Replica Factor Ostro VAM

[Alienado]

Is that the direction the post goes down in? It doesn't look straight at all based on that picture amd the video.

Yes. I had to file down the inside of the seat tube so that the seatpost would fit smoothly and straight.

If you can only get get a certain amount of insertion of the seat post, and the restriction is caused by a constricting frame, you could cut the seat post shorter. I'm not sure what the minimum insertion amount that is required to maintain structural integrity, maybe someone else can chime in on that.

I thought about that too, but I managed to solve it.

Pour insérer la tige de selle il faut retirer une lame en metal qui s'insère entre le carbone et la tige de selle ( les 2 vis de serrage appui sur cette lame pour bloquer la tige de selle.! )
J'ai l'impression que sur ton cadre cette pièce n'existe pas... Peux tu faire une photo de l'endroit où rentre la tige de selle dans le cadre (sans la tige de selle).

The seatpost wasn't going in smoothly with or without the metal wedge you mentioned, but now after filing down the inside of the seat tube everything is okay.

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After finally removing the stuck seatpost and spending hours filing the inside of the seat tube, today I finally went to assemble the seatpost and saddle. To my surprise, when tightening the wedge bolts, the frame developed two cracks (as shown in the attached photo). I didn't even apply the recommended torque of 5 Nm and the frame cracked. I believe it's due to poor carbon quality or all the work to remove the seatpost ended up stressing that area where the wedge sits.

I contacted the seller to see what will be done now. When I told him that the frame had a factory defect, since I had to file the inside of the seat tube and the seatpost was stuck, he offered to send me another, smaller seatpost, but since I had already managed to remove the seatpost and file the inside of the seat tube, I said I didn't need it. Let's see what he says about these cracks in the frame...


Note: The screws on the wedge of this frame stick out halfway (see photo), they don't go all the way into the holes. Does this also happen with the replica frames you have? Because it doesn't happen with the original frame.

[Alienado]

UPDATE: The seller told me that he will ask the factory to send me a new frameset. I asked him to send me a different frameset model and that I would pay the difference, but he said that depends on the factory's answer.

Now I'm worried they'll send me the same model with the same issues. There was another issue with the fork dropout. It wouldn't stay tight. I had to put a washer between the dropout screw and the fork to tighten it (image attached).

[Tpower59]

Yeah they come spec with the incorrect length on these fakes. The specs for the correct length are M6 - 1.0x 8 mm grub screws. I bought a 10 pack from home depot for like $5. Sucks that you got such a bad egg with everything else. The biggest issue that I have with mine is that the front end doesn't turn very well. I believe the tolerances for the lower headset bearing cup are off in the headtube. Either that or the shitty bearing that comes with it has poor tolerances. I ordered an enduro one to swap it out and see if that fixes anything but other than that, the frame has been pretty great.

Seems quite dangerous for a minor issue 🤭

[alfiomotrambo]

Help with the OSTRO gasket. Do you have a link to a good product? I just found this one https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005008772727409.html, but it doesn't look very good.

[bikemanie5]

The D-Shaped tube plus the flexible handlebars provided by Taiwan glory (tom) seems somewhat of a safety concern. It's definitely possible to make the stem slip. Takes a bit of force but its possible.

[Alienado]

Yeah they come spec with the incorrect length on these fakes. The specs for the correct length are M6 - 1.0x 8 mm grub screws. I bought a 10 pack from home depot for like $5. Sucks that you got such a bad egg with everything else. The biggest issue that I have with mine is that the front end doesn't turn very well. I believe the tolerances for the lower headset bearing cup are off in the headtube. Either that or the shitty bearing that comes with it has poor tolerances. I ordered an enduro one to swap it out and see if that fixes anything but other than that, the frame has been pretty great.

It seems that all replica framesets have some kind of problem. Is there a perfect one?

Help with the OSTRO gasket. Do you have a link to a good product? I just found this one https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005008772727409.html, but it doesn't look very good.

I think all models on Aliexpress are of the same quality. To get the best quality, you should probably buy the original gasket.

There is this too: https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005010159849263.html

The seller can be contacted via WhatsApp for more details about the item.

[BIFO17]

Personally, I only had minor issues: the stem cap was poorly finished, and the screw that holds the insert at the rear of the frame for the thru-axle was a bit of a problem.

With those two small issues fixed, the bike is perfect. Another 150km and 2500m of elevation gain this Sunday!

2500km since I've got it !

[BIFO17]

Note: The screws on the wedge of this frame stick out halfway (see photo), they don't go all the way into the holes. Does this also happen with the replica frames you have? Because it doesn't happen with the original frame.

[crazyravr]

My buddy has a Cube Litening I think its called. The screws are the same design and also stick out like this. Make sure to apply locktight or grease to the threads as these are positioned so that all road spray goes all over them and can get them to corrode and then snap.

[OralMaster]

wow 53 pages on chinertown for a fake frame!

there is nothing chiner about this frame gentlemen! this is piracy. wonder why the mods aren't doing anything

[Avalius]

wow 53 pages on chinertown for a fake frame!

there is nothing chiner about this frame gentlemen! this is piracy. wonder why the mods aren't doing anything

Yarrrr! Ahoy matey! Welcome to the party, about late but yarrrr

[crazyravr]

wow 53 pages on chinertown for a fake frame!

there is nothing chiner about this frame gentlemen! this is piracy. wonder why the mods aren't doing anything

Why should they? This is NOT a promotional thread but rather "be careful" and maybe DONT come here complaining when things go wrong.
At least with this big of a thread those that are thinking about buying this frameset, will have all the details and experiences of others, and they can make their own decisions.

[BIFO17]

wow 53 pages on chinertown for a fake frame!

there is nothing chiner about this frame gentlemen! this is piracy. wonder why the mods aren't doing anything

Ce n'est pas un faux cadre, c'est un vrai cadre...
L'illégalité ne réside pas dans le cadre mais dans l'usage de la marque factor, qui est déposée.
Tu pourrais bien appliquer le logo Factor sur n'importe quel cadre que le résultat serait le même, usage d'un logo, ou d'une marque déposée sans autorisation de la dite marque.
C'est comme une paire de logo Enve sur une paire de roues qui n'est pas de la marque, c'est illégal.

Il est même possible d'acheter ce cadre sans logo...ce qui n'en fait pas une copie illégale !

This isn't a fake frame, it's a real one... The illegality lies not in the frame itself, but in the use of the Factor trademark, which is registered.

You could put the Factor logo on any frame and the result would be the same: unauthorized use of a logo or trademark.

It's like putting Enve logos on wheels that aren't from that brand; it's illegal.

It's even possible to buy this frame without the logo... which doesn't make it an illegal copy!

[BeR]

Ce n'est pas un faux cadre, c'est un vrai cadre...
L'illégalité ne réside pas dans le cadre mais dans l'usage de la marque factor, qui est déposée.
Tu pourrais bien appliquer le logo Factor sur n'importe quel cadre que le résultat serait le même, usage d'un logo, ou d'une marque déposée sans autorisation de la dite marque.
C'est comme une paire de logo Enve sur une paire de roues qui n'est pas de la marque, c'est illégal.

Il est même possible d'acheter ce cadre sans logo...ce qui n'en fait pas une copie illégale !

Je suis aussi français, mais s'il-vous-plaît, je vous remercie de bien vouloir écrire en anglais.

I am also french, but please, write in english.

[Alienado]

Personally, I only had minor issues: the stem cap was poorly finished, and the screw that holds the insert at the rear of the frame for the thru-axle was a bit of a problem.

With those two small issues fixed, the bike is perfect. Another 150km and 2500m of elevation gain this Sunday!

2500km since I've got it !

I got it. Thanks!