XM Carbon Speed - "Gran Tourismo" Frameset

[Rebel_Yell]

I'm afraid it would take a campervan underneath my wide back if I wouldn't want it to look like a kids bike... You should se me on top of my 90ies Cannondale CAAD5 Saeco... looks like I'm riding some toothpicks

Tell me how it compairs to your CAAD5?  I currently ride a CAAD10.

[Dark17]

Got my frame in the mail this week, built it up and took it out for the first ride.  I built it up with SRAM red XPLR and XMCS bars.

The build process was the smoothest I've had for a Chinese frame so far.  Others I've built up are: Speeder SC-55RD, Onirii One, Velobuild AreoGrav, and a Yoeleo rim brake frame a while back. In general the parts included were just slightly higher quality than most.  The headset bearings come in their CEMA box, the expander plug seems nicer than others I've gotten and the thru axles are on the lighter end compared to others (I think they weigh the same as the Onirii and 10g less than Speeder, not that 10g matters but to me indicates they are paying attention to details). 

The only issue with the frame I had was super minor.  The drive side of the bottom bracket was very difficult to get the threads engaged.  It would have been really easy to cross thread if I just forced it.  Once the first few threads engaged it went in smooth.  The other side went in butter smooth, so not sure what the problem was.  Fork has the brake cable come out on the left hand side, which is good for routing the non-UK way but might be annoying if you want your front brake on the right (I assume there isn't an alternate fork).  Brake mounts seemed faced and aligning the capipers was slightly harder than the Speeder but easier than everything else, including my old Canyon Aeroad.

Handle bars so far seem great.  Super stiff.  Geometry seems good and they now have those little bumps on the tops for grip and a nice XMCS logo in front. 

I've only ridden it for 30 miles so far so can't give a complete opinion on the ride feel, but will say general impressions.  Compared to the Speeder and Aeroad it is way less harsh and much smoother.  It also feels a bit smoother than the Velobuild AeroGrav.  Compared to the Onirii it's similarly comfortable but feels much stiffer.  The Onirii is a bit of a noodle and this bike is not.  In terms of handling, for me it's the best I've had.  It's not twitchy or super racy but it I would and will race a crit on it and I won't be wanting for more.  For me it handles like the like the Canyon but less twitch and more stable.  The speeder for me just doesn't handle well because I have to add a ton of spacers + positive angle stem so it's feels unstable.  In terms of stiffness/repesponsiveness I haven't really done any sprinting to test but it feels rock solid.  On the flat/downhill it feels a bit more sluggish than the Aeroad and Speeder, probably the longer chainstays.  Uphill it feels really good out of the saddle.  Just seems to go when you put the power down.  That's probably due to it being lighter but just as stiff in the rear compared to my old Canyon. 

To summarize: to me it feels like the Aeroad but more comfortable, lighter, more stable, and a tad less twitchy.  Once I put some more miles I can give more in depth opinions.  This is just based on one ride so subject to change, but I really like the bike so far

What kind of speeder frame do you have?

[rsw42]

Tell me how it compairs to your CAAD5?  I currently ride a CAAD10.

That's a tough one, especially since I believe the CAAD5 isn't really easy to compare to a CAAD10 as well... As far as I remember the CAAD5 was probably the stiffest and harshest road bike Cannondale ever made. So brutal, that even the Pros couldn't cope with it. This is why they replaced the CAAD5 in the middle of the Season with the CAAD6.

That said: I love my CAAD5. It's an extremely light bike (built it up with Dura Ace 7700, and Easton EA90 Aero wheels it's astonishing how light it is). There's no carbon fibre touching that bike... It's playful and fun to ride... but that mean's fun as in "Skateboarding" or being in a jump arena... Really fun, really crazy... but after an hour of riding it you suddenly realize you're not 16 anymore. Some of my best timed laps were made on that CAAD5 and (even at comparable fitness level) I couldn't compete with any of the carbon bikes I've owned later (Cannondale Slice as a Road build, BMC Teammachine SLR02) - as long as the laps ware under an hour. The moment I'm looking at the two-hour laps the CAAD5 is like 15 minutes slower than the others.

So with that in mind: the main difference is comfort vs harshness. The GT feels plenty stiff and every pedal stroke seems to propel you forward really well. I'd say in that regards it's probably the closest to how the CAAD5 felt to me (meaning: BMC, Cannondale Slice, CAAD9, my CX bikes, Focus Cayo, my steel steed, Klein Quantum Race, Principia felt more sluggish than the GT and the CAAD5). Riding on flats, seated, without moving the bike around too much I'd say the GT feels similar in accelleration to the CAAD5. In all out sprints, I believe the CAAD5 feels quicker to me... this might be due to nostalgia or due to the fact that the GT (with 34 Vittoria Corsas) eats up small bumps and road chatter... So I'm not sure which of the two would be more effective in an all out sprint...

Comparing the CAAD5 to the GT seems like: Go-Cart without suspension compared to a magic carpet flying 10 cm above the ground...
The racing cart feels fast - my family car goes faster on the motorway... the magic carpet probably is another level...

Hope that helps
Cheers
Robert

[bfish713]

What kind of speeder frame do you have?

Speeder SC-55RD, it's very different and the reason I went with this frame was realizing the speeder was just way too aggressive for me

[Rebel_Yell]

That's a tough one, especially since I believe the CAAD5 isn't really easy to compare to a CAAD10 as well... As far as I remember the CAAD5 was probably the stiffest and harshest road bike Cannondale ever made. So brutal, that even the Pros couldn't cope with it. This is why they replaced the CAAD5 in the middle of the Season with the CAAD6.

That said: I love my CAAD5. It's an extremely light bike (built it up with Dura Ace 7700, and Easton EA90 Aero wheels it's astonishing how light it is). There's no carbon fibre touching that bike... It's playful and fun to ride... but that mean's fun as in "Skateboarding" or being in a jump arena... Really fun, really crazy... but after an hour of riding it you suddenly realize you're not 16 anymore. Some of my best timed laps were made on that CAAD5 and (even at comparable fitness level) I couldn't compete with any of the carbon bikes I've owned later (Cannondale Slice as a Road build, BMC Teammachine SLR02) - as long as the laps ware under an hour. The moment I'm looking at the two-hour laps the CAAD5 is like 15 minutes slower than the others.

So with that in mind: the main difference is comfort vs harshness. The GT feels plenty stiff and every pedal stroke seems to propel you forward really well. I'd say in that regards it's probably the closest to how the CAAD5 felt to me (meaning: BMC, Cannondale Slice, CAAD9, my CX bikes, Focus Cayo, my steel steed, Klein Quantum Race, Principia felt more sluggish than the GT and the CAAD5). Riding on flats, seated, without moving the bike around too much I'd say the GT feels similar in accelleration to the CAAD5. In all out sprints, I believe the CAAD5 feels quicker to me... this might be due to nostalgia or due to the fact that the GT (with 34 Vittoria Corsas) eats up small bumps and road chatter... So I'm not sure which of the two would be more effective in an all out sprint...

Comparing the CAAD5 to the GT seems like: Go-Cart without suspension compared to a magic carpet flying 10 cm above the ground...
The racing cart feels fast - my family car goes faster on the motorway... the magic carpet probably is another level...

Hope that helps
Cheers
Robert

Thanks so much. I appreciate your assessment of the bike.  I actually have the XMCS R01 frame to be built up.  It is less of endurance than the GT but not full race mode for sure.  Your biggest comment to me was your last one and I like the sound of that.  Thanks again. 

[Jonnan_NOR]

Just a couple of logo concepts. Let me know what you guys think!

Definitely the second one.
Maybe try to strech it even more down the downtube with or without more spacing between the letters.
- Revenger name has to go. We need a better name for the frame

Logo for head tube is classy as well. 10/10 would ride this with those decals Peter.

[Rebel_Yell]

Just a couple of logo concepts. Let me know what you guys think!

What if you stretched it a bit and made two parallel lines instead of the on angled line. Just a thought.

For the front head tube it should be the S that he already uses IMO in silver. Maybe slightly large than the ones they put on some wheelsets.  JMO

[SkylarRnD]

Agreed on removing Revenger. It is not good.

[Rebel_Yell]

Posting these pics mostly just for the decals I had made.  The frame is actually the XMCS  R01 model and came in recently.  Build up will be slow but I will post when it is finally done.

[JeffD]

Hi, so what's up with the various decal options and the name of the bike ?
I'm very tempted by this one...

[rsw42]

Hi, so what's up with the various decal options and the name of the bike ?
I'm very tempted by this one...

Well there's lots of chat here in the forum but not too much from Peter directly... I'd recommend you just contact him directly... It always was really easy discussing wishes directly with him, so you probably will get the best information directly and might be able to discuss your own ideas/wishes...
(and you can still get the frameset ready to paint if I know correctly)

[Mariuszuzd]

Ready to be sent! Today I got a photo from Peter! Very fast, no issues, great communication, as always. I will support my colleague to assembly the bike. Now we will wait patiently when it arrives to Poland. I will keep you posted.

[JeffD]

Well there's lots of chat here in the forum but not too much from Peter directly... I'd recommend you just contact him directly... It always was really easy discussing wishes directly with him, so you probably will get the best information directly and might be able to discuss your own ideas/wishes...
(and you can still get the frameset ready to paint if I know correctly)

Thanks, I asked because like several people here I'm not fond of the Revenger name, but it seems he'd like to stock to it...

[rsw42]

Thanks, I asked because like several people here I'm not fond of the Revenger name, but it seems he'd like to stock to it...

Well I've got mine raw, ready to paint... If you got a good painter I can highly recommend this...
Get the paintjob you love to make it YOUR bike

[JeffD]

I don’t have no painter, and a paint job would cost me waaaay too much.

And I kind of like the paint scheme he’s proposing.