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Chinese Carbon Road Bikes => Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components => Topic started by: Rei on March 08, 2024, 04:54:46 AM

Title: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 08, 2024, 04:54:46 AM
Hi guys,
 I'm about to build my first chinese frame based build. I've had recently fantastic time on Meride Reacto 8000. I'm looking for a frame both geo and esthetics wise in line with its.
 Image for reference: (https://bikko.lv/937040-large_default/velosipeds-merida-reacto-9000-e-2021-red.jpg)

 Here are the frames that I've found to be somewhat in the same ballpark, and this is where I need your help guys.

 1. Winspace T1550
 2. ICAN A9
 3. Yoeleo R12
 4. TanTan TT-X38

 What other frames am I missing, and maybe you can give a feedback on these four something?
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Easyfunk on March 08, 2024, 05:43:19 AM
Velobuild VB-R 268
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: ENEP on March 08, 2024, 07:22:34 AM
https://www.speedercycling.com/Carbon-Integrated-Road-Disc-Frameset-SC-R49D-_p399.html

https://www.sp-cycle.com/spcycle-2024-new-aero-carbon-road-bike-frame-disc-brake-full-hidden-cable-700x32c-race-bicycle-carbon-frameset-p5517135.html

Also Workswell.

Most frame manufacturers have an aero frame in their range.
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 08, 2024, 07:39:46 AM
Thank you ENEP. The Spcycle one looks reall inline with Reacto.
And particual brand of these mentioned that has higher quality, or ones that I should avoid at all cost?
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: oleg on March 08, 2024, 09:58:25 AM
Avoid Ican.
I had a problem with it, see the thread:
https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,3027.30.html
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: oleg on March 08, 2024, 10:00:41 AM
T1500/T1550 I can recommend, very happy after 10k km in a year with it. The build however, comes closer to the original Merida Reacto.
I would go the same route, if you like to choose your own components or have fun building bikes.
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 08, 2024, 12:38:33 PM
Thank you Oleg! I watched your video and issues with the headset bearing seating. Really good to know about the ICAN, I guess it's always a bit of gamble with these brands, but that was totally out of spec in your case.
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: H143 on March 08, 2024, 04:47:04 PM
I like the workswell wcb-r-306
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: neobiker on March 09, 2024, 02:42:25 AM
Lightcarbon LCR-0X is a copycat of the Merida.
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Glen on March 09, 2024, 06:14:04 AM
How about Bross Zenith
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: PLA on March 09, 2024, 01:45:38 PM
Why not just buy a reacto? Not much in it price wise.
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 10, 2024, 04:36:32 AM
Bross Zenith looks fantastic! But I can't seem to find it for sale anywhere :-(
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 10, 2024, 04:37:47 AM
Why not just buy a reacto? Not much in it price wise.
Well the Reacto frameset alone is only available in team model and it's 3.5k. And I have parts already so I realistically need frameset only.
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Glen on March 10, 2024, 07:01:50 AM
Bross Zenith looks fantastic! But I can't seem to find it for sale anywhere :-(

There is a shop in Hong Kong that might be able to them.
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: jfcb on March 11, 2024, 03:35:13 AM
I own, ride and race the Ican A9.
Very satisfied with the frameset. When I build it up, I was impressed by the manufacturing quality and finish of the frame. It's very stiff and 100% suits the purpose of an aero frame. Though I'm not going to make aerodynamic claims, it feels and rides fast when I'm riding solo. Quick in accelerations and easily maintains its speed.
Oleg might have had issues, but when I look around, each brand has several cases of products that should not have passed their quality control.
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 15, 2024, 04:19:09 AM
My long teng 268 looks quite similar. I've only done 1100km on it, but I love it so far. Building it was a breeze. Alisa was super friendly to deal with, and answered the million questions I had. 7.6kg in medium with aero and comfort everything.
And ofc, it doesn't hurt that it's cheap :)
I bought the bars separately because I wanted 36cm bars.
Wow love the stickers as well :-D Tractor :-D
The glossy finish looks really good, was it a custom paint job or that the quality from the factory?
Thanks!
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 16, 2024, 05:07:50 PM
Yeah I'm trolling Factor :)
It's the gloss finish from the factory. The stickers are fancy car vinyl cut with a plotter (Ortega, Oraca, Orca or something like that). I sent the file to a guy near me, stickering the whole bike cost me 10 euro (I did the design and layout, so I'm not counting my time).
Depending on the light you can see the carbon below, i'm very pleased with it. Both finishes (the other frame was matte) were great, i built them myself and nowhere did i notice obvious flaws (I'm not OCD on that though, my bikes tend to be covered in dry sweat and wax flakes). Idk whether they do custom paint, i didn't ask.

If I may ask you a help...

I'm struggling to find good bike frame size. The issue is I'm really tall (199) but it's all coming from the legs. I have Canyon Grail at XXL, I believe it's seat tube is 61cm. It's great for Seat Height, but it way to long in reach for me. I tried some other friends Grails and the L felt the most comfortable for the front triangle.

So front triangle from these Chinese brands if I get something like 58cm or even 56cm would be great, but comes in the issue with these sexy looking but non-standard shape seat-posts. I almost pulled the trigger on the SP Cycles one because I just loved everything about it until I got in touch with them... and their XL with 56cm seat-post comes with 300mm seatpost that can be extended max to 20cm. So compared to my saddle high of 80cm I'm running 56+20 = 76cm a 4cm too short. They can't sell me any that are longer :-(

These seaposts aren't standard right, so I have no option to buy this particular frame.

Could you please measure your seat posts length and max extension?

What would you do in my place? Do you think it's possible to some how McGiyver the seatpost to be extendable those extra 4cm?

Thanks :-)
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 17, 2024, 05:02:40 PM
Thank you for the message. It does sound inspiring that I might fit!
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: bichler.bua on March 18, 2024, 01:30:21 AM
Thank you for the message. It does sound inspiring that I might fit!
My apologies for this post, but there is no way you are 199cm tall and ride a 80cm middle bottom bracket to saddle top fit.
I am 195cm with 96cm inseam and run 87cm middle bottom bracket to saddle top - for sure you will end up with a similar number, if not slightly more.

The Canyon Grail is a great bike, but indeed the reach is quite long as it is designed to be ridden with a short stem.
I still believe you will struggle to find a Chinese frame, not because of the seat top & seat post length - but because of the missing stack and massive drop between saddle top and handle bar.
Selecting a frame would require to get the stack / saddle top to handle bar drop, as well.
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: BalticSea on March 18, 2024, 01:41:40 AM
My apologies for this post, but there is no way you are 199cm tall and ride a 80cm middle bottom bracket to saddle top fit.
I am 195cm with 96cm inseam and run 87cm middle bottom bracket to saddle top - for sure you will end up with a similar number, if not slightly more.

Well, they didn't say that they measure saddle height from the center of BB — might be measuring from the top of the pedal during the upstroke.

IMO, the correct way of measuring saddle height is from the top of the pedal during downstroke, measuring from center of BB doesn't account for different crank arm lengths, which absolutely affect your saddle height
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 18, 2024, 02:59:19 AM
Sorry guys for the mess. I wrote longer response and some how it only posted my first sentence... :-|

I cocked up the measuring. I just remeasured from center of BB to top of the saddle and it's 84cm. And I'm running 175mm cranks and on the Grail SPDs. Maybe I'm not all legs and I just have short arms? :-O

@Serge_K When I said 56 I didn't refer to frame size I did refer to length of seat-tube and on their XL size frame it's 563mm.
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 19, 2024, 04:58:22 PM
Thank you for the details. Where did you buy your Tractor from? The more I look at it trhe more I like it! It has a nice balance between aero and elegant look.
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 20, 2024, 09:20:53 AM
Thank you so much Serge_K!
You've really helped me on this one! And the version you got was UD right?
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 20, 2024, 03:20:15 PM
Ohhh thank you for the tip. It's always nice to know where to dig some grams out if needed. I'm tho myself pretty tall and pretty heavy, so I don't know if that justifies it. But then again, it's about enjoying it, so I might go for it :-)
What came with your frameset all together?
Any building tips or suggestions? What headset and bb did you get?
Thanks! :-)
Title: Re: More Aero frame in direction of Merida Reacto?
Post by: Rei on March 22, 2024, 04:29:10 AM
Thank you so much for the detailed info! I'd definitely enjoy a two piece BB. I've had one for other bike of mine and it's the best.
Do you have any good/bad experience with bearings from china? I got DT style hubs from there and the bearings are 6802 2RS but from a lower tier brand. At least it's some name for it. I'm thinking should I upgrade to enduro bearings right away or use these up and then swap them out...
I'm also torn between R8020 mechanical Ultegra and Di2 Ultegra or the Force from SRAM. I like the idea that bike will work no matter if I charge it or not, but then again especially with Force the fact that there are only two brake lines and that's it makes me very happy about it. I guess you do enjoy your electronic shifting, would you ever go back to mechanical?
I'm in no rush for a change, just came out few weeks ago from knee surgery so I can do this slow and as good as possible. I might even reface the brake post mounts, maybe it would help with brake alignment?