Deciding between 057, 256, or 041

[Vipassana]

Thanks for taking the time to gather this information. 

I have recently become interested in the 062, but I am in agreement with you that I'd rather do business with Peter so I'd wander towards the 041 instead. 

I still toy with the idea of the 041 to replace the 256, but I think they are too close to justify the money.  There needs to be a newer, lighter full suspension replacement for the 036.  That's what I would like and build.  If that doesn't come this year, then it will be an Epic.

[cmh]

Thanks for taking the time to gather this information. 

I have recently become interested in the 062, but I am in agreement with you that I'd rather do business with Peter so I'd wander towards the 041 instead. 

I still toy with the idea of the 041 to replace the 256, but I think they are too close to justify the money.  There needs to be a newer, lighter full suspension replacement for the 036.  That's what I would like and build.  If that doesn't come this year, then it will be an Epic.

Tracking looks like the frame hit JFK on the 25th which means we could have the 041 any day now. Very cool.

I wonder if Peter could get the 062, to have a nice S-Works clone to go with all the Scale clones.

Light version of the 036 would be very cool, especially since I've already got the front and rear shocks for a 650b version, and if she likes the hardtail, we'd probably build up a FS bike for her. Of course, you'd never hear me trying to convince someone against the Epic. 

[JohnnyNT]

There needs to be a newer, lighter full suspension replacement for the 036.  That's what I would like and build.  If that doesn't come this year, then it will be an Epic.

The claim 1700g here, I doubt it though: http://www.carbonbikekits.com/frames/CFM035_29er_MTB_Full_Carbon_Suspension_Frame-en.html

Also, the number suggests it's older version of 036.

[cmh]

The claim 1700g here, I doubt it though: http://www.carbonbikekits.com/frames/CFM035_29er_MTB_Full_Carbon_Suspension_Frame-en.html

Also, the number suggests it's older version of 036.

Don't know about an older version - that's a Horst link suspension, the first Chiner suspension I've seen (that I can remember at least) that's something other than the classic four-bar linkage. The lines on that frame are kinda ugly, but interesting to see that someone's copying the Horst link. From what I saw, the patent expired in September of 2014, so I bet we'll see more.

[cmh]

Update: Wound up going with the 041, and it cracked behind the seat tube after only a handful of VERY light duty rides. Extremely bad design, poorly executed. Being told it was a bad batch, but if there was any quality control at all, this would have been caught.

Considering there have been multiple reports of the 256 cracking, and now this bad batch of 041 frames showing that there is no testing or QC happening on these frames, the only 29er hardtail I would recommend is the 057. I know several big, strong guys who ride the 057 with good results. Stay away from the light frames.

[Carbon_Dude]

Same here, of those three, the -057 has proven to be reliable for most who want a hard tail, the -036 for those that want a FS Chiner.

[multispoke]

Hi guys, I'm new here. Great forum!

Thanks for cmh for sharing all the gathered knowledge on the frames.

Is the 057 still the most reliable choice among the light-ish Chinese HT frames? I see that YishunBike has LCM904 that looks identical to the 041. The weight savings over 057 are tempting, but if reliability is questionable, then that's hardly worth it.
The other aspect of the 041/904 that I'm having doubts about is that connector between the ST and the TT. It may be there for strength, but IMHO it would limit the ST flex and thus make the ride less comfortable, no?

Speaking of the 057, they're listed as using the T700 carbon. My understanding is that T800 is stronger still, and thus the frames made with the latter can be lighter. Does anyone make a version of 057 in T800 carbon?
And, if it's not against forum rules, what's the current going price for a 057 frame?

One last question. Where does the Workswell 062 frame currently stand in this? They are claimed to be lighter than 057, but is there enough experience/reports on them to say that they are as reliable?

[carbonazza]

The 041 had a bad batch with a defect on the seatpost.
It has been fixed now.

The 062 is more twitchy/playful than the 256 and 041, but less stable when you sprint(the 041 doesn't move at all).
And I don't know the 057.

[cmh]

The 041 had a bad batch with a defect on the seatpost.
It has been fixed now.

...so the question is what will break next. Maybe nothing, but it seems (based on my statistically invalid sample of 1 frame and others I've read about here) that when you sign up for a newish/early batch Chiner frame, you get to be the beta tester. The crack that showed up on the 041 happened so frequently and under such ridiculously easy riding conditions, it's pretty evident there's no real testing happening of the new frames. It's great when you have a two year warranty with a reputable seller -- but when you spend a couple months waiting for the replacement to arrive (to be fair most of the delay was waiting for a new batch with the fix) that's time you might be without a bike. Maybe the 041 will be the next 057, but my recommendation remains to wait for others to prove it and stick with the 057.

[multispoke]

Thanks, carbonazza.
So enough people had successful experiences with 041 by now?
I see your point on 062 being twitchier, with it's shorter chainstays.

I'm a 6'3" rider that's all legs, so I'm trying to find a frame with a fairly high stack number to minimize the headset spacers I'm running with a saddle-bar drop that's comfortable over long rides (5+ hours...will be a marathon XC bike).
It looks like the LCM903 or 904 may work in that regard. They have a shorter reach than the 062.
Does anyone have stack/reach numbers for the 052 frame? They don't have it in the table on the XMCS website.

[multispoke]

The 041 had a bad batch with a defect on the seatpost.
It has been fixed now.

...so the question is what will break next. Maybe nothing, but it seems (based on my statistically invalid sample of 1 frame and others I've read about here) that when you sign up for a newish/early batch Chiner frame, you get to be the beta tester. The crack that showed up on the 041 happened so frequently and under such ridiculously easy riding conditions, it's pretty evident there's no real testing happening of the new frames. It's great when you have a two year warranty with a reputable seller -- but when you spend a couple months waiting for the replacement to arrive (to be fair most of the delay was waiting for a new batch with the fix) that's time you might be without a bike. Maybe the 041 will be the next 057, but my recommendation remains to wait for others to prove it and stick with the 057.

Thanks for the input, and I do see your point very clearly. None of us really knows how much R&D and testing goes into these frames, or where they get their ideas from. I'm not saying that the people designing the bikes are inexperienced idiots, but you just never know what level of scrutiny the designs are subjected to.

And as mentioned above, anyone have Stack/reach numbers for the 057?

[carbonspinner]

CMH, did you get this built? are there pics?  looking for a hardtail for my wife...  you got the 041?

[cmh]

CMH, did you get this built? are there pics?  looking for a hardtail for my wife...  you got the 041?

I didn't build the new one, we decided to go another route. If you're looking for a hardtail for your wife, I'm actually selling the brand new replacement 041 - size medium, with all the bits that went with it, seatpost, seat clamp, handlebars, extra frame fittings from the previous bike, axle, two derailleur hangers, etc.

[helio]

im 1,70m weighting 78kg, so for a cyclist, im a heavy guy. I ride mostly single tracks, love to jump, and my 1 year old cs-041 is flawless, I've actually ordered a new 15" cs-041 frame, because the 17" feel a bit big, with the seat being on the same height as the bars.

[medic1013]

Any recent buyers of 041? I'm on the line between the 041 and 057. That -250g difference on the 041 looks real appealing. Also like the looks of it better. Just looking for any recents first hand opinions.