Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!

[jonathanf2]

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804954514361.html

Ltwoo 11 speed hydraulic 1x gravel has dropped. This looks super tempting since I don't feel like jumping to 12 speed.

[jonathanf2]

I am building a budget Salsa Journeyer and ordered Racework 34t 1x crank. Don’t have very high hopes but we will see. This 105 crank with chainring is actually a pretty good deal imo.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832778412128.html

I noticed the AliEx MTB cranks are really heavy. I weighed the non-drive side crank arm on an IXF crankset and it was 300g just by itself. Using the 105 crankset and Deckas chainring comes in at less weight, cost less and you can buy more chainring options. In order to match 105, AliEx cranksets go with alloy spindle axle just to match it in weight. Shimano is the only ones who can pull off the hollow forged alloy crank arms.

[coffeebreak]

I noticed the AliEx MTB cranks are really heavy. I weighed the non-drive side crank arm on an IXF crankset and it was 300g just by itself. Using the 105 crankset and Deckas chainring comes in at less weight, cost less and you can buy more chainring options. In order to match 105, AliEx cranksets go with alloy spindle axle just to match it in weight. Shimano is the only ones who can pull off the hollow forged alloy crank arms.

Heavy indeed. The 34T model that I ordered clocks in at 750grams. The chainring is standard 4 arm 104BCD so I should have many choices to swap them later. Haven't yet shipped though, its been 4 days now giving me time to rethink and cancel lol.

[impmonkey]

Got the racework carbon cranks in. They are 180 grams lighter than the zrace ones. The raceworks ring is also a 42t direct mount. The zrace is a 40t w/ spider.
I was careful with the nondrive side bolts. So far no cracking, will check after a couple miles.

[00Garza]

Carbon crankset by taiwanese company. Price is out of the "budget" range for sure though.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803068845720.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

[coffeebreak]

True. For an unknown brand that price is prohibitively expensive. No weight mentioned either which I believe would be a determining factor for anyone looking to spend that much dough on a crankset.

In other news, Onirii seems to make thread-together press-fit BBs like Token Ninja : https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804874301815.html (top row, 5-7th items)

[maza]

True. For an unknown brand that price is prohibitively expensive. No weight mentioned either which I believe would be a determining factor for anyone looking to spend that much dough on a crankset.

In other news, Onirii seems to make thread-together press-fit BBs like Token Ninja : https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804874301815.html (top row, 5-7th items)

Under reviews there is customer measuring 624 grams for the crankset.

[jonathanf2]

I recently had a bike crash, so I had to dismantle my bike and fix it up a bit from the fall damage. Anyways, I had this Risk brake cable lying around and decided to install it. The brake feel is a bit more solid, with more bite. I'm using the training level red brake cabling, but I'm curious if the competition gold brake cabling is even better? Though it's about 3 times the price.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255799961911899.html

[Confused]

Floating / 2 piece rotors with carbon instead of aluminum on internal section https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802324874828.html

[jonathanf2]

Not AliExpress, but US Amazon Prime. Sometimes I find items at the same price or lower than AliEx but with faster Prime shipping and returns. Make sure to click on the coupon in order to get the additional discounts (tax dependent on location):

Ceramic Speed knock-off OSPWs for 40% off for R8000/R9000/R7000 and SRAM RED pricing it under $25 USD:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BR641GYS

Ultra lightweight 11 speed 11-28/32t cassette 50% off pricing it under $35 USD:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Q17Y6HW

AliExpress best prices for non-US buyers:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804555924336.html?
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800049110907.html?

FYI - I ordered the OSPW and it's indeed a carbon fiber cage, confirmed by using it to click and move on my smartphone screen. Regular plastic is non-conductive. Comes in at 60g with jockey wheels.

[coffeebreak]

Great finds. Been noticing this trend on Amazon and eBay. Is it that Ali-ex is getting expensive or Amazon cheaper? Nothing beats Amazon's convenience. Placed an order for cassette. I would have ordered the ospw too but there's no R6800 compatible one on sale.

[TidyDinosaur]

Great finds. Been noticing this trend on Amazon and eBay. Is it that Ali-ex is getting expensive or Amazon cheaper? Nothing beats Amazon's convenience. Placed an order for cassette. I would have ordered the ospw too but there's no R6800 compatible one on sale.

Ali has gotten A LOT more expensive in the last few years (50-100% more)... Free shipping has also become more and more scarce...

[jonathanf2]

Great finds. Been noticing this trend on Amazon and eBay. Is it that Ali-ex is getting expensive or Amazon cheaper? Nothing beats Amazon's convenience. Placed an order for cassette. I would have ordered the ospw too but there's no R6800 compatible one on sale.

Yeah, sometimes you really have to dig to find these items. There are probably thousands of small sellers on Amazon, sometimes items never appear on top searches, so it takes a bit of digging to find the good stuff. Also I used to run 105 5800, but I much prefer the shadow RDs based on ease of tuning, bigger cassette capacity and better protection from bumps and falls. If you ever come across a discount 105 or Ultegra R7000/8000 short cage, these OSPWs are basically mid-cage designs. I'm not sure if they help or not, but I don't think they hurt either!

[jonathanf2]

Ali has gotten A LOT more expensive in the last few years (50-100% more)... Free shipping has also become more and more scarce...

I've noticed bike frame prices/shipping have gone up as well. There are only a few select sellers even worth considering.

[coffeebreak]

If you ever come across a discount 105 or Ultegra R7000/8000 short cage, these OSPWs are basically mid-cage designs. I'm not sure if they help or not, but I don't think they hurt either!

My Fuji roadie has R7000 and there is 40% discount on that model too. Got that one instead. Let's see how it works!

Update. The 40% off seems to have been taken down at least for R7000 model after I placed the order: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BR632QL6