Chinertown
Chinese Carbon MTB => 29er => Topic started by: xcbarny on January 27, 2016, 11:51:33 PM
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After having a few issues with Workswell, but wanting a similar frame, I finally settled on the Dashinebike 29er on AliExpress:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2016-new-style-China-29er-MTB-Bike-29er-Carbon-Frame-135-10-and-142-12mm-thru/32546313850.html
Initial impressions are good. Quality looks on a par with the workswell. It came with a Headset, seatclamp, and both QR and TA dropouts (and the sent me some spare qr dropouts too).
It was fairly easy to deal with them, and they were very patient, since I was asking a lot of questions, to make sure that I was getting the exact spec that I needed.
Weighed in at 1Kg on my work scales, I probably wouldn't want to go any lighter on a chinese frame.
(http://i.imgur.com/PdahKbxh.jpg)
Some other pics
(http://i.imgur.com/pH9ko8Kh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/amibeeVh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/7U8805Rh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/5zTvbX7h.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/AthwgGEh.jpg)
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I have an issue that it won't accept the fun bolts on my Chris king Singlespeed hub, so I need to find a work around for that first. Either a 10mm x 135mm qr axle, or change the axle on my hub to standard QR one.
There's an odd hole between the bottle cage screws, that i have no idea what it is for - maybe DI2 battery?
I'll have to see how easy it is to remove the cable guides, since I'll only be needing the brake hose one.
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Also this frame has the fattest top tube that I have ever seen. Fairly similar to the Workswell in flat profile, but I think its a lot wider?
Frame also takes a 27.2 post (aliexpress add said 31.6.). Which I'm happy about, since it should be more forgiving.
I tried to find what frame this is copied from, but so far have been unsuccessful. It is very similar to the Workswell in appearance, which is a specialized copy, but then the geometry on this frame isn't the same.
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Interesting frame, look forward to hearing more about it as you build it up.
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Interesting frame, look forward to hearing more about it as you build it up.
Agreed. The way the UD carbon catches the light with the gloss coat is pretty cool.
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Let me know if there's any other info or pics you'd like as I get on with the build. I'll try to see how the gear cables are routed through the frame, even though I won't be using them.
BTW, this build might get delayed a few weeks, as baby no 2 is due any day now.
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Hey...congratulations! On the bike...and the baby. ;D
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Pulled a few late nights over the weekend to get this built up.
First was getting the Bottom bracket sorted. The shell seemed to be a bit undersized. Probably not an issue if I was using a standard bottom bracket, but since the Eccentric BB needs to rotate, to change the chain tension, I had to open it out a little, so I just spent some time on it by hand with some sand paper. Here's the EBB and RH crank installed.
(http://i.imgur.com/sgv89MVh.jpg)
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As I mentioned earlier, the NDS dropout was giving me a few issues, as I couldn't get my bolt on Chris King hub in. This is the offending dropout:
(http://i.imgur.com/RII5dGLh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/HcISt36h.jpg)
I did consider cutting a slot in the frame, to match the alloy dropout, but then thought this might be a bit too drastic. I'm currently running an old shimano QR axle loosely through the hub, and then using a standard quick release.
I can either get a Chris King QR conversion kit for it, or get a 10mm QR:
http://www.avt.bike/WebStore/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AVT&Product_Code=PHB705&Category_Code=
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DT-Swiss-RWS-Axle-thru-bolt-aluminum-10-mm-135-mm-/331762531133?hash=item4d3e967b3d:g:6vgAAOSwHjNV8Du6
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Fitting the brake hose wasn't too much of an issue (so long as you go from the front - which is an issue if you have a banjo on the brake calliper).
Similar to the workswell, there's a removable cover, under the BB shell. Its easy enough to feed the hose through from the front, to the BB. It was a bit trickier feeding it from the BB to the calliper. In the end a fed a bit of gear cable through, then used this to guide the hose.
Since I'm not using gear cable, I removed the hose guides on the front of the downtube, which left some fairly big slots:
(http://i.imgur.com/fJfOnjTh.jpg)
I just covered these over with black insulation tape.
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Wheels and forks on. Looks nearly finished, but still a lot of work to do:
(http://i.imgur.com/Ji5IcvZh.jpg)
Still have forks to cut down, rear brake to bleed, and chain to fit and tension up.
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Close up of my XTR M960 Crankset, modified for 104 BCD rings and 1x use. Still needs to grinding and polishing, but it works and its light.
(http://i.imgur.com/RE7B4W5h.jpg)
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Bike finally all together:
(http://i.imgur.com/4bxudhUh.jpg)
And some pics from the trail:
(http://i.imgur.com/zQG36uFh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ml5SXyth.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/J8NeI5Qh.jpg)
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(http://i.imgur.com/cwu1aG9h.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/1srFUyEh.jpg)
Its probably 6 months since I rode a Singlespeed, so my legs were suffering, but apart from that, the bike felt great (certainly rides better than you'd imagine for a $305 frame). The tight geometry was helping the tyres hook up really well, and I found I was gaining confidence on it pushing it through the tight corners.
I can tell that once I get my form, this will be a KOM smashing rocket.
Final weight was a touch over 8.5KG. I was perhaps expecting it to be a bit lower for this build, but its let down a bit by the heavy but bombproof and reliable Chris King hubs, and heavier Snakeskin tyres.
So current build is:
Frame: Dashine bike Carbon 29er (medium)
Forks: RS SID RLT qr
Wheels: Chris King SS hubs, DT Revolution hubs on Stans Crest, 2.25 Schwalbe Rocket Ron Snakeskin F / 2.25 Shwalbe Thunder Burt Snakeskin R
Stem: Easton EA70 (80mm , -17 deg)
Bars: Ritchey Carbon WCS Riser (should probably change these to flat)
Brakes: Shimano XT M775
Chainset: Modified XTR M960
Chainring: Rotor Q-Ring singlespeed 34T
Sprocket: Surly 21T
Chain: Shimano 8sp
Saddle + Post: Merek full carbon
Headest: Chinese - included with frame.
Pedals: Speedplay Frog Chromoly
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Bike looks great! Congratulations!
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Hi Brett,
nice build! You were really quick in the end! And I'm beginning to like this frame. It definitely looks great, the weight is awesome for the price and the 70° HTA is what I would prefer over the 062 (which is still tempting).
Please keep us updated about you riding experiences. How does the frame feel? Does it bend easily, does it feel stiff?
Btw. Did you bend the spider of the crank? My heart suffers a little when looking at the picture.
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That thing looks light just sitting there. Enjoy.
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Hi Brett,
nice build! You were really quick in the end! And I'm beginning to like this frame. It definitely looks great, the weight is awesome for the price and the 70° HTA is what I would prefer over the 062 (which is still tempting).
Please keep us updated about you riding experiences. How does the frame feel? Does it bend easily, does it feel stiff?
Btw. Did you bend the spider of the crank? My heart suffers a little when looking at the picture.
The Crank mod is generally known as the Jeff Jones XTR modification. Here's a better example:
http://www.mtnbikeriders.com/2011/03/12/diy-xtr-960-single-crankset/
except I slotted the bolt holes, so that I could fit a 104 BCD ring rather than the 102 BCD that this crank takes. It works, but I still have some work to do on it to get it finished. It actually comes in lighter than a Sram XX1 Crankset.
First ride out was nice. Bike felt predictable. Not too harsh, but I wasn't riding a rocky trail. I still have some tuning on the forks to do, as I bought these 2nd hand, so its hard to get a true impression of the bike, until I get them sorted.
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The Crank mod is generally known as the Jeff Jones XTR modification. Here's a better example:
http://www.mtnbikeriders.com/2011/03/12/diy-xtr-960-single-crankset/
That crank mod looks great, but damn, you've gotta have some balls of iron to take a hacksaw to XTR cranks! :D I was nervous enough cutting ~3.5" off the steerer tube of the new fork for the wife's "A" bike this weekend.
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I was lucky enough to have a friend CNC machine it - for a 6 pack of beer!
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I was lucky enough to have a friend CNC machine it - for a 6 pack of beer!
Hah, nice! That definitely works. Only had to ovalize the chainring bolt holes 1mm to go from 102 to 104mm, as well, which kinda begs the question of why the hell Shimano decided to not use 102mm - a 1mm difference in the radius isn't going to make a big difference in the smallest gear that'll fit. Maybe it'll fit a 30t without mods, but since Wolftooth doesn't even make a 30 for that size (http://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/chainrings/products/102-bcd-chainrings), I'm guessing probably not.
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I reckon the engineers have a running joke, to see how many different BCD sizes they can come out with. I think they introduce a new one every year.
I was recently looking for a 104 BCD XT chainset for another bike, and was amazed that the same crank also came in 96 BCD size (equal spacing) and now the new XT and XTR is 96 BCD (unequal spacing). Would it have killed them to use 94 like Sram if they needed to go smaller? (Yes, probably).
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Hi,
did you have the opportunity to do more rides and impressions on your new bike?
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Well, last week my son was born, so i haven't ridden since then.
I did get a 2nd ride on it though, on my regular loop, before he came along. There's a 3 1/2 minute dh on this loop that I've ridden many times. I got my second best time on it, and faster than my best time on my 4" travel duel suspension bike. There's also a 15min gradual climb, which i also got my 2nd best time on, despite blowing up on the climb.
So all in all, im very happy with the bikes handling. I think i have more confidence in it than my deully, because the shorter wheelbase allows the tires to hook up so much better. Once i get my singlespeed strength up, there'll be no stopping me on this bike.
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Hey congrats to you and great your family seems well!
Small wonder you didn't have much opportunity to ride. It'll probably stay like that for some time. ;)
But still. Your description of your last ride sounds really good. I hope I can place an order soon.
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Well, last week my son was born, so i haven't ridden since then.
Congrats! So we'll hear more ride reports in a couple years, right? :D
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The Crank mod is generally known as the Jeff Jones XTR modification. Here's a better example:
http://www.mtnbikeriders.com/2011/03/12/diy-xtr-960-single-crankset/
Good link, thanks. That polished crankset looks fantastic. Unfortunately, I can't polish anything on my bike; too much carbon.
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So understandably, a few months have passed since I updated this thread, but after a period off the bike, and then a period of getting some fitness and strength back up on my geared bike, I am now getting back out on the Singlespeed.
And I'm loving it!
I've been riding mtb since the early '90s, and have owned a fair few bikes in my time. Often top of the range frames from the likes of Scott and Specialized. This frame is probaly the fastest bike I've owned (I've only owned XC bikes). And despite my lack of top fitness, I'm getting PRs everytime I head out on it.
So I've had a few niggles:
The EBB wasn't holding tight, so I applied silicone sealant to it - this seems to have done the trick.
One of my dropouts seems to be coming loose, despite me applying loctite to it - so I need to try something stonger.
I need to covert my rear hub to a thru axle, as I'm not overly happy with my current soluction, but I need to save up the $$$ for the Chris King conversion axle and a new 12qr Axle.
Also the conditions here are very dry and loose at the moment, so I think I need to try a new rear tire as the Thunder Burt isn't quite cutting it.
Everything else is great. On the weekend I was able to follow a freind down a 6+ minute downhill, at the same speed as him. He was riding a Rocky Mountain Element with 100mm travel.
Here's the Video of another run, where he followed me down:
https://vimeo.com/166692676
(note: I don't profess to be the best downhiller!)
For anyone looking for a good value frame, I can highly reccomend the Dashine. It's so good, I'd even consider getting another to swap with my geared hardtail (currently a Planet X Dirty Harry). My Duel sus bike isn't getting any use at the moment!