Author Topic: The 100€ gravel alu frame from QI-Long actually arrived and its ok-ish quality.  (Read 2371 times)

kazuviking

It took 42 days to get here by train. It was packaged in two layers of green sack, one layers of cardboard and enough bubblewrap and tape to annoy me.
PROS: It was über cheap and good tolerances. The fork is 100mm, rear dropout 135mm, bottom bracket straight as it can.
CONS: The paint was chipped on multiple places because of the garbage handling during transport, the frames "internal" QC doesn't seems to exists, landfill headset bearings and ok quality derailer hanger.
The BBs threads was cut after ordering as it was not cleaned out of the water/oil mixture, threads painted over on one side and most metal shawings left inside(took me a while to clean it). The fork/headtube doesn't have the holes de-burred on the inside, the first bottle cage rivet limits the seatposts insertion depth to only 275mm. Removing a star nut from the fork is impossible because of the rivet and metal.
Dont have the parts to fully build the frame yet but what i cannot see wont bother me. Not the best image quality but its usable. Don't have images of the BBs threads as i cleaned it yesterday and the cups are impossible to remove without snapping my cheap zrace bb wrench.

How it looks.

The remaining metal bits in the headtube top and bottom.

The fork.

The seat tube.



« Last Edit: March 10, 2025, 01:41:00 PM by kazuviking »



Jfive

Price is tempting  but as a noob i wouldnt know whether everything is aligned properly and whether this thing is safe to ride. Are there comparable alternatives that dont cost twice as much?

kazuviking

Its perfrectly aligned according to my LBS and threads are cut perfectly also. The only remark they had was the leftower metal shawings that shouldve been cleaned.
So far ive put around 500km into the frame and nothing came loose or broke. The biggest issue i have with is is that my 203mm rotor with 6 bolt to centerlock adapter rubs on the frame. Had to use a half millimeter thick spacer to stop it. With just a 6 bolt hub and rotor i had no clearance issues. It will probabgly go away if i buy a proper CL rotor.

Since i bought the frame the shop became eligible for standard aliexpress shipping instead of cainao super duper ultra economy and now you can buy the fork separately. The price went down as well.

Jfive

I ordered the frame and will use it to build my first bike. I have not a lot of knowledge about the subject yet but always had a diy bike as one of my goals. In case someone used this frame to set up a bike and would ve willing to share a parts list (especially what type of bb can be used) this would be really appreciated.

kazuviking

It takes your bog standard threaded BB. I used BB-MT800 and there was not a single issues threading in.
As my part lists:
Deore 12 speed m6100 derailer, shifter, 51-10 casette and m9100 chain. Neco semi integrated cartridge headset bearing, noname adjustable stem, noname alu handlebar aka what my lbs had in stock. MT200 hydraulic front brake, noname mechanical rear disc brake, aliexpress 203mm front and zrace floating 180mm rear brake rotor. Noname alu seatpost, noname saddle. Zraze blade crankset, zrace 6mm offset 36t chainring, mzryh alu platform pedal. Noname metal front and rear fenders, noname front and rear light. Shimano front hub dynamo with noname rim and dt spokes/nipples(laced myself). Goldix GDX370 star ratchet microspline rear hub, noname rim with dt spokes/nipples(lbs laced). Continental Contact Speed tyres.

Not the most high end build but it rides really really nicely. Every part is from aliexpress except for the noname stuff which is from my lbs.

Jfive

Thanks man for helping a noob out. Much appreciated!