Best and worst overall quality/value components/tools/gear from AliExpress?

[jonathanf2]

I'm seriously addicted to picking up UNO lightweight stems. I've swapped over to -17 degree stems on both my road bikes!

[Serge_K]

It looks a bit odd, why not use a flatter steerer top frame to stem interface thing and a stem with a more logical angle? Or the same stem if you can handle the drop.

[jonathanf2]

It looks a bit odd, why not use a flatter steerer top frame to stem interface thing and a stem with a more logical angle? Or the same stem if you can handle the drop.

I might slam it some more, but I haven't decided. I notice the -17° put me in a more snug cockpit position which I like for the downhill and also lowering my body position, but without stretching me out as much (like going with a longer stem).

[kbernstein]

Steel pedal expanders. Mine are from Risk I've seen them branded differently
Strongly recommend if you don't like having clean threads or skin on your knuckles. I thought the threads would still be fine but no, it took me an hour to remove them despite all the grease I used. Metal is very soft and bends when uninstalling, threads are toast after 1000km.
Thankfully the threads on my PM crankset are still okay. My look pedals were ruined so I'm gonna try the ultralight zeray pedals as a replacement. Hope I don't give an update from the hospital

[PLA]

can't quite make it out, can you post a higher resolution picture?

[AzureEssence]

Steel pedal expanders. Mine are from Risk I've seen them branded differently
Strongly recommend if you don't like having clean threads or skin on your knuckles. I thought the threads would still be fine but no, it took me an hour to remove them despite all the grease I used. Metal is very soft and bends when uninstalling, threads are toast after 1000km.
Thankfully the threads on my PM crankset are still okay. My look pedals were ruined so I'm gonna try the ultralight zeray pedals as a replacement. Hope I don't give an update from the hospital

Had a similarly shitty experience with ZTTO pedal extenders

They snapped on an MTB ride...luckily riight at the end of a hectic descent. Never again

[jonathanf2]

Yikes! Mental note, don’t use pedal extenders! 

[Bajker]

Good
ZTTO Dropper Lever/Remote - Pretty much as good as it gets, smooth operation.
ZRace Blade Crankset - Very high quality, the cnc machining is top notch, steel axle/shaft is heavier then aluminium versions but it wont break in comparison.
ZTTO M1 boost wheel hubs - High quality finish, light weight. The 56t ratchet seems to hold up to my probably less abusive biking compared to other people or I was lucky with getting two ratchets that align/engage perfectly (which is very important in DT style ratchets).
Cooma and Delt brake pads - Various types, works great. There's better pads out there of course but waaaaaay more expensive.

Bad
ZTTO Chainring protector/guide - I did not like it, super flimsy plastic mounting points for the protector. The chain guide is probably fine tho, haven't used it.

[veeTee1Pah]

I ordered a bunch of mountain bike parts on Aliexpress for a budget build including Shimano drivetrain parts. Most parts worked well, and almost all the shimano parts seemed genuine with a notable exception:

Losers

• A Mixed brand "dual color" CNC'd aluminum stem 45mm failed. Threads for the lower front plate bolts stripped while trying to tighten one day. Before that, the stem would slip easily on the steerer tube rotating out of place until I really torqued the bolts higher than spec. Though the stem looks cool, I suspect too much material is machined away for a reliable stem. Perhaps it wasn't heat treated correctly?
• Shimano Deore 12 speed chain was fake. Package was convincing. Fake chains seem rampant even on Amazon.
• Multi-tool that hides in the crank spindle attached with a magnet (All in multi tool copy). It's a cool idea but I lost it because the magnet wasn't powerful enough to keep it in place on rough terrain

Winners

• Genuine Shimano parts (except the fake chain) including Deore 4 piston brakes, SLX cranks and chainring, SLX cassette, Deore shifter + derailleur, bottom braket, clipless pedals
• Ztto dropper lever works as advertised
• Ztto "polished" shifter cables seemed smoother on the surface than other generic shifter cables.
• Foam tubing to quiet internal routed cables worked well. (Bicycle Frame Internal Line Housing Damper Bike Inner Line Sound Absorbing Tube 1.6M)
• CYCLAMI TPU Tubes are a lot lighter and and compact than traditional mtb tubes and don't cost much. Only used once in a friends flat, and it seemed to work.
• Mixed 5D carbon saddle has been reliable and comfortable so far
• A bunch of cycling tools ordered off alixepress worked fine for me.

[frnchy]

I just put one of the all-steel monoblock cassettes on my road bike, this one from Goldix (cheaper than the ZTTO version and exactly the same): https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806508481172.html

I got the 12 speed 11-34 cassette. It weighed in at 252 grams, replacing a 105 cassette weighing 353 grams, so an easy 101 grams saved. I also like the black anodized finish, though I know it's going to wear off and probably not look super great, but that's a problem for future me. It shifts absolutely perfectly in the workstand; unfortunately I'm off the bike for at least another week due to road rash from a crash, so I can't give a full vote of confidence. But all the shifting issues I've experienced on the road have been very obvious in the workstand, so a total lack of such problems is reassuring. Will update when I get a ride or two in.

Also, not an Aliexpress product, but cheap on Amazon: this Garmin Varia case + tether: https://www.amazon.com/takewell-Protective-Lightest-Ultra-Thin-Dissipation/dp/B0B7GBWVCS
This saved my Varia from being flung off my bike and down a hill when I crashed. Highly recommended if you have a Varia!

[jonathanf2]

I just put one of the all-steel monoblock cassettes on my road bike, this one from Goldix (cheaper than the ZTTO version and exactly the same): https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806508481172.html

I got the 12 speed 11-34 cassette. It weighed in at 252 grams, replacing a 105 cassette weighing 353 grams, so an easy 101 grams saved. I also like the black anodized finish, though I know it's going to wear off and probably not look super great, but that's a problem for future me. It shifts absolutely perfectly in the workstand; unfortunately I'm off the bike for at least another week due to road rash from a crash, so I can't give a full vote of confidence. But all the shifting issues I've experienced on the road have been very obvious in the workstand, so a total lack of such problems is reassuring. Will update when I get a ride or two in.

Just a heads up. I have the same Goldix 12 speed 11-34t cassette on my road bike and after a few hundred miles the anodizing still looks great. I thought for sure it'd wear off, but it's still totally black. Though I immersive wax my chains so that might help. I like the cassette so much I bought a spare one. Probably the best version of Chinese lightweight cassettes to date.

[bremerradkurier]

Neco headset's lower bearing finally died after five years-is there a higher grade of regular 1 1/8" upper/1.5 lower AliX headset out there worth looking for?

[frnchy]

I just put one of the all-steel monoblock cassettes on my road bike, this one from Goldix (cheaper than the ZTTO version and exactly the same): https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806508481172.html
...

Small update, I was able to get a quick ride in on this cassette and it shifted excellently. I abused it by shifting in all gear combos under power to see if I could get it to skip or fail and I couldn't. Not extremely smooth in those circumstances but no worse than the 105 cassette it replaced. Again, given its all-steel construction and my waxed chain, I anticipate that it'll last quite a while.

Also tested on my ride were the Bikingreen 48/31 chainrings: https://www.ebay.com/itm/114305399000
I have the 46/30 version on my gravel bike and I'm happy to report the 48/31 rings work just as well. Flawless front shifting even though the big/small gap is one tooth larger than the official rating for my 105 Di2 front derailleur. I did have to space my crank out by an additional millimeter on the driveside to push the rings out far enough for the front derailleur to be happy though (using a SRAM RED DUB crank [lots of capital letters...], went from 2 mm driveside spacer to 3 mm). Works perfectly with a 12 speed chain, even though the listing only mentions 10/11 speed.

Lastly, I also tested these handlebars from MANA, Elitewheels' component sub-brand: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805751662318.html
Very well made with even wall thickness all the way around and a smooth inner finish. Plenty stiff for my rare ~900-1000 watt sprints and comfortably shaped. Slightly lighter than claimed - 400 mm weighed 181 grams - but they're replacing 38 cm wide bars; 40 cm is noticeably wider and, for me, quite a lot less comfortable! I've ordered a set of 36/38 cm (hoods/drops) RXL SL handlebars (https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803645579573.html) and I'll see how they are. I had a rebranded version of this bar on one of my bikes a few years ago and I liked it a lot so hopefully this new one is similar.

[Billyjo]

Titanium Bottle Cages great no fuss  https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102784750?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.2.1fdd72292Rp5dh&sortType=bestmatch_sort

Xpedo Pedals super high quality bearings https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32874997680.html?pdp_npi=4%40dis%21GBP%21%EF%BF%A174.18%21%EF%BF%A155.63%21%21%2193.46%2170.09%21%402103893b17212264401311361e1cf7%2165509003144%21sh%21UK%212414985047%21&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_allItems_or_groupList.new_all_items_2007550510808.32874997680

[vermit25]

fake G8 insoles

i havent tried authentic g8 insoles but these are cheap as chips and work well for me. ive been using them for over a year

The real ones cost over $100 iirc

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805604633625.html?channel=facebook&fbclid=IwAR39Kd1LtDdXYhtfLicUDkvbcLqwPc6I8EZEDhP2lRlnqxNvuhlzFylLfmU

I have these. Two pairs which I've been using for >2yrs
they're really good for the price and solved my issues with shoes, I definitely needed arch support and the 'common' insoles I've tried didn't work. Found these on Ali, bought one and another after around 3 months to have as spare (they actually went out of stock for a year or so, came back some months ago)

my experience is that they work really well, but the plastic on the arches is not the best, it starts to soften after some time. So like I started with the no.3 arch but it turned to a 2 effectively, so I had to change to a 4 to keep the support as it should.
Also the glue between the plastic part below and the foam is not good, if you get any water in it'll detach. But easily solved just glued back together

other than that, is really nice, and for sure worth the price. A fraction of the real one, but of reasonable quality, and the customization is worth it.

I am interested in trying these insoles but unable to find any on Ali, can either of you show me an option or let me know what to search for.
Thanks!