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Re: Seraph Bikes Superlight 836g X68 - Alternative to SL8 Fakes?
So, I finally got my frame in today. Here are some pictures of me unpacking it and checking it out with an endoscope camera. These are not the best quality pictures, but you can see that everything inside the frame is really neat, with no sharp edges or anything else. I will be building the bike with my friend this Saturday, and I will post some more pictures with the weights of the stuff and so on. My frame is size 58. All weights of the individual parts are: Frame - 971,8g Fork - 360,03g Seatpost - 163,5g Cockpit - 357,4g https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ECYjE7t443kKLPjBBGKWUSLbhGIo3fcP?usp=sharing All of the pictures are in this google drive folder.. I couldn’t upload any phots here and if i did it broke the whole topic page returning 500 error :/ March 24, 2025, 08:42:53 AM |
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Re: Seraph Bikes Superlight 836g X68 - Alternative to SL8 Fakes?
Has anyone some information about the actual tire clearance? Product description just says 32c. Do you reckon something wider would fit? It would be a tight fit. I run 32mm tires, and there is not that much clearance left, as you can see in the photo. edit: its not on the photo but the tire clearence to the left chainstay is really really small i dont think you can fit any bigger tyre on there. May 18, 2025, 02:25:58 AM |
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Re: Seraph Bikes Superlight 836g X68 - Alternative to SL8 Fakes?
Has anyone some information about the actual tire clearance? Product description just says 32c. Do you reckon something wider would fit? I'm running 30's on 33mm external/26 internal rims. Tires measure out to an actual 32, and there's a small amount of room. I think you could get away with a 32 on a wide rim that measured out to 34, but not much more. May 20, 2025, 09:27:48 AM |
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Zen Carbon Wheels Xiamen
Hi everyone, Wanted to share a bit about a new wheelset I’m having custom built through a lesser-known OEM in Xiamen called Zen Carbon. Thought it might be of interest to anyone exploring beyond the usual big players like XM Carbon Speed or Elite. Background I’ve been working with a few OEMs this year. Back in April, I ordered a 60/65mm carbon spoke set from DFS Carbon, which came in at 1230g and has performed really well so far. I’ve also got a set of 50/60mm carbon spoke wheels on order from XM Carbon Speed — very popular on here and on Weight Weenies. The rims are still in manufacture, but I’ve been told they should be completed this week. This new set is coming from Zen Carbon, which doesn’t really have any online presence. It’s a small company based in Xiamen, run by Zara and her father. Why Zen Carbon? I’ve known Zara for a few years — she was my contact back when I was buying Winspace products (frames, parts, etc.) around the time when Jo Whittingham (of Panda Podium / China Cycling YouTube) was still there. I’ve had access to dealer pricing from Winspace, and Zara was always super helpful. She moved on to Zen Carbon a couple of years ago, and while I hadn’t ordered anything from her since then, I thought I’d give them a try for this build. Wheelset Specs • Rim depth: 40mm front / 45mm rear • Rim width: 31mm external / 25mm internal • Rim weights: • Spokes: Carbon, 2.1g per spoke • Hub: Zen SL 20H front & rear – 226g total Pricing • Total: $866 USD / ~£670 GBP to the UK Would love to hear if anyone else has experience with Zen Carbon or the H-Works hubs — or thoughts on using mixed-weight rims like. 25mm rims sizes pictures obviously they offer more rim types June 11, 2025, 10:39:44 AM |
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BigRock carbon crankset with 24mm titanium spindle
So pulled a trigger on this setup. Waiting for them to be delivered. Bigrock carbon crankset that I will pair with xcadey power meter and my stone chainrings (same as cybrei on the photo). I think those are the best looking crankset on the market right now. What I also really like is the solid construction of the spindle. I am willing to sacrifice some weight savings for that. Cranksets alone are around 350g. Another thing I like is more classic q factor of 145mm (146mm measured and confirmed by one of the users here). Most of those Chinese carbon cranks are +150mm. I paid 190$ for the cransket and 220$ for the power meter with the use of AliExpress coupons. Feel free to discuss and post your experience with those cransets. June 11, 2025, 05:45:36 PM |
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Re: Xiamen Carbon Speed 10 years anniversary special promotion
I received my 60/31 wheels last week and have done two short rides so far. Upgraded from the stock Roval CL50 wheels that have done 15000km (its funny that I got almost exactly the same for the Rovals when I sold them, as I paid for these - amazing value!) I am really happy with the wheels - they feel great and seem fast. I had a lot of crosswind on the rides, and while not a problem, I felt the front wheel being pushed about. June 12, 2025, 03:32:50 AM |
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A Candid Look Inside the Replica Frame Industry: What a Chinese Insider Told Me
I thought I would post this in here as well I have posted in the vendor area with 480 view and no reply’s! I thought this would generate some responses and opinions at least as there are plenty here with opinions  Over the past week, I’ve been in ongoing conversations with a contact in China who works closely within the replica bike frame industry. I want to be clear upfront: I’m not claiming to have uncovered “the truth,” but this person has been surprisingly open, hasn’t tried to sell me anything, and answered questions without hesitation. Given how often this topic comes up here — especially around quality, safety, and legality — I thought it might be worth sharing what I’ve learned. I know some of you will be sceptical, and that’s fair. But for what it’s worth, this insight lines up with a lot of the grey areas that get discussed across different forums, and it gave me a more nuanced view of how these frames are actually made and where the real risks lie. ⸻ Through in-depth conversations, I’ve gained what I feel are comprehensive insights into the replica bike frame world — particularly as it relates to well-known designs like the SL8. A common misconception is that these frames are just “factory seconds” or made in the same molds as branded ones. In reality, most replica manufacturers don’t source directly from original factories. Instead, they purchase design files or reverse-engineer existing frames, then create their own molds. Branding and logos are usually omitted, not to avoid copyright concerns per se, but because local distributors frequently report these manufacturers to Chinese authorities. This significantly increases the legal risk for sellers and producers alike. Take the SL8 replica market as an example — sellers often claim to be offering surplus or seconds, but my contact says most of them are simply unauthorized copies, made entirely independently. In fact, one seller in their circle was reported for poor-quality products, arrested, and sentenced to two years in prison. He hasn’t been released yet. That alone should serve as a serious warning for those dealing with bottom-tier replicas. In terms of materials, most of the better replicas use T800 carbon fiber, with Korean M30 carbon applied in stress-critical zones for added strength. The layup process — the orientation and layering of the carbon sheets — follows patterns well-understood in the industry, though the exact methods and configurations vary by factory. My contact confirmed that strength and fatigue testing are common, but manufacturers rarely release their data or videos publicly. This isn’t always a red flag; it’s often to protect commercial confidentiality, IP, and to avoid drawing the wrong kind of attention. The market itself is split sharply. Some factories focus on low-cost, high-volume production using cheaper carbon and weaker layups. Others — and this is where my contact says they position themselves — focus on quality and craftsmanship. Frames from these producers often weigh just over 700g painted, and complete bikes are coming in around 6.5kg — notably lighter than many mainstream replicas. Enforcement in China is active. Police regularly shut down or arrest those involved in dangerous or fake products, especially if someone gets hurt or enough complaints are filed. That pressure is actually forcing some in the industry to raise their standards. The safer, better manufacturers are usually left alone — or at least operate with more caution and better practices. ⸻ In summary, the replica market is messy, competitive, and risky — both legally and from a product quality standpoint. But not all producers are equal. Some are clearly investing in good materials, tight tolerances, and solid construction. That said, if you’re considering buying one, you should go in with your eyes open. There’s always a risk, and buying from someone reputable — even in the grey market — makes a huge difference. June 15, 2025, 05:17:11 AM |
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Eurobike 2025 - starts on Wed. - What are you looking forward to?
Eurobike here in Frankfurt (Germany) has a lot of companies, which Chinertown posters are quite familiar with. I've made a list of everything that I recognized: 🚲 FRAMES & WHEELS Anhui Guanting Carbon Fiber Technology (Halle 8.0, H16a) B2B-only manufacturer with crazy bike designs. No public website available - strictly OEM... Farsports (Halle 9.0, A45) Fibertek Composite (Halle 9.0, B45) Another carbon frame manufacturer from Xiamen. Hebei Hanglun Technologies (Halle 11.1, C14c) Titanium frames under the "Hi-Light" brand. SEKA Bikes (Halle 11.1, B53) Shandong Taishan Ruibao Composite Material (Halle 11.0, A36) PARDUS brand frames - seemed to have supplied the Chinese Olympic Cycling Team in 2016. Also connected to UAE Cycling. Possibly manufactures OPEN frames but only offers ODM services. Shenzhen Chuang Xin Wei Bicycle (Halle 12.0, A04) JAVA brand bicycles. Xiamen Carbon Speed Sport Goods (Halle 11.1, A72) PeterXu from this forum Xiamen LightCarbon Composite Technology (Halle 9.0, B18) Hambini's LCR017-D, Gravel frame LCG087-D with suspension and internal storage, another Gravel LCG071-PRO with storage. Notably omission: LCR018-D which some of us found in the pdf from them -> Will ask them. Xiamen Winspace Cycling (Halle 11.1, D06) well known but now very pricy/premium brand. YISHUN Carbon Composite Technology (Halle 11.1, D20) Another G015D gravel frame and G1055D with internal storage capabilities. 🔧 ACCESSORIES & DEVICES Bryton Inc. (Halle 11.1, A01) Gardia Radar R300L, budget-friendly Rider 460 gps, and the new Byrton S-Series gps Chengdu Chendian Intelligent Technology (Halle 11.1, A54) Cycplus - known from their pump. Hangzhou Xibu Technology (Halle 11.0, A04) Produces Rhinowalk cycling bags. HK Gaciron Tech (Halle 11.1, D14) I have a light from them so far, new stuff: Smart lighting solutions including high/low beam headlight with 24-hour maximum runtime and the RAPTOR 50h with 10Ah battery capacity (that's 2 iphone's worth of battery). iGPSPORT Corporation (Halle 11.1, A06) radar and cycling computers Lanxi Wheeltop Cycle Industries (Halle 12.1, D04a) Wheeltop. Qingdao Magene Intelligence Technology (Halle 8.0, H13 + Halle 11.1, D15) Powermeters, C606 cycling computers. Quanzhou Minshan Import & Export (Halle 11.0, A20) Nooyah bike transport bags available on AliExpress for around 260 EUR. - already mentioned on this forum. Shenzhen Coospo Tech (Halle 11.1, C14b) TR70 radar light with 25-hour battery, HW9 arm heart rate monitor, CS600 computer, and pumps. S-Ride Bicycle Components (Halle 11.1, D03) Cheapo brake/shifters: GR680 disc brakes (1x mechanical/hydraulic) and 2x11/13 road shifters. "Innovative cable exchange system that doesn't require tape removal" - let's see about that Super B Precision Tools (Halle 11.1, D17) Taiwanese tools, also on Alix Zhuhai L-twoo Sports Technology (Halle 11.1, B15) New groupset for time trials an their 3rd generation eRX groupset. --- Anything missing? What you guys want to see? I plan to make some photos/videos there, as I got a business ticket from a friend's company. June 23, 2025, 07:50:55 AM |
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Long Teng / Mondince aero frame FM126
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August 04, 2025, 01:07:36 PM |
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Re: LTK266-D-SL, lightweight frame confirmed under 800g w/paint and accessories (M)
Such a pitty that it is not available in size XL and XXL, how can we convince them to produce them. Really want one so bad now
August 27, 2025, 10:28:00 AM |
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