Seraph Bikes Superlight 836g X68 - Alternative to SL8 Fakes?

[jes2k13]

Prom dress.

Initial impressions, only 15 miles in a 20 mph wind. It's very comfortable for a performance bike, didn't notice the carbon spokes at all, but hey, I've never ridden anything with a really wide (26 int) and a 30. So I'm not qualified.
The position is aggressive, but I'm 65 and can ride it so long as the hoods are reasonably high.
It doesn't feel cheap, that's for sure. Does it feel like an sl8 pro/expert? Dunno. My guess is close.
Wheeltop? Man,it shifts fine. The app is difficult. Press the bluetooth thing or nothing happens. No one tells you that.
The fd shift is low in casual mode. Theres a guy on facebook that has a bootleg app that separates out race mode from sleep(oem app kills sleep if you select race), and I suspect that'll greatly improve fd action. Rear action is plenty quick.

Looks amazing bro congrats on the build!
Just wanted to know which size frame is this beauty? your handlebar stem and width?
and which wheelset is this?
Lastly how is the quality of the speedy decals? are they easy to put on?

[fhill]

First 800km in with the bike, rides really great, quite comfortable (not sure if this is my wheelset or the frame). Feels quite stiff nevertheless, but didn't do lots of sprinting with it yet. Only downside is an annoying creaking I can't locate, could be anything from bottom braket to seatpost.

[Sander2177]

First 800km in with the bike, rides really great, quite comfortable (not sure if this is my wheelset or the frame). Feels quite stiff nevertheless, but didn't do lots of sprinting with it yet. Only downside is an annoying creaking I can't locate, could be anything from bottom braket to seatpost.

Can we get picture of your build.

Not enough photos on this thread of X68 builds

[fhill]

Here you go

Not the perfect picture, because mid of ride

Went with 45mm wheels from Easedon, SRAM Red cranks, and Ztto cassette paired with 11s Ultegra di2.

[glepore]

Looks amazing bro congrats on the build!
Just wanted to know which size frame is this beauty? your handlebar stem and width?
and which wheelset is this?
Lastly how is the quality of the speedy decals? are they easy to put on?

Its a 49. Saddle height for reference is 67.5. Bars are 110/38. While on that subject, the Rapide is a gorgeous shape, but I'm not sure I like the reach (which is short when I run levers in my preferred up position with a smooth transition from top at bend to lever top-when I try to get forearms on tops not enough reach) or the drop (its a very full drop and I prefer compact). I'm hoping someone clones or comes close to the new Enve integrated bar with the slight rise, I could eliminate a spacer and still be more comfortable.
The wheels are Xiamen Carbon Speed, 50/65, 5mm carbon spokes. 1330g.
Speedy decals are nice, I've used them on a number of projects. Full review of installation a couple posts above. Easy enough if you're not trying to cover an existing logo, which is harder. They will scale the decal up slightly if you're doing that and let them know.

[glepore]

First 800km in with the bike, rides really great, quite comfortable (not sure if this is my wheelset or the frame). Feels quite stiff nevertheless, but didn't do lots of sprinting with it yet. Only downside is an annoying creaking I can't locate, could be anything from bottom braket to seatpost.

Funny, I also have a slight creak under power. Suspect I might not have the lockring tight enough.
I know ztto cassettes get grief on ww and other forums, but my gen 2 12 speed has been great so far, as have several OG 11 speed ones. Yeah, the alu cogs eventually wear but at the price they're great.
Is that a D1 or E1 crank?

[fhill]

Funny, I also have a slight creak under power. Suspect I might not have the lockring tight enough.
I know ztto cassettes get grief on ww and other forums, but my gen 2 12 speed has been great so far, as have several OG 11 speed ones. Yeah, the alu cogs eventually wear but at the price they're great.
Is that a D1 or E1 crank?

I can exclude the locking of the cassette as it's the same with different wheelsets. Funnily it's only when seated, might be seatpost or saddle. I like the 11s casettes from Ztto all Gen2 really well, they shift quite well and I don't worry about their wear that much. It's the "old" Red crank so should be D1.

[dovh]

I can exclude the locking of the cassette as it's the same with different wheelsets. Funnily it's only when seated, might be seatpost or saddle. I like the 11s casettes from Ztto all Gen2 really well, they shift quite well and I don't worry about their wear that much. It's the "old" Red crank so should be D1.

I also get creaking/clicking while seated, and it's most likely the seat post clamp against the top tube. It happens while I pedal, so with lateral pressure on the seat post and clamp. I didn't grease the clamp as described in the SL8 manual. I only put carbon paste on the seatpost. I will do it this week and report here if that helped.
In my experience, the creaking and clicking go away after reclamping the seat, and it comes back after a while. I did a 100k ride today, and by the end of the ride, it was creaking/clicking quite a lot. I got home and re-clamped it, and the noise is gone, so the noise is most likely from there.

[Sander2177]

Here you go

Not the perfect picture, because mid of ride

Went with 45mm wheels from Easedon, SRAM Red cranks, and Ztto cassette paired with 11s Ultegra di2.

Good man!
Looks lovely

[glepore]

I also get creaking/clicking while seated, and it's most likely the seat post clamp against the top tube. It happens while I pedal, so with lateral pressure on the seat post and clamp. I didn't grease the clamp as described in the SL8 manual. I only put carbon paste on the seatpost. I will do it this week and report here if that helped.
In my experience, the creaking and clicking go away after reclamping the seat, and it comes back after a while. I did a 100k ride today, and by the end of the ride, it was creaking/clicking quite a lot. I got home and re-clamped it, and the noise is gone, so the noise is most likely from there.

Yeah, that could well be the culprit. I didn't grease the wedge parts, and only put paste on the seatpost, while the manual calls for paste between the wedge and the bare carbon, which makes sense...
RTFM

[glepore]

NM-just looked it up and they do measure c/c on the actual item, so keep in mind they're narrow...

Quick question-I just measured the replica cockpit on the x68, which is nominally 38 but it measures 36 c/c and 38 outside. So in road speak its effectively a 36. Anyone have a real Rapide cockpit that they can measure?
Thought it felt narrower than the 38's I generally run.

[glepore]

Reporting back. Greased the surfaces of the wedge where they interface, carbon paste on side that rests against tt, creak gone.
Also my lockring wasn't hella tight.

[jes2k13]

NM-just looked it up and they do measure c/c on the actual item, so keep in mind they're narrow...

Quick question-I just measured the replica cockpit on the x68, which is nominally 38 but it measures 36 c/c and 38 outside. So in road speak its effectively a 36. Anyone have a real Rapide cockpit that they can measure?
Thought it felt narrower than the 38's I generally run.

whoah really? maybe it could have been a mix up from when they were prepping your frameset?
dude, can you link us the 3d printed mount you used and how much was that?
and mind if I ask how tall are you and your weight? are you usually racing cause you went with a narrow handlebar but a long stem eh?
By the way the picture you have posted when you have installed the gold decals, the angle looks quite odd? or is it that you need to tell speedy decals the size of the frame so they can scale it properly or due to the gold color that the decal placement looks different?
Lastly I know I will be castigated for this haha but where could we find that carbon 12r or carbon 10r decal that needs to be near the bottom bracket and the one that goes on the fork too?
sorry for so many questions LOL

[Sander2177]

NM-just looked it up and they do measure c/c on the actual item, so keep in mind they're narrow...

Quick question-I just measured the replica cockpit on the x68, which is nominally 38 but it measures 36 c/c and 38 outside. So in road speak its effectively a 36. Anyone have a real Rapide cockpit that they can measure?
Thought it felt narrower than the 38's I generally run.

My Rapides are 40cm outside to outside

Speed decals to the Fact12R decal but as this is so small it is a single decal


Magcad mount I also gave this on my SL8
https://www.magcad-designs.com/products/magcad-garmin-roval-rapide-mount

[jes2k13]

My Rapides are 40cm outside to outside

Speed decals to the Fact12R decal but as this is so small it is a single decal


Magcad mount I also gave this on my SL8
https://www.magcad-designs.com/products/magcad-garmin-roval-rapide-mount

Hey man thanks so much for linking the magcad computer mount? do you happen to know if there are carbon fiber version of such 3d printed mounts?

And are both decals you have attached from SpeedyDecals or just the one below?