Considering Winspace SLC3, any thoughts?

[Rone69]

SLC3 owners are there?
I would like to find some SLC3 owners who will honestly express their impressions of this frame, perhaps comparing it with others they have ridden.

Also I would love to hear comments on ride quality and comfort of this frame and any problems encountered during assembly and or riding it.

In your opinion, if you have to buy all the components, is it worth it to assemble a bike with a ‘premium’ Chinese frame (Winspace, Workswell, Yoeleo, Hong Fu, etc.), or is it better to buy a complete bike from the usual market leaders (Giant, Merida, Orbea, etc.), relying also on the added value of direct support from your local dealer?

The best alternatives with the same geometry and features would probably be the Orbea Orca OMX and the Giant TCR Pro, both of which I would have dealers close to home.

At the end of the day, with the same components, the Orca and the TCR would cost around 1500 euros more.

Frame weight is not the deciding factor, geometry, ride quality and comfort are.

Thank you in advance.

[Dareios]

Bumping this one because I'm temped to pull the trigger on a fully built SLC 3.
Has anyone here ridden it? Does it feel faster on the flat then say a TCR or Emonda?

[Nkearb]

I think the biggest difference between buying a decent value bikeshop bike or building a premium chiner is wheelset. For the same ~3000$ pricetag the chiner would have a great wheelset, while the bike shop bike will have terrible wheelset. Also factor in the crank, handlebar width, tire choice... I built my own because of all the bad components that I would have to replace.

I do have the SLC3 and can say as for ride dynamics, it rides like a bike, it has pedals and when you spin them it goes.

[patliean1]

I have an SLC3. It's fantastic when not being compared to the SL8. Something which Winspace tried to benchmark and market. It's light, very nimble, and feels like a proper climbing bike rather than an all-arounder. Excellent road dynamics. Fit and finish on par with western brands.

Your biggest hurdle is probably the public perception within this forum. While I could mention probably at least 6-7 customers who really love their SLC3, this forum really isn't the place to discuss and validate $2000 frames. No quarrels about this personally. I've tested like 10 different sub-$1000 USD Chiner frames thanks to the recommendations of folks in here. We all have to decide for ourselves end of the day.

One man's purchase does not make him more or less virtuous than the next.

[Takiyaki]

If youre OK with more of a gamble there's the TFSA JH-35

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808318926562.html?spm=a2g0o.tesla.0.0.33d7QQfEQQfEcL&afTraceInfo=1005008505241314__unknown__c_ppc_item_bridge_pc_main__4y6Igwk__1743124542952&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt

[Blueberry]

yeah, as @Serge_K shared, I've been having a pretty miserable time dealing with Winspace. In my experience, you get basically nothing for the extra premium that you pay. They even charged me $200 extra, on top of the initial $1380 for having an issue with my frame, despite the fact it was under warranty (planning to contest that charge whenever I receive the replacement, but who knows when that will be). I'm speculating that Winspace is starting to prioritize profits over everything and their customer experiences are about to get much worse.

Definitely proceed with caution when it comes to Winspace. Personally, I strongly recommend against them.

[patliean1]

I'm speculating that Winspace is starting to prioritize profits over everything and their customer experiences are about to get much worse.

If I were to guess...sponsoring that women's conti team while also not exactly innovating on their primary sellers (wheels) has really put them in a bind. The competition especially for wheels has surpassed Winspace. And what was their response? Increase prices LoL. We basically have reached peak carbon spoked wheels for the time being.

Just like with the western brands Winspace was making huge profits coming out of the pandemic. But eventually they were stuck with large amounts of inventory they couldn't move, as the consumer moved on to other brands. You really don't hear much about them anymore like we did back in 2020-22.

[Blueberry]

I've really grown to love my ICAN/Triaero Flyee in the last couple months and that's an Orca "inspired" frameset, if that option interests you. The frame easily fits 35c tires and I love the ICAN FL38max wheels I got for it too (sadly they've raised the price of those wheels by $90 since I bought mine). I checked their truing, dishing and circularity when I received them and everything was within .5mm. I was sick for the whole second half of 2024 so I was not able to actually start riding the Flyee until this year and it's honestly been wonderful. I love the geometry, it's snappy but still has high stack so you don't need a tower of headset spacers under the stem.

For the record though, they did totally strip the thru axle threads on the fork but it was easily fixed with an M12x1.5 tap and ICAN told me they would send a replacement fork if needed. I was the one who chose to tap it rather than get a replacement. I shared more pros and cons in the thread I linked below.

https://icancycling.com/products/flyee-road-bike-frame
https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,5127.0.html

[BeR]

I've really grown to love my ICAN/Triaero Flyee in the last couple months and that's an Orca "inspired" frameset, if that option interests you. The frame easily fits 35c tires and I love the ICAN FL38max wheels I got for it too (sadly they've raised the price of those wheels by $90 since I bought mine). I checked their truing, dishing and circularity when I received them and everything was within .5mm. I was sick for the whole second half of 2024 so I was not able to actually start riding the Flyee until this year and it's honestly been wonderful. I love the geometry, it's snappy but still has high stack so you don't need a tower of headset spacers under the stem.

For the record though, they did totally strip the thru axle threads on the fork but it was easily fixed with an M12x1.5 tap and ICAN told me they would send a replacement fork if needed. I was the one who chose to tap it rather than get a replacement. I shared more pros and cons in the thread I linked below.

https://icancycling.com/products/flyee-road-bike-frame
https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,5127.0.html

How is the siffness of the Flyee ? (I know, it is offtopic)

[Blueberry]

How is the siffness of the Flyee ? (I know, it is offtopic)

It's possible I'm not the best person to judge it's stiffness, only because I'm not that strong. I can push 900w for a couple seconds but my FTP is below 200w rn. I did have my boyfriend ride it a couple months ago (he's much stronger than me) and asked him what he thought of the stiffness. He's rode a bijillion different bikes and he was sort of like, "yeah, it's stiff enough, it felt good in the sprint I did." From his tone, I got the impression it's no SL8 but it's solid.

[hugovl]

If I were to guess...sponsoring that women's conti team while also not exactly innovating on their primary sellers (wheels) has really put them in a bind. The competition especially for wheels has surpassed Winspace. And what was their response? Increase prices LoL. We basically have reached peak carbon spoked wheels for the time being.

Just like with the western brands Winspace was making huge profits coming out of the pandemic. But eventually they were stuck with large amounts of inventory they couldn't move, as the consumer moved on to other brands. You really don't hear much about them anymore like we did back in 2020-22.

Also Joe from China Cycling/Panda Podium has left the building, so marketing wise they are not up there anymore...

[KaiDeus]

I have about 4k km on mine and it is an all round great bike. I don't know what I would want more out of a roadbike.
I did the built myself and let me tell you, the build quality is top notch, nothing to complain about. E.g.cable routing through the fork was a breeze and the BB shell I right on the money. I did not want to faff around with shitty tolerances, so the slightly higher price did not bother me at all, mind you, I got it on the black friday deal.

[Takiyaki]

Also Joe from China Cycling/Panda Podium has left the building, so marketing wise they are not up there anymore...

What do you mean?

[patliean1]

What do you mean?

Joe was Winspace's primary marketing force during the pandemic. Basically the face of Winspace when he worked there.

[Dareios]

I have about 4k km on mine and it is an all round great bike. I don't know what I would want more out of a roadbike.
I did the built myself and let me tell you, the build quality is top notch, nothing to complain about. E.g.cable routing through the fork was a breeze and the BB shell I right on the money. I did not want to faff around with shitty tolerances, so the slightly higher price did not bother me at all, mind you, I got it on the black friday deal.

Looks good, what size do you ride?