Best and worst overall quality/value components/tools/gear from AliExpress?

[AzureEssence]

This is a very general and open-ended question, but what do you think are the absolute best buys from AliExpress in terms of quality and value? And the worst buys? Can be specific to brands or products, or just general categories.

[Dribob]

I like these little hand pumps that have the hose that screws onto the valve. have them on all my bikes. Seen them with different branding but I have these ones:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mshOo0a

[kubackje]

I like these little hand pumps that have the hose that screws onto the valve. have them on all my bikes. Seen them with different branding but I have these ones:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mshOo0a

That's literally the worst pump I've ever used. This screwing hose thing is unusable for me. I prefer a classic mini pump.

[Sakizashi]

These are my two best:

Kalloy Uno Ultralight 7050AL Stems: $17.50 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255799842115476.html
These are very light and generally a quality component. Barely heavier than the Darimo AL stems and less than 1/10th the price.

Ridenow TPU Tubes: $6-$8 each for the 24g versions: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805247862356.html
Light and good quality TPU tube. They make a lighter version, but I have yet to try them.

Worst:
Any pulley wheels or ospw stuff. Total junk bearings. Most use the 689 size. If you want to play with fancy bearings in your RD, look for people reselling Kogel ones that they picked up for free during their sales.

[kbernstein]

+1 on both UNO stems and ridenow tubes. Both excellent products that could be sold as premium. Must have bargains for sure.
YBN chains and Deemount tubeless valves are also purchases I am very happy with.

[carbonazza]

Here's my best of :
Elita one seatpost and saddles
Firespider handlebars
Uno stems too
Balugoe $24 86g bare carbon saddles(but tend to crack after a while)
xpresso pedals Ti, 160g F1Z bike shop
handlebar bags, for long rides(Loving Outdoor Store)
Darevie shorts
SK Cycle carbon seatpost clamp
Alpha cycling pink break pads
Nuga store tubeless syringe
Onirii M2 brakes
Balashov Electric Cooking Machine 1.7L, to wax chains
Magene Radar L508



I liked them but not anymore:
Gaciron lights, great but their straps are crap, I've lost them all

[jonathanf2]

Of all the RideNow TPU tubes, I consider these ones the best so far. Not the lightest at 24g, but more durable than the plastic valve stem versions.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805826503201.html?

[Greenred]

How do the 24g ridenows hold air compared to the 36g version? Very happy with latter but a bit worried about constant pumping up tires in case of the 24g ones

[PLA]

I like rhinowalk saddlebags, risk titanium bolts, towild lights.

I dislike anything from og-evkin.

[AzureEssence]

These are my two best:

Kalloy Uno Ultralight 7050AL Stems: $17.50 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255799842115476.html
These are very light and generally a quality component. Barely heavier than the Darimo AL stems and less than 1/10th the price.

Ridenow TPU Tubes: $6-$8 each for the 24g versions: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805247862356.html
Light and good quality TPU tube. They make a lighter version, but I have yet to try them.

Worst:
Any pulley wheels or ospw stuff. Total junk bearings. Most use the 689 size. If you want to play with fancy bearings in your RD, look for people reselling Kogel ones that they picked up for free during their sales.

I have a pair of RideNow tubes on the way.

Interesting take on the pulley wheels; I'm using a pair of cheap alloy ones with ceramic bearings on both my mountain bikes (one SRAM GX and one Microshift Advent X derailleur). No problems with either of them and they look great. Have been using them for a few months now. I'd rate them as decent value but mostly an aesthetic upgrade.

[AzureEssence]

+1 on both UNO stems and ridenow tubes. Both excellent products that could be sold as premium. Must have bargains for sure.
YBN chains and Deemount tubeless valves are also purchases I am very happy with.

I definitely want to try YBN chains. I have a bunch of Deemount valve cores coming.

[AzureEssence]

Here's my best of :
Elita one seatpost and saddles
Firespider handlebars
Uno stems too
Balugoe $24 86g bare carbon saddles(but tend to crack after a while)
xpresso pedals Ti, 160g F1Z bike shop
handlebar bags, for long rides(Loving Outdoor Store)
Darevie shorts
SK Cycle carbon seatpost clamp
Alpha cycling pink break pads
Nuga store tubeless syringe
Onirii M2 brakes
Balashov Electric Cooking Machine 1.7L, to wax chains
Magene Radar L508



I liked them but not anymore:
Gaciron lights, great but their straps are crap, I've lost them all

Got an ELITAONE seatpost coming, can't wait to try it on my bikepacking rig.

[AzureEssence]

Of all the RideNow TPU tubes, I consider these ones the best so far. Not the lightest at 24g, but more durable than the plastic valve stem versions.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805826503201.html?

Do they make these in 26 or 29" for MTB?

[AzureEssence]

I like rhinowalk saddlebags, risk titanium bolts, towild lights.

I dislike anything from og-evkin.

Just ordered a Rhinowalk stem bag mostly for a snack sack on my bikepacking rig. Pretty much a full set of oil slick Risk Ti bolts coming as well. (if you haven't noticed I'm new here and going wild with these parts deals...)

[Sakizashi]

I like rhinowalk saddlebags, risk titanium bolts, towild lights.

I dislike anything from og-evkin.

Any thoughts on RISK vs. Wanyifa bolts? I have had the latter in my cart for while.

Interesting take on the pulley wheels; I'm using a pair of cheap alloy ones with ceramic bearings on both my mountain bikes (one SRAM GX and one Microshift Advent X derailleur). No problems with either of them and they look great. Have been using them for a few months now. I'd rate them as decent value but mostly an aesthetic upgrade.

I am pretty hard on my bikes. Ridden in the rain and mud then hosed down with one of those Muc Off pressure washers, ive trashed a few sets of stock sram jockey wheels as well. I only have sram groups at this point so the ones with 689 bearings use reducers. Between those reducers, the shields, and the questionable quality of the bearings there is a lot of play. They also died really quickly.

Kogel is pretty average IMO regarding bearings but their design work is good and the 688 bearing size has a lot of great bearings available for it. Eventually the plan is to swap these out for Enduro XD-15 bearings. Curious to see if they really are a tough as their reputation.