1
Cyclocross Frames, Wheels & Components / Re: Airwolf YFR068 - 2023 Gravel Frame
« on: October 06, 2024, 01:45:14 PM »
Alix, scroll back to read the full story. All details are shared already by different users in this thread.
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
i think this is almost impossible because the complexity of manufacturing to made a compartment in downtube. it's to make, a gain weight to reinforcement is complicated.
Thanks. I went way back in the thread and saw yours, I took a lot of inspiration from your build up!
I completed my build Thursday (the same day my frameset arrived).
I had all of my build components on hand and was ready. No issues at all, I purchased this frame from another vendor on Ali, but its identical to the Airwolf YFR068/Cervelo Aspero 5. Ordered mid-June, shipped on 7/15, rec'd 7/18.
A few notes, just like everyone else -
The headset bearings and compression ring are different than Cervelo, but I found the quality of my bearings to be good. I chose to go with the SL7 split ring.
The through axle thread on frame is different than Cervelo, since the thread is an insert on the frame vs an independent nut.
The Rear derailleur hanger is different.
This frame lacks bottle cage threads on the downside of downtube.
This frame lacks frame protection on the downtube, though I had OE Cervelo pieces ready and they are self-adhesive.
The remainder of the frame is a 1:1 clone with Cervelo Aspero 5, all the way down to the paint.
I used full Sram Red AXS 1x XPLR and Zipp 303 firecrest wheels, so I can't comment on the FD. I removed the FD Hanger and replaced it with the Cervelo blanking plate. The routing of the two brake hoses was remarkably easy. I thought the idea of wide BB might be an issue for me, since Red does not come aftermarket with the wide spindle. I live in flat, flat Florida, so the idea of a larger chainring was kind of appealing...but I am a spinner, not a grinder. I went with a 42T ring on the standard width spindle. There ARE some OE SRAM Red Wide offerings but they are very rare and hard to come by, I even confirmed this with SRAM Support. My setup is NOT wide, and I have zero issues. I am running a 42T 1X ring and the 3.5mm spacer on the drive side of the BB. I'd be reluctant to go larger and for me, personally, its not needed.
So far, two rides logged (30 and 25 miles) - nothing significant to report, other than the standard re-tightening of things after the first ride.
I received my frame about one month after ordering.
First impressions were pretty good. Exterior - matte black paint. Definitely some overspray on the fork where the bearing interfaces. Haven't checked clearance/final fit yet.
Two of the riv nuts for bottle / top mounts are spinning in the carbon layup - so I can't really use them unless I somehow fix them from the inside (with some resin? will be tough to do).
I used a borescope to check out the insides - looks ok but I'm no engineer. Definitely some strands flying around in there.
The headset cups and bottom bracket cups look... slightly atrocious. But I think it will work ok.
Whilst my frame is being made, the parts required to make this more usable have arrived.
SL7 Compression ring, direct mount hanger, and headset bearings.
I'm struggling to find OEM parts for the top tube cover, down tube frame protector etc. What are they called? I can't find them on the Cervelo website.
Replace the compression cap with this part?
Well I'm diving into this experiment as well and ordered a 56 size frame, bbright bb, specialized 6.5 headset bearings and compression cap. Airwolf sent a message a few days after ordering asking for stem and handlebar size and I went with 90 stem and 42 handelbar. I am 6' tall. We'll see how it fits. Thanks to all who provided tips along the way. I am going to follow them in the build process.
What size tires are you running?
I´m repeating Basajaun ultra gravel, did it also in 2022. 850 kms and +15.000m.
Nice test for the bike! I´m doing an Ultra also this summer.
A pair of questions:
- Where did you get the cover for the toptube bolts?
- Seat clamp is the original or you bought from Cervelo?
Somehow i'm still struggling with a bit of headset play:
- the expander sits tight and flush in the steerer tube during and after headset compression
- while mounting and screwing the top cap the resistance gets suddenly pretty high at some point of compressioning. However the handle bar moves still freely to both sides. No rubbing at the frame.
- it seems to be only the upper headset causing this little play.
My suspicicon is that the compression c ring doesn't completely compresses the bearing. Or is it possible that the diameter of the steerer tube is a bit too small for the compression c ring? I'm running out of ideas now and dont know how to solve this analytical…