Best super light frameset for 2026 build?

[stepahin]

Hey guys! Could you please help me pick a super light frameset, let's say under $1600? I’m new to road bikes and to Chinese components.

I live in the mountains and plan to build a budget lightweight climbing bike for 2026 around 6–7 kg. I love the look of thin-tube frames (like SLC3) with deep rims, even if it’s mostly for aesthetics. My idea is to build everything myself using only Chinese parts like wheelset around 1300 g (50–60 mm), L-Twoo ERX, Cybrei/Elilee crankset, etc... Sounds like an interesting adventure and a challenge for the winter.

Winspace SLC3 — right now my default option, with a promo code it’s $1600 without cockpit, which is about my limit. Not sure if it’s the best choice though. It feels a bit dated (mid-2024) but still a solid option. What's wrong with it? Why not?

Here’s what else I’ve been looking at:

Incolor Intropy — both versions are insanely expensive, $2500 and $3500
SEKA Spear — even the regular one is pricey $2300, and the light RDC version is very expensive $3000
Evolve CIMA — expensive too, around $2300
Elilee Blize — the light version is $2580, the regular one is closer to my budget $1820 but it’s just “regular” haha
Quick Pro SR ONE — can’t really figur out if it’s an old model or something very new?
Avenger Shuttle — standard version is $1400, SL version has a good weight (750 g) but costs $1800, and the paint options looks hmm
TAVELO Arow — regular version is $1650 and seems fine, but the SL version is expensive $2150, also not a fan of their paint jobs
TFSA JH-35 — good price $1100 and great weight 680 g (size S), what do you think?
TanTan X68 — feels a bit weird aesthetically to buy an SL8 copy, but for $700–800 it’s fine

What else interesting did I miss? What would you recommend? Lightweight, trouble-free, under ~$1600, looking good, fresh but with reviews.

Thanks!

[Keiner]

ICAN FL1, Long Teng LTK266-D-SL come to my mind directly.

[BeR]

Tantan X68 or SP cycle R088.

NB : First inform yourself about the quality advantage / drawbacks of each sellers.

[MALIBA]

I’ll take a guess. From what I’ve seen on the forum since I joined, I’d lean toward the LTK266-D-SL or lightcarbon lcr017 frames — they seem lightweight to me. But I’ve never tested them myself.

I have a Velobuild 268 built with Ultegra, and it weighs 7.3 kg with the wheels I’m using (about 1,350 g). If I swapped to lighter wheels, cassette, and crankset, it would likely drop just under 7 kg. It’s not one of the ultralight frames. So, like others have said, I wouldn’t chase “egg shells” — look for quality parts instead.

[MALIBA]

And get a chinese CNC full steel cassette, these last and are lighter than dura ace, while costing only 80-120$.

Could you recommend one of those cassettes (“K7”) you mentioned?

Edit: I just found a Goldix all steel CNC 11-34 with just 194gr. I just need to see if it works good! 

[geramonta]

we dont know how good / heavy you are, but the real life performance difference between a Seka SL and a Long teng will be negligible, but the budgets are dramatically different.
if you do believe weight matters that much, there are GCN videos showing how carrying a few bricks with you on a climb make essentially no difference.
That doesn't mean you should build a tank, but that does mean that i wouldn't spend Seka money to buy a light frame with donkey ass resale value.
Also, be careful with the promises of extra light equipment, as it is more prone to failure, random impact damage (in your trunk, for eg), and behaves/performs worse (like noodly handlebars & frames)
On your component selection, i'd get an er9 and not an erx to save some coin, i have both, there's absolutely no difference except a ridiculously low weight difference. And get a chinese CNC full steel cassette, these last and are lighter than dura ace, while costing only 80-120$.

If you've tried several, which one would you recommend? Next, I'm looking for something lightweight, with decent shifting, and that isn't noisy.

[Sakizashi]

I recently made a similar decision and went for the relatively unproven LTK266D-SL. I am very happy with it. You can find more about this frame here: https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,6158.0.html. I've done my best to keep a live summary of the frame so that we learn more about it on the first page. Unfortunately, the only frames I have seen in real life that are connected to your list are the Seka Spear RDC and the Quick Pro AR One.

The SR One is very light, but it's not significantly lighter than the 266D-SL, as the weight is quoted as 40g lighter, in a smaller size. It does use a round seatpost, though, which is nice.

LTK266d-SL Pros

• Very light weight. Other than the Evolve Cima and the SR ONE, in theory, it's the lightest on this list; and compared to others of similar weight, like the Elilee Blize, it uses a threaded bottom bracket. Compared to the TFSA, it is quoting a weight for an M, not an S-size frame.
• Parts availability. Uses a readily available headset, saddle clamp, and UDH on the rear.
• Race bike geo + 35mm+ tire clearance is a rare combo. Heck, if you are willing to have less than 6mm of clearance, a 38mm slick is likely safe to ride with this frame (~4mm of clearance). I understand that there are very few 36mm and 37mm tires available, but the actual clearance for this frame should be 36mm at 6mm and 37mm at 5.5mm, respectively.
• One advantage over something like the Avenger Shuttle is that the geometry is a bit more modern and allows the rider to sit further forward. Not as much as the Elilee Blize, but similar to most frames released in 2025
• Ride quality. I only have an initial impression on the Quick Pro, but my thought was like the other bikes that Flybike makes for brands, it's almost too stiff. The LTK doesn't feel noodly or overly stiff to me.
• Price: Starts at $610USD and should easily be sub $1K USD to your door. That's a good chunk of change to spend on groupsets, wheels, lighter cranks, etc.

LTK266d-SL Cons

• Aero? Have the designers of this bike heard of it? /s
• Bearings, headset cover, seatpost bolt cover all seem like typical OEM factory throw-ins and should be replaced as part of the build process
• The bike has a pretty long trail and is on the slacker side for a road bike, making it feel a little dull at lower speeds. The TFSA is on the other end and should make you feel like you are dancing on a razor's edge. However, I would rather have a frame that feels dull than one that feels sharp but is also let down by either being too noodly or too stiff. My very custom Ti road bike, while having a much longer reach, is similar to a size 54 TFSA and I love how it handles.
• Despite being released 3 months ago there are only a handful of folks here that have it and AFAIK no brands have picked it up. A lightweight bike isn't what they or the people here want. It just lacks that aero look that is popular right now.
• It lacks the aero credentials and development story of the Cima Evolve. The excitement around the Evolve is warranted. It's a decent price for what seems like a great bike that has been validated as fast. The geometry isn't for me, though.
• It lacks the race credentials of the AR One. That Quick Pro already has a rainbow jersey! Albeit it's a Jr race, you still can't say it's not "race proven," if that matters to you.

[cyruscycles]

+1 on skipping the erX. The pricing makes no sense when compared to 105 di2. I think my 105 di2 was cheaper than erX is (shipped to the US)

Between the cassette and crank arms, you'll be saving hundreds of grams over Dura Ace at a tiny fraction of the cost

[Tom77]

Would not opt for Tantan X68.

I bought one and despite the awful buying experience (ultra long waiting, wrong paint job, faulty fork, non-faced BB and brake mounts), is is significant weaker in the head tube section than my S-Works SL6.

The frame is 860g painted in sz56 and I'm not sure if it is the frame of the handlebar which makes it floppy at the front, but I'm not satisfied overall

[demeaux]

Subbed to this chat as I'm looking at similar (road bike, looks fast/is fast, not rim brake, 32-35c clearance (maybe mudguards!))

I think I've got down to
Quick Pro AR:One
LTK266d-SL
LCR017-D
Elves Vanyar

Haven't seen (but doesn't mean there isn't) nice pics of the Ican Flyee

[Mariuszuzd]

I love my avenger shuttle SL, size 58, 6.3 kg, 1x12 SRAM Setup. Maybe the weight doesn't matter, but the riding experience does, the look, and your individual preference.