Seraph Bikes Superlight 836g X68 - Alternative to SL8 Fakes?

[taurusstier]

Vivian replied: Of course, that's not covered under warranty, since I would have damaged the threads... The fork threads don't look very good anymore either. I always tightened the axles by hand and then with a torque wrench. It's simply cheap material quality. That's definitely it for me, and I can only warn everyone against buying from them. Regarding the scratched top tube, she already said I was just unlucky, even though it was clearly a defect in the top cap.

[momento]

Sorry, but I also need to comment this post...
We will all NEVER know what exact performance you can get out of SL8 and X68. It can simply be due to personal oppinion / feeling (which is not relevant) OR because we do not know X68 numbers OR we are simply shit riders that can't even use full potential of bikes.

I would also like to hear your arguments comparing X68 to SL8 as day and night. In what ? how do you back this comparisson up with some non-personal facts?
If we blindfold you, and put you on X68 with S-works stickers...are you sure you would reckognize which bike is it? =)

So, there are many of us that can absolutelly agree that X68 frame (700 USD) and SL8 (4-5K€) is more than comparable with ride feel.

I've used the original SL6, SL7, and SL8 for 5 years, and since November I've been riding the X68 on the road, but mainly on rollers.
The difference is night and day.
Even just hitting the two frames with a coin.

You'll notice it on the road at the first bump.

On high-speed descents.

If you try to brake the front wheel from a standstill and push back and forth, you'll see a pronounced flex in the X68.

On rollers, if you sprint, you'll see a pronounced flex in the bottom bracket area.

So the frame LOOKS LIKE a TARMAC SL8... it's not.

Some people say: my friend races with it and it goes fast... OK, I believe it, with a Tarmac it would go even better.

[dovh]

So I finally received the replacement frame. For context, a couple of pages back I posted about an issue where my bottom bracket thread became loose, and I was offered a replacement frame if I paid for paint and shipping.

The frame looks to be ok. I think they cheaped out on the paint job, and it is honestly quite shitty compared to the original frame I had, but it's close enough, I guess. It seems that at least they faced the brake mounts and BB. I put the bike together and rode 100km on it today already.

It felt maybe a bit stiffer than my previous frame, so they might have made some modifications since I got mine (February 2025).

Nonetheless, I will not be buying anything else from Tantan. Even though I had quite good customer support and they were always helpful with everything, I just had too many problems with it. The frame itself is really a great ride for the money — it feels good to ride, it's comfy and really fast for my recreational riding.
Wish all the rest of you guys more luck with yours down the line!

[fhill]

Yes had to sand it down. Trap some sand paper between frame and underside of spacers and turn bars left and right!

Have tried that, was a bit too much to sand it down, so decided to go with another c-ring from AliX, works without rubbing now, slightly different design on the angle and therefore more room between top cap and frame

[rosteven]

Yes and so was I. Please do update like I did. Also, dont be surprised when you stop getting emails from and replies to your emails from them, but that I did expect and its a norm with all these manufacturers.

As promised Update Time:
- I ordered my complete TT-X68 from Seraph/Rose on the 15th of May and was quoted approx. 4 weeks to paint/build the bike 
- Notification that the bike was ready was received on the 21st of June
- Emails reconfirming my telephone number between 22/23 June (wrong telephone Country Code on invoice caused issues)
- The completed bike was shipped on the 25th of June in two boxes (frame in one/wheels in the other)
- 4 July the shipment arrived in Europe and is in the Customs Clearence process

BTW - Rose@Seraph went above and beyond to help me with my order; first I her asked to change the frame color after having already placed the order, her response a day later was "No problem, done".  A couple of days later I asked to have the crankarms changed to 165mm, Rose's response was the same. Finally, a week later I asked to have the seat post length changed to a 380mm one, again "No problem".  I'm not sure who you had helping you, but my Sales Rep. was Great !!!

[Tpower59]

Nahhhhhhhhhh you wont You put them there for a reason.

Full OVERSLOW conversion is done my dear 
I told you 
Now everyone is staring at this mysterious *FAST* bike 🤣

[crazyravr]

Looked better with the stickers lol  
Good job. Now get proper gumwall tires from Pirelli. Those actually stay that colour.

[Tpower59]

Looked better with the stickers lol  
Good job. Now get proper gumwall tires from Pirelli. Those actually stay that colour.

I know this theory.
That’s the same as those who think that putting on 3 condoms at the same time is the best solution so that the one in the middle always stay clean 

[EricL]

Does anyone try the SL8/X68 with the Tavelo Rise bar ?

[rosteven]

Full OVERSLOW conversion is done my dear 
I told you 
Now everyone is staring at this mysterious *FAST* bike 🤣

I'm not too keen on the blocky "OVERSLOW" font, but the bike looks 100 percent better with those flashy wheel decals removed.  Stealth all the way !!!

[7hecouchpotato]

I have a 380x110cmbar from Tan Tan Available as I have swapped to Darimo style 380x120cm.  I'm surprised they will not sell you one its Tan Tan.  She give you a reason?

Hey Sander. Would you be able to link a similar "Darimo style" bar from Ali? I searched for the 2 sellers you mentioned from a past post to no avail...

[rosteven]

Hey Sander. Would you be able to link a similar "Darimo style" bar from Ali? I searched for the 2 sellers you mentioned from a past post to no avail...

Is this the one that you are looking for - https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005010495827785.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.45d159f78KB0d7&algo_pvid=a6927432-f9b5-4c0e-bd77-0ba4e496b4d3&algo_exp_id=a6927432-f9b5-4c0e-bd77-0ba4e496b4d3-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2215%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22search%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21EUR%21176.78%2188.39%21%21%211340.26%21670.13%21%402103864c17837804468836534e7f3d%2112000052607030477%21sea%21FR%210%21ABX%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29910%3Bd%3A491b4bb9%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895&curPageLogUid=e53JkSMrymOG&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A1005010495827785%7C_p_origin_prod%3A

[7hecouchpotato]

Is this the one that you are looking for - https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005010495827785.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.45d159f78KB0d7&algo_pvid=a6927432-f9b5-4c0e-bd77-0ba4e496b4d3&algo_exp_id=a6927432-f9b5-4c0e-bd77-0ba4e496b4d3-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2215%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22search%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21EUR%21176.78%2188.39%21%21%211340.26%21670.13%21%402103864c17837804468836534e7f3d%2112000052607030477%21sea%21FR%210%21ABX%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29910%3Bd%3A491b4bb9%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895&curPageLogUid=e53JkSMrymOG&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A1005010495827785%7C_p_origin_prod%3A

Thanks but it's a 1 pc integrated bar

...found the post on pg 101

[BeR]

Thanks but it's a 1 pc integrated bar

...found the post on pg 101

The sellers (RK, Polar and First class) who sell this handlebar are not in the game anymore for now.

[Jettin]

Anyone looking at 0 offset seatposts for SL8, I can confirm that the one I bought from AE fits X68, slightly looser than the seraph post but torqued up and it does not slip. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010144462211.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.29.73631802VYJCfD&tblci=GiCC4m7NjPqiKcqZte9zc6nQwymmLm1_jCpQPCF6yretFSCnqXUogey87_rbk6idATC062M