Lightcarbon: New LCR017-D (or Yishun R1058-D)

[Sgt.Hole]

Size chart seems to be updated as well…

[BeR]

Can anyone explain to me what Z3 quality is and all the other qualities?

Do all other sellers also use this notation?

[dinorello]

Can anyone explain to me what Z3 quality is and all the other qualities?

Do all theother sellers also use this notation?

I think hambini made it up so he can sell more light carbon frames and get a kick back from them

[mheusler]

I think hambini made it up so he can sell more light carbon frames and get a kick back from them

man, knock it off. can you please engage in constructive discussion and not this sh*t. (you're also getting into libel territory here, if you can not back up your accusations.)

[rasch]

This is just pure marketing from them.

They even changed the chart like Sgt.Hole said but as far as I see changed only the recommended sizing (at least on size 58). This makes it feel like that have "updated/upgraded sth".

Honestly not a great approach, but doesn't make them a bad company. I'd still buy and recommend from them, though now I'm looking into other supplier because their frame design is not so consensual among my clients/friends.

[mheusler]

Can anyone explain to me what Z3 quality is and all the other qualities?

Do all other sellers also use this notation?

To properly answer your question: this notion of different quality control levels in the context of Lightcarbon came out of a discussion Hambini had with LC people at Eurobike 2024. Hambini explains it in his blog here: https://www.hambini.com/bike-frame-manufacturing-standards/

Here's the main summary of the qc levels:

[zett]

The real question is: is this Z scale a real bike industry thing or did Lightcarbon more or less invent it as a marketing tool?

[KaiDeus]

I don't know, if it started as marketing, as the z rating very much seems to originate in oem manufacturing.
Whether this will be lightcarbons version of a lab71 remains to be seen, although z3 does not really has a performance claim behind it, just a "you don't get a shit product" claim.

[Joselu]

Well, this one is mine. Looking forward to it being shipped. Let’s see what happens after the cheese incident...

[repoman]

Does anyone know the relationship between Lightcarbon and TanTan? They sell some of the same exact frames, yet both pose as manufacturers.

[dinorello]

The real question is: is this Z scale a real bike industry thing or did Lightcarbon more or less invent it as a marketing tool?

I believe it's marketing and the equivalent to a coupon code so influencers can get paid

[Icyseanfitz]

Looking at maybe starting a build with this frame, have many gotten it yet? What is the "cheese" incident

[mheusler]

Looking at maybe starting a build with this frame, have many gotten it yet? What is the "cheese" incident

it refers to the frame tiagosantos_ss received (here's his post including two pictures https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,4309.msg65396.html#msg65396), and the quality issues. It had a couple of voids in the upper seat tube area. There was some back and forth with Lightcarbon but they ultimately agreed to send out a new frame to tiagosantos_ss.

I have put my order in a couple of weeks ago and i'm looking forward to receiving the frame early November. I hope, of course, that my frame will not show those kind, or any kind really, of QC issues.

[mheusler]

...
you're quite brake ordering one. FYI, you can buy USB endoscopes for super cheap on alix, in your shoes, i'd 100% get one and make a conscious effort to inspect all tubes of the frame i receive, because composites manufacturing isnt trivial, especially now that we all want light frames again. If your layers aren't compacted properly (should be much less of a problem now that EPS / latex moulding is very widely used), or if you're straight up missing material in key areas, then bad things can happen.
...

not to worry, i have ordered an endoscope already and intend to thoroughly check the frame once i have it in my hands. I will share here if i find any issues.

But i don't think it's brave of me to order one - the risk, at least in my view, is fairly small. And that, for me, is okay, especially given the prices we're discussing.
And if there's any issues, i have all winter to get this sorted with LC ...

[Sgt.Hole]

not to worry, i have ordered an endoscope already and intend to thoroughly check the frame once i have it in my hands. I will share here if i find any issues.

But i don't think it's brave of me to order one - the risk, at least in my view, is fairly small. And that, for me, is okay, especially given the prices we're discussing.
And if there's any issues, i have all winter to get this sorted with LC ...

I’m on same boat and forced to bought an endoscope because of these issues.
It's really sad that customer have to make a QC, but like already mentioned, I also have a whole winter to try to get things right.