Quote from: ilja on October 14, 2026, 12:46:54 AMI built a site for finding and comparing (mostly Chinese road) wheel sets: https://www.wheeldb.bike
(There are similar sites, but this one is mine.)

I needed to cut some corners: some wheel companies (lookng at you Light Carbon) allow for so many options, that including all would spam the catalog with hundreds of additional entries.

I concentrated on price, weight, and rim depth, leaving out some details like UCI approvement, ratchet engagement points, bearing material (steel/ceramic). Hope the site is still usuable for you?

There are wheelsets and complete brands missing. If you can think of some, please let me know.

Insane work, and it's very usable. I am also working on a similar project. Where I indexed wheels, frames and fork. It scrapes reviews and threads and runs sentiment analysis on them to build a reliability report for each product. It isn't public yet, but I am sure they'll fit together well.   

Quote from: slapdriba on August 14, 2026, 05:59:38 AM
Story of my X68 with a 105 Di2 groupset and Elite 55 mm wheels.

When the bike arrived, the only issue was a sliding seatpost, but a rubber glove piece fixed it perfectly.

There were no other problems until I fell while trying to turn around (narrow spot, walking speed). Since then, a small noise has appeared in the bottom bracket area when pedaling. The faster I ride, the quieter it gets, but the noise is loudest when climbing or start ride. It seems to come from both sides of the cranks, and it's still present when riding out of the saddle, so it's probably not related to the seatpost. The noise has gradually increased over time and is now really annoying.

What we've already done: replaced the bottom bracket, changed the pedals, and greased all relevant parts (BB, pedals, chainrings). The noise remains exactly the same and still seems to come from the BB area. I don't see any cracks in the frame.

What else could be causing this noise? Could it be a crack inside the frame? It's my first carbon bike, very beautiful, but the noise is driving me crazy...
Mileage: 3000 km only.

What type of BB and crankset are you running, usually BB noise come from loose BB or crankset. Make sure they are both tight. Check with the specification but they need should tight between 35-50 nm.

Hey everyone, first time post here.
I have built a X68 frame in August 2025, and I have been riding it since then. To help on anyone looking to buy the current version and next version of the X68. I thought it would be good to share my experience with it. It also help me document my own work for the next build. (Excuse my english, it is not my first language).

To give you a bit of context: this is my 5th frame build. I previously built four other bikes (Elves twice, and an older/shady Eisenbike twice where I had to deal with aero stay / bb issues).

I've been riding the X68 mostly in good weather for about 5,000 km, mainly doing heavy climbing/descending in the mountains, I live in the French Alps, a classic weekend ride average 1800-2000m of elevation. (Important note for you to understand my POV)

Here is the full breakdown from ordering to riding.

1. Pre-Purchase, Communication & Custom Paint

Buying process: Contacted Seraph directly via email with Rose. Super responsive.
Custom Painting: Worked with Summer Support on a custom design and logo. Feedback was swift (1-day turnaround for mockups).
Payment: Paid directly via standard PayPal, smooth transaction.
Lead time: Around 3 months total (standard timeframe when requesting custom paint).
Shipping & Unpacking: 10 to 15 days for delivery once shipped. Well packed, no damage on the frame or fork.

2. Build & Mechanical Assembly

Overall, the build process was very clean and straightforward.
Internal Routing & Finishing: I was pleasantly surprised. The inside of the tubes was remarkably clean, almost looked like it had been sanded down internally—very rare at this price point. Routing through the frame, fork, and handlebar went without a hitch.

Hardware & Tolerances:

All missing/damaged parts? None. Everything was supplied.

Classic issue: Brake caliper mounting bolts were a bit too small for the back caliper. And bolts are not rust proof, I suggested to change them from day 0 when mounting the bike. I like to keep my bike clean and even with the blower, some rust started to appear on some few bolts. I replaced them with some titanium bolts.

🔧 Two Critical Tweaks to Watch Out For:
Front Brake Mount Alignment: Due to the custom paint layer, the front brake caliper mount on the fork wasn't completely flat. I had to use a facing tool (80e from aliexpress) to sand/level the two holes properly. Front alignment was off because of it. (Rear mount was perfectly fine).

Top Cap / Compression Plug: The stock cockpit compression plug cap is a replica of the Specialized Tarmac SL8 cap, but made of cheap/soft material. It bends easily even when torqued well below 10 Nm. Fix: Replaced it with a genuine Specialized top cap (got it for 5e from my local bike shop). Much stiffer, provides proper compression, and keeps the headset play-free.

3. Ride Quality & Performance

The Good:
Paintjob: Insane paintjob, I was surprise by the colors. For the extra US$150, completely worth it. (My motto: If I can't be fast on the bike, I can be at least beautiful 🤣)
Value for money: Exact paid price on August 2025 US$589.00 for the frame kit, it rides surprisingly well. (PS: Got some Tagoola AR Super light wheels, it does add comfort in the ride)
Reliability: No issues with the BB, seatpost slipping, rear brake, or handlebars after 5,000 km.
Flat / Moderate Terrain: On flats and gradients under 8–9%, the bike feels great, responsive enough, and very comfortable.

The Compromises (Rigidity & Mountain Descents):
As expected for a lightweight frame at this price tier, lateral and longitudinal stiffness are limited—particularly in the fork.
Sprinting / Out-of-the-saddle climbing: Under heavy power (putting watts down standing up already around mini 700-800w), there is noticeable flex in the front fork, causing slight disc rotor rub.

High-Speed Mountain Descents: This is the main drawback if you ride in the mountains:

Speeds up to 60–70 km/h on moderate slopes are completely fine.

However, on steep descents with hard braking at high cruising speeds, the front fork lacks longitudinal stiffness and exhibits fore-aft micro-chatter / vibration.

Note: This is a recurring trait, I encountered on light/budget frames (had the exact same issue on my former Eisenbike builds). If you mostly ride flat/rolling terrain, you will likely never experience this.

Summary Verdict
Pros: Great customer service (with Rose), clean internal finishing, custom paint process is top-notch for a cheap frame, of course pretty cheap.

Cons: Soft stock top cap (swap it immediately), replace all bolts provided, front brake facing required if custom paint, front fork lacks stiffness for aggressive mountain descending.

Hope it helps ! Don't forget to Do Your Own Research
Here are some shots of the bike.