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Chinese Carbon Road Bikes => Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components => Topic started by: BeR on August 04, 2026, 09:42:49 AM

Title: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: BeR on August 04, 2026, 09:42:49 AM
After my first post talking about Light Cycling, I have just known that a new frame just popped up from him . It looks very good, but we only get to see a render for now.

 It has T47, UDH, 35c tire clearance, good stack, zero offset seatpost.

The aero should be identical to the SL9.

For me it is a big yes.

Here are the specs :

1)  Material and layup: T800 + T1100 carbon, EPS + latex molding, smooth inner walls; the carbon yarn has good elongation, improving strength and stiffness
2) Seatpost length comes in two sizes: 285mm (for sizes ≤52) and 365mm (for sizes ≥54)
3) Thru-axles: front 12×100mm / rear 12×142mm
4) Disc brake mounts: fork convertible between 140mm and 160mm; rear 160mm
5) Dedicated internal battery mount for electronic shifting, with a battery holder at the end of the seatpost
6) Fork weight: 380g
7) Seatpost weight: 160g
8 ) Frame weight : 850 g for size 54 cm (UD matte)
9) Max chainring 54T

This frame is called RF10 and it is designed for riders who demand aerodynamics, stiffness, and racing performance.

The first batch will be ready at the end of August and presales are opened. You can contact the seller through WhatsApp (+86 180 2696 3351) or his website where there is more details :

https://light-cycling.com/shop/road-bike-frame/lightcycling-surge-rf10/

Edit : 54T is the max chainring (not 52T).
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Majoeric on August 04, 2026, 10:09:46 AM
Max chainring 52? Lame.

:)
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: antoinesbikes on August 04, 2026, 11:03:16 AM
Looks like it would be soft in the rear triangle -- not sure why there isn't more material surrounding the BB shell
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Jaaniusss on August 05, 2026, 01:42:47 AM
Seems like the exact same thing as the updated tantan x68 sl9 copy? T47 and everything
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: BeR on August 05, 2026, 03:49:50 AM
Seems like the exact same thing as the updated tantan x68 sl9 copy? T47 and everything

Not the same shape.
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: BeR on August 06, 2026, 08:50:58 AM
Max chainring 52? Lame.

:)

Update : The seller has checked and it is 54T  :).
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Sander2177 on August 06, 2026, 09:04:51 AM
Been Speaking with Daniel at Light Cycling since week before last.
Well thank F! he said was 52T yesterday so I said no go!
Made at same factory Tan Tan use for there newly inspired frame!
Said he will test 56/42T when they get a frame and build it
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Dark17 on August 13, 2026, 09:14:20 AM
Is there an actual pic already of the frame?
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: ricchirock on August 13, 2026, 03:37:50 PM
it seems only to me SL9 inspired dhape?
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: BeR on August 27, 2026, 04:15:57 PM
New pictures.
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: BeR on August 27, 2026, 04:16:17 PM
it seems only to me SL9 inspired dhape?

Indeed.
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: BeR on September 03, 2026, 02:18:33 PM
Frame weight (size 54). Slightly lighter than the new X68.
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: patliean1 on September 03, 2026, 04:52:11 PM
Any thoughts to what exactly Light Cycling is doing differently than Tan Tan in terms of QC and carbon layup?
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Sander2177 on September 03, 2026, 05:08:22 PM
Any thoughts to what exactly Light Cycling is doing differently than Tan Tan in terms of QC and carbon layup?

Straight from the horse’s mouth — Daniel Zhang at Light Cycling.

He says the main difference is the additional QC and attention to detail. They’ve tightened the inspection standards for the raw frames, and he says virtually every frame can be finished in bare carbon so you can actually see the underlying finish rather than hiding it under paint.

They also do more detailed post-processing: the BB area is cleaned and checked, attention is paid to the disc-brake mounts, head tube and cockpit/headset interfaces, cable-routing guide wires are pre-installed to make building easier, and they supply anti-rattle foam tubing for the internal cables.

So from what Daniel is saying, it’s mainly the extra QC, preparation and finishing before the frame reaches the customer.

Layup no idea

Also, this particular frame is actually manufactured by Longteng and some may fall
Of there chairs but the Tan Tan ‘manufactured’ frame is also made by them as well.
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Dark17 on September 03, 2026, 10:06:00 PM
Straight from the horse’s mouth — Daniel Zhang at Light Cycling.

Also, this particular frame is actually manufactured by Longteng and some may fall
Of there chairs but the Tan Tan ‘manufactured’ frame is also made by them as well.

I asked Alisa from LongTeng if they produce this frame, they said no. Reason I asked her because I am inquiring about their RD302 which is Mondince's FM126.
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Sander2177 on September 04, 2026, 02:35:14 AM
I asked Alisa from LongTeng if they produce this frame, they said no. Reason I asked her because I am inquiring about their RD302 which is Mondince's FM126.

Well I’ve just gone back to Daniel ant  and specifically checked this with him because of your post.
He’s adamant that the RF01 is manufactured by Longteng and says the factory designation is LTK266-D, with the FK266 fork.

I’ve been speaking to Daniel at Light Cycling this morning and managed to clarify a bit more about where the various frames they sell are actually coming from.

Daniel has a direct relationship with Longteng and has confirmed that several of Light Cycling’s existing open-mould frames are manufactured by them. Specifically, he says the RF01, RF02, RF04 and GF09 are Longteng frames.

He’s also shown me a recent delivery note from Huizhou Longteng Sports Equipment Co., Ltd. showing frames, handlebars and components being supplied to him, so there clearly is a genuine commercial relationship between Light Cycling and Longteng.

However, I specifically asked him about the new RF10, and he has confirmed that the RF10 is NOT manufactured by Longteng.

The RF10 comes from another factory. This is particularly interesting because, as I understand it, the same underlying frame is also being sold by TanTan as the X68, which is why I was interested in finding out who the actual manufacturer behind the mould is rather than simply which companies are selling it.

I asked Daniel directly who the factory is. He has said that, because the RF10 is currently a new product and he has invested quite a lot into bringing it to market, he would prefer not to disclose the factory at this stage to avoid creating any unnecessary issues.

That’s fair enough, and obviously I’m going to respect that rather than start guessing.

It does highlight something that comes up repeatedly with Chinese open-mould frames, though. We often know the companies selling a particular frame, but that doesn’t necessarily tell us who is actually manufacturing it. The same mould can appear through several different sellers, and tracing it back to the actual factory can be surprisingly difficult.

To Daniel’s credit, he’s been quite open with me about Light Cycling’s business model. He doesn’t claim that all the frames on the Light Cycling website are their own proprietary designs or that Light Cycling manufactures them. A number are existing open-mould frames sourced from established factories, including the Longteng models above.

So at least we now know one thing definitively from Daniel: RF01, RF02, RF04 and GF09 are sourced from Longteng; RF10 is not.

As for exactly which factory is behind the RF10/X68, Daniel wants to keep that commercially confidential for the moment, so I’ll respect that.
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Gloopann on September 05, 2026, 08:42:53 AM
Well I’ve just gone back to Daniel ant  and specifically checked this with him because of your post.
He’s adamant that the RF01 is manufactured by Longteng and says the factory designation is LTK266-D, with the FK266 fork.

I’ve been speaking to Daniel at Light Cycling this morning and managed to clarify a bit more about where the various frames they sell are actually coming from.

Daniel has a direct relationship with Longteng and has confirmed that several of Light Cycling’s existing open-mould frames are manufactured by them. Specifically, he says the RF01, RF02, RF04 and GF09 are Longteng frames.

He’s also shown me a recent delivery note from Huizhou Longteng Sports Equipment Co., Ltd. showing frames, handlebars and components being supplied to him, so there clearly is a genuine commercial relationship between Light Cycling and Longteng.

However, I specifically asked him about the new RF10, and he has confirmed that the RF10 is NOT manufactured by Longteng.

The RF10 comes from another factory. This is particularly interesting because, as I understand it, the same underlying frame is also being sold by TanTan as the X68, which is why I was interested in finding out who the actual manufacturer behind the mould is rather than simply which companies are selling it.

I asked Daniel directly who the factory is. He has said that, because the RF10 is currently a new product and he has invested quite a lot into bringing it to market, he would prefer not to disclose the factory at this stage to avoid creating any unnecessary issues.

That’s fair enough, and obviously I’m going to respect that rather than start guessing.

It does highlight something that comes up repeatedly with Chinese open-mould frames, though. We often know the companies selling a particular frame, but that doesn’t necessarily tell us who is actually manufacturing it. The same mould can appear through several different sellers, and tracing it back to the actual factory can be surprisingly difficult.

To Daniel’s credit, he’s been quite open with me about Light Cycling’s business model. He doesn’t claim that all the frames on the Light Cycling website are their own proprietary designs or that Light Cycling manufactures them. A number are existing open-mould frames sourced from established factories, including the Longteng models above.

So at least we now know one thing definitively from Daniel: RF01, RF02, RF04 and GF09 are sourced from Longteng; RF10 is not.

As for exactly which factory is behind the RF10/X68, Daniel wants to keep that commercially confidential for the moment, so I’ll respect that.

Have we confirmed for sure that the new TT-X86 and this frame share the mold? These two bikes, while similar, don't appear to be identical. The headtubes and forks are for sure different. They do both seem to be... inspired by the SL9, but I wouldn't go as far as to say they come from the same mold. It might be the different sizing of the frames on the pictures, but it is hard to gauge
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: mindflash on September 05, 2026, 11:02:51 AM
How about RF9, where is it sourced from?
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Sander2177 on September 05, 2026, 01:43:53 PM
Have we confirmed for sure that the new TT-X86 and this frame share the mold? These two bikes, while similar, don't appear to be identical. The headtubes and forks are for sure different. They do both seem to be... inspired by the SL9, but I wouldn't go as far as to say they come from the same mold. It might be the different sizing of the frames on the pictures, but it is hard to gauge

The don’t share the same mould but apparently they are made in the same factory
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Sander2177 on September 05, 2026, 01:47:55 PM
How about RF9, where is it sourced from?

Daniel Zhang
+86 180 2696 3351
What’s app him and ask
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: OldFish on September 05, 2026, 04:24:48 PM
Does anyone have any experience with their RF03 frame?

Seems like another SL8 inspired frame, but slightly slacker headtube with consequently longer bb to front length which seems like positive for more forward position and for people with big feet like me (toe overlap).
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Icera on September 07, 2026, 05:37:42 AM
Daniel Zhang
+86 180 2696 3351
What’s app him and ask

Currently looking to buy the rf10, any feedback on it?
Or anyone else for that matter 🙏
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Ludo on September 07, 2026, 06:46:02 AM
the RF10 hasnt been produced yet, has it?
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: BeR on September 07, 2026, 06:51:00 AM
the RF10 hasnt been produced yet, has it?

First batch is ready.
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Serge_K on September 07, 2026, 11:53:48 AM
so, it's got the (almost exact) geometry of an SL9 (I added it to geometry geeks), it looks like a (ghetto) SL9, and it clears 35C: it's a Temu SL10, and i like it!
Can someone pls ask how much clearance there is if using a 35C that measures 41mm front and back? We know the new conti gp5000 pretty much never measures 35mm, but plenty of people reporting 39-40 and even 41.
Someone please order one and comment on ride quality, i'm quite interested :)


Edit: clearance is 35mm, not 35C, so too narrow for my needs. Sad


Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: patliean1 on September 07, 2026, 12:56:10 PM
I'm kind of baffled why in 2026 geometry details like front center, wheelbase, and standover height still aren't provided as standard from every brand.

As more folks reconsider their bike fit these measurements become just as important as the good old stack and reach.
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Kar25 on September 14, 2026, 04:28:22 AM
Has anyone ordered or even ridden this frameset yet?
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Sander2177 on September 14, 2026, 09:34:08 AM
Has anyone ordered or even ridden this frameset yet?

Unlikely it has just literally been released maybe a couple of weeks ago.
Whatsapp Daniel at Light Cycling +86 180  2696 3351
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: patliean1 on September 14, 2026, 09:59:49 AM
If the fit and finish is solid especially the caliper mounts. And the overall bike doesn't feel like a noodle out of the saddle. This should be a great alternative to something like the Evolve Cima.

The majority of road frames I've tested in this price range usually have a super sloppy and harsh rear end over bad pavement, flexes too much under heavy power transfer, or just feels sketchy when descending.

I'm not expecting a perfect bike for the price. But I do hope Light Cycle has addressed these issues in some capacity. Would be cool to see how this thing rides compared to my SL8 and TanTan X68.
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Sander2177 on September 14, 2026, 10:30:14 AM
If the fit and finish is solid especially the caliper mounts. And the overall bike doesn't feel like a noodle out of the saddle. This should be a great alternative to something like the Evolve Cima.

The majority of road frames I've tested in this price range usually have a super sloppy and harsh rear end over bad pavement, flexes too much under heavy power transfer, or just feels sketchy when descending.

I'm not expecting a perfect bike for the price. But I do hope Light Cycle has addressed these issues in some capacity. Would be cool to see how this thing rides compared to my SL8 and TanTan X68.


Well, after speaking with Daniel at length over the past couple of months, it'll be interesting to hear your thoughts and see whether what he's been saying stacks up in the real world.

I'll also be interested to see the overall finish quality and whether the mounting surfaces have actually been prepared as thoroughly as he claims.

From what Daniel has told me, they've put quite a bit of focus into addressing the typical issues seen on a lot of lower-cost frames.
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: akr on September 16, 2026, 06:55:05 AM
Has anyone ordered or even ridden this frameset yet?

I did order this, it should arrive on couple days from now.
Title: Re: New 2026 Aero-light frame from Light Cycling
Post by: Kar25 on September 16, 2026, 09:10:33 AM
I did order this, it should arrive on couple days from now.

Can you please give us photos and updetes 😉