I have around 13.000 km on my X68 now. Got it in may 2025. Still no issues. It just does what it needs to do.

Updates on accuracy? Reviews?

Any suggestions for aliexpress Bibtights for relatively cold weather? Like from -5 to 5 °C.

I use Castelli SORPASSO RoS Wind but they are relatively expensive. Does anybody have a suggestion for me?

The SPEXCEL look good, but I dont understand for which temperature range they are made for.

Tideacebike

4000 euro budget? Just by a SL8 Pro frame if you cant find an S-Works. The 100 gr difference is not even by pros noticable.

Quote from: SkylarRnD on July 08, 2025, 09:36:21 AM
I went to a few local stores to me yesterday and test rode actual SL8 to figure out size. I'm 188cm and 91.4cm inseam. My torso is a bit short compared to my legs and so are my arms. Wingspan is 190cm.

I rode a 58 Pro. 44cm bars with 100mm stem. SRAM Force D1 gen. It felt ok off the bat but over a 5min test ride my neck started to get strained. I felt a little too stretched out. Seat height felt ok but not 100% but thats expected with such a small test ride.

Went to another shop that had a size 56 Sworks with SRAM Red. My god this bike felt like such a better fit. I didnt feel like the stack was too low, yes it had all the spacers installed, but Id rather stack spacers than use a 90mm stem. I will be ordering a 56 X68.
Currently in chats with Vivian to do a custom paint job of purple and white. I work at a store that has a bike shop(large retailer in the USA) so I'll be trying to document everything I can while building it up.
I talked with Vivian about refacing the bottom bracket and brake mounts after paint and she basically said I'm on my own if there is overspray.
"Please note that we have processed the brake and bottom bracket positions, but if you find any mismatch or inappropriateness during assembly, you will need to adjust them manually. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!"

To anyone that has had their frame built up, how bad were the faces of the brakes and BB?

mine were faced perfectly. Both BB and brake mounts. But I just have a standart black frame. Btw I should have made around 4000 km on the frame up to now. All good still. No issues to report at all.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14733262692


I raced the frame yesterday for 7h across the alps and clearly it didnt hold me back.

I have the frame now for at least 1500 km ridden and can also not complain. No creak, no issue, just good ride quality. In a direct comparison with may SL7 the front end feels slightly less stiff but is more comfortable which is positive in the end. Other than that really not a lot to report. It just works and is "fast" everywhere.

First race on the bike today.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14588664291/overview

went very well, the bike did great! Cant really say a bad word about it.

A bit more of ride reviews. I rode about 200 km with the frame now. It feels really excellent and as I said I still have a Tarmac SL7 and they feel the same. I would even say the Seraph feels more planted on the road and is a bit stiffer but yes still comfortable.

Aerowise I cant tell the differences between the two, the speeds are the same. Until now I dont have anything negative to say.

ah maybe the only thing is that I cant see how the frame should be compatible with 140mm front discs. It is the same system as the SL8 has so without another adapter, which is not included, I cant see how 140mm discs should fit. For me that I was using 140mm rotors on my 4 (!) wheelsets it is a bit of a hassle but in the end only 2 minutes of work.

Ah and yes the bottom spacer of the steering tube needs to be sanded down or cut in order to not make it rub on the frame. Seraph could have payed a bit more attention to that but its also no big deal. Some could even buy the geniuine SL8 spacers I think.

While it's certainly concerning, it's nothing new that carbon can crack or be poorly manufactured. Two friends of mine destroyed their S-Works Aethos bikes—one by hitting a pothole hard, which cracked the top tube, and the other during a ride when the seat tube broke in the middle. These were genuine Aethos frames.

Something similar happened with a Giant TCR owned by another friend—the chainstay cracked out of nowhere, and the frame had only a few thousand kilometers on it.

Let's not forget the fork issue with the Tarmac SL7.

We've seen pros on TV break their bikes and handlebars. It's true that buying a bike from a Chinese seller might make people more apprehensive, but in the end, it's not uncommon for carbon to fail due to poor manufacturing or quality control.... and it happens everywhere..

I just finished building up my bike, and overall, everything came together smoothly.

The build is full Ultegra Di2 11-speed, with a Dura-Ace 11-28 cassette and 53/36 chainrings. I'm running a C-Bear bottom bracket, XTR rotor up front, and a Galfer rotor in the rear. The cockpit features a 100x380mm integrated handlebar paired with a MagCAD 3D-printed Garmin mount. Out back, I've got some budget-friendly Chinese oversized pulley wheels, and the wheelset is a Fastop Wave 45/50mm — wrapped in 25mm Continental GP5000 tires with latex tubes. Saddle is a very light (75 gr as far as I remember) Aliexpress saddle which I used hassle free already on my other bikes for years.

Power is tracked with Favero Assioma pedals. As it stands, the total weight is 6.65 kg. Swapping to my climbing wheels and a SRAM Red cassette should bring it right down to 6.5 kg flat.

The build process was straightforward — everything lined up nicely, with properly faced surfaces and a smoothly spinning bottom bracket. The only small issue was the lowest headset spacer slightly contacting the frame, but a bit of sanding sorted that out easily.

I just got back from a 30 km shakedown ride, and honestly, it feels nearly identical to my Tarmac SL7 — which is a compliment in itself. It's responsive, solid, and confidence-inspiring, with no noticeable difference in ride quality.

I will put S-Works stickers on it.

My frame arrived today. Build quality is very good. All faced nicely. Size 54 matte black 799 grams. Will mount it in the next days.

Handlebar 100x380mm weights 340 gr.

I would like to try 165mm cranks and was wondering what the go to chinese crankset is for a 24mm spindle and BSA bb bike.

Shouldn weight a ton, shouldnt cost to much and doesnt need to be carbon at all.

I would prefer compatibility with shimano chainrings but it is no must.

Can you give me some suggestions.

So any updates on the possibility to use 140 mm front brakes?