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

[kazuviking]

That hydro adapter is a lot cheaper than I thought it would be.  I was looking to upgrade a family members cable brakes recently with some cable/hydro brakes, but it was actually cheaper just to buy the hydro version of the group set off eBay (brakes and shifters). But looking at that price, I might just go with that.  It is a gravel bike, so they already have a lot of things attached to it, so shouldn’t mind just sticking those things under the handle bars.

I was surprised as well at the price being 55€. Wish i could buy the adapter separately for around 30€ as i already have calipers ready to be mounted.

[kazuviking]

New Goldix mesh ratchet upgrade for existing hubs.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010069712638.html

[hubba]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009438621605.html

160 to 180mm flat mount adapter. I was looking at the Peak Torque adapter but this is almost 10x cheaper.
I put 180mm rotor on the front of my gravel bike great modulation.

[teunnes]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009438621605.html

160 to 180mm flat mount adapter. I was looking at the Peak Torque adapter but this is almost 10x cheaper.
I put 180mm rotor on the front of my gravel bike great modulation.

To bad that the front isn't just 1 adapter instead of 2

[jonathanf2]

ZTTO hydraulic brake calipers. They look similar to the IIIPro/ZRace XG calipers, but with just minor differences. These seem well priced, but appear to come with alloy pistons.

I detailed on this site how to convert the ZRace calipers to ceramic pistons which vastly improve performance for cheap:
https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,6262.0.html

I'd presume the same can be done to these calipers. These initially were selling for under $30 USD for the pair. Though price has been been fluctuating.

I received my ZTTO hydraulic brake calipers last week. I haven't installed them yet, but I suspect they're a knock-off of the ZRace/IIIPRo XG calipers which are a knock-off of the Hope brake calipers! 

Design-wise, they're slightly different from the XG calipers with a flatter exterior profile so they're not 1:1 copies. Annoyingly they came with the barbs pre-installed in the lines, so I either have to pull them off or install new ones (to size the cable hose to a frame).

They did come with alloy pistons. The good thing is that I can swap them out for Heppe ceramic pistons which will vastly improve performance of these brakes making them an excellent weight weenie budget buy.

On a side note, I miss the more budget aspect of this site. I like the idea of building performance bikes under a certain price-point. Even the Chinese bike scene can't escape its own form of gear elitism! 

[pushpush]

New Goldix mesh ratchet upgrade for existing hubs.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010069712638.html

Interesting. I wonder if this beveled design actually does anything other than be different.

[toxin]

Could you weight just the calipers themselves?

[jonathanf2]

Could you weight just the calipers themselves?

I misplaced my gram scale, so I had to use my hanging scale so I couldn't get the most accurate readout. With the hose detached and brake pads+pin removed (I left the adapter mount plate on), it came out to about 95g. Should be less without the plate. On par with the XG calipers.

[kazuviking]

Interesting. I wonder if this beveled design actually does anything other than be different.

This is one of those rare cases where the physics is on point and not misleading. Tried buying one but its out of stock everywhere except for the goldix store but i aint paying 55€ for one. The store said they will receive the stock sometime this week. If i cannot get it then i will consider trying the 72teeth one.

[pushpush]

This is one of those rare cases where the physics is on point and not misleading. Tried buying one but its out of stock everywhere except for the goldix store but i aint paying 55€ for one. The store said they will receive the stock sometime this week. If i cannot get it then i will consider trying the 72teeth one.

The thing is, what does this actually improve? The time proven flat ratchets work perfectly.

[kazuviking]

The thing is, what does this actually improve? The time proven flat ratchets work perfectly.

DT made flat star ratchet works but not the chinese made ones. I broken multiple different brand 36t star ratchets from ali just by doing casual riding. Bought a black 60 teeth ratchet on a sale and it broke after 2.2km. Current goldix ratchet is holding up nice, 1600 ish km and only bit of damage to some teeth. In the meantime the meshing ratchets are in stock for 42€. EDIT: typos and km.

[teunnes]

Never seen something like this!
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EwjmoZo

Temped to try it

[amacal1]

Never seen something like this!
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EwjmoZo

Temped to try it

So the entire base is titanium? Interesting.

[loheiman]

DT made flat star ratchet works but not the chinese made ones. I broken multiple different brand 36t star ratchets from ali just by doing casual riding. Bought a black 60 teeth ratchet on a sale and it broke after 2.2km. Current goldix ratchet is holding up nice, 1600 ish km and only bit of damage to some teeth. In the meantime the meshing ratchets are in stock for 42€. EDIT: typos and km.

Hmm very surprised to hear that. I don't have experience yet with Ali hubs but I would think they're pretty close to DT in durability. Anyone else have issues?

[HarryFunmaker]

Never seen something like this!
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EwjmoZo

Temped to try it

"Avoiding sweltering of the buttocks while riding."

I got a kick out of that, but in all seriousness it seems like an interesting idea. You should try it and give us a ride report. I'd be interested to know if it's more comfortable than carbon. They seem to be pushing the strength angle more than comfort.