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Re: Lightcarbon: New LCR017-D (or Yishun R1058-D)
Yes same on my side about the LCR017-D. The weight is super interesting but the Geo is a little bit to aggressive. New member here - I also have the same dilemma, and will share my thoughts. First, these are my filters/criteria: - I live in a hilly area, so I’d like to have an all-arounder, ideally with frame weight below 1000g - Somewhat aero, but I’ll be building up the bike with 40-45mm wheels which will speak more to aero advantages - I don’t race anymore but I still do fast group rides, so I’m looking for a frame with somewhat forgiving geometry – not quite upright like the Endurace but also not a crit bike - 32mm tire clearance - Under US$1000 (which rules out Yoeleo, Winspeed, Seka, etc.) The 017 hits most of these notes, and Lightcarbon also do pretty decent custom frame painting and decals. But like you guys, I’m a bit hesitant about the long-ish reach. The stack/reach ratio for a 52cm frame comes to 1.33, which I’ll use as the basis for comparison. Some of the others I’ve been looking at include: Velobuild 177 (https://www.velobuildmall.com/products/2023-vb-r-177-super-light-carbon-fiber-road-frame-disc-version-hidden-cables): this is marketed as an endurance frame, but the geometry is similar to the LC017, with similar reach but lower stack. The stack/reach ratio is 1.38, slightly more relaxed than the LC017. Some of the pluses of the 177 are, for me: T1000 carbon, standard 27.2 seat post, available with both zero and offset seat post, Velobuild does custom painting, the frame is US$500, but … Velobuild seems to be more hit and miss in terms of quality, which worries me because I’m a first time bike builder. Velobuild 268 (https://www.velobuildmall.com/products/velobuild-2024-vb-r-268-carbon-fiber-aero-road-frame-disc-integrated-cables): geometry is very close to the VB177 and LC017, with a stack/reach ratio of 1.35. The biggest pluses of the 268 are, for me: it’s a newer frame, so hopefully some of the known issues around the VB168 and VB177 have been addressed. But, it’s too early to say (anxiously waiting for @patliean1’s review!), I'm not sold on the weird Mavic through axles, and it’s slightly heavier at 1000g. Workswell 316 (https://www.workswellbikes.com/endurance/wcb-r-316-disc-brake.html): this, too, is marketed as an endurance frame, but again, the geometry is similar to the LC017 and the VB177, with a slightly shorter reach and slightly longer stack. The stack/reach ratio is 1.38. The pluses of the 316 are, for me: mix of T800 and T1000 carbon, the light version of the frame is 950g, and I was quoted US$890 for the frame. On the other hand, Workswell does not do custom painting, and there is less info/reviews for Workswell and specifically for this frame. Some other frames I’ve looked at include the Longteng 268D (https://www.ltbikes.com/index/products/view/id/21.html) with 1.40 stack/reach ratio, but slightly over 1000g, and the Longteng 266 (https://www.ltbikes.com/index/products/view/id/211.html) with 1.37 stack/reach ratio - but Longteng has been slow to respond after several attempts to reach them. And the Workswell 366 (https://www.workswellbikes.com/endurance/wcb-r-366(disc-brake).html), with 1.39 stack/reach ratio, $800, but 1130g, and as mentioned above, Workswell doesn’t do custom painting. I’m sure you guys have looked at some of these options as well, and maybe like me have thought deep into the night about which frame is the most suitable. I’m a new member here but really enjoy the community and the spirit of sharing here – would love to hear some thoughts and if there are other options to consider! [Edited to add LT266] March 05, 2024, 05:38:22 AM |
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Re: Lightcarbon: New LCR017-D (or Yishun R1058-D)
Me too. From my emails with them, they offered these in size 52: - 366 at 1130g, US$620 for frame and fork only (seat post is extra but it's standard 27.2) - 316 light at 950g, US$890 for frame, fork, seat post - 316 standard at 1100g, I didn't get a price because I wasn't interested in this frame It just so happens that the Taipei Bike Show is happening this weekend, and I will go check it out. I know Longteng has a booth, and likely other Chinese OEMs as well. I'll report back on anything interesting. (Let me know if anyone has any specific requests or questions in my DMs ... but I won't take requests for Hambini hairdresser pics, sorry....) March 06, 2024, 01:43:31 AM |
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Re: Lightcarbon: New LCR017-D (or Yishun R1058-D)
It just so happens that the Taipei Bike Show is happening this weekend, and I will go check it out. I know Longteng has a booth, and likely other Chinese OEMs as well. I'll report back on anything interesting. (Let me know if anyone has any specific requests or questions in my DMs ... but I won't take requests for Hambini hairdresser pics, sorry....) Just got back from the Taipei Bike Show – today was B2B and not open to the public, sh*t!. I was dying to get in, so I ran down the street to the 7/11 and printed out a bogus business card and got in lol… Of the Chinese open mold manufacturers, I only saw LightCarbon and Longteng. Velobuild didn’t attend. (And I didn’t see a presence from other Chinertown favorites like Elitewheels, Ltwoo, Winspace, Magene, etc.) But I did get to see the LC017 and the LT266 in person, and got some intel on a new LT301 that will be released in a few months: LC017: yes the downtube is quite boxy, but in person it looks/feels a bit more rounded than what’s on their website. And the seat tube is rounded, not at all like the seat tube shown on their website. Here is a video that I took: https://imgur.com/a/PNHdhI5. It’s a niiiiice looking frame. Interestingly, I saw several high-end bikes at the show with similarly boxy down tubes with sharp edges, including the Giant TCR, a Bianchi, a Bianchi Raparto Corse, and a Java Volata that won a gold award at the show: https://imgur.com/a/NEb8cpZ. I talked to one of the bike designers and asked them about the design choice, and he said that they use less materials to keep the bike light weight, and squares are stronger than curved shapes. In other words, for an all-arounder, they sacrificed certain aero gains in favor of weight savings. I’m not engineer so I have no idea if this is true, I’m just relaying what one of the bike designers at the show said to me. LT266: from my amateur eyes, this looks like a really well-made frame. Alisa from Longteng was at the show, and she told me that it’s made from a one piece monocoque mold, so they can achieve a higher degree of uniformity and quality control. The tubes are more rounded than the LC017. Interestingly, she told me that they are testing an unannounced frame, the LT301, I’m posting the geometry and a short video here: https://imgur.com/a/XvH327j. It looks to have a more aero profile than the LT266 and LC017 but still weighs under 1000g. Alisa said they just finished testing the 54cm frame, and are going through tests for the other sizes – it will be a few months before they start selling it, although if anyone wants a 54, it’s available if you contact Alisa directly. (OT: I asked which brands Longteng acts as OEM for, the only thing I could get out of Alisa was that they make a few frames for Argon.) Does this help with my bike choice? I probably will go with one of these and not the Velobuild frames, since I’ve seen and touched them in person. Between the LC017 and LT266? I have no idea…. That’s all I have, cheers. March 07, 2024, 01:25:48 AM |
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New frame: Longteng RD301-D
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] March 07, 2024, 09:11:28 AM |
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Re: New frame: Longteng RD301-D
In addition, I've never heard about this brand, can you please give me some background information, is it a reliable brand? 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. March 09, 2024, 09:27:14 AM |
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Re: New frame: Longteng RD301-D
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. 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  March 12, 2024, 09:02:25 AM |
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