Same bike, different brand - TanTan GR047/Spcycle G056/Ceccotti etc.

[peterpanpeter]

Hello,

I was looking for a "cheaper" and slack gravel frame for bikepacking and found the TanTan (Seraph) GR047 for $385:

https://www.seraphbikes.com/seraph-carbon-gravel-bike-frame-super-light-bicycle-cycle-xs-gr047-t1000-girl-frame-chameleon-bike-frame-cycle-p5731781.html

Looking around it seems that many brands are offering this frame. Price seems to be pretty similar across the brands. I can buy from Spcycle's Aliexpress store with this month's discounts for about €500 with shipping. I'd assume that TanTan would be about the same with shipping to Sweden.

Do you guys have any recommendations on who offers the best quality or if you know other frames that are also good for cheaper or same price?

Thanks in advance,
Peter

[Daviddavieboy]

 Many here bought off "surprised store". I did as well and didn't have many surprises. From order to delivery was about 3 weeks for me.

[peterpanpeter]

Many here bought off "surprised store". I did as well and didn't have many surprises. From order to delivery was about 3 weeks for me.

Thank for the information. Are you happy with the quality? Do you know what type of molding they use?

[jonathanf2]

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808187065421.html

This store seems to have the best deal right now at $299 USD + $95 USD shipping. I messaged them briefly and they seem responsive to any inquiries.

Though I bought mine from the Surprised Store and I have no complaints. The frame rides great!

[peterpanpeter]

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808187065421.html

This store seems to have the best deal right now at $299 USD + $95 USD shipping. I messaged them briefly and they seem responsive to any inquiries.

Though I bought mine from the Surprised Store and I have no complaints. The frame rides great!

Thanks, this is great! Do you think all frames are from the same factory or different factories using same mold? I'm wondering if buying from this seller instead of "Surprised Store" would have any difference in quality.

[jonathanf2]

Thanks, this is great! Do you think all frames are from the same factory or different factories using same mold? I'm wondering if buying from this seller instead of "Surprised Store" would have any difference in quality.

With everything AliExpress related, you need to do your due diligence, ask a lot of questions of the seller, verify all shipped components and get spares if necessary. Ask for photos before shipping and make sure you cover every detail.

This seller has a fork with no cage bolts and I'm not sure if the seat post is offered (27.2mm seat post are easy to come by). I'd ask the seller if they manufacturer this frame themselves or source the frame elsewhere. Though I'm seeing this design sold through many vendors, big and small. It's becoming the new go-to open mold it seems.

To the Surprised Store's credit, their paint work was excellent with attention to detail. Also my frame has been so rock solid, I'd almost be tempted to build another one out as an endurance or commuter bike. 

[peterpanpeter]

With everything AliExpress related, you need to do your due diligence, ask a lot of questions of the seller, verify all shipped components and get spares if necessary. Ask for photos before shipping and make sure you cover every detail.

This seller has a fork with no cage bolts and I'm not sure if the seat post is offered (27.2mm seat post are easy to come by). I'd ask the seller if they manufacturer this frame themselves or source the frame elsewhere. Though I'm seeing this design sold through many vendors, big and small. It's becoming the new go-to open mold it seems.

To the Surprised Store's credit, their paint work was excellent with attention to detail. Also my frame has been so rock solid, I'd almost be tempted to build another one out as an endurance or commuter bike. 

It's my first time ordering from Aliexpress so this is perfect information, thank you so much. I might just go with Surprised Store as it seems many of you have had a good experience and the difference in price was about $20 compared to the one above. Do I contact the seller before putting down an order or do I do that afterwards? Do you contact them through Aliexpress or other channels like WhatsApp?

Once again, thanks for all the help.

[jonathanf2]

It's my first time ordering from Aliexpress so this is perfect information, thank you so much. I might just go with Surprised Store as it seems many of you have had a good experience and the difference in price was about $20 compared to the one above. Do I contact the seller before putting down an order or do I do that afterwards? Do you contact them through Aliexpress or other channels like WhatsApp?

Once again, thanks for all the help.

Always contact the seller first and through AliExpress messaging. Do not do any messaging outside of AliExpress, especially if issues arise. You'll need a paper trail if you need to open a dispute. Make sure to verify sizing, components and any additional parts you may need. Ask the Surprised Store for a spare RD hanger as well. They forgot to include mine, and shipped it out to me for $1 USD fee. Also ask for photos before shipment to verify everything is to your liking. On a side note, pick up a few spare T47 BBs (or buy a real good one) and a decent T47 BB tool. I use a 2-in-1 Bikehand BB tool that works for both T47 BBs and also for center lock disc rotor locks. Make sure to use a paper towel to tighten the BB to protect the paint and frame since it's internally threaded. I also swapped all my cage screws to titanium. There are 20 screw mount holes on this frame, those screw weights add up! Lol

Enjoy! 

[peterpanpeter]

Always contact the seller first and through AliExpress messaging. Do not do any messaging outside of AliExpress, especially if issues arise. You'll need a paper trail if you need to open a dispute. Make sure to verify sizing, components and any additional parts you may need. Ask the Surprised Store for a spare RD hanger as well. They forgot to include mine, and shipped it out to me for $1 USD fee. Also ask for photos before shipment to verify everything is to your liking. On a side note, pick up a few spare T47 BBs (or buy a real good one) and a decent T47 BB tool. I use a 2-in-1 Bikehand BB tool that works for both T47 BBs and also for center lock disc rotor locks. Make sure to use a paper towel to tighten the BB to protect the paint and frame since it's internally threaded. I also swapped all my cage screws to titanium. There are 20 screw mount holes on this frame, those screw weights add up! Lol

Enjoy! 

You're a lifesaver! Thank you!!!

[Tijoe]

If you want this bike primarily for bikepacking, then I recommend thinking about purchasing a 29er hardtail as your baseline.  I used my gravel bike for bikepacking several years ago and found that the bike just didn't handle all that well loaded up with 30 lbs of gear.   I had a custom Waltle TI slacker hardtail frame fabricated.  I used it several times for sections of the Divide trail.  (I love it for long distance 2 week tours when the bike and gear weighs in the 60+ range.)    Then I rode some bikepacking races/rides on my  gravel bike and the TI Waltle.  Then shifted to using my 29er Spcycle M05 carbon framed bike.   

My Spcycle lightweight carbon frame weighs about 1/2 a pound less than my carbon gravel frame.  I run either a 120mm suspension fork or rigid carbon 29er fork on it.   I found that with  2.0 to 2.2 low rolling resistance tires and the rigid fork, the bike handles great.  For bikepacking races/ride, I get the bike below 45 lbs total bike and gear weight. 

Attached is my Slacker TI fully loaded,  versus my Spcycle 29er hardtail loaded for 500+ mile bikepacking rides, plus the bike with suspension fork and without.

[peterpanpeter]

If you want this bike primarily for bikepacking, then I recommend thinking about purchasing a 29er hardtail as your baseline.  I used my gravel bike for bikepacking several years ago and found that the bike just didn't handle all that well loaded up with 30 lbs of gear.   I had a custom Waltle TI slacker hardtail frame fabricated.  I used it several times for sections of the Divide trail.  (I love it for long distance 2 week tours when the bike and gear weighs in the 60+ range.)    Then I rode some bikepacking races/rides on my  gravel bike and the TI Waltle.  Then shifted to using my 29er Spcycle M05 carbon framed bike.   

My Spcycle lightweight carbon frame weighs about 1/2 a pound less than my carbon gravel frame.  I run either a 120mm suspension fork or rigid carbon 29er fork on it.   I found that with  2.0 to 2.2 low rolling resistance tires and the rigid fork, the bike handles great.  For bikepacking races/ride, I get the bike below 45 lbs total bike and gear weight. 

Attached is my Slacker TI fully loaded,  versus my Spcycle 29er hardtail loaded for 500+ mile bikepacking rides, plus the bike with suspension fork and without.

I did not consider this but this looks pretty promising! Suspension maintenance does scare me though, maybe it's just in my head?

[jonathanf2]

In my opinion, the Ceccotti/SPcycle RF25/G056 does not ride like a traditional gravel frame. I'd almost say it's more like a hardtail MTB frame. It's quite slack and reach is fairly short. I'm even debating putting a longer stem since it's quite upright. I can't comment how it'd ride fully loaded up, but it does have the necessary mounting points for loaded touring. In terms of balance, I can track stand on the bike without every having take my feet off the pedals and it handles extremely well on dirt fire roads and the local single track trails. Also it climbs great. The bike handles even better than my previous CX oriented gravel frame, despite weighing slightly more. I feel like this frame can handle whatever you throw at it.

[Tijoe]

After 4+ seasons of Bikepacking I became convinced that the salsa Cutthroat is the baseline frame geometry that should be used to compare other frame geometries.  If you use/join this site, you can compare frame geometries for most of the frames sold on Aliexpress.    (I have not ridden a Cutthroat on any long rides, but have ridden one to test it out.) I have posted several times on other threads  that I have not found a "Cutthroat" based geometry frame via Aliexpress. - The GR-047 you are looking at is closer to the Cutthroat, but not as slack.


https://bikeinsights.com

Attached are images that show frames under discussion to the Cutthroat.
*EDIT:  If you look at the images, you will find that the Cutthroat has a higher bottom bracket than many gravel bikes, and fits 2.0 and larger tires.  Cutthroat is  a hybrid geometry between gravel and 29er hardtails, but has a shorter top-tube than my M05 hardtail frame.  Your original selection of a gravel frame has a lower BB about the same top-tube but is not as slack.

[Daviddavieboy]

Thank for the information. Are you happy with the quality? Do you know what type of molding they use?

 Quality was excellent. The original paint was almost perfect and the frame built up fairly easily. Some have complained that the headset didn't fit very well (gap between frame and start of stem spacers) but I had no issue - in fact i needed to shim my top cap to clear the frame. I have ridden the bike VERY hard and it has been fine. Photo is after I stripped and repainted the bike.

[Tijoe]

I don't want to complicate your decision making process, but other things to consider if you want your bike to double as a Bikepacker.

- Bottom bracket choices: I am an advocate for the frame having the most common bottom bracket.  I prefer only BSA or DUB.  Reasons being.  If you get the bug and start riding existing 500+ mile rides, you will find that the route organizers just love to put in a lot of creek and river crossings.  This means that your bottom bracket will get soaked numerous times.  If your bottom bracket locks up, gets loose or squeaks, you will be glad you chose the most common BB standard that a remote bike shop might carry.

- Rear hub width/standard:  Most modern gravel bikes use 142 rear hubs.  From my perspective, I want to stay with the boost standard for most of my 29er bikes.  I have built up several spare wheel sets.  Therefore, I want my bikepackers to have 148 hubs.  (Hence, my draw towards using a hardtail rather than a Gravel frame for my bikepacking rig.)

-  Tire Size:  I want the option of being able to run up to 2.2 tires.  The larger tires let you have a more comfy ride when packed up and you don't need a front suspension fork.

- Carrying cargo:   I have a 29er carbon fork that has eyelets on it so that I can mount things on front without using clamps.  My 29er has a shorter head tube, so more of it sticks out the top.  I have been installing a second stem below the handlebar stem that is used to mount my front handlebar cross-pack on.   On the back, I use a dropper post, and I use a bike rack seatpost clamp that lets me mount a rack to the back.  Instead of depending on mounting provisions for a rack on the frame, I use a "Robert Axle Project" thru axle that has mounts on the side that hold my rack.  I like the wider 148mm frame that helps triangulate the rack side-supports and creates a stronger rack overall.  A lot more side-to-side stiffness than I had on my gravel bike rack.

- 1 X 12 or 2 X 11 or12:  I have gone down the path of using a 1X 12 set-up.  Not having the front derailleur is one less thing to fail on long trips.  Having 2X front is nice when you are gravel grinding or road riding, where you want/need to ride faster.  When you are loaded down with gear, having a 2X set-up doesn't gain you much average speed wise.  Many gravel bikes are still set up for 142mm hubs and a front derailleur.  Another reason I went with a 29er frame.  They are designed for 1X set-ups.