As for the frame, really interesting. I have an FM639 which I kind of feel like is the spiritual successor to this frame, but it solves a LOT of my extremely specific gripes:

- Pretty aggressive fit- way more TT/reach than the typical work frame
- Good tire clearance finally. I can't run anything wider than 28c in the back
- Weight is OK but not great. Fine for the price I guess
- SL7 style head tube should help a good bit with aero

Good to see Tantan moving into more original designs. This is a kind of weird frame, but I wish it were available when I did my FM639 build.

Yep, the geometric is pretty aggressive for sure. Just compared to my LTK 266 size S, it has similar reach but much lower headtube.

Tire clearance I think it's good enough, I won't jump to the 35mm tyre ship anytime soon, so it can last several years I guess.

A 32mm VAM tyre fitted, and a 5mm hex key can pass (slightly touching the tyre). So the claim of 32mm clearance seems to stand.


The sell points, to me at least, are:

- Round 27.2 seatpost
  Much better compatibility, and easier to replace when you got a creaking one.

- Common 31.8mm seatpost clamp
  Other than less common 30mm ones from CRF51/bigrock.

- UDH
  I do not like the 1.0 pitch from the official UDH spec, but there are tons of 1.5 pitch ones.
  And finally I do not need to spending tons of time finding a direct mount hanger for a specific frame.

- No molded FD cable exit
  Even not properly filled, the FD cable exit is pretty hidden already. And rubber plug installed already.

Hi,

Just received the new frame, initially planned to replace my current LTK-266D-SL.
And it looks like LTK266D-SL will stay. Or I may just give up and buy an Aethos 1 frameset.

There are several frames with the exact geometric along with the same weight/price tag:

• Airwolf YFR039

https://airwolfcarbonbike.com/product/airwolf-yfr039-t1200-full-carbon-endurance-road-bike-frame-light-weight-disc-brake-frame-only-940g-frame-with-fork-46-49-52-54-56-58cm/

Priced 569USD, which is around 3870RMB, which includes a stembar.

• Seraph/Tantan FM231

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=889630908221

Priced 3000 RMB, without a stembar.

• Mondice one, without model number

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=847574467784

Priced 3350 RMB, without a stembar.

The one I chose, and seems to be the worst one, not only for the higher price.

Firstly, the generic spec:

• Weight: Claimed 850g for 49, weighted 864g for my 49
• Tyre clearance: 32mm claimed
• Rear derailleur hanger: UDH, 1.0 pitch
• BB: T47 86.5mm
• Cable routing: fully integrated, aka through the upper headset bearing
• Headset spec: FSA No055
• FD compatibility: Shimano and some Sensah FD only

The FD compatibility is mentioned on both Mondice and Tantan/Seraph taobao pages.


The weight is not that good but not too bad either.

Haven't yet cut the steering tube/seatpost, but the full frameset (everything like thru-axles included, with a 9mm alloy stem) it's around 1750g, which is around 100g heavier than my CRF51/Bigrock.
But that's just 100g, and I believe real weight weenies will find ways to cut that 100g off.

Secondly, the BB is T47-86, I guess a lot of people have already scratched their frame trying to remove the BB once.
Thankfully this frame doesn't take full use of the width, so it has a lower chance to scratch the paint, but still easy to slip the flange.
Parktool BBT-RS is still strongly recommended for any T47-86 BB.

Finally, the worst part of the customization.
I have told the seller to fill the mechanical FD exit, guess what? They filled the drain hole, but leaving the mechanical FD exit open.
What an idiot that filled the drain hole?!

Especially you can still see the drain hole opening inside the frame, but filled the outside with putty. I believe I need to manually drill a hole to undo the stupid "customization".

Overall, I believe I just wasted over 4000 RMB (3350 RMB price, 335 Aussie GST, 300+RMB shipping by sea), meanwhile I should just go back to the tried-and-true CRF51.

Ignoring the 21mm last gen IW, I won't got either rim depths either.

I'm running 45mm front/rear, and during a winter run super strong cross wind almost knocked me off bike.

Unfortunately 45mm is already the shallowest one from Farsports for the current 24mm IW in-house branded wheels.

If there is the option, I'll go 24mm IW 35mm depth wheels instead, and its weight should be arounf 1200~1250g.

BTW, I checked some news from VOOK, it looks like they are not stupidly advertising anything crazy, they mentioned the main part of V8 is still T700, only critical sections like BB and head tube is enforced by T800/T1000.

At least that's a very good sign to me.

And some of their products looks very reasonable to me, e.g. external cable routed carbon stem bar:
https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=970880303551

No extra holes drilled, easier to change the cockpit, and still pretty cheap.
They also sell separate aluminum stems and bars, but they looks like rebranded UNO.

Not to mention they also have some cheap and seemingly very good crank choice:
https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=977719769349

The common GP3 spec, DUB axle,  Easton interface, at 1K RMB price point.

Have not yet got any product from VOOK, but they looks like to do practical design decisions (no crazy tube shape, no T47, no crazy T1200 claim, no crazy weight), and a very competitive pricing (not like some brands which are priced just like western brands).

I liked the look of this frame. Something about thin, high seatstays that aren't quite connected to the top tube does it for me. Like the Canyon Ultimate CF SLX look. Anyone know other frames that look like that? Even better if it uses a 27.2mm seatpost.

What about VOOK V8? https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=911243962217

Cheap, 27.2mm round seatpost, BSA, 32mm tire clearance, as light as V5RS, just uncommon 49mm upper headset bearing.
And you can be the first to post the review here.

But I guess VOOK won't go bankrupt anytime soon, so I guess you should still be able to get replacement bearings for a while.

For those who wants to customize the paint, I think one has to find out the OEM other than contacting VOOK.

AFAIK a lot of Chinese brands are just sticking a sticker, and if they really care, do some UCI certification using the branded frame name. AKA, pretty much the same as western brands, but less attention to some details/designs.
(I hate Aethos frames that are priced 5500 AUD here, but really love the clean and clever DI2 wire exit hidden behind the FD hanger, and no Chinese Aethos clone is really copying that.)

Thus those brands will not provide any paint customization.

Some branded frames have some known OEMs that you can contact directly.

Onirii One frame with external or internal cable routing -> 朝昇碳纤维, CRF51 (owned and loved, OEM allows extra frame modification with extra fee)
Bigrock non-team version (owned) -> Failed to locate the exact OEM, but microck is selling the same frame with lower price
Avenger -> Hongfu (Not sure if Hongfu still accepts direct orders, but Avenger pricing is reaching western brands)
Permeants ST-09 -> LTK266-D-SL (owned)

Although no OEM can be found for VOOK, considering the price, I'd say it may be very close to OEM price (all above mentioned OEM prices are already over 3000RMB).
I'd be completely fine with their branding on the frame, as long as the frame is mostly black. (But again, I can never tolerate any frames without dedicated FD Di2 wiring exit, maybe until Shimano goes full wireless next gen)

They have a pretty light and cheap (if you buy from taobao) frame, VOOK V8.

A lot of sellers on taobao for a long long time, e.g: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=911243962217

The problem is, the upper headset bearing is not a common 52mm one, but 49mm one. So you're stuck with the factory one along with their headset cover.
And no proper DI2 wire exit for FD, has to reuse the mechanical cable exit.

From several unboxing videos, the weight claim seems to be true. And the tried-and-true BSA is always a good thing to see.