Chinertown
Chinese Carbon Road Bikes => Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components => Topic started by: Ahodesu05 on March 07, 2024, 09:11:28 AM
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New forum member here, and starting a new thread after posting about this in a thread on the LightCarbon LCR017-D (https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,4309.255.html).
Long story short: I snuck in to the Taipei Bike Show today to check out some Longteng and LightCarbon frames, and at the Longteng booth, I found out that they have an unreleased frame which is undergoing testing: the RD301-D. Here is a short video that I took, and a few pages from their brochure with its geometry: https://imgur.com/a/XvH327j.
Appearance wise, the 301 doesn't break any new ground, but a few things stand out:
- It has an aero profile but is under 1000g weight
- The geometry (especially stack) sort of sits between an upright endurance bike and bikes like the Velobuild 177 and 268, Winspace SLC 2.0 and 1500, Yoeleo R11 - this geometry is a sweet spot for me [edit: the geometry seems comparable to the touted all-arounder Trigon AR01]
- Whoa, max tire clearance of 38!
- Cool little storage space on the downtube
- Threaded T47 BB
- Per their rep Alisa, it's made with a mix of T800 and T1000 carbon
This frame hasn't been posted on their website, and Alisa said it will be released "in a few months" once testing is complete. The 54cm has passed their tests and is available if anyone is interested - you can email Alisa at longtengalisa@163.com.
Peace out!
[Edited to add reference to the Trigon AR01]
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Noice.
It seems like it's an all-around bike like Canyon's Endurance, just bit more aggressive geometry stack-wise. Size 54 has less stack than something like SuperSix Evo 4 or BMC Teammachine.
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this looks nice. might pick one up
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Great investigation ;)
You know if they will offer a zero-offset Seatpost?
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This is the frame i have been looking for! Thanks OP!
If i end up really liking the super narrow 35cm bars I plan to experiment with I might get the 52cm, otherwise the 50cm with a 120 -6 stem would be perfect and slammed would give me the same stack and reach as my roadie.
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New forum member here, and starting a new thread after posting about this in a thread on the LightCarbon LCR017-D (https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,4309.255.html).
Long story short: I snuck in to the Taipei Bike Show today to check out some Longteng and LightCarbon frames, and at the Longteng booth, I found out that they have an unreleased frame which is undergoing testing: the RD301-D. Here is a short video that I took, and a few pages from their brochure with its geometry: https://imgur.com/a/XvH327j.
Appearance wise, the 301 doesn't break any new ground, but a few things stand out:
- It has an aero profile but is under 1000g weight
- The geometry (especially stack) sort of sits between an upright endurance bike and bikes like the Velobuild 177 and 268, Winspace SLC 2.0 and 1500, Yoeleo R11 - this geometry is a sweet spot for me [edit: the geometry seems comparable to the touted all-arounder Trigon AR01]
- Whoa, max tire clearance of 38!
- Cool little storage space on the downtube
- Threaded T47 BB
- Per their rep Alisa, it's made with a mix of T800 and T1000 carbon
This frame hasn't been posted on their website, and Alisa said it will be released "in a few months" once testing is complete. The 54cm has passed their tests and is available if anyone is interested - you can email Alisa at longtengalisa@163.com.
Peace out!
[Edited to add reference to the Trigon AR01]
Couple of things:
That fork design with the pronounced ridge on the fork blade is typical of VB and LT. Previously they've been very noodly - lateral stiffness is diabolical. There also seems to be some variance - usually VB are worse, and some VBs worse than others. Hopefully not the case here, but we'll see.
Bit doubtful about 38 clearance. But it would be nice to have a nominally aero profile with that clearance.
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The frame in the video is clearly not the frame in the brochure. Or are they doing like LC and the LCR017-D, with final product different than pictures on website.
What's the real RD301-D looks like? ::)
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Hi, the frame looks amazing considering the weight, t47 and tire clearance, is there anything similar just released in Taipeh?
Thanks mates
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In addition, I've never heard about this brand, can you please give me some background information, is it a reliable brand?
Thanks
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In addition, I've never heard about this brand, can you please give me some background information, is it a reliable brand?
Thanks
There are lots of resources here on Chinertown on the different Chinese brands - I'm a new member, but did spend the past month looking at different frames and reading the forum here to see what brands are/are not reputable. You can do the same, it's part of the fun!
I'm buying my first Chinese frame, so I don't have any actual experience with Longteng or any of the other Chinese brands. I've researched Winspace, Yoeleo and Seka, which are above my budget. Within my budget, I've researched Velobuild, Workswell, Yishunbikes, Longteng, Lightcarbon, Trifox and a few others. It seems that Longteng and Lightcarbon have decent reputation, based in part on the fact that they own their own production and act as OEM for other companies, and offer decent customer support. But as always, your mileage my vary.
Happy hunting!
Btw I'm talking to Longteng to get some pricing and confirm other details like availability, custom frame painting, geometry, zero offset seat post, etc. Will provide updates here if anyone is interested.
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The frame in the video is clearly not the frame in the brochure. Or are they doing like LC and the LCR017-D, with final product different than pictures on website.
What's the real RD301-D looks like? ::)
You are right - I posted the wrong video (it was the 268 frame instead of the 301). I've removed the video and added 2 photos from Longteng of the real 301 frame which match up what they have in the brochure: https://imgur.com/a/XvH327j. Sorry about the mix up.
Here are some updates from my communication with them:
- Quoted price of US$450 for frame, fork, seat post
- They can offer for additional charge: integrated handlebar $80, headset $12, through axle $30/pair, spare rear hanger $6/pcs
- 980g +/-40 for size 52 frame
- Zero offset seat post is not available
- Available 45 days from payment
I've had some discussions with them around custom frame painting:
- US$85 for 3 colors
- They can do custom decals (which will sit underneath the final coat of paint), but for simple stuff, they will make it part of the frame painting instead of doing decal stickers - they prefer to get vector files instead of helping with design
- They can do (or, at least they are wiling to try...) fairly complex paint jobs, unlike other sellers I've talked to - for example, I asked if they can do something like the Bahrain team bike kit from 2023 (https://www.ridemedia.com.au/racing/pro-bikes-2023-bahrain-victorious-and-merida-a-mechanics-perspective/), and they said it should be ok as long as they are provided with detailed sketches/instructions; I'm just relaying what they said and have no idea about the actual end product, although the paint jobs I saw at the Taipei Bike Show looked pretty nice
Again, sorry about posting the wrong video :o
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Couple of things:
That fork design with the pronounced ridge on the fork blade is typical of VB and LT. Previously they've been very noodly - lateral stiffness is diabolical. There also seems to be some variance - usually VB are worse, and some VBs worse than others. Hopefully not the case here, but we'll see.
Bit doubtful about 38 clearance. But it would be nice to have a nominally aero profile with that clearance.
Sorry, I posted a video of the 268 frame instead of the 301. The 268 has that ridge on the fork but the 301 does not. I've deleted the video and uploaded photos of the actual 301 frame that I got from Longteng (no ridge): https://imgur.com/a/XvH327j.
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That looks to be a gravelframe (top tube screwholes and graveltires)
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You are right - I posted the wrong video (it was the 268 frame instead of the 301). I've removed the video and added 2 photos from Longteng of the real 301 frame which match up what they have in the brochure: https://imgur.com/a/XvH327j. Sorry about the mix up.
Here are some updates from my communication with them:
- Quoted price of US$450 for frame, fork, seat post
- They can offer for additional charge: integrated handlebar $80, headset $12, through axle $30/pair, spare rear hanger $6/pcs
- 980g +/-40 for size 52 frame
- Zero offset seat post is not available
- Available 45 days from payment
I've had some discussions with them around custom frame painting:
- US$85 for 3 colors
- They can do custom decals (which will sit underneath the final coat of paint), but for simple stuff, they will make it part of the frame painting instead of doing decal stickers - they prefer to get vector files instead of helping with design
- They can do (or, at least they are wiling to try...) fairly complex paint jobs, unlike other sellers I've talked to - for example, I asked if they can do something like the Bahrain team bike kit from 2023 (https://www.ridemedia.com.au/racing/pro-bikes-2023-bahrain-victorious-and-merida-a-mechanics-perspective/), and they said it should be ok as long as they are provided with detailed sketches/instructions; I'm just relaying what they said and have no idea about the actual end product, although the paint jobs I saw at the Taipei Bike Show looked pretty nice
Again, sorry about posting the wrong video :o
Thanks for posting the right pictures. Looks like its on their website now: https://www.ltbikes.com/index/products/view/id/401.html
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That looks to be a gravelframe (top tube screwholes and graveltires)
Yeah it seems more in the spirit of the 3T, Open and similar all road bikes than a pure road bike. Might be cool especially with 2 wheelsets but honestly maybe not my cuppa tea.
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Yeah it seems more in the spirit of the 3T, Open and similar all road bikes than a pure road bike. Might be cool especially with 2 wheelsets but honestly maybe not my cuppa tea.
I think of this bike as more like the Enve Melee than anything. Its not really an allroad endurance bike that also does gravel like the Domane (i think the carbonda CFR505SL is the closest open mold to that bike). Its a little relaxed to be a fast road bike IMO but then again Total Energies is racing the Melee so the geometry can be made to work.
The inclusion of the TT mounts but exclusion of the DT storage is interesting in photos vs. the drawings, but I havent contact them about a frame yet.
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I think of this bike as more like the Enve Melee than anything. Its not really an allroad endurance bike that also does gravel like the Domane (i think the carbonda CFR505SL is the closest open mold to that bike). Its a little relaxed to be a fast road bike IMO but then again Total Energies is racing the Melee so the geometry can be made to work.
The inclusion of the TT mounts but exclusion of the DT storage is interesting in photos vs. the drawings, but I havent contact them about a frame yet.
Great call on the Enve Melee
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Sorry, I posted a video of the 268 frame instead of the 301. The 268 has that ridge on the fork but the 301 does not. I've deleted the video and uploaded photos of the actual 301 frame that I got from Longteng (no ridge): https://imgur.com/a/XvH327j.
That thing's going to have epic toe overlap in the larger sizes ... geo aside, just look at the photo (in a smaller size to boot). Kill it with fire IMO.
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That thing's going to have epic toe overlap in the larger sizes ... geo aside, just look at the photo (in a smaller size to boot). Kill it with fire IMO.
The two largest sizes are like 7mm less FC than the Melee and 3-4mm longer than the Trek Emonda for equivalent sizes.
I don't know what's going on visually but the geometry chart seems to indicate that it should be fine.
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It's a very interesting frameset, did anyone buy already?
What's pro or against? Is there an alternative?
Thanks
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I'm very happy with my 268, so i'm looking at this 301, given how similar it looks.
I also compared it to the VB GF 002 (I have one) and to a supersix road and a supersix gravel.
Take-aways:
301 geo v similar to 268, 301 tad more aggressive in stack & reach, but wheelbase is a tad longer. Together, a tie?
301 definitely NOT a gravel bike.
301 very similar to a supersix, except the supersix has a much longer wheelbase (both supersix are gravel territory when it comes to wheelbase, which i find surprising).
I'm wondering how the 301 would fare with 32C front, 34C rear, as a bomb proof bike for the mountains (not freaking out about potholes, post winter dirty roads, old chunkier asphalt, and the occasional dirt segment is appealing to me, even if i don't like the idea of the extra weight from bigger rims & tyres, and higher drag from a big ass fork. There are forest roads i avoid because of road surface, cracks, dirt sections, slope, on my 25mm supersix rim brake w carbon rims. The 301 would steamroll over all of that.
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Hi, did anyone order already?
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I'm very happy with my 268, so i'm looking at this 301, given how similar it looks.
I also compared it to the VB GF 002 (I have one) and to a supersix road and a supersix gravel.
Take-aways:
301 geo v similar to 268, 301 tad more aggressive in stack & reach, but wheelbase is a tad longer. Together, a tie?
301 definitely NOT a gravel bike.
301 very similar to a supersix, except the supersix has a much longer wheelbase (both supersix are gravel territory when it comes to wheelbase, which i find surprising).
I'm wondering how the 301 would fare with 32C front, 34C rear, as a bomb proof bike for the mountains (not freaking out about potholes, post winter dirty roads, old chunkier asphalt, and the occasional dirt segment is appealing to me, even if i don't like the idea of the extra weight from bigger rims & tyres, and higher drag from a big ass fork. There are forest roads i avoid because of road surface, cracks, dirt sections, slope, on my 25mm supersix rim brake w carbon rims. The 301 would steamroll over all of that.
What's your experience with LT as far as their custom painting/decals? I'm close to pulling the trigger on this frame, and have some ideas for the design but just wondering about how well they will execute. If their frame painting is crappy, then I'll probably just keep it simple and go black stealth.
And did you go with their cockpit (stem, bars)? If so, how do you like it? And if not, do you have any Aliexpress recommendations?
Thx in advance!
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I bought one black matte and one black gloss. I recommend the black gloss. Didn't entertain custom painting.
I bought airwolf bars via AliExpress because wanted 36cm width. Very happy with the bars. They're the T1000 or T1100 (allegedly) cockpit. Costs 75 EUR plus shipping so you will find it on AliExpress at around 100-120 EUR. From the airwolf store. Very stiff, look very nice. They also sell a carbon Garmin mount but these are standard sizing.
I designed and got car vinyl decals cut locally. To me the frame looks a lot like a Factor, so I hacked their font and in trolling Factor with tractor and facteur on either side. I've washed the bike many times now, those decals aren't going anywhere but they're reversible. Very happy with the format. It's fancy vinyl, forgot the name, any car nerd will know. It's outdoors resistant. Cost me a whopping ten euro to do the whole bike.
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I bought one black matte and one black gloss. I recommend the black gloss. Didn't entertain custom painting.
Thanks for the info, just curious, why do you prefer the black gloss over the black matte? For aesthetic reasons or paint quality?
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Purely aesthetic reasons yes, the gloss on that frame works really well, and they did a very nice gloss (it's a tad heavier btw, as is always the case afaik). You can kind of see the carbon underneath depending on the light, too.
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Hi!
Love the tractor idea. Do you mind to share the decal masters?
Thanks