Chinertown
Chinese Carbon Road Bikes => Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components => Topic started by: Tijoe on June 25, 2024, 09:30:55 AM
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Has anyone ran across a Bikepacking frame that falls into the latest frame configuration of what is being called a "Boost Gravel" frame? Closest frame geometry would be similar to a Cutthroat. I had a Custom Waltly TI 1 X 12 frame fabricated over a year ago, and it is perfect for my bike camping trips, but now I want to build up a higher speed, lighter weight, rig that is a true "bikepacker" Lower BB height, shorter wheelbase, less slack HT angle. A full size frame triangle that lets one put in a larger frame bag, boost rear width, fits 29 X 2.3 tires, frame geometry matched to fit a 100mm travel suspension fork. Plus has provisions for a rear rack, and numerous mounts for cages on the frame.
If I go for another custom TI frame, I will have sliders put in the back. If I can find a Chiner Frame with these features, (in carbon) then I would prefer to purchase a production frame.
Thanks.
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I think you are getting geos mixed up a bit?
Bikepacking bikes (like the Cutthroat) typically have fairly long wheelbases, slack front end geo, and higher BBs than a typical gravel bike.
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I think you are getting geos mixed up a bit?
Bikepacking bikes (like the Cutthroat) typically have fairly long wheelbases, slack front end geo, and higher BBs than a typical gravel bike.
Not if you are approaching the problem from a hardtail boost mtb frame perspective. Many bikepacking rigs are being built these days using boost hardtail frames with small triangles that wont fit a decent size frame bag. The Cutthroat is one of the few that bridges the gap between gravel bikes and mtb hardtail frame geometries.
Many 29er hardtails have a BB-drop of 45 to about 60mm. Most gravel bikes have a BB drop of 60 to 75mm. Thus, from my perspective, a frame with lower BB height
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Why not just get a Cutthroat? REI has full bike builds on sale right now.
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Why not just get a Cutthroat? REI has full bike builds on sale right now.
I build all of my own bikes. I haven't purchased an assembled bike in over 30 years.
The 56cm Cutthroat frame weights over 1.5kgs, with a retail frame price over $2500, ($2K street price.)
The whole point of the exercise is to find an aliexpress/Chinese manufacturer that sells the equivalent frame for an equitable price.
In comparison my Seraph Gravel frame weighs in just around 1000 grams, with a fork that weights under 400 grams, and cost $500. I have ridden this bike hard and it has performed excellent over the past 5 years. Therefore in a carbon frame, equivalent to the Cutthroat's frame geometry, I would expect a frame that weighs at most 1200 grams, with around a 500 gram fork, and cost no more than around $1200 USD.
I can layout my own frame geometry give the specs to Waltly, and pay less than 1/2 the Cutthroat frame price. (Lilely there will be a weight penalty for the add-ons I want to add to the frame versus an engineered boost gravel frame.)
Cutthroats are the most popular on the TD race, followed by custom frames.
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I too have been looking for this. Haven’t found anything yet. I’m surprised no one has copied the cutthroat yet. I guess too niche.
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I found a 29er hardtail with very similar geometry to the Cutthroat. Except... It does not have boost 148mm rear hub compatibility. (it uses a 142 rear hub), and its weight is a bit too heavy for what I am looking for.
It is the Trifox bike MFM200. A frame design from 2019/2020 timeframe.
https://www.trifoxbike.com/carbon-mtb-hardtail-frame-mfm200?srsltid=AfmBOoowJJx-uqFd8q1AGPMPs1wGULA7vA2HBrsOCRINZXqp5aUcM_aS
I wrote them and they have no interest in updating this frame to fit a 148mm rear hub. It appears they are still trying to sell off this older production run.
(Their 2 other newer hardtail offerings are a lot longer wheelbase frame, but these frames are in the 1000g or less weight range.)