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Chinese Carbon Road Bikes => Cyclocross Frames, Wheels & Components => Topic started by: rovescio on September 02, 2026, 09:30:21 PM

Title: Basic budget frames
Post by: rovescio on September 02, 2026, 09:30:21 PM
Have a bunch of components to do a build for a family member (Shimano 105/GRX-ish hydraulic groupset, decent takeoff TA wheelset with tubeless 40mm tires).
Thinking about a cheap frameset <USD500 all-in. In a pretty bad bike market area, so that's about how much I'd end up paying for the frame parts of 'decent' bikes (Diverge, Checkpoint, Topstone etc) in 100mi radius to part out.

Aluminum:
Twitter G2Max $343.85
Twitter C6
Seaboard CT1 $409
Sodce $491

Steel:
TQIQT $404
Dark Rock $430

Carbon:
Airwolf, BXT, Meinier in the <$600 range, then a lot of SPCycle and Velobuildmall options around $650.
SPCycle R088 $596, G068 $562
Flyxii $512

Seems very difficult to go <$700 with carbon and still be reliable so I'm not getting my hopes up.

Any options I missed?

Also, I recall there was someone who had a spreadsheet of Chinese bike frames with geometries, features, prices etc. Appreciate it if I get a link.

edit: adding people's suggestions as they come
Should also account for ~$50-60 from coupons
Title: Re: Basic budget frames
Post by: Jakoble2246 on September 03, 2026, 04:26:07 AM
Cwind gt30 should be in the pool!
Title: Re: Basic budget frames
Post by: Edopizzo on September 03, 2026, 05:11:43 AM
The Twitter G2 Max seems very interesting. I was considering the standard G2 a year ago but eventually passed due to the narrow tyre clearance. This seems to be 50c, anyone has one?
Title: Re: Basic budget frames
Post by: rovescio on September 03, 2026, 09:50:53 AM
Quote from: Jakoble2246 on September 03, 2026, 04:26:07 AM
Cwind gt30 should be in the pool!

$900ish now... I don't know about that
Title: Re: Basic budget frames
Post by: Jakoble2246 on September 03, 2026, 09:59:24 AM
For me it comes up on aliexpress for 450€... So i think in a big sale i could get it for sub 400€ again.
Title: Re: Basic budget frames
Post by: rovescio on September 03, 2026, 10:26:40 AM
Oh, it's CAD717=USD520 shipped to Canada lmfao.
Checked a few of the others and everything is about USD100 cheaper to Canada. Hmm.

edit:
Oh, Alibaba is a lot cheaper too. Wonder what the catch is.
Title: Re: Basic budget frames
Post by: 00Garza on September 04, 2026, 01:51:34 PM
Flyxii has some offerings in your price range worth checking out.
Title: Re: Basic budget frames
Post by: kam on September 05, 2026, 03:42:04 AM
Quote from: Edopizzo on September 03, 2026, 05:11:43 AM
The Twitter G2 Max seems very interesting. I was considering the standard G2 a year ago but eventually passed due to the narrow tyre clearance. This seems to be 50c, anyone has one?

I set one up a few weeks ago, you can find some photos on my IG profile: https://www.instagram.com/p/DblHe7siPTv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsi=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== and https://www.instagram.com/p/DcYDpIWCBy2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsi=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

So far so good. It is however not really designed for DI2 cable routing. I routed the RD cable through the FD hole which was rather cumberstone and needed a lot of trickery and pressing (slightly damaging the cables). Ride feeling is great. For the price a great buy.