet.android&spreadType=socialShare&bizType=ProductDetail&social_params=20975338116&aff_fcid=8d92cb73f14a4bb7be70f951f483cf1b-1684997815249-01821-_mLtxhEy&tt=MG&aff_fsk=_mLtxhEy&aff_platform=default&sk=_mLtxhEy&aff_trace_key=8d92cb73f14a4bb7be70f951f483cf1b-1684997815249-01821-_mLtxhEy&shareId=20975338116&businessType=ProductDetail&platform=AE&terminal_id=e6a6ad9f252046b3968015305bc14eaf&afSmartRedirect=y

Thanks for that!
I understood the measurements, just wasn't sure which ones to prioritize. These seem like they'll do the job. I honestly prefer axles without the lever. Aesthetics I guess, but if I can't find something that works I'll definitely get these.

TidyDinosaur

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #39 on: May 25, 2023, 12:10:06 PM »
Thanks for that!
I understood the measurements, just wasn't sure which ones to prioritize. These seem like they'll do the job. I honestly prefer axles without the lever. Aesthetics I guess, but if I can't find something that works I'll definitely get these.

There are a lot of options, so I doubt you won't find anything :) And if you have to go for one that's a bit longer you can also add a spacer if you want. You can also find them on ali. You could go for the 175mm axle. This will stick out 2mm (if the current axle sits flush) or you can add a spacer on the side where the axle enters the frame of 2mm and the axle will be flush again.

BHC1BCN

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #40 on: March 24, 2024, 06:51:37 AM »
Hey guys. I saw this frame is on sale at AliExpress for pretty cheap. I was wondering if anyone could give a long-term review of it? Also, has anyone tried putting 29x2 tires on it? I read in another forum there was a lot of toe overlap with front tire. TIA

frnchy

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #41 on: March 24, 2024, 06:52:34 PM »
I've had my FE-02 since October 2021 and have put almost exactly 1,500 miles on it. I initially built it up with 700x42mm tires which handled well but weren't wide enough for the riding I do on this bike, so I swapped to 700x50mm Gravelking SK's which measured about 52mm on 25mm internal rims. This was good volume but put my center of mass too high for comfortable handling, and toe overlap with my size 43 shoes was also really bad with this setup. Currently I'm running 650b with tires still measuring about 52mm, and this is the best compromise for handling and tire volume I've found thus far.

Wheels/tires aside, the geometry is very stable without being too upright, which I like; it's definitely not on the progressive end of the spectrum with respect to headtube/seattube angle or anything, it's much more similar to my road bike than my mountain bike. The handling isn't as razor-sharp as my road bike either, and I wouldn't use this as bike for primarily road riding - I've had my road bike wheels (700x32mm tires) on the FE-02 for winter riding and the handling didn't really change from its 650b setup. Not that the handling is bad, I am using it right now as my main winter ride since it has full length fenders on it, just that I don't have the same sense of being one with the bike that I do on my Tarmac SL6.

Lastly, the construction quality of the frame/fork is very good and I've not had any issues running cables/wires/hoses through the downtube; the chainstays are REALLY narrow so care must be taken not to wedge internal cable routing tools in there (it sucks to get them out....). I've even been able to run a dropper post on it with Di2 - see my post history - and doing this would be even easier with mechanical shifting since there's no battery in the way. The dropper really enhances the ability of this frame to tackle rougher downhill terrain and I find myself using it a lot during regular descents too, as it offers a comfortable yet very aero position. I've ridden this bike on some truly dreadful terrain, including completely offroad bikepacking out in the woods where me + luggage + bike weighed close to 120 kg all told, and it's performed great. The frame isn't light but you get durability in return, it seems.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this frame if you're in the market for a burly, big-tire-clearance gravel bike.

00Garza

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #42 on: March 24, 2024, 08:54:31 PM »
I've ridden and raced mine foer got about 1,500 miles. Definitely recommend if budget is the primary concern.
Toe overlap is an issue at low speeds with my 175mm cranks.
I'm running 45c tires and its great for my local terrain. My only grips is some flex in the rear when I'm standing on the pedals. If I'm really putting down power the brakes do rub ever so slightly.

EDIT:
Holy cow, I just saw the price with the sale!!!
Its like $350 shipped to my door.
« Last Edit: March 24, 2024, 09:06:01 PM by 00Garza »

mirphak

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #43 on: March 25, 2024, 03:15:06 AM »
Get a second one, I did xD

BHC1BCN

Re: Flyxii FE-02 Build
« Reply #44 on: March 25, 2024, 06:12:36 AM »
Thanks for the review guys. I'll post pictures if I order it. I'm still trying to decide between fe-02 and fe-03.