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Re: Carbonda fm936 Thoughts
Just wanted to come back and give an update. Riding this bike for months now. Carbonda is obviosly the real deal, frame and paint are working perfectly. I've had some crashes and close calls. Always my fault, always the frame is undamaged. This bike is extremely capable on the downhill with the 120mm fork but at the cost of a little bit of uphill performance. Specifically, when riding up steep techical hills the longer fork keeps your weight away from the ground and makes it easier to fail backwards. The larger fork also limits the front manuveurability while climbing. This is only something to consider if you are trying to hop up large rocks on steep climbs. My build is a trail oriented and the bike can handle whatever I throw at. The long wheel base makes it a little bit tricky to do big jump lines, but the lightweight (under 26lbs) make it easy to throw around. Overall, amazing for the money. The frame is totally worth whatever high-end components you were thinking about splurging on. Regrets: wish I went 203mm in the front brake instead of 180 on both. October 16, 2020, 03:29:21 PM |
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Re: Carbonda fm936 Thoughts
Finished the build! Too bad winter has come a bit early and won't be able to ride till the spring now. Build specs: - Size Large Frame; custom painted "Chrome Green" - Shimano XT 12spd - Shimano XT brakes - E*thirteen XCX iW28 rims - Bontrager XR4/XR3 tires - RaceFace Next R cranks (170mm) - RaceFace Next Handlebar (760mm) - RaceFace Stem - 50mm - OneUp Dropper (210mm) - Giant Contact Seat - Fox 34 SC 120mm, 44mm offset - Fox DPS Float 42.5mm (the one everyone was buying on ebay) The bathroom scale test (me with bike, me without bike) says 27lbs, but I sure hope that's wrong cause my spec sheet says it should be around 25lbs based on listed weights + 1lb buffer. Will have to get to a bike shop to properly weigh it. I spent about $5200 CAD on this, but did have some access to pro deals for RaceFace and Fox gear. Bought a bunch of the Shimano stuff on AliExpress a few months back before the prices started climbing. October 23, 2020, 02:24:32 PM |
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Re: Carbonda fm936 Thoughts
mine was without him. bottom bracket protection only. Sorry to see this damage. In my opinion this is not shipping damage but negligence by the person who packs the bike in the box. My frame had a similar problem but it was the derailleur hanger that popped out through the box and took several hits. Carbonda should take more time to fill the voids in the box with cardboard insets to prevent the bike from sloshing around inside the box. It isn’t hard or expensive to do and countless bike boxes have been designed that could be copied by Carbonda. If I were you I would ask for a partial refund or make them send you a new front triangle. The only way Carbonda will improve their packaging is if we as customers hold them to a higher standard. The good news, you can build that frame and have no issues. The damage is in an area where you won’t see it and won’t compromise safety. I do hope you have the yellow kit to match the frame. Pro. October 29, 2020, 12:47:01 PM |
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Re: Carbonda fm936 Thoughts
They promised to make a refund on the cost of painting. I am quite satisfied) I will test a new bike, I will share my impressions later. 
October 30, 2020, 07:15:42 AM |
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Re: Carbonda fm936 Thoughts
If you want to keep your current position like on the Scalpel, keep the Scalpel! This frame has a completely different approach and you seem not wanting to live with it. The FM936 is true to size. If you run L in your other bikes, also use an L with this frame! I thing you got it wrong. I understand the approach of this bike and this is exactly what I'm looking for (slacker HT angle and longer wheelbase and lower BB), which I actually can achieve on a M frame keeping my actual position(50mm longer wheelbase and 67 HT angle) for sure I'd never blame anybody for my own choice. The whole thing is to have a bike which I can pedal up on my races almost so effective as my Scalpel and go down faster/easier. Some marathon races I do we hit climbs over 1000mtrs in one go (mostly on even surface, fire roads or even Tarmac) and then descent those same 1000 mtrs on trails. As I said before, on the M frame I would be able to mount a 30 mm shorter stem keeping my actual position and have a much more DH oriented bike as soon as the things go down. In Spain, the Brand Mendiz is offering a model with the exact same frame, and they also sell the M frame from Carbonda as an L https://www.bicismendiz.com/bicicletas/mtb/mendiz-x40xc-configurador#. In my opinion, everybody rides different and have to build the bike according their needs, I don't want the M so badly, I just want to build the bike which offers me the best performance for the riding I do. If I wanted a bike to focus on descending I wouldn't mind to have the L but for me is also important that the bike is reacting fast uphill on tight corners and feels effective on long stady climbs. November 05, 2020, 11:54:55 PM |
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Re: Carbonda fm936 Thoughts
Here is Patxi Cia's bike, a Spanish xc racer which is built with the same approach (xc/xcm aggressive riding). He is shorter (1'75 mtrs) and rides a S size. B A 9'8kg rocket November 06, 2020, 01:55:10 AM |
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Re: Carbonda fm936 Thoughts
Here is Patxi Cia's bike, a Spanish xc racer which is built with the same approach (xc/xcm aggressive riding). He is shorter (1'75 mtrs) and rides a S size. Hahaha !  A "downcountry" bike downsized with a 120mm stem ? I think it is the worst idea for both handling and power.As acedeuce802 said : The slack HTA, steep STA, long reach, and long wheelbase all play together. If you play around with that, it will be shitty for sure. Long stem with slack HTA is a terrible idea for downhill handling. As well as saddle set up backward is a bad idea for uphill. Back 10 years ago, every body were riding 650mm handlebar. On modern geo 29" bikes, nobody would do that. You are entering the future of xc geo, do not be afraid, forgot your old bike geometry and take a L you won't regret it  PS : spanish people are not tall. A L in Spain is a M in France and S in Denmark 
November 06, 2020, 02:45:47 AM |
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Re: Carbonda fm936 Thoughts
Did you ever tried a longer stem on a bike with slack angle? because IMO there is a lot of bro science about geos, most important thing on a bike which needs to climb efficient (anybike at some point) is the saddle position, if you shift your saddle forward you are going to have less weight on the rear wheel and also less traction. Stem Yes i did try different stems on my 65° HTA bike. When stem is longer than 60mm this is a very strange sensation et poor handling. STA I have a custom geo hardtail 76° STA / 65 HTA / 476 reach and a 73,5° STA / 69 HTA / 428 reach hardtail Orbea Alma. The Orbea Alma offers better traction on flat tracks but less traction on steep climbs, because the weight is too much backward. The best traction is offered when the saddle is verticaly aligned with the rear axle or a bit forward. On my Orbea Alma i feel like my weight is backward the axle (i am not sure if i am clear  ). PS : the vertical and horizontal length between saddle and bars is exactly the same between all my bikes. The difference doesn't come from the positionning.XCO/XCM or downcountry ? I understand your need. You are trying to get the "best of both worlds". Downsizing and "modifying" a downcountry geo to fit XCO/XCM geometry (old or not) is probably a bad idea in my opinion (suspension feel with your ass at 73° instead of 77°, handling with longer stem...). The reviews don't recommend the NS Synonym for its pedaling quality. If you are into XCO/XCM you will certainly find it lacks pure pedaling performance (vs Scott Spark and Orbea Oiz for example) and moreover you will not have the benefits of the downcountry geo because downsized + long stem. Instead of "the best of both worlds", maybe it will results in "the worst of both worlds". My need is a mini enduro bike with the weight of a XC. Your need is a pure XC that descends better. Maybe you are right and you need a M with longer stem and saddle backward... let's give it a try if you are not afraid of being disappointed. I hope you'll enjoy it
November 06, 2020, 07:47:34 AM |
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Re: Carbonda fm936 Thoughts
It is clear that they changed the front triangle A LOT : 67° seat angle and 77° head angleHahaha bazzinggaa! November 11, 2020, 01:25:12 PM |
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Re: Carbonda fm936 Thoughts
Yes, Hamburg is one city over from Xiamen! Its 1 hour on the fast train and 3 on the commuter..... at least their riders ride this frame https://www.facebook.com/stevensmtbracingteam/ November 13, 2020, 10:22:05 AM |
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