Chinertown

Chinese Carbon MTB => 29er => Topic started by: bigfudge on March 10, 2022, 01:15:48 PM

Title: Monster gravel... what should I be looking at?
Post by: bigfudge on March 10, 2022, 01:15:48 PM
So, I really want one of these, but I can't afford it!!! https://opencycle.com/wide  Are there any open mould or factory type models which are similar. My priorities are:

- big clearances (ideal 45mm+ on 700c wheels)
- largest possible frame size (I'm tall)
- forks with bag mount points like the enve adventure.

Does it exist?
Title: Re: Monster gravel... what should I be looking at?
Post by: dan_cx on March 10, 2022, 01:27:16 PM
Carbonda's CFR696 frame lists 700x50 as max tire size.

https://www.carbonda.com/road/gravel/80.html

Wing recently quoted me $480 USD for the CFR696 frame.
Title: Re: Monster gravel... what should I be looking at?
Post by: impmonkey on March 10, 2022, 02:04:36 PM
Can vouch for the 696. Great Frame.
Title: Re: Monster gravel... what should I be looking at?
Post by: wfl3 on March 10, 2022, 06:21:02 PM
The Fezzari Shafer is pretty similar.

About half price for frame and the AXS Rival build is about half the price of that AXS Force build.  I was gonna build up the Carbonda 707, but ended up just getting one of these with the AXS Rival build since getting those components was almost impossible at the time.

https://fezzari.com/products/shafer (https://fezzari.com/products/shafer)

Title: Re: Monster gravel... what should I be looking at?
Post by: bigfudge on March 11, 2022, 04:18:14 AM
They both look like good options, thanks. 696 looks quite a bit like the planetx free ranger!
Title: Re: Monster gravel... what should I be looking at?
Post by: dan_cx on March 11, 2022, 11:09:05 AM
Quote from: bigfudge on March 11, 2022, 04:18:14 AM
They both look like good options, thanks. 696 looks quite a bit like the planetx free ranger!

It's quite possible that Planet-X is also a Carbonda/Fly-Bikes Asia product (purely my speculative guess, not fact in any way). They produce the CFR505 gravel frame, which is licensed to Thesis as their OB-1 bike. Out of all the gravel frames I've looked at, the 696 seems like it has the broadest range of sizes, and can take some truly monstrous tires.
Title: Re: Monster gravel... what should I be looking at?
Post by: jannmayer on March 11, 2022, 10:10:19 PM
Quote from: bigfudge on March 11, 2022, 04:18:14 AM
They both look like good options, thanks. 696 looks quite a bit like the planetx free ranger!
Yes, the Free Ranger is a 696. It's a very popular frame. I've seen at least a dozen companies selling versions of it.

The 696 has slightly more road- like geometry than the 707. Although it can fit huge tires, I likely would have had a lot of type overlap. I went with the 707 because it's a bit longer in front. That should also make it more stable on rough trails.

(Still painting and building mine so no feedback on the ride yet. )