The value proposition is just not there for me. You are a guy on the internet without any authority. Your alleged insider contact is just that - alleged insider with zero credibility.
My impression is that fulfilling all the aims that you suggested is way above the price point in your original post. You may get a CT scan for $200, but who will do the data analysis? Do you have a background in material science? Can you even use CT to determine fibre type/brand (I kinda doubt that)?
For me, the quality/composition of a single frame is not a question. But how consistent is the manufacturing/quality process? And you need many more frames to figure that out.
Fair points — and I actually agree with some of what you’re saying.
You're right: I’m just a guy on the internet. I have no official authority, no industry titles, and I’m not claiming to be a carbon expert or materials engineer. That’s exactly why I’m not trying to do this myself. The plan is to pay professionals to handle the scanning and, if possible, assist with the interpretation. I’m not going to sit there with raw CT files pretending I understand them.
As for the alleged “insider,” I get the skepticism. I was careful to frame that whole post as anecdotal — not gospel. That’s also why I want to move away from hearsay and toward objective data. I’m not asking anyone to take my word for anything.
To your point about consistency: you're 100% right. The bigger question isn't just “is this one frame good?” but “how often are they all good?” And yes, to answer that properly, you'd need a much broader sample size than just one or two frames. But my view is: you have to start somewhere.
That’s why I’m planning to scan two frames — one known replica (e.g. X68) and one genuine SL8. Not to draw universal conclusions from a sample of two, but to at least create a baseline for comparison. And to share that openly for the benefit of others in the same position I’m in: curious, cautious, and trying to make informed decisions without access to factory floors.
Can CT determine fibre grade or brand? Probably not directly — and I’m not claiming it can. But it can help with wall thickness, internal voids, bonding quality, layup irregularities, and general build consistency. That’s already more insight than what’s currently floating around in Telegram chats or Reddit anecdotes.
This isn’t about proving a point or building credibility. It’s about putting some verifiable information out into a space that’s flooded with marketing fluff and guesswork. If someone else wants to do it better, I’d gladly step aside and support that too.
But short of dismissing the idea — what’s the alternative? Wait for manufacturers to volunteer CAD files and QC data? Trust sellers who won't even share a photo of the inside of a downtube? If people don’t want to rely on blind faith, then someone has to take the first step.
At the end of the day, I’m doing this for the good of the community. Not to sell anything. Not to boost my ego. Just to help shine a light where there’s currently a lot of shadow.
And as for credibility — like anyone else, it has to be earned. But where do credible people usually start? From zero. Just like this.
