Ordering a complete Chiner

[yhz]

Hi.
I've been lurking a bit and wanted to get the opinions of the more experienced.
I'm really, really, interested in a new bike. What I'm currently riding is just not fun. I've been reading this forum for a few weeks. First plan was to build a bike. That was overwhelming - I don't want to turn this into a project, I just want to ride. Next was to have my LBS build it - went in and got a quote, discussed some parts, etc. But even that seems like it's too much for me right now. So I gave up - I'd just buy a Canyon, and upgrade the wheelset with a Chiner. But they keep pushing back the stock date on the CF 7 di2 (which is about where I want to be) - it was at July 7, then 14, now 21.
So now I'm back to a Chinese bike.

Understanding that I will obviously not be seeing a bike shipped from China for at least a few weeks, and that most posters here enjoy building their own bikes from frame up - and also that there are basically no parts that will be transferred from my current bike.

Is it reasonable to just order a complete build bike from, e.g. Dengfu or Seraph/Tantan? They're offering for <$2k (say $2.2k after shipping) with an R12 (Dengfu) or TT-X38 (Seraph), with R7170 (105 di2). What am I missing here? Presuming that I would never be one to build up from scratch, and the maximum upgrade I'd do later on a Canyon or other locally sourced bike would be saddle/wheels etc, and the Canyon that I want keeps getting pushed off.

If you've been in this situation, and gone ahead with the complete build from China, do you have any notes and/or advice? Is there another way you'd go (aside from Dengfu/Seraph)?

Thanks

YL in Brooklyn

[jb3112]

Interesting if any have had experince with it

[00Garza]

Any time you buy a bike online, I'd suggest taking to a local bike shop to get checked out. Doesn't matter if its canyon or chinese. Make sure to factor that in budget as well.

Where are you located. Might be other online options available, but I am curious to see what those chinese complete bikes are like.

[rasch]

I've been down that rabbit whole a few times and always ended up not going there.
1- The complete bikes are little to no configurable
2- The prices end up being quite high
3- The components which build the bike are always "questionable".
4- No warranty or ability to sell it in the second market
5- price Difference between building yourself and ordering a full bike is not big.

I've even tried groupbuying because shipping is usually 300+ but only got 1 person back then. Even for frames I tried a groupbuy for the Peter's one http://www.xmcarbonspeed.com/Productinfo.asp?f=1639 but no one seems interested

[Serge_K]

I've even tried groupbuying because shipping is usually 300+ but only got 1 person back then. Even for frames I tried a groupbuy for the Peter's one http://www.xmcarbonspeed.com/Productinfo.asp?f=1639 but no one seems interested

I have one of these, it's very nice
Find 1 friend to get the same frame, and bob's your uncle? 2 frames in one box?

[yhz]

I've been down that rabbit whole a few times and always ended up not going there.
1- The complete bikes are little to no configurable
2- The prices end up being quite high
3- The components which build the bike are always "questionable".
4- No warranty or ability to sell it in the second market
5- price Difference between building yourself and ordering a full bike is not big.

I hear that, but:
1- I'm not at a point that I'm going to custom configure every component. I'd be happy with a frameset and groupset that I'm happy with. That's why I'm looking at builds like I mentioned
2- The ones I mentioned seemed to be the least expensive options with Western electronic shifters
3- That's something I don't know enough about - one of the reasons I'm asking. But something like this https://www.seraphbikes.com/tt-x38-full-hidden-cable-disc-road-complete-bike-24-speed-chameleon-paint-with-ultegra-r8170-di2-groupset-electronic-shift-p4813281.html (although it says di2 then seems to list some mechanical parts) seems to be decent in terms of components
4- that's part of the reason I would prefer the Canyon. One step in my evolution not mentioned earlier was buying a Canyon, then upgrading the wheels when on sale, grabbing a groupset when on sale, etc, and eventually having a full Chinese bike while also being able to resell the Canyon. I don't plan on being a full time bike building, buying, selling kind of person - so if I spent to the time to slowly build a good value Chinese bike I could see myself riding it for years and not being concerned about resale.
5- It's sort of a wash - except that building seems very overwhelming and I'm willing to sacrifice some customization on components (like most people not on this forum).

[rasch]

I have one of these, it's very nice
Find 1 friend to get the same frame, and bob's your uncle? 2 frames in one box?

Heehe need to find one again though I like another frame in yishun ahah

I hear that, but:
1- I'm not at a point that I'm going to custom configure every component. I'd be happy with a frameset and groupset that I'm happy with. That's why I'm looking at builds like I mentioned
2- The ones I mentioned seemed to be the least expensive options with Western electronic shifters
3- That's something I don't know enough about - one of the reasons I'm asking. But something like this https://www.seraphbikes.com/tt-x38-full-hidden-cable-disc-road-complete-bike-24-speed-chameleon-paint-with-ultegra-r8170-di2-groupset-electronic-shift-p4813281.html (although it says di2 then seems to list some mechanical parts) seems to be decent in terms of components
4- that's part of the reason I would prefer the Canyon. One step in my evolution not mentioned earlier was buying a Canyon, then upgrading the wheels when on sale, grabbing a groupset when on sale, etc, and eventually having a full Chinese bike while also being able to resell the Canyon. I don't plan on being a full time bike building, buying, selling kind of person - so if I spent to the time to slowly build a good value Chinese bike I could see myself riding it for years and not being concerned about resale.
5- It's sort of a wash - except that building seems very overwhelming and I'm willing to sacrifice some customization on components (like most people not on this forum).

Well if you were from Belgium or Portugal I'd align with u on trying one ahah

But yeah, I'd go for the option u mention on canyon and then moving slowly towards sth China based