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Re: Spcycle New Mold SP-R088 Carbon Road Frame
My mechanical shifting setup is complete. The front derailleur cable was a bit problematic because it doesn't have a guide. I secured the outer cable housing to the seat tube with a cable tie to stabilize it. I'll do a test ride as soon as it's dry outside. I'll add more handlebar tape and weigh the bike. Congratulations on the build, I think you're the first mechanical R088!  Despite this frame being offered with an integrated handlebar now, it seems this particular frame attracts the separate (UNO) stem and drop bar crowd! 
April 24, 2025, 04:47:11 PM |
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Re: Seraph Bikes Superlight 836g X68 - Alternative to SL8 Fakes?
I did a race this Saturday, and there were many fast descents over 70km/h, with heavy braking at the bottom to a sharp left. There was also a gravel section with rough terrain and a descent there where I was going over 50km/h. The frame and fork survived, and everything is ok. I'm 191cm and I weigh 101-2kg with all the gels on me, it was closer to 102kg i'd say I hope that this was a good stress test for my frame. I was like, if it goes, at least it is at the place where the ambulance is relatively close by (joke not joke ). Also, to put the hat on my stupidity, I rode that with my cracked seat post, which held up fine too This is how the bike looked after
May 19, 2025, 01:01:46 PM |
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Re: Seraph Bikes Superlight 836g X68 - Alternative to SL8 Fakes?
Guys get a room. this is a subforum about bike builds, components etc. not law, morale and all that's shit. You wanna discuss this, then go somewhere else. I'm tired of reading your essays. June 08, 2025, 02:03:42 AM |
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Re: Spcycle New Mold SP-R088 Carbon Road Frame
I had a free Monday to ride, so I took the R088 out for an afternoon 50km ride and 600m of climbing. I think in every aspect this bike is just dialed-in perfectly. The only issue I had today was some high winds, so I did feel it on the hills even with semi-shallow 45mm depth wheels. If there was one nitpick, I can't attack downhill switchback corners as aggressively. It could have something to do with the SL8 style geometry and not the bike. My more upright bike frames seem better suited for that style of aggressive cornering. In overall nimbleness, acceleration and stability it's pretty good. Even at 70km plus descents, the bike just wants to go faster! Adequate braking becomes the more important factor! 
June 23, 2025, 10:51:03 PM |
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Re: Seraph Bikes Superlight 836g X68 - Alternative to SL8 Fakes?
You’re right to be cautious — and you’re not the only one asking. Here’s a full summary based on everything so far, so you don’t need to dig through 100+ pages: ⸻ 🚨 Fork Issues – Yes, There’s Cause for Concern • There has been one confirmed fork failure, with photographic evidence Page 54. • Another user (Dovh, I believe page 97 there is a video link) reported a potential issue, though his fork didn’t fail. • I personally bought the frame after the first report — so I was fully aware of the risk when I made my decision. ⸻ 🔧 Inconsistent Forks Being Supplied • Buyers are receiving forks with different weights — at least two versions seem to be circulating. • Some forks are coming in around 330–350g uncut. • My genuine SL8 fork weighed 375g uncut, and my X68 fork was 399g — possibly a reinforced version. This variation strongly suggests different molds, construction methods, or layups are being used across batches. ⸻ 🛠️ TanTan’s Acknowledgment • TanTan has acknowledged to some buyers that they are now supplying a reinforced fork. • That said, they haven’t officially admitted there’s any issue with the earlier forks — which isn’t surprising. ⸻ 🛒 Buying Advice • You can’t buy the frame from Aliexpress • You can still order via TanTan’s website or by contacting them through WhatsApp. • If you do: • Mention that you’ve read about the fork issues • Request the reinforced version • And pay via PayPal Goods & Services or credit card for buyer protection ⸻ Should You Buy It? Ultimately, that’s a decision you have to make for yourself. The level of risk someone is willing to accept varies. A fork failure is serious, no question. But considering how popular this frame has been since October 2024, and how many are likely out there, the number of publicly reported failures seems very low. That said, no frame is truly risk-free — branded or not. Yes, we expect major brands to have tighter QC and more consistent testing — and often they do — but failures still happen. You just don’t hear about them as often because they’re handled quietly. I suspect they happen more than we realise. Personally, I inspect all my bikes and components regularly, whether they’re branded or open-mold. Carbon is carbon — and everything from forks to bars to wheels is safety-critical. ⸻ Bigger Picture: The Industry It’s worth noting that there have been calls for more regulation and transparency across the bike industry. Every carbon part on a bike — not just forks — is safety-critical. Testing like ISO 4210 exists, but there’s no universal enforcement or third-party certification standard that’s consistently applied across all manufacturers, especially in the open-mold space. Until that changes, it’s up to us as riders to stay informed, ask the right questions, and inspect our gear regularly — no matter what logo is on it. July 19, 2025, 07:07:29 AM |
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Re: Spcycle New Mold SP-R088 Carbon Road Frame
This guy, when unpacking the frame, didn’t realize he was holding the DI2 battery mount that comes with it. So if he assembled the bike himself, I’m not surprised it turned out like that. Plus that hideous paint job — it looks like someone just smeared snot all over the bike. And on top of that, how did he mount that plug onto the fork? Did he hammer it in? WTF. I checked my own frame and, just like in Jonathan’s video from a few pages back, the only thing that flexes is the tire. February 17, 2026, 05:42:08 AM |
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Re: Spcycle New Mold SP-R088 Carbon Road Frame
I think GCN lost credibility with this bike build. Besides the LTwoo/Di2 battery fitment, the frame is fairly easy to build especially with electronic groupsets. I bet if they bought a western brand frame, they’d probably mess it up just the same. Also that splatter paint job looks like crap. It’s like they purposely made it crappy. 
February 17, 2026, 12:37:58 PM |
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Re: Xiamen Carbon Speed rims/wheels
1037g only, 26mm internal 50mm depth T1100+T800 layup D50CU-33 rims built with HS606 ultralite hubs with titanium 54T rachets TPI ceramic bearings aluminum Shimano HG driver, 3.2mm super light carbon spokes.
March 01, 2026, 09:59:00 AM |
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Re: Spcycle New Mold SP-R088 Carbon Road Frame
I was the first one to buy and post about the R088 on this thread. My frame is still running strong. Either GCN are idiots when it comes to building bikes or they're purposely making the R088 look bad (including the whole direct-to-customer Chinese bike market). I've pretty much given up on the western bike market. There's really nothing that interest me unless I was sponsored and getting stuff for free. Last weekend I was visiting my bike mechanic buddy at the high end bike shop he works at. The sale rack bikes started at around $5-8k USD and the regular priced bikes were selling between $10-16k USD! Even with their employee discount, they don't even buy at their store! At most if old inventory is sitting around they buy it, part it out and use the leftover components for their own bike builds. March 25, 2026, 11:22:58 AM |
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Re: Spcycle New Mold SP-R088 Carbon Road Frame
I have a question regarding this: at how many Nm did you tighten the upper clamp? I think I just tighten it by feel until it's firmly locked in-place. I don't over torque it or anything. I then just hold the bike by the saddle to make sure there's no movement. May 09, 2026, 02:49:05 PM |
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