Chinese Carbon MTB Forums
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Project "Purple Rain"
Just want to share my latest Chinerbike project using a well known clone frame that was on offer during singles day sales in November and of course some other components off AliXpress. I know clone frames are frowned upon but I had a good experience so far, so here we go: - Frameset including seat mast and carbon handlebar - Ltwoo GR9 Hydraulic Gravel Brifters and Rear derailleur - Zrace XG hydraulic calipers - Elite SLR Gravel wheels 45x31mm - Continental GP5000 STR 30mm with Ridenow TPU tubes - ZTTO 11-46 ULT cassette - 105 Crankset with Stone 46T chainring - Mixed 5D Carbon saddle - Wellgo SPD pedals - Weight just below 8kg  I really like the frame geometry, so I decided to build a second bike with the same frame set and 1x11 gearing to be mainly used for indoor cycling on a Tacx trainer. First I tried to combine the GR9 brifters with a Shimano GRX 812 Garbaruk modded derailleur but could not get it to shift properly, therefore reverted to the original GR9 derailleur which works reasonably well. The frame interior looks clean by checking with an endoscope camera and the paint job is OK, but not perfect. The BB is a T47 which installed without any problems. The only thing I do not like on this frame are the plastic head spacer parts which require quite a lot of tension from the head cap to get all the play out in the fork bearings. In case of questions, please let me know.  BR Chris February 17, 2024, 08:42:12 AM |
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Re: Velobuild VB-R-177
Rebuilt my VB-177 frameset, as it's off to a new home. My buddy opted for 105 Di2 12-Speed and a set of 1st-gen Hyper 65s. Shifting with 105 feels identical to Ultegra Di2 12sp and the wheels make for a speedy ride dynamically. FSA no69 headset system is the way to go. After building this bike up and riding it, I'm now quite curious to check out the VB-268. I hoping the 268 takes all the good from the 177 and pairs it with the aesthetics and geometry of the 168. Yes I said I was finished with reviewing $500 frames but... YouTube Search: VeloBuild 177 Shimano 105 Di2 12 Speed: EXCELLENT https:// youtu.be/tA6i2vBFrzE (remove the space) February 20, 2024, 10:39:22 AM |
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Re: VeloBuild VB-R-268 frame
I'm also doing a 105 Di2 close-out build - split my order up into 3 orders at TPC so I could use 3 $50 off $200 codes, and ended up with a full 105 groupset for ~$450 Wheels-wise, I bought a set of UNI 50/65 (front/rear) wheels from Leon at Yuanan (https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,4617.0.html) - haven't ridden on them but they're really nice looking/feeling wheels and he was super great to work with. The price was absolutely right, and the wheels are lighter than my existing Cannondale Hollowgram 35s and shipped with tubeless rim tape and valves. IIRC Yuanan is the manufacturer for EliteWheels February 22, 2024, 11:26:12 AM |
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Re: L-Twoo, Sensah or 105?
My original post got cut short for some reason. Just wrote a pretty long reply which got cut short again. Very weird...Without knowing which exact seller you're looking at the price comparisons are a false economy, I assume you're in the UK? For £500 you can get a full Shimano 105 Groupset including crankset, cassette, disc rotors and chain. With Ltwoo and sensah you aren't getting those additional parts. Like for like parts: Shifters, hoses, cables, calipers, rear derailleur, front derailleur. 105 R7020: £280 On AliX Ltwoo R9: £135 On AliX Sensah Empire: £190 On AliX Yes, Shimano is much more expensive, but its not £500 when you consider like for like parts. February 25, 2024, 04:09:11 AM |
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Re: L-Twoo, Sensah or 105?
Side note; I like the irony of chinertown convincing someone to buy shimano 
February 25, 2024, 04:11:10 AM |
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Re: Chinese cycling clothes
Found a new skinsuitNot a skinsuit I would choose The 9D Gel (thick pad) is one of the worst pads I have ever ridden in: thick, bulky and uncomfortable. February 25, 2024, 07:03:46 AM |
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Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
If you have a separate stem, I prefer stem computer mounts over the bar attached computer mount. This OGEVKIN CF stem computer mount is good...if it's not a lemon. I bought 3 of them. 2 work fine, but 1 had a bad garmin mount attachment which cracked. It's hit or miss. A word of warning on those mounts, you need to be careful when assembling it and put washers and spacers in the right order. A friend of mine made a misstake with that type of mount and had a hair-rasing  experience when the handlebar started rotating in the stem on a fast, twisty and bumpy decent.
February 27, 2024, 07:00:39 AM |
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Re: Hygge Aero Carbon Frame
My frame arrived on Friday and I built it up over the weekend. First impressions are great, paint quality seems nice and internal finishing also looks nice. Still waiting on Elitewheels Edge wheelset being delivered to finish properly.    
February 27, 2024, 08:00:00 AM |
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Re: Hygge Aero Carbon Frame
@stevenC what 3d printed saddle are you using in your bike? The color looks amazing! Is that a custom color? Colour was available on their AliExpress store but the colour choices seem to have been narrowed down now. It looks great in the flesh, quite a bit of sparkle to it in the sun. 
February 29, 2024, 11:54:17 AM |
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Re: VeloBuild VB-R-268 frame
Same. Almost no issues with mine with an early frame (I think, no hole in the BB area). I haven't had issues with the axles, just getting used to having them in the right place to take the wheels out, primarily the back, the front one is easier. I had one instance of the saddle tilting down but hasn't happened again since I applied more torque. No issues with the seat post slipping. No issues with holes in the bars either. Overall still very happy with how it's performing so far. 
February 29, 2024, 02:16:47 PM |
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