Chinertown
Chinese Carbon Road Bikes => Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components => Topic started by: H143 on November 12, 2023, 02:44:15 PM
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Because there's no topic yet for the Workswell WCB-R-306, I'll kick things off. In recent weeks, I've slowly been building up my bike. I didn't buy the frame directly from Workswell; instead, I found a good deal on the marketplace in the Netherlands.
My impression of the frame is very positive — it's highly agile and well-finished. So far, I haven't encountered any downsides. The bike is equipped with :
Shimano 105 DI2,
crank: 50/34
casette: 11-34 cassette,
Wheels: Elite Wheels (the specific type is unknown; I've had them for three years).
(https://i.ibb.co/NFrJJwq/2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nwBYYhy)
building up with normal handlebar:
(https://i.ibb.co/dBnDG0h/1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2qXdg7b)
Finished with Integrated handlebar
(https://i.ibb.co/LxGhhRH/20231026-164318.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qNZFFjV)
The handlebar is also from Workswell, the WHB-027. It's well-crafted and feels comfortable, but I've noticed a considerable amount of flex, especially when in the drops. It could be normal for a carbon handlebar, as I don't have prior experience with this material. I think it's relatively simple to make the handlebar stiffer by closing the hole at the top of the stem. I can't find a good reason for the existence of this hole.
(https://i.ibb.co/pbDVXSB/20231027-230707.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
(https://i.ibb.co/cY9kD7Y/5ee03e9b07e11.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8YwN6SY)
Overall, I haven't come across any negatives so far,
the only thing where i am still looking for is a seatpost cover,
i have try the cover of an Tamarac SL7 it fits on the seatpost but dont cover the whole wedge
(https://i.ibb.co/74q11WJ/20231022-203203.jpg) (https://ibb.co/16kmmqf)
(https://i.ibb.co/41SsQcX/zadelpenklem.jpg) (https://ibb.co/phKWmgM)
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Thats not a UDH hanger ... or is it?
It looks like it has a similar design and identical 20nm torque spec.
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No it is not a udh hanger it is the same way of mounting but a different shape i think a design of workswell i have search online for a directmount but also dont havnt found anything
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The hole above stem is cable hole for primitive ACR headset. Front brake cable runs from the top of the fork through the expander plug.
Needless to say, This method has very poor maintainability. Even ACR frames often use other routes.
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Finally i have foundation a seat post cover the one from a merida reacto fits in this wedge with an smalle modificaties it cover the complete wedge
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I just ran across a version of what i think is this frame and it looks like being marketed as having 35mm tire clearance. Curious to know your thoughts on if there is space for tires that big and if we are talking 6mm of clearance on all size, 4mm, or less.
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I just received my Workswell 306 frameset.
It’s my first carbon frame and I noticed that the wall thickness of the fork steerer tube is uneven.
https://imgur.com/a/JVwcxuZ
What do you think, is it within tolerance and safe to ride?
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This looks very similar to the winspace t1550
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That is the message I received from Workswell:
Please be assured that there are no safety concerns.
The fork steerer tube thickness are measured exceeds 1.7mm and 1.8mm. This has been verified and test through our testing procedures.
Our Quality Control team identified the fork steerer tube uneven root cause as a malfunction in the previous hinge hole machine, which has since been replaced now.
So they admit there was an issue, not feeling great about that to be honest.
Any suggestions on how I should deal with that?
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I just received my Workswell 306 frameset.
It’s my first carbon frame and I noticed that the wall thickness of the fork steerer tube is uneven.
https://imgur.com/a/JVwcxuZ
What do you think, is it within tolerance and safe to ride?
It's funny, worskwell makes some of the most expensive frames in the OEM realm, and all we read about them on this forum is how badly they F up.
My honest answer to your question: idk. I suspect that if you install stuff properly, like the expansion plug is well aligned with the stem and so on, you'll probably be fine. However, given how much you paid, there's the question of should you accept that. And then, i'd email a carbon expert with a photo and ask them. there are several on youtube. I think if you email them a picture, they should give you an informed opinion (specify the thickness of material where it's thinnest and thickest, and I assume the layup is clean (no sign of delamination and so on).
The most / worst road accidents i know of from equipment failure i know of are steerer tube / stem clamping area on the steerer tube. If you think about forces, leverage and so on, the forces that part of the frame has to take when you ride into a pothole at 40kmh are concentrated right there.
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Thanks for the suggestion, you are absolutely right.
I opened a paypal desput and the manager of Workswell came back to me. He offered me a new fork.
But the whole process of shipping out a fork with production error and not handling the first complaint well, makes me want to return the whole package.
I will keep you updated.
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After they offered me either a new fork or a full return, I decided to return the entire package. Since requesting a shipping label yesterday, I haven’t heard back from them. They usually respond several times a day, but not this time.
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That is their answer:
I don't know if you have a understanding of Workswell Bikes. We are mainly providing OEM service for mainstream renowned brands in the market. We have high reputation in the market for premium quality. In fact, we don't accept any orders from individuals, but Sarah accept your order, and urge the production department to speed up your order every signal day, and finally make it possible to ship out. Regarding the wall thickness of the steer tube, actually it doesn't has any quality problem, all the products must undergo strict testing before put into production. BUT, since you insist that you don't accept the fork, and we are willing to send you a new fork. Now, you request full refund and want to return the completes set frames. No problem, we respect your decision. BUT, please note that, we only responsible for the returning cost of your so-called defect fork, which means, you have to bear the returning shipping cost of the frame and seatpost and other accessories. Please arrange returning all he parts and update the tracking number in paypal, after we receive the goods, we will refund the money to you, thanks! And from today on, I will issue a note in the whole company, starting from today, we refuse to accept any individual orders, thanks!!
Tbh I am pretty annoyed with them at this point. The fact that they still don't admit that the fork has a problem is a joke. They are talking about high quality but send out this shit.
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So let me try to understand this?
To you the steerer tube looks wrong (I find it looks OK, but hey... If the thinnest part is OK it does not matter if the other side is thicker).
You ask them about it and they say it is fine (is plausible)
They still offer you to replace it (nice of them)
You refuse this and want to send the whole frame back (WHY?)
And now you are mad they won't refund shipping for it...
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First of all, paying $1,200 for a fork with a production issue is absolutely ridiculous. I’m not upset about paying for shipping – I’m upset about receiving a potentially unsafe fork and the kind of responses I got from them. That’s not how you treat your customers. The only reason they responded positively was because I opened a PayPal dispute.
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So let me try to understand this?
To you the steerer tube looks wrong (I find it looks OK, but hey... If the thinnest part is OK it does not matter if the other side is thicker).
You ask them about it and they say it is fine (is plausible)
They still offer you to replace it (nice of them)
You refuse this and want to send the whole frame back (WHY?)
And now you are mad they won't refund shipping for it...
Yeah...then no wonder some countries get blacklisted and companies decide to stop working with certain markets.
Whenever I get Karens, they get the full amount. No discounts, and I even invite them to go elsewhere.
In my view workswell did it right. They propose a new fork. U don't want the full pack it's up to u to refund. And since this is custom, having a full refund except for the shipping of the frame is already not a bad deal
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Yeah...then no wonder some countries get blacklisted and companies decide to stop working with certain markets.
Whenever I get Karens, they get the full amount. No discounts, and I even invite them to go elsewhere.
In my view workswell did it right. They propose a new fork. U don't want the full pack it's up to u to refund. And since this is custom, having a full refund except for the shipping of the frame is already not a bad deal
You're basically insulting the poor guy here, it's unfair. Workswell is very expensive, they claim to be top end , yet they ship oval things that should be round. You may be fine that your girlfriend only has one leg but most people would want a girlfriend with two legs. To me it's not unreasonable to ship the whole thing back on the basis of having lost trust in the seller. He's paying premium, he shouldn't get worse product and service than an AliExpress airwolf frame. His mistake was to work with workswell in the first place.
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Based on their original approach and the last message sent to you, I'd suggest returning the frameset with a full refund as they offered. Even now, when they got kicked by the mediator, they still act like kids with all this "understanding of Workswell Bikes" and "high reputation for premium quality" crap instead of going straight to the business.
May I ask what the price for this pReMiUm is? 1200$? I've heard they're above average price.
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You're basically insulting the poor guy here, it's unfair. Workswell is very expensive, they claim to be top end , yet they ship oval things that should be round. You may be fine that your girlfriend only has one leg but most people would want a girlfriend with two legs. To me it's not unreasonable to ship the whole thing back on the basis of having lost trust in the seller. He's paying premium, he shouldn't get worse product and service than an AliExpress airwolf frame. His mistake was to work with workswell in the first place.
If you or someone feels insulted, it was not my intention.
What I mean is that nowadays there is a feeling of impunity. Anyone can contest everything because of this or that. And they also feel that just because store X or Y do this, all stores do the same (like providing free returns after 30 days)
I don't care about workswell or any other factory. As I mentioned already in several posts, I choose the factories/brands/services that I work with based on their my experience with their customer support. They seemed to offer a good compromise. If the user is not happy, it's not unreasonable to ask him to pay the shipping costs of what was ok. And even accepting it is already an act of good will. Unfortunately there are a lot of smartasses which try to take advantage of similar situations.
If someone asks me to do build/paint/do sth custom and because of a scratch in the paint, which can easily be repainted, he wants to return the full amount and doesn't want the product back, my business would die soon. And yes. It's not paint here. It's just about being reasonable.
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Nice case study. On the one hand, we have a customer who makes a purchase in exchange for a supposedly quality product. But clearly this is lacking. A fork is not an accessory, it is an integral part of the bike and in this sense, the buyer's request seems legitimate to me. What bothers me in this type of story is ultimately the company's defense angle. It starts with a philanthropic speech but the buyer may have eaten pasta for weeks, months to buy a nice frame. So yes, depending on the country, culture, etc., everyone will read this fact differently.
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If you or someone feels insulted, it was not my intention.
What I mean is that nowadays there is a feeling of impunity. Anyone can contest everything because of this or that. And they also feel that just because store X or Y do this, all stores do the same (like providing free returns after 30 days)
I don't care about workswell or any other factory. As I mentioned already in several posts, I choose the factories/brands/services that I work with based on their my experience with their customer support. They seemed to offer a good compromise. If the user is not happy, it's not unreasonable to ask him to pay the shipping costs of what was ok. And even accepting it is already an act of good will. Unfortunately there are a lot of smartasses which try to take advantage of similar situations.
If someone asks me to do build/paint/do sth custom and because of a scratch in the paint, which can easily be repainted, he wants to return the full amount and doesn't want the product back, my business would die soon. And yes. It's not paint here. It's just about being reasonable.
I do agree with you that sometimes customers are completely unreasonable. I've experienced it, it's painful.
Not the case here on this thread though, with a premium price point not getting the most basic of shapes right. Just like buying fork spacers, you'd expect the spacer to have an even wall around the hole, not something oval. It can hardly be more basic.
It's like Peak Torque calling out Tavelo for making BB shells that crack if you install a BB, it's insane. If you can't get the most basic of things right, you can't call yourself a bike brand, let alone charge premium prices.