AirWolf "Grevil"

[JonMS]

Thought I would share my experience ordering, building, riding this frameset.

TLDR; I cannot recommend this frame due to seller issues but boy do I love how it rides.

Ordering & Waiting
Ordered from their Aliexpress store in June and only just the frame October 28th. This was after an initial timeframe of 60 days from ordering. AirWolf kept asking for extensions. I almost bought a whole bike from the Italian brand but stayed patient.

I spec'd handlebars and a 0 degree offset seat post with the frame. Seller was unable to procure handlebars and also shipped me the wrong seat post in the wrong color. No compensation has been offered for the handlebars despite admitting to not being able to get them in a timely manner.

Frame inspection
This frame was a mixture of good and bad.

Bad
The rear dropouts weren't clearanced enough for a wheel to fit (not a paint overspray problem) so I had to take some sandpaper to the 2 o'clock position of the non-drive side dropout to allow a wheel to fit (this was tested with three different rear wheels).

Paint job quality is very inconsistent like they sanded the base coat in some places and left it rough in others. I bought this frameset in the grey color with the intention of painting it a BMW green but I really like how the bike looks as-is. Some overspray in the seat post hole and the brake mounts were paint covered but easily removed with some 400 grit and flattened enough.

Stripped screw on the frame access cover on the downtube and on the cover underneath the bottom bracket shell. In both instances the riv nut is shot and needs to be replaced.

Good
The bearing surfaces of this frame looked great. I used an OEM Pinarello headset with no issue.

The thread on the bottom bracket were very clean and accepted the bottom bracket right away.

Hose routing was very easy, no obstructions and the frame interior looks to be pretty clean.

Faithful recreation to the original Grevil F frame (at least in appearance). I was curious if it would resemble the carbon speed frame we've mostly all seen.

Building
Parts
AirWolf frame in 57.5
Wheeltop EDS TX 2x Hydraulic in "Carbon"
4540 wavy wheels with DT Clone Hubs
165mm SENICX PR2 Crankset
EVOSID DUB Bottom Bracket
EVOSID 48-32 Chainrings
Shimano 105 calipers
ZTTO 11-36 Ultralight 12 speed cassette
IIIPRO Centerlock rotors
Garmin Rally 200 SPD Pedals
Hutchinson Caracal Race Tires 40c
Ergon Gravel Saddle
SRAM XX1 Chain
VB-218 handlebars in 100x420
OEM Pinarello topcap & compression plug

     Weight w/pedals 19.3LB

Once the clearance issues were resolved this bike went together very quickly.

My one issue during the build was the bottom bracket and crankset spacing.
This frame is BSA. Having used SENICX DUB cranks in the past, I did exactly as I did before (follow SRAM PDF 3mm spacer on the drive side) but found I had NO room to adjust preload and the cranks were almost frozen. Thankfully all of my bikes are DUB so I have a couple bags of every spacer size available. Well the smallest one didn't work either (2.5mm). I dug through other bottom bracket boxes and found 1mm spacers. installed one of those and the cranks spun freely enough. Still no adjustment available on preload but the cranks were serviceable.

My take on this is that the BB shell needs to be faced but even measuring the shell it came out to ~68.XX. I don't know if the spindle length is different on the SENICX cranks vs SRAM but I will swap cranks from one of my VB-218 to confirm this later on.

The Bike

Now I have bike. I love the way it looks. I LOVE the way it rides. My body just seems to get along so well with Pinarello geometry. ~50 miles on it so far. No weird noises or issues with stuff coming loose.

[Serge_K]

Very nice, well done!
I have a grevil clone from Peter from Xiamen carbon speed. Awesome right out of the box.
I don't understand why people keep buying frames from airwolf when there are so many better alternatives.
I like making my life difficult for no reason as much as the next guy, but why give business to a company that consistently, if not systematically, fucks up QC?

Is the gray paint, or a primer? If it's only a primer meant to be painted, it probably won't last, especially on a gravel bike?

[JonMS]

Very nice, well done!
I have a grevil clone from Peter from Xiamen carbon speed. Awesome right out of the box.
I don't understand why people keep buying frames from airwolf when there are so many better alternatives.
I like making my life difficult for no reason as much as the next guy, but why give business to a company that consistently, if not systematically, fucks up QC?

Is the gray paint, or a primer? If it's only a primer meant to be painted, it probably won't last, especially on a gravel bike?

Hey thanks.
The rear triangle is different on the carbon speed variant. I prefer this one in looks.
I bought from them based on reviews here and elsewhere on the web but I won't be doing it again.

The color is an actual grey color Pinarello offers on the Grevil.

[bremerradkurier]

Your built weight with pedals is pretty much identical to my Carbonspeed Grevil clone.

https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,5123.15.html

[Daviddavieboy]

My body just seems to get along so well with Pinarello geometry.

I have had 2 genuine ones in the past and still have my old race bike from 2000. I have never had anything more comfortable geometry wise. Would LOVE to see someone start making the "X" style frame. I hear those are excellent.