Kocevlo RD01

[user757]

Has anyone seen or heard anything about these inexpensive (~$400) Kocevlo RD01 frames? Couldn't find any info on them. Frame isn't exactly lightweight at 1170 g, and the included handlebars are heavy at 520 g. But for the price, weight's not bad. I guess this frame is a Factor Vostro VAM clone?

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807294708249.html

Found this one while trying to find the Kocevlo TT-X42 that someone else mentioned in the TT-X42 thread.

[neobiker]

Their handlebar are famous for not being really proof safe xD

[Rebel_Yell]

Has anyone seen or heard anything about these inexpensive (~$400) Kocevlo RD01 frames? Couldn't find any info on them. Frame isn't exactly lightweight at 1170 g, and the included handlebars are heavy at 520 g. But for the price, weight's not bad. I guess this frame is a Factor Vostro VAM clone?

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807294708249.html


Found this one while trying to find the Kocevlo TT-X42 that someone else mentioned in the TT-X42 thread.

Wondering if anyone knows who produces this frame for them?  I guess they might themselves.

[A.V.G]

I think this frame is eerily similar to a Factor Ostro VAM.  They only advertise with pics of a super-small size frame, which makes it harder to see the resemblance, to my eyes anyway.  The price sure makes it compelling, but I'd want to see some pics of the interior before I bought one.  (Or any D-T-C frame from China, for that matter.) 

And since Kocevlo makes other CF products, like integrated cockpits (that have been discussed here - good and bad), it seems reasonable that Kocevlo actually make this frame.  Heck - for 360 USD shipped, it's almost worth the risk.

[toxin]

It's not at all similar to the new ostro and not really the old ostro either. The curved upper end of the seatstays is the only thing that's similar. BB area is different, fork is very different, seattube is deeper, headtube is deeper, downtube is kinda "lifted" so the ht-dt junction is accordingly adjusted. It's just a mostly generic allround design, which factor is as well.

[A.V.G]

It's not at all similar ... It's just a mostly generic allround design, which factor is as well.

See!?! It's the same!  Haha.  Yeah, it's not 1-to-1 I agree, but you should buy one. 

[simb]

Wondering if anyone knows who produces this frame for them?  I guess they might themselves.

The geometry is the same as the seraph tt-x42 bike, which is the consumer branding of tantan, who produces frames. So we could assume with a high probability that tantan makes the frame
Same frame as a twitter r15 pro as well.

[Serge_K]

Hehe, i looked at this exact listing 2 days ago, and decided against it, in favour of another long teng 268.
Reasons: i'm in europe, meaning i see the kocevlo at 400 eur (not $360, which is ~50$ delta, or ~15%, ie a lot).
I'm getting the LT for 530 shipped. What i am getting for 130 more?
- peace of mind. the 268 is my daily driver, i've put ~10k km on it, love it. I know it works, i know it's well made, i know the holes are the right size, i know it's clean inside, i know i can recommend it to others and they wont be disappointed.
- kocevlo is lying. The T1100 is just a lie.
- weight is bad. My LT268 in M is low 1100g (measured by me). The kocevlo is advertised at 1170 in size 47, which probably means 1200, and how much weight do you add to go from baby size to adult size? Another 100? At which point, the weight difference feels very significant.
- no indication of manufacturing technique (EPS / foam), no picture of the inside of the frame, gamble when it comes to tolerances, finish quality and so on.
- the 268 has a BB86 BB and it just works, especially with my german magic grease thing, and the BB is cheaper (i dont do DUB).
- both frames obviously look very similar, with the 268 being an ubiquitous open mould.
- the fork on the kocevlo looks like it doesnt belong to the frame, it should be deeper (and faster).

The bike is for a friend, so saving 130 eur to take on all these risks doesnt make sense, as i wont be with him to build the bike and trouble shoot stuff.
Long teng is an OEM, they make / made bikes for Argon 18. It's a real factory you can visit. God knows what kocevlo is selling, who they are, and so on.
One point to keep in mind: quality fade. I used to get Airwolf cockpits weighing ~330g. Now they cost more, and weigh ~380g. Same listing. Which means it went from a great product to just meh.
So, with Alix products, be careful. It's a platform where anyone can buy. You never know who's behind any of it. It's more practical to order from it, granted, but what i find time after time is that for a little bit more money, i get peace of mind and building a rapport with a factory / sales rep, and i get repeatability, and accountability.